Politely Exiting a Conversation

I was in a meeting yesterday afternoon that ran past my normal work hours. On my way out, one of my co-workers saw me and thanked me for the (group) card I signed congratulating him on the birth of his first grandchild. After a minute of polite chit chat (Dude! Do you not see I have my coat on and keys in hand???), I started walking towards the reception area, but the guy was still talking! OK... it is 5:30 and I have an hour drive ahead of me but I'll be polite and give this conversation another 30 seconds. If it was someone I was closer to or my boss, I wouldn't have cared, but the conversation was really just awkward.

Thank Mutta Hubba it wasn't much longer before I escaped. I generally like my co-workers, some more than others; they're all pretty nice. This guy, however, seems to get on the nerves of many people in the office. I don't tend to care that much, probably 'cuz I'm still new. He told one girl she ought to have a baby. She was furious about his comment (some people are sensitive about that topic?) and wanted to tell him to go F*** himself. I guess he wants everyone to share his joy at being a grandfather by telling every woman she should have a kid.

So John and I went to dinner and I was relaying these stories to him. I guess if I were more assertive, I could have said something like, "My husband's waiting on me, we have dinner plans". John suggested, "Gotta go... I'm ovulating."