Eavesdropping. We all do it. While strap hanging over some folks on the subway, waiting for a movie to start, ordering at a take out counter. But those encounters only provide snippets of conversation.

Not the really good stuff.

The real deal happens at Barnes and Nobles Cafe. First off you can, like some demented Goldilocks, move from chair to chair until you find the one that is "just right." Once you've settled into your seat, opened your book, magazine, daytimer, iphone, you are good to go. You are now ready to be transported and totally absorbed in another's life. Job interviews, break ups, first dates. Yummy.

For example. The job interview. "So" asked the interviewer, "what salary range did you have in mind?" Now I want to whip around and say, "RANGE is the trick part of the question." But I can't do that. So I cringe and wait for their answer. "75-100K," he/she answered. Now what do you think the odds of getting higher than 75K is? Really.

The first/blind date are my favorites. Pretty much a replay of the job interview. Lot's of "how comes", and "tell me about your last one" and "what are you looking for" type questions.  "Marriage" I can attest, is not a good first date answer. 

"It's not me, it's you" was the best break up line, to date. 

I guess people who do inside trading, fix sporting events or participate in other nefarious activities don't frequent my local Barnes and Nobles. 

Too bad.