Have you ever tried to start writing a story about something and gotten stuck on the opening line? Someone smart once told me to start in middle and work their way out. I guess that's what I'll do.

I went to a plumbing supply store today with one of my co-workers. We were doing some field work today on a remediation system. Big environmental sentence there for doing some work, and trying to break or not break things as the case required. Anyway, we needed to find some specific PVC pipe that they don't carry at Lowes. Yes, for all you skeptics and Lowes afficianados, there are items they do not carry.

Anyway, my co-worker and I waltz into this plumbing store in full field regalia. I'm talking several layers of clothing, hats, gloves, coveralls, and ugly hats. Sidebar, I've yet to meet a field person who doesn't own an ugly hat. My own is red, yellow and orange with earflaps. Back to my story.

We walk into the plumbing supply place, carrying a broken piece of PVC that was once a part of the remediation system and announce loudly that we need this piece, this piece and this piece. The plumbers look at us, look at the piece, look at us again and realize we're both female under all those layers. So immediately, they start offering their assistance, at a price, offering to call someone to help us put this item together with the pieces we purchase, and asking just what on earth it is we're going to do, and if we're going to do it ourselves.

My gregarious nature pops into play, and I start answering. Dialogue of the conversation went something like this.

Mister Friendly Plumber (MFP): Are you ladies certain you can put that together yourselves?
Me: Yep. Like we told our boss, we're not dumb girls. Besides, how hard can it be?
MFP: Who do you gals work for anyway?
Me: (looking at clothing of both self and co-worker printed with logo of company on both hats and sweatshirts) Erm...
MFP: What on earth is that wierd looking part for anyway?
Me: It's part of a remediation system.
MFP: Where from?
Me: Well, could be from anywhere. (note bene, clients don't like folks to mention that we're doing work at their sites if we're working with hazardous waste. Just as a general rule).
MFP: You mean you're buying something for someone else?
Me: Erm. No.
MFP: So you do know where that's going to go?
Me: Look, I'm trying to be cryptic and not tell you where this is going.

Am I smooth or what?