Approaching the work kitchenette, I figured that I would make small talk with a co-worker.  “So are you busy with year-end stuff?,” I asked.

My co-worker looked at me with a puzzled and slightly shocked look on his face.  “I’m sorry.  What did you say?,” came his baffled response.

I tried again, “Are you busy with year-end stuff?”

“Oh!,” he said with a bit of relief on his face and continued to answer my question.

After our short talk, I returned to my desk a little confused and ran the conversation through my mind.  Hearing my own voice in my head, it soon became clear.  If I mumbled slightly (a common occurrence), my question may well have sounded like, “Are you busy with urine stuff?”

Well, I think we all can agree that “urine stuff” is a poor way to wrap up a year.