Slayer strength not required.

[offbalance]

I don't know why people are so amazed when I can change the big bottle in the water cooler at work. Really, guys. I know I'm 5'4, but I'm of good, hearty peasant stock. My Maternal Grandmother and Paternal Great-Grandmother could totally kick your ass*. Maternal Grandmother carried huge metal bins of coal ash up from her basement to be disposed of several times a week. She was barely 5 feet, but all of my Uncle's friends (who were 6 feet tall or taller) were all scared of her bad side. (And from what I've heard, with good reason. She was a lovely, sweet woman, but you did not cross her.)

My Paternal Great-Grandmother was what you might call a problem-solver. A famous-in-the-family story that best illustrates it is one of my favorites. She was tired of her landlord jerking her around about replacing the cast-iron coal stove in their apartment, and finally got completely fed up. She yanked the stove out of the wall, carried it down several flights of stairs, kicked the landlord's door open, threw the stove at him, then PUNCHED HIM. And you know what she got in return, kids?

A new stove.

You do not fuck with us.

I think I can handle a few gallons of Poland Spring. I promise.


*My paternal grandma could whip the shit out of you verbally, so don't think for a second that she'd be easy to tangle with. The snark is genetic, and goes back generations.

Comments

[blue_ant]

I don't know why people are so amazed when I can change the big bottle in the water cooler at work.
I run into the same thing. Granted, we have people who are physically unable to change it (due to health issues), but mostly people just say it's too heavy. Our new director asked if the guy who came to replace the water changed it and I was like, 'uh, no, sometimes I've even done it.' He gave me a surprised look.

[offbalance.livejournal.com]

There are a few other people in my department who can't change it for the same reason - but I'm young, healthy and strong. The ones who really freak out about me lifting the thing tend to be male, but more than just the guys raise and eyebrow at me "lifting that big, heavy thing!"