Ka-Pow!!! (REDUX)

10.4.2015  (first posted 2002)


My dad told me a story about a job interview he once had. He said it was going well, as a friend of his was the HR director and was conducting the interview, and the other stuffed shirts in attendance seemed at friendly and slightly less formal than the situation suggested. My pop was a corporate labor lawyer and he was interviewing at Chicago’s biggest fireworks manufacturer’s headquarters. This outfit produced the popular Martian Starbursts, the Incandescent Swarms and the crowd-favorite Flaming Ass Ponys, and while it was very successful, its factorys were rife with worker’s comp cases. They needed someone with a lot of experience and my dad had a ton. The interview was coming to a close, or perhaps it was over and some smalltalk-pleasantries were being exchanged, hands were being shaken and such, when, quite naturally my dad said the word "fuck." His HR-pal went white and someone ripped the needle across the record;  s c r e e c h i n g  the post-interview gab session to a halt.

I stopped my dad’s account of the situation and asked him the context of his usage. He’s got an interesting way with words at times and he said something like: "Well I didn’t goddamn say I wanted to fuck the old guy’s wife or anything. Not even, 'I’ll git them slacker-fucks for ya.' No. It was 'Fuck yes, I think the Bears look bad.' Not my problem the guy’s some Christian anti-abusive-language ... um ... 'fuck'" I had to laugh. Then he said he's glad he got the info about the undocumented No Swearing policy. Had he been hired he'd have had to quit. He said something like, "I wouldn't work a day in a place where you couldn't say fuck." I agreed. Shame about all them fireworks, though.

Tonight - Homestead

Whole bunch of new folks on the list tonight. Work mates. They say fuck every other word. Thank fucking Christ. The venue has lots of booze and a killer juke. Bring yr friends. I know I will. The cell will be on. See you there! bye-ee!

whrr ... clik!