Phooey and Tarnation

- - - a dinner conversation from last month - - -

or

The Importance of Using the Right Cuss Word

I had gone to the store earlier in the day, and knew there was one thing that I wanted to get, but couldn’t remember what it was while I was in the store.  Finally, at dinner, I remembered that since the Common Household Son is home this week, I wanted to get some ground beef to make meat loaf.   We had this conversation.

Me:  “Oh, now I remember what I wanted to get at the store.” (and getting really mad at myself, I used one of my stronger expletives…) “Rats.”

Husband:  What kind of rats?  Sprague-Dawley rats? Fischer rats?  Brown Norway? Wistar?”

Younger Daughter: “Or those white rats with red eyes?”

Son: “You could get frozen rats.”

Younger Daughter:  “Don’t forget that you have to check with PETA before you get rats.”

Husband:    “Or maybe you’d want to go with powdered rats.  It could be cheaper.”

Me:    “This is really gross.  I’m still eating my dinner.”

Son:  “You should hear what the medical students talk about at lunch.”

Husband:   “Is it gross?”

Son:  “Yes.”

Husband:    “Gross Anatomy?”

Son: “Is there any other kind?”