I dislike going to departmental events. I have to pretend to be friendly and that I care about what other people are doing. And if you run into somebody important, you have to listen to what they say.

Me: Oh, hi.
Person I Don't Care About (PIDCA): Hi, how are you doing? How was winter break?
Me: Good... (now, grudingly) and how was yours?
PIDCA: Great! <>. So anyway... what are you working on these days?
Me: (thinking "the shitwork that your peers give me") Well, you know, the usual.
PIDCA: Keeping you busy?
Me: Yeah, certainly. (with shitwork).