Audited

Unfortunately, when I haven't seen friends in a while they want to "catch up." "Catching up" is a lot like being audited, as it forces you to account for all the time since you last caught up. Over dinner, friends say things like, "How are you?" The short answer is "Fine." It's short because it ends conversation. Then you have to think of something else to say. The long answer is "Miserable." It's long because they'll want to know why, and then you have to tell them. The medium answer is, "Fine, and you?"
--Iris Smyles