Yay mac!
Someone just pulled me aside after a meeting and thanked me for how well I diverted X's temper.
Not for the first time either. I travelled with him last spring, and got lost with him driving (the GPS had issues. I had to navigate us out of the lost it put us in using maps that were even less up to date) , and everyone was all OMG, his TEMPER, how did you survive it? He's made people cry and throw things and I was pretty much Buh? (The big lost drive had me informing everyone that they were to all shut up and the only person allowed to give directions or speak about driving was me. And I was the most junior person in the car. But apparently the meanest.)
When he gets testy, I just...I dunno. Summarize the source of his frustration and what will work to fix it and let's ignore everything else extraneous? I also cut him off before he can get a full head of steam going?
I can honestly say that if he ever does manage to go off on me, his ass will be handed to him ice cold and shaved down to splinters. Perhaps several hours after I walk away, but nonetheless.