I think I could start an entire blog by this name. My boss has the magical way of making all conversations with you intensely awkward in ways that no one can ever really put their finger on, generally with the result of darting eyes and nonsensical babble. Not in a creepy way or inappropriate way, but more like how a teenager feels when running into her high school Calculus teacher at the mall kind of way.

This morning he came to my office re: my article, to find me slumped over my keyboard, face in hands, rubbing my eyes in pain, looking at case citations. (Yeah, doing work is hard.)

He gave me back my article with revisions today. His major point? Remove all citations/quotes to internet billionaire Mark Cuban, because "I don't really like him. They're good quotes and all, but I just don't like Mark Cuban" Um. Ok.

Me: "But the Steve Schwarzman quotes are ok? You like him?"

Fritz (paraphrase): "Yeah. I like Schwarzman. Those can stay."

Schwarzman? He likes Schwarzman? I was about 2 seconds from retorting that I, on the otherhand, really dislike Steven Schwarzman, and however much Mark Cuban might be a self-centered wacky loose cannon, Steve Schwarzman is twice the arrogant jerk that Mark Cuban even when he's asleep or under anesthetic. Instead I laughed, and while openly laughing at your boss for his irrational hatred of internet billionaires is not preferred office behavior, it's still a distant second to openly mocking/challenging them on it. Or, put differently, nervous uncomfortable laughter is always a preferred response to nervous, uncomfortable sarcastic babble.

I think I'm making progress here.