Today is the day to make a clay pot (not erotically).

Chicagoans, looking for something to do on Thursday? Go check out the wonderful Kevin Guilfoile, who will be making one of his last appearances for his very popular book Cast of Shadows. He'll be be giving a talk and signing at the Webster Place Barnes and Noble at the corner of Webster and Clybourn in Chicago, Thursday night at 7:30 PM. You should go, you won't be sorry (and if you do go, tell him I sent you.)

I haven't been having a very good last week or two at my job. I've landed on the shit list of a co-worker of mine for reasons I'm not quite clear on. It may be deserved, it may not be, but the mystery is part of the fun!

So there was a little extra drama yesterday towards the end of the day, with everyone getting a little hysterical. I called my boss, basically yelling "Whatever, I don't know what she wants but I'm sure this is all my fault! Wah!"

My boss told me to get a grip, and then offered these words of comfort: "Obviously, something is going on with [coworker], and she's kicking the dog. Right now, you're the dog."

Uh, thanks?

I know she was trying to make me feel better and it probably makes sense but it was not the best parting shot I've been left with. I left work wondering if anybody gets this from other bosses, or friends or family members-backhanded comfort? IE, you're nervous about submitting a piece to a magazine and you're soothed with "They probably won't read it anyway," or you're worried about a mistake you made at work and you get "Well, at least it's not as bad as your stunningly inept customer service."

Do you have any stories like this? Share them with me and we can all enjoy them together and hopefully inflict them upon others when the time is right.