Salutations and Small Talk

Last night I visited Borders, because I've completed reading the books I brought for my trip. When I was checking out, the salesperson asked how I was doing. This happens a million times a day in each of our lives doesn't it?
I instantly said what we say another million times per day in return:
"Good, and you?"
His response was of course:
"I'm doing well, thank you."

Ouch.

If you haven't figured out why I I wrote ouch, it is because I know and knew better than to use the word 'good.' He obviously knew better too, only grammatically at that point, he was the better man.

It's just so easy to say 'good,' we hear it said so many times.
Of course, the difference between good and well is that good is an adjective and well is an adverb.

I'm doing well.
That's good that you're doing well.

He responded well.
My response wasn't good.

And with all things in life, there's an exception. In this case, it's proper to use 'good' when the verbs are sensory.

It feels good to have the grammatical upper hand.

Of course, this morning while still brooding over my defeat, I asked a senior member of my training group how he was doing.

His response?

"I'm blessed and highly favored."

I am too. From now on. I was really happy to hear such a good attitude.