So to mass answer some questions:
- He's a lead engineer in my work unit, so I don't really want to piss him off nor go against him too much, hence why I didn't want to really go to HR.
- I think he's in his late 50s; he has two children, and the younger one just graduated college last year.
- I will absolutely take time off. I don't care what he says. My direct manager was open for me to take any time off as I need. He also had a child last year, so he's very open to me using as much time as I need.
- lol @ "fight him".
- I guess I'll just ignore him and stop trying to talk to him outside of work topics and see where we go from there.