Academics

Emily: "Would you be my chair? (I don't know how you ask that.)"

Professor Berry: "It's a marriage, you know--it's a serious thing. (You get down on one knee; I want a ring.)

"I would be honored."

Evidently that is how you ask someone to be your chair.

Also today:

Emily: "Do you have a chance to meet with me tomorrow?"

Professor Tocqueville: "Do you have my cell phone number? Could you send me a text message? I know that sounds odd after everything I've said about facebook."