Oliver

Have long talk with Oliver today. Rather, he talks and I listen. He is short, has a long head and wears plug earrings, medium sized and though he has much to say about many topics--New Jersey, Cindy Stevens, the best egg sandwich around, the person I'm replacing, who was a--Oliver rolls his eyes--a to-tal night-MARE--details follow--apparently if don't sleep with donor, abuse American Express card, and fall alseep in meetings, will be far ahead of game. While he talks, worry about process of getting plug into ear lobe--it seems that one must start with a smaller plug and then work one's way up to the larger sizes, but don't know how to ask without sounding 500 years old. He's moved on to new topic. Books. When he's done with graduate school he plans to have a book done, ready to give to agent. He takes rare pause. Interject that have been working on book also (why?). Oh, he says how long has it taken you? Reply, For a couple of years.He gives me a look of utter disdain. He does not want to spend more than six months on his book. He's not writing the sort of book that takes forever to write. Everyone says that writing is hard, but that's just becasue they are neurotic. Reply weakly, Right. Retreat to office in more-or-less shattered state. Spend rest of afternoon reading through donor files--exercise which further calls own path into question.