chatting

Rhubarb is a vegetable ... but cultivated as fruit.

I like strawberry/rhubarb jam, because it's not so sweet.

As pie (which here would be a 'tarte' or 'fruit flan') rhubarb is often combined with apples as well. But certainly strawberry-rhubarb is the best known variation. (Not so sour as if rhubarb only.)

I was wonderin if anyone would say that.

I'm always here for my A2K brethren...

Of course, but that's why I qualified with the situations where lipreading isn't an issue and it still irritates me.

I wouldn't put talking about a book in the blather/chatter category though, that sounds interesting.

I've recovered sufficiently to resume.

I can talk about anything and everything to just about anybody anywhere anytime. Part of it it just me (big mouth), and I believe that part of it is regional. What do I mean by that? I'll tell ya. I learned a while back that in some regions of the US silence with people you don't know well is considered an awkward social moment and demonstrates a lack of social skills. I'm from one of those regions. I learned that this was regional from people from other parts of the county who were astounded at my ability to just keep going. Also a bit annoyed, I expect.

The thought of someone not being allowed to chat, uh oh, it's happened again. I'm speechless--almost. Saddened. Enraged. Outraged. Mystified.

Rhubarb is also known as "pie plant". It adds a tartness to the fruit--and in the early season when berries are scarce, stretches the fruit.

My mom used to make a rhubard crumble and rhubarb bread. Yum!! I wish I could cook like her. Sometimes it amazes me that I didn't learn more of her great talents. She is from German decent and married my dad who is Italian. My mom made the best lasagna, that being the one thing I learned to make from her.

Sometimes my chattiness changes by mood. Some days I feel more chatty then others. It seems like the days I'm just feeling overall content I tend to be more quiet. Sometimes when I'm around people who can't seem to stop talking constantly I get sensory overload.

I just read some extravaganza study which resulted in describing women as talking three times as much as men.

I left a job once because a male boss never shut up...

Really, I'll agree some women are more comfortable with talking than some men, but I'm not ready to make large generalizations, having sat near still with a guy going on for an hour or so in my dining room.

But, those I'm talking about aren't so much into conversation as into staged exposition. Too bad it happens at dinner.

Roberta,

I very much understand. I was born and raised in a larger city,
but having moved to rural Nebraska it took me a while to get used
to the fact that people here in social situations do not feel the
need "keep going." Longer periods of silence (for me 1-2 minutes)
are completely acceptable and you sit around and just look at
each other.

Well, I'm getting used to it and have found that it helped me.
It helped me in terms of feeling a little more self-confident that
I didn't always have to be saying something.

It is very much a culture thing.

The Chinese can be quiet for hours, that's why they're good at
business deals. They drive the Americans crazy!

tomasso, So you think it's an urban thing rather than regional. Either way, it would take some major getting used to for me to be comfortable with silence when there are people around I don't know well. Glad to hear you've adjusted and you like it.

Believe me, it took a little time.

I think knowing the people has a lot to do with it.
When these people were strangers, it was awkward,
but after they became friends it was a lot easier!