Sometimes I have to state the obvious

My SO (of many, many years) has been generous and patient enough over the years to point out to me when I need to be more mindful of my audience in my speaking and writing. It's a tough habit for a geek-grrl who is deeply attracted to the complexities in people, and objects, and especially language.

I'll admit that his advice has helped a LOT as I've waltzed into the academy with a skillset (personality? let's not go there) that neither my colleagues nor my students have been entirely prepared for, especially that part about, as he puts it, "not using the unfamiliar to describe the unfamiliar."

(OK, maybe I slipped that one time when I compared certain Metaphysical poets to certain progressive rock bands, but that doesn't count because one of my students actually got it.)

But the help has its limits. Oddly, he has been getting after me today for using my regular blend of jargon in our conversations... never mind that I'm directing these statements to him, who I'm willing to assume understands what I'm saying. (Or at least he *should* by now IMHO.)

After the last jibe, I had to call him on it:

"You know, if you're going to get after me for using big words... you picked a helluva point in our relationship to start."

Thankfully, he's smart enough to see the humor in it. But he still complained that I made his eyes water. Again.

Getting after me for using big words.... good grief...