the shorter story.

Sorry about missing last week. As you all know, this time of year is always a bitch! Zetetic [ze-tet'ik] adjective or noun Definition Proceeding by inquiry; a search or investigation; a skeptical seeker of knowledge. A term originally used to refer to Pyrrhonists, a group of ancient Greek skeptics, it has come to mean both the process of inquiry and one who so proceeds. A zetetic is thus a sort of intellectual agnostic who, while seeking greater truths, is always wary of falsehood. Etymology Greek zetetikos, from zeteein, 'to seek.' Usage Sandra always used to refer to herself, in a rather grandiose manner, that she was a zetetic - a seeker of truth and wisdom, and wary of being mislead. I, however, in a zetetic manner rather figured her to just be an argumentative bitch. True story, except the Sandra of the tale isn't smart enough to know what a zetetic is!

contretemps [KON-truh-tahn; Fr. kawntruh-TAHN]

noun
an inopportune occurrence; an embarrassing mischance

An unforeseen event that disrupts the normal course of things; an inopportune occurrence.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/contretemps


I congratulated myself on being the first in line to speak to the new boss to recommend myself and my abilities. Unfortunately a contretemps in the form of a fly buzzing into my mouth as I opened it to speak kept me from giving this boss my name, and Eliza behind me got the promotion.