Are you talking to me?

Since being here I've had random conversations with some very interesting Californians. Honestly, I'm not use to striking up conversations with random strangers. I think either A. You're hitting on me or B. You want my money for some charity that I'm going to feel guilty for not donating to either. Call me a cynical New Yorker but that's how it goes in my mind.

But no, that has not been the case for the last 2 random convos that I've had here. Maybe it's an East Bay thing but really come on now.

1st conversation: Was held at the Borders in Union City. The next best thing that I have to Barnes & Noble this lovely little establishment has given me the safety and security of books with easy access to lattes. After realizing I'm desperately poor for the 50th time, I headed to the cookbook section and roamed the aisles in search for a new vegetarian cookbook that I might enjoy.

And now you're asking yourself, "is she a vegetarian?" and I have an answer, yes and no. I love vegetarian food, I love the different dishes and ways to make a great meal without meat; there's gotta be some talent there. Hello?! Have you ever had vegetarian stuffing? a good recipe can be awesome. :) And no, because all though I love the taste and variety, I don't spend everyday making a scrumptious vegetarian meal. None of my family members are, so I don't want them to feel the pressure of making it for me or feel tortured when I make tofu and sesame seed glazed kale.

Anyways, I found a new little cookbook, a corner and started reading. And out of a blue a woman walks up to me and says, "are you reading a cookbook?" From there the conversation progressed to well yes, I want to make sure that I'm buying a cookbook with ingredients I know and not spend my time driving around to specialty shops looking for the specific herb only found in stores that sell products from the Himalayas. Later on we discussed the joys of the economy, our current employment, traveling and how we're going to handle giving loved ones gift this holiday season. All together we had a 15 minute conversation traded names and if we continued I would assume she would want my number next. Right!?

Conversation 2: At the Starbucks in San Leandro. Always a perk and one of my favorite places in the world I like to curl up in the corner and read. I approached my corner, with coffee in hand, and ask the gentleman to the right of the chair, "Is anyone sitting here?" No, he replies. But then he asks the oddest of questions as I'm about to sit down. "Are you Spanish?" "Yes." I respond. (I mean it's a pretty high percentage considering a lot of Hispanics live i California.) I start to read and notice the man starting to get up. Here is where he starts asking me about being Spanish and mostly asking about my language skills. It turns out the dude wanted lessons and unfortunately being 5 years rusty I don't think that I'm the best person to teach him. After putting his shoes back on the guys nods and leaves. However, now every time I go into Starbucks I run into the guy and oddly I feel like he gives me the weird eye or something. Oy vey!

To many people in this world these doesn't seem random. but for me it is. I mean, do you really have long drawn out convos with people you just meet? Eh! Whatever, life on the west coast is different.

Random, random, random...