Just Call Me Zippy

I don't know about other types of jobs, but it seems like everybody on a construction site has a nick name. Most of the time the story behind somebody's nick name is hilarious, other times there's not enough brain bleach in the world. Anyway, here's how I got mine.

One morning at work I was wearing my favorite pair of jeans when I went to discuss something with a coworker and as I sat down my button popped right off! Of course, because of how they fit, this was the only pair of jeans in my wardrobe that I didn't wear a belt with. As this was about 7 o'clock in the morning, I settled in for a rough day. Things started out not too badly, as long as I adjusted them when I stood up and didn't put too much in my pockets they stayed on fairly well. Unfortunately that didn't last long.

After nearly losing my pants completely on the way to a meeting I set about trying to find something to hold them on with. First I tried rubber bands, that backfired rather painfully. Then I found that there was a small hole where the button used to be and I was able to thread a paperclip through it and hook the other end into the button hole. This worked surprisingly well for most of the day. I could even take it on and off with only slightly more difficulty than the original button. I thought I was home free.

Then I had to go out in one of the more cramped portions of the plant. Not willing to trust my modesty (don't laugh!) to a paperclip I pondered what would be more sturdy. I mentioned my dilemma to my Superintendent, as he was the one taking me out to the plant. Then it came to me: a zip tie! Not really thinking about who I was talking to, I asked my Super if he had one. I realized my mistake immediately as a look of pure joy crossed his face. He paused, then started digging in his desk, finally pulling out a hot pink zip tie. "Here you go... Zippy!" he said with glee. *sigh* After assuring him I knew how to use a zip tie properly we headed out into the plant without incident. And then we came back to the office, where he proceeded to introduce me to everybody as Zippy. When people inevitably gave him confused looks he'd turn to me, and barely containing his mirth, would exclaim "Show them! Show them!" to which I had no reply other than to stand and show off my fashionable hot-pink zip tied pants.

Thus I will forever be known as Zippy.