Guy walks into my office just now, "do you have that #?".

This is not someone I had spoken to yet today. It is someone I help with their open enrollment 2 days ago and we did not leave any tasks up in the air that I needed to do work on, so.....

"What number are you talking about?"

My people need to work on giving context, framing questions, presenting full thoughts. Also some recognition that I am not in their brains and am working on something completely unrelated to their tasks.

Ow. Worked out with trainer yesterday (good), but woke up this morning and not only are my legs completely useless (expected), but I have a headache. BOO. Took some painkiller, drinking coffee, hoping it will go away.

My people need to work on giving context

Meh, context is so limiting.

Also some recognition that I am not in their brains and am working on something completely unrelated to their tasks.

That's the key right there.

You could have just told him "9002" if he's not gonna tell you what number.

That's the kind of question I'd be rattling off "867-5309" in response to. You don't want an earworm, learn to explain what exactly it is you're asking about.

I like that answer.

Went for a walk and that helped my headache, but now that i am back inside it's coming back. I just need to work outside today, clearly.

24601!!!!!!

Just had the yearly benefits meeting. Health insurance will not be going up, though apparently Obamacare is responsible for everyone else's premiums going up. This guy has dissed Obamacare every year since it came out, I should throw a spitball at him. Apparently, my company's dedication to wellness programs has kept our premiums down, as our costs have gone down. "And," I thought to myself, "the million-plus dollars that went to try and save my husband is probably off the books, too, plus all the maintenance that went into him is over." Last year they mentioned the "one or two expensive cases we're covering for your company, so you can count on our coverage." I feel like saying something about how much that hurt to have brought up, even though there was nothing identifying about it, but that seems so over-sensitive. Plus, it might actually be reassuring to someone who's contemplating such expensive care. The world will continue to find ways to kick me in the head, I can't expect to dodge them all.

Last year they mentioned the "one or two expensive cases we're covering for your company, so you can count on our coverage." I feel like saying something about how much that hurt to have brought up, even though there was nothing identifying about it, but that seems so over-sensitive.

Actually, it's never appropriate to say something like that. That's how health insurance works, and companies know that -- you get some people who never use it, a lot who have things like strep throat and yearly physicals, a handful with broken bones and common surgeries, and then a tiny amount with things like cancer or other expensive conditions. That's the point behind group insurance, and your company/insurance agent damn well knows it, so it's not okay to refer to employees (or their family members) with "expensive conditions."

Actually, it's never appropriate to say something like that.

Right