Casual Chat Enthusiast Gifts

"Nobody hangs out at the water cooler anymore..."

'You must be Jim's new gardener. I'm his neighbour, Gerald. Had any luck with the Petunias this year? Aren't those Jim's feet sticking out of the ornamental pond?'

Woman on the phone.

'Hold on, Bob. I'm downshifting.'

Shallow End (Slightly innocuous statements) - Deep End (a little more weighty)

'Who's a pretty boy! Is that all you've got to say?'

'Fred is a social conservative -- he believes in slow food and heavy beer.'

Boys and Girls: Differences in Internet Surfing.

'Maybe we could hold the wedding on 'Casual Friday'.'

The Schmoozy Reaper

"You had too many characters in your last tweet."

"Oh, the usual - spreading pestilence and misery. You?"

'I drink to bring about change.'

'It's a doughnut - just eat it!'

"Let's just do the top layer."

"It's beginning to appear as if I'll never have greatness thrust upon me."

"Some days I really wish I had finished med school. Not that I ever started med school."

'As a teleworker Colin sometimes struggled against feelings of isolation.'

"It's just a dinner table conversation. Must you refer to it as 'Talking Off-line'."

"You don't have to schedule a follow-up visit. You just come back whenever you want."

"I hate rhetorical questions. Know what I mean?"

'I just got off the phone with my long-time writing partner who's bringing over my deathbed confessional masterpiece. In the meantime, who's up for some idle chit-chat? How about all this rain we've been getting, huh?!"

'Life! Give my conversation liiiife!'

"My gut instinct was to say yes. . . but years in social work have shown me how these things end up working out."

"Round of golf or a round of drinks?"

'Fill 'er up!'

'Last night Gary put me in an impossible position.'

"Sorry. I was expecting the lady. I can see you're busy. I'll call sometime. We'll do lunch."

'This wine speaks for itself.' 'Howdy!'

'Fred is a social conservative -- he believes in slow food and heavy beer.'

"It's probably bad news if she refers to the second date as 'mission creep.' "

"You know why men die earlier than women? Because they can."

'In my experience, for good to triumph over evil, it needs a little help from the NEUTRAL.'