From: kiran@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu (Kiran Wagle)
Subject: Re: Finding Romantic Partners (long)
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 11:51:17 GMT

fredw@mks.com (Fred Walter) writes:
>kiran@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu (Kiran Wagle) writes:
>>People don't talk to strangers at shops in my universe.  

>They do in mine - though I'm usually the one that initiates the conversation.

Perhaps we live in the same universe.  I should have said that people
other than myself don't do this.  I initiate conversations with
strangers all the time, and think it is a useful skill.  In fact I
commend it to this Kevin and anyone else: it helps to keep the
conversational skills honed for the important moments...

*chuckle* Interesting small world story:  On my recent trip to the
east coast (don't believe 'em when they tell you there is traffic out
there... and there are lots of parking spots cuz the east coasters
believe their own myths...) I wanted to try Al Forno's grilled pizza.
After getting lost for the first time in my life, in Providence
(that's what happens when one blithely (and arrogantly) takes a random
exit without a map) I found this warehouse turned restaurant.  I went
to the wrong entrance, two women had just done the same.  I hopped
over the railing while the redhead went around, and her brown-haired
friend suggested she jump the rail like I did.  I asked if it was
because of the heels, and she said no, it was because she was wearing
hose.  Huh.  Inside, I took a menu, and the brunette asked where I'd
gotten it, since she had just grabbed a wine list.  I pointed to the
stack, and asked if the grilled pizza was worth the drive from IN, the
redhead said it was, the brunette said that she had just been in
Columbus (IN) visiting relatives... about 40 miles east of me.  The
redhead told a story about visiting Spago (Wolfgang Puck's place in
LA) and being served a heart-shaped pizza: the chef liked redheads, he
made her a special pie, while a girlfriend was served an ordinary
round pie (and felt a bit snubbed by it.)  The readhead was right, the
pizza was extraordinary (she says, better than Spago.)  And it's just
over an hour from Boston...and an hour from New Haven, where is the
world's best (and first hamburger, and more great pizza... Anyway.

>Though it is only small-talk, done to pass the time whilst waiting (in line
>for the teller, or whatever).

I was once making small talk with the sales clerk while buying small
rubber eraser animals -- tapirs and pangolins and whatnot -- for a
friend.  We ended up going out for a beer.

>But my universe isn't Trygve's either (women don't do blatently sexual
>things to men they don't know well in mine, and they do in his).

I don't know anyone but trygve from trygve's universe.

-- 
"Tapirs are animals used in geography books. Geography could be taught
 without Tapirs but it would not be the same. Geography with Tapirs 
 gives children the right start in life. If they go wrong later on, 
 it is not the fault of the Tapir." ...Will Cuppy

"We are told the pangolin/Has a way of wangolin/ Every opportunity/To
 prove it can with impunity/Stand on the side of a tree, as shown./Why 
 is not known." ...Roy Blount, Jr.
-- 
Kiran Wagle                             <kiran@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu>
P.O.Box 2083 Bloomington IN 47402-2083                  (812) 335-0420