I love traveling for a lot of reasons, but in particular, leaving home and getting out of my daily routine teaches me so much about myself, and gives me time and space to reflect on what I take for granted as "normal."

After 15+ years in Washington, D.C., and regularly "swiping" my Metro card, I was surprised to "dip" it in Chicago. Not only do the official (posted) instructions advise train passengers to "dip" their cards, but a Station Manager reinforced the term when I asked him for help, as did this Chicago Tribune article.

To my delight, my opportunities to use the word "dip" have expanded! There's now more to "dip" than my toe in a swimming pool or a soft-serve ice cream cone into warm chocolate.

I wonder if there's a linguist doing field research in train stations across the U.S. -- preparing to design a "dip vs. swipe" map similar to this "pop vs. soda" map? (Or maybe "swipe" is a D.C. Metro thing?)

I've come to expect it as part of the script. Any mid-range or better restaurant in the U.S. coaches their servers to check in with customers after they take their first or second bite.

"How is everything for ya today?"

(Although I recently got, "Is everything tasting good for ya today?" To which, I wanted to reply, "Yes, my taste buds are functioning well for me today. Thank you for asking today.")

The thing is that I almost never tell the truth. Unless something is raw or rancid, I won't give real feedback. My canned answer (most of the time spoken with a full mouth and only fleeting eye contact) is, "Great, thanks."

I don't reveal, "This vinaigrette tastes bottled," or "You skimped on the shrimp," or whatever it is that I am actually thinking...and and whatever has already influenced my decision of whether or not I'll return for a future meal.

For restaurants, is the question simply a way to build the customer relationship? Small talk while facilitating drink refills?  I wonder what kind of data comes from this inquiry? Is there a missed opportunity here? Could changing the question help create a dialogue with customers? Help customers share what they are thinking about "how things are tasting." Help customers share precious info with their servers -- before they get home and post candid comments to Yelp? (As I do!)

I did a double take in Bed Bath & Beyond the other day. Baby - what? Bullet? Really? What do babies have to do with bullets? (I hope nothing!)

[For those of you who haven't seen it: This product is a mini food-processor. It's marketed to parents interested in pureeing wholesome food for their babies. Some research informed me of a related (parent!) product called the 'Magic Bullet.']

I got to wondering about the product name. Two options: 'Baby bullets' could either be small bullets (as in, smaller than the Magic Bullet) or bullets for babies. (It feels wrong even to type this!)

As I stepped back, I realized my angst is simply in placing the two words (baby+bullet) side by side. Ick! 'Bullet' makes me think guns, war, shooting, death. Certainly not homemade organic applesauce. What were the marketing folks thinking?

Of course, there's a good chance that the name doesn't bother anyone but me. (I should check out the product sales stats.) And there's a chance the product performs so well that new parents don't care what it's called. And, anyway, the packaging is very friendly. That smiley face won't shoot me. It couldn't possibly!