When I was a child (?), my parents used to tell me to think before I spoke. Psychologically, we do that. Semantically, all of us end up regurgitating information that doesn't a sense always make.
Communication context can help piece together the verbal jigsaws that you and me and your uncle blurt out in stream of conscience; but people will often say things that alone just don't fit.
Let's take for instance a phone conversation I had with someone last week. He said, "The letter my doctor wrote was wonderful. It makes me sound like I'm an invalid." What the?.. Well the letter was for an insurance claim, but you didn't know that.
A work associate's words were cut in stone when he said, "I won the bet." It should suffice to say he committed certain acts after hours in our workplace, and with photographic proof, he certainly did win the bet. It's all in the context.
"D.I.A. didn't smell like waffles the way Stapleton used to." That was in a letter from a pal on vacation. That makes me think of a phonetic interpretation of a Led Zepplin song. "I wanna say—she's my writer. I wanna tell you—she's my writer. Blow your mind—she's my writer. She ain't but sixteen—but she's my writer." Then again, "I'm gonna go be pompous," also comes to mind for that individual.
"You're cruising toward Yuppiedom. You're gonna wake up, not feel like going to work and say, `Maybe I'll go buy some shoes.'" "I don't need to work out—I drink beer!" "OK, we gave what's-his-name the thingamabob—what else do we have to do?" All from one guy. Confusion...
And in total innocence, this sweet girl of 18 asked, "What do deers eat?" Not one of us in a party of eight could answer.
"You know the greatest thing about parties? It's batteries in your kitchen sink. You know? It's like, what were you thinking?" Good point.
"The problem we seem to be running into here is that there are no women here." Preach on party brother.
We were jammin' at the Race Shack, and Ron Alred, owner of Telluride Ski resort, busts through the door, pinning me between it and the ski rack, and yells, "Turn it down! And I don't ever want to hear it that loud again!" Sorry there Ronnyboy!
A few more excerpts taken from the Race Shack... "I'm such a dork; I just got my frog shirt all muddy."
"I'll show ya how to ski slalom."
"I can handle Tommy." (Yeah, right Puck!)
"Don't ski away from Me!" I think the boss was stoned.
The old Race Shack is best summed up with Frits saying, "He's a real joker." The boss, that is.
I remember a girl yelling across campus, "My prof is in the hospital with a bleeding ulcer, so I don't have anything to do!"
Out of context...
"You guys should get bone spurs; then you don't have to worry about shoes. You only have one pair."
"This is Beverly Hills stuff!"
"I like to get stoned, watch Northern Exposure, lay here and giggle."
"I ski perfect." (Yeah, right Rob)
"The important thing is not how it looks, but how it tastes."
"I don't want to sound bitter, but I am!"
"My girlfriend Nadine, she can rip'em loud."
"Of course he can't get along with anyone; he smokes to much pot!" Speaking of the same boss guy.
"Don't move unless you want a little daylight in your liver!"
"We sure as heckfire aren't in Kansas anymore, Toto!"
"I'm bigger than the whole world. People live on me."
"No friends on a powder day!"
One statement pertains to all things. It even precedes, "Anything worth doing is worth doing in excess." It's the quote to live by, especially for partying: "Go big or go home!"
The group was heading to "The House - a tavern". I was too drunk. I had to get up early in the morning. I was whining. When I turned around and headed South I heard,
"Michigan's goin' home."