I had a meeting with the more reclusive of my two bosses yesterday.

"I hear you're starting to think about looking for a new job," he says in a tone which indicates that he approves.

"Yeah, but probably not until closer to [big conference]," I answer.

"That's good. You don't want to get people excited and then not have the timing work out." I nod, as this is exactly what I've been thinking.

He suggests talking to the company that spun off from his research group, as they're doing better than they were they last time I heard about them two years ago, when they laid off half of their employees.

I see an opening. "Say, does your wife still work for, uh..."

"[Totally rad company]? Yeah."

"Are they looking for people?"

"Gee, I don't know. I haven't asked that question in a while."

Beat.

"Ex-wife, by the way."

Doh!