Sometimes, particularly on especially stressful days, I am struck by just how weird it is to be human, in light of all the arbitrary and bizarre constructs we have set up around ourselves. Some of it seems real -- finding a mate, or a meal, for example -- but some of it, especially the work world, with all of the anxiety and neuroses that have nothing to do with physical danger, is just so bizarre.

How the heck did all of humanity get me to the point where I'm trying to speak as quickly as I can about dental plan websites to a manager who is trying to get an appointment in before the plan year is out?