My limited conversational skills

by Cassandra
(United States)

I found this site a mere two days ago, and I haven't been able to open my browser window without having the urge to come back to it. I've always nurtured the secret desire to be an elegant, classy woman, and this site is lovely, inspiring, and makes everything seem as if it's in reach-as if a girl doesn't have to be born into a royal or extremely wealthy family to be elegant.

The problem I have lies in the area of conversation. Many of the elements, such as those of personal style and table etiquette are coming together quite nicely for me, but as soon as I open my mouth I shatter any illusion of elegance. I am a product of my environment. I go to college. I take martial arts classes from retired mercenaries. Needless to say, I have a filthy mouth. A large part of day is taken up with being an "entertainer", and this usually involves some sort of vulgar quip or pun. I'd like to change this aspect of my personality, but I don't know how. My frends are used to me being the girl who can make them laugh and who can cheer them up no matter what, be it with a raunchy joke or a loudly re-enacted parody of a story. I feel as though I'll lose them if I'm not funny anymore, and I feel as if I'll lose myself somehow. To be honest, I don't know what to say if I didn't find the (inappropriate) humor in every situation. How can I develop a more refined set of conversational skills without being boring?