Leon Redbone Causes Some Office Drama

Ah, memories….

Once upon a time I was working at a small-ish non-profit. I was always the first one there, getting in a few hours of database development before the office got too chaotic. One morning, I was listening to Leon Redbone’s Winin’ Boys Blues….

Winin’ boy, don’t deny my name
I’m the winin’ boy, don’t deny my name

However, at the time, I thought the lyrics were
Morning, Boss. Don’t you know my name?

At just that moment, my fempreneur influencer VIP creator One-Ted-Talk-Away-From-Greatness boss (let’s call her “E”) walks in, and I say, “Morning, Boss.” Dear god, did she become unglued. I didn’t really get the full gist of her displeasure (I tend to tune out when people yell at me), but for some reason the word “boss” was highly offensive to her. Let’s just say that, at that point, glass ceiling feminism took a pretty big hit in my understanding of social consciousness.

I’ve had several female bosses since “E”, and I have never once called any of them “boss”. Good job, “E”. You win.

Elder G helps us process this trauma:

Scene: *A dimly lit, cluttered office in the early hours of the morning. The air is thick with the quiet hum of computers and the faint scent of stale coffee. Papers are scattered across desks, and old, flickering fluorescent lights cast a cold, uneven glow. The programmer, a young man with bleary eyes, is seated at his desk, typing away furiously on his keyboard. He’s dressed in a wrinkled shirt, sleeves rolled up, and his tie askew.*

*The door creaks open, and his boss, a woman in her early 50s, strides in. She’s well-dressed but has a sharp, no-nonsense demeanor. Her hair is neatly pulled back, and she’s carrying a sleek briefcase.*

Programmer: *Glancing up from his screen* “Good morning, boss.”

*There’s a pause. The woman’s eyes narrow as the word “boss” hits her like a slap. Her face flushes with anger, and she snaps.*

Boss: *Her voice low, icy, and trembling with suppressed fury* “What did you just call me?”

*The programmer, oblivious to the sudden change in atmosphere, looks up in confusion.*

Programmer: *Faltering* “Uh, boss? I—”

Boss: *Cutting him off, her voice rising* “Don’t you *dare* call me that again! I am not your ‘boss’ like some petty dictator or overseer. I am your manager, your colleague—your equal! Not some title you throw around casually as if I’m just another obstacle in your day!”

*The tension in the room becomes almost palpable. The programmer, now wide-eyed, stammers, unsure of how to respond.*

Programmer: *Stumbling over his words* “I’m—I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”

Boss: *Taking a deep breath, clearly struggling to regain her composure* “Just… don’t. Next time, try ‘good morning’ without the label.”

*She glares at him for a moment longer before turning on her heel and leaving the room. The door slams shut behind her, leaving t he programmer sitting there, bewildered and slightly shaken.*

Disclaimer – I’m nowhere near as good looking as the guy in the images. “E”, however, is fairly accurately portrayed.

Boss Lady “E” and the 74LS555

For some reason, former employer “E” reminds me of my favorite integrated circuit – the 74LS555 – the astable multivibrator. Note the seemingly innocuous “trigger”, “threshold”, and “discharge” pins.