(FYI, she asked someone to tell her what the word salty means, and, having a peculiar passion for that word, I did, and received a shout out for it, for which I thank her.)

That passion is passionate hatred, however, and I fear that wasn't made clear in her entry. My loathing of that word is so complete that I really couldn't bare to think people may believe that I was able to tell her what the word means because I like the word, or because I use it in everyday conversation, or because I condone its use by others.

(Many of you, especially those who don't live in the Midwest and/or aren't weenies, may not know what the word means, other that the obvious. When used as an adjective to describe another person, it means "jaded" or "bitter." Yes, "bitter" has been overused and corrupted by college girls, but why one wouldn't use the underappreciated "jaded" is beyond me.)

I first heard the word last summer while, curiously, visiting action_grrl's hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. However, the person from whom I heard it wasn't a native of The 'Nati. (Although he was planning on moving there.) He was in fact from Milwaukee. Anyway, he said it several times (in fact one might even say he, ahem, peppered his speech with the word), and it immediately made my skin crawl and my hands curl into fists. Finally, after a few drinks, I asked him what the fuck it meant, and was given the explanation. He was an otherwise nice guy, but his use of that word was so unforgivable that I couldn't really get past it.

My little cousin, also a Milwaukee native, called me salty later that summer. I resisted the urge to punch him in the face, since he is only 14 and a reedy 14 at that, and since my aunt and uncle would probably have wanted an explanation. I made fun of him instead, which, to a 14-year-old, is worse than being punched in the face, anyway.

Consider this a public service message of sorts: Don't use that word. Ever. You'll sound silly. And if I overhear, and if you're not related to me, I may very well punch you in the face.