DLand - I Betcha They Won't Play This Entry on the Radio ...

I have a horrible vocabulary of incredibly vulgar terms which I use with great frequency. I became aware of it the more time I spend around clients, children and my parents. I catch myself wanting to use some terminology that really would make a sailor blush. I pay more attention to radio deejays trying to come up with suitable substitutions for my current explitives. But, damn, those sound dumb. I've been saying "stuff" a lot and "whatever" instead of "all this shit" and "fuckin' A". It's really all a matter of what you're used to. They say that someone who curses just doesn't have good vocabulary. They don't know what insipid means so they just say dumbass. They can't say lascivious (let alone spell it) so they just say how fucking hot someone looks. But it's not like you can look up "feh" or "well, fuck me" in dictionary.com and get an entry for ennui or malcontent. So I have to work hard to build a good vocabulary of curse word replacements. Maybe they should actually teach a class on that in the military.

My father hates it when women use the word "shit." He thinks it's just a abhoration to modern society. They may as well just be flashing their asses on the street if they are going to lower themselves to such vulgarity. But it's just that word that gets him all worked up. And I seem to use it like a comma.

These taboo words have become common place, I suppose. But I take great pride now in being able to convey the same level of disgust or displeasure or excitement with words that all could be used on television or radio. I'll let you know how it goes. But I hit my head on the car door this afternoon and based on came out of my mouth, I don't think I'll be singing in the church choir anytime soon.

In other news, Bossman is off to Atlantic City this afternoon. It should be a good evening. They called to make reservations and the front desk actually forwarded his call to his personal host at her house. That is service for you. He is a very "valued customer", it would seem. Also, the Venetian in Vegas has slackened the requirements for accruing points there. This means I reeeeeeeeally need to go there and get me some more credits. I need to stay there for $99 for two nights. I need to throw money in the street. Need it. Perhaps a company "retreat" is in order soon. Ah, yes. I feel the pull of the sandy deserts of Nevada.

DLand - Must .. Stay .. Connected ...

I crawled around in the ceiling again yesterday at work. Ooo Ooo Eeee! Bossman and Dan said repeatedly that whatever I did up there was not covered by workman's comp. They made several official protests that I not crawl up there to get the boxes that we needed. And the fact I can still type today is proof that I didn't fall through the ceiling and break my arms. That or I started typing this post last night and have painfully pecked out every letter with a paper cone strapped to my forehead. Picked up the Mac from Bossman's last night. In my copious spare time (hehe) I am going to make marvelous movies with it. Mac's are appliances more than computers, but occasionally they are cool appliances. I love my new fridge. I can't upgrade the processor in it either, but it still has lots of neat features.

I'm installing (well, having installed) cable at the apartment. Mostly for the internet access, but also for the television. This phone modem internet connection is giving me hives. I don't know how I ever did it before. But I must have internet access at all times. Resistance is futile. You will be connected. I feel like I should have coax cables coming out of my arms and RJ45 jacks at the base of my neck. Although, I suppose the real deal would be for me to have wireless connections installed under my skin.

I really have become spoiled by the things I have here in Tidewater versus the mountains of Blacksburg. I can go to multiple electronics stores within a few miles of each other. Dan was complaining that he has to go to Roanoke - a 45 minute drive - to get to a store that sells a cable modem. We suggested Radio Shack in Blacksburg but that brought on a whole rant from him. He said that if he were poisoned and Radio Shack sold the antidote, he would not set foot in that store but take his chances with death. Mostly because Radio Shack would ask for his zip code and telephone number before they would sell it to him or even speak to him. He also complained that they are a computer store yet fill out paper sales tickets. It's insane, I tell you. No aging football icon or Lois Lane actress can change those things and suddenly make an incredibly crappy store hip and modern.

Well, I'm off to my house to check on the mutt and black goddess and then to get back to work. My paper cone is starting to bend so I should quit while I'm ahead. Have a good evening, y'all.

DLand - Leather and Ice

Got a great car tonight at the Hertz rental. Never underestimate the power of the #1 Club Gold card. It's a great feeling to see your name on the board and get in your Volvo with leather interior and Neverlost system and 5 speed automatic transmission. Someone at Hertz loves me. I also lucked out tonight and got a bulkhead seat on the plane. The flight was on a 757, though, so I had a big space in front of me where the exit is. And I had the coolest flight attendant in the jump seat facing me. He was all chatty about his job and his family and anything that came to mind. He really cheered me up.

He plays hockey with his son. They live in Ft. Lauderdale, and are of course big Panthers fans. But flight attendant guy says he still prefers the Red Wings, and just ignores the goalie. And his son just got a new pair of DeFoe leg pads (with the stars on them and everything), so he's the envy of all the hockey youths in southern Florida.

The neatest thing, though, was that he takes his skates with him on trips. So on long layovers, he plays hockey! This just amazes me. He starts rambling off to me all the best hockey rinks up and down the east coast. It is just phenomenal. He said that the guys on the ground crew in Philly reserve U Penn's rink from 11-1 so that employees can play in between shifts. Absolutely fascinating.

I had never imagined that someone would expend that much effort to play a sport while travelling. I could see running or something solitary. But he goes through great pains to organize his flights around hockey schedules that are hundreds of miles away. He even said he's considered joining a league in New England. The insanity. The devotion. The giant grin on his face as he described this all to me.

I guess just because you're not at your house, doesn't mean you stop living.