“You mentioned that you grew up in Canada. What was that like?” It was very cold. Winters were tough; we really had to bundle up every time we went outside. “I bet; I grew up in California so didn’t quite have the same experience. Did you ever get any frostbite?” Yep, I did a couple of times. Once on my nose and once on my big toe. Wasn’t too bad though. It really doesn’t hurt that much. “Do you like to travel often? Traveling is one of my biggest passions; I love seeing new parts of the country.” I’d like to travel more; I haven’t seen much of the country actually. I tend to be a bit of a homebody. What do you recommend seeing? “You have to see Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon; they’re both beautiful. I’ve even taken a couple of international trips to Spain and England. Would you like to see any parts of the world?” I’ve always found South American fascinating; I’d love to see some parts of the Amazon or visit Machu Picchu. “Oh, you have a dog? That’s awesome! What breed?” It’s an Australian Shepherd. They’re beautiful animals, and also very intelligent. I’m planning to train it to sit, stay, come, and to do a few tricks. “I’ve been thinking about getting a puppy, but I haven’t decided on a breed yet. Any recommendations?” Sure; I think that most types of labs are great dogs, especially if you haven’t had much experience owning a dog before. “Great; I’d love to own a lab. They seem friendly.” They really are. Plus, some other breeds, like Dalmatians or German Shepherds, have pretty specific breed requirements. “You didn’t enjoy the Hunger Games series? I thought it was fun! I know it was very popular with younger audiences especially. What didn’t you like about it?” Nothing specifically, I’m just a little tired of youth dystopia films. I have been enjoying The Handmaiden’s Tale, though. Have you seen it? “I haven’t, but I think I have a copy of the book on my shelf. Is it worth watching?” Both the show and the book are terrific; you should give them both a shot. Start by reading the book! “Do you cook much? I am a total disaster in the kitchen.” Sure; I’m no pro, but I know my way around a few dishes at least. “That’s great; I’m impressed. What’s the best way to get started cooking?” Well, you should pick up a couple of simple recipe books. It’s also helpful to know a few simple recipes. “Like what?” Oh just easy stuff like scrambled eggs or fried eggs, spaghetti with sauce, and maybe some cookies or muffins. “Did you see the Georgia/Alabama game last night? The last quarter was so crazy!” I know! I caught most of the game at a bar with a few friends. Thought it was a great game, disappointed that Georgia didn’t win, but there’s always next season. “I feel the same way. Going out to see the game sounds fun; I always get stuck watching on my couch. Do you have a favorite bar to watch the games at?” Sure; I have a few. I’ll give you a call next time and invite you out with us. “That’s awesome that you take yoga classes. I’ve wanted to get into yoga for a while. Is there a particular teacher or class you’d recommend for a beginner?” It’s pretty fun. You should check out the yoga center off of Main St. I’ve worked with a few of the teachers at that location; they all seem friendly. “Great; I’ll stop by sometime. How long have you been doing yoga?” Only about 2 years. I find that it really relaxes my body and mind, and helps me calm down after a stressful day. “You saw “Stranger Things” on Netflix, too? It was so good! I didn’t understand that last episode though. Do you have any theories?” I’ve got a few, yeah. I think the next season will clear up a lot of the questions we have. “I hope they can keep the momentum going for a few more years; it seems like this type of show often peters out after 3 or 4 seasons. What do you think?” That’s a good point; we’ll have to keep watching and find out. I was thinking about starting a blog about the show; would you be interested in reading some of my theories? “Of course!”