CRAKK SMAKKKK WHAPPPP!

I woke up this morning to what sounded like a chisel against my wall. As I came to, I realized it was phase II of the A/C installation, getting the old unit out and putting the new one in. There's, like, hole-cutting and mudding involved and a buncha other stuff I really didn't understand, the upshot being coolness and energy savings when it's all said and done.

The fun part was the work stopped, and I got to hear (through the vent, mind you) worker bee and boss who's probably sitting on his fat butt somewhere argue about the "pad" that the unit sits on via walkie-talkie. It went a little like this:

"Whuuuut part 'a 'don't tear up the pad' don't yuuu unnnerstahn? "

"I didn't tear it, what I said was---"

"WHUUUT PART 'A 'DON'T TEAR UP THE PAD', DON'T YUUU UNNNERSTAHN?"

"It's a female connection, we don't have the t---"

"WHUUUT PAR,.. 'A 'DON'T TEAR UP THE PAD',... DON'T YUUU UNNNERSTAHN?"

I was really about to stomp out there, grab the mic, and say, "What part of 'get your sarcastic fat butt over here and do something useful' don't YUUUUU understand. Now would you two gentlemen kindly quit comparing wrench sizes and GIT ME SOME DAMN A/C! Aaaaaand OUT."

Of course, as it always happens, I didn't actually do that, and as soon as I thought of it work began again. I've always been on the side of the proletariat, as that's where I come from, and I guess the "overseer" taking that tone just really grated me. Through my stepfather's work as a construction plumber, I came to realize that's what a lot of manual labor workers have to deal with: their bosses being combative jerks for no good reason and at a detriment to the project.

You've got to wonder if the situation would have been any different if the workers involved were women, specifically Texas women....

"Now, honey, you know we cain't tear that pad..."

"Oh, ah know, an' ah didn't. Couldjuu brang me a male connector??"

"Oh honey, if brangin' you males was only that easy.. (conversation dissolves into giggles...)