I'd like to thank you all for giving some excellent advice.

I always summarize what the boss says or asks of me so that we both know that I understand the situation. He generally smarts off with a remark like "I asked you first". It is really annoying but what am I going to do, right? :-)

I also try to get the boss to summarize what I have said and the questions that I have raised. This is the part that is very difficult to accomplish. He doesn't want to take the extra time. I can't force him to do something he doesn't want to do.

He likes everything to be backed up in writing. This is my shortcoming. I generally forget to type up a summary of our conversations. I want to improve in this area and I have started getting better about it.

I will continue working on my communication skills in the hope that I may one day get through to him. ;-)