I believe water-cooler talk - unless it's about me.

Unfortunately, I have to work for a living.  The equivalent of the office water cooler is situated around the corner from my cubby.   Like most work places there’s gossip galore . . . sometimes more yak, yak, yakking than work, work, working.  The gosspimongerers in my office tend to not follow the unwritten guidelines for workplace chit chat of gathering around the water cooler to engage in their nattering; they’re more like free-range blatherers.

Personally, I don’t participate in the nosy-parkering.  I couldn’t care less about who is doing what to whom or about such & such and so & so involving you know what. 

I never get what all the scuttlebutt is about anyway . . . really, who cares?

I DO!  Well, not so much about the gossip . . . but about scuttlebutt.  What in the heck is a scuttlebutt?  I’ve heard a butt scuttle but . . .  I digress.

A scuttle is a small opening and a butt is a large cask . . . combine the two and you have a small hole cut into a cask or barrel to allow individual cups of water to be drawn out.  A scuttlebutt was typically located on a ship’s deck and was a sailor’s source of drinking water and gossip.

A furphy (furfie) is the Australian equivalent of scuttlebutt.  It also has the same slangular connotation.  A furphy was a water cart used to supply water to Australian troops during World War I.  Just like water coolers and scuttlebutts, furphies became popular as gathering places where soldiers could share rumors and hearsay.

I’m not telling tales out of school . . . I'm just edumacating y'all.  Now that you're all learned up . . . 

Beefy Mac Recipe

1 Medium Chopped Onion

1 Pound Lean Ground Beef

1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil

16 Ounces Elbow Macaroni

2 Cans Kidney Beans, Drained

1 Large Can Chopped Tomatoes

1 Teaspoon Salt

2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1 Cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese

 

In a large skillet, brown ground beef.  Drain and set aside.  In the same skillet brown onion. Add kidney beans, tomatoes, macaroni and salt. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Add shredded cheeses; cover and continue to heat until cheese is melted.