So last night I attend my company's Christmas party. It's supposedly a big deal because the last time they threw one was over a decade ago. Or something. So knowing that, I thought it might be nice to attend. There were also rumors going around that the owner / President was going to retire and hand the reigns over to his son. That didn't end up (quite) happening, but it was certainly enough of a possibility to encourage me to go.
Most of those in attendance were the local people however. Which ended up being a surprising number of people. Supposedly the company has about 140 employees and that includes office personnel, shop personnel, and all the drivers. My best guess is that about half that many were actually there. Being a small company, Pohl tends to attract a lot of drivers that are local to the central-western Ohio area. I'm a rarity living in the north-east. In fact, a good many people were quite surprised (in a good way) to see me there. I ended up spending money for a hotel room locally to avoid having to sleep in my truck... but hey, no big deal. It's worth getting a hotel room from time to time anyhow in this profession. I also won one of the random prize giveaways they were drawing every so often. Not one of the larger prizes (several $300 Wal-Mart shopping cards as well as an LCD television as the grand prize). But I'll take a free windbreaker and not complain.
During my second trip to the bar I ended up talking a bit to the wife of the owner. I mentioned Rhode Island and she said they'd been there during one of their many vacations. Even took the time to visit Block Island. She commented that I didn't sound like I was from "back east". I smiled and actually took this as a compliment. I explained that when I'd joined the Marines after high-school I specifically worked to drop my Rhode Island accent. I will say that... to perhaps only a small degree... I do relapse just a little bit when in the company of any Rhode Islanders that have a particularly pronounced local dialect. There's something infectious about it I guess. In a bad way this time.
Generally speaking, I'm happy that I have gotten rid of that manner of speaking. As much as I love my home state, the local dialect is not one to be proud of in my opinion.
Now excuse me while I go pahk my truck side by each so I can get a slice a pizzer for dinnah.
Most of those in attendance were the local people however. Which ended up being a surprising number of people. Supposedly the company has about 140 employees and that includes office personnel, shop personnel, and all the drivers. My best guess is that about half that many were actually there. Being a small company, Pohl tends to attract a lot of drivers that are local to the central-western Ohio area. I'm a rarity living in the north-east. In fact, a good many people were quite surprised (in a good way) to see me there. I ended up spending money for a hotel room locally to avoid having to sleep in my truck... but hey, no big deal. It's worth getting a hotel room from time to time anyhow in this profession. I also won one of the random prize giveaways they were drawing every so often. Not one of the larger prizes (several $300 Wal-Mart shopping cards as well as an LCD television as the grand prize). But I'll take a free windbreaker and not complain.
During my second trip to the bar I ended up talking a bit to the wife of the owner. I mentioned Rhode Island and she said they'd been there during one of their many vacations. Even took the time to visit Block Island. She commented that I didn't sound like I was from "back east". I smiled and actually took this as a compliment. I explained that when I'd joined the Marines after high-school I specifically worked to drop my Rhode Island accent. I will say that... to perhaps only a small degree... I do relapse just a little bit when in the company of any Rhode Islanders that have a particularly pronounced local dialect. There's something infectious about it I guess. In a bad way this time.
Generally speaking, I'm happy that I have gotten rid of that manner of speaking. As much as I love my home state, the local dialect is not one to be proud of in my opinion.
Now excuse me while I go pahk my truck side by each so I can get a slice a pizzer for dinnah.