cbd (12/30/82)
I have a copy of an article called "Texas Crude" from an old issue of the CoEvolution Quarterly. The article is a collection of conversational fragments, slurs, curses, imaginative expletives and words of uncertain heritage but precise meaning that the author put together while working in the Texas oil fields. These fragments, etc are colorful, earthy and sometimes just crude, but they express real sentiment and aren't (I hope) an affectation. Some examples of these fragments and their meanings: "Might as well; can't dance and it's too wet to plow." 1. Acquiescent answer to any question. 2. "O.K., let's" crippled sick 1. Gravely, albeit psychosomatically, sick. "I'd love to he'p you boys load that hay, but I've been just crippled sick here lately." slutted out 1. Ruined, laid waste to "Son, you want to watch out for those 'mechanic's special' cars in the want ads. Most of 'em are so slutted out it'd take a faith healer to get 'em to start." to sleaze over to a place 1. To go, furtively, somewhere "The plates on my pickup are stolen, so let's kinda sleaze on over to Gunther's and see if we can talk him out of a cold beer." "You'd complain if you were hung with a new rope" 1. You're a chronic malcontent "A hundred yard dash and a good cigar would kill him" 1. He's so out of shape he's only breathing from memory. There are others in his article, of course, but you get the flavor. There must be such fragments of conversation from all regions of the country and I'd like to hear them. If you know any that are in the same vein or even close (or even NOT so close!), please send them to me along with an explanation and a sentence or two showing typical usage. If response warrants, I'll post them to the net or mail them to interested people. Thank you. Carl Deitrick ihuxb!cbd