Conversation Leader Gifts

'All those in favor of looking at pictures of grandchildren before we start bitching about their parents, say aye.'

What can I do? He says it's his thinking cap.

"That's five votes for In The Midst of Winter....three votes for The Hollow Ground....and, again, one vote for Moby-Dick."

Grizzly bears are gregarious animals.

A balloon seller is selling thought bubble balloons

"Matthew, did we agree to adopt a whale?"

Twitter censorship

Talk shows are great. Listen shows are even better.

"Honey, why don’t you tell Tony and Karen about your microdosing-healing-group thingy or whatever the heck it is?"

"Liife! Give my conversation Liife!"

"At least you don’t need a wetsuit."

'Think tank' and 'Rethink tank'.

"You'll learn a lot at our book club...like how to read between the wines."

From what I hear, the Atwood Intuition Tank is coming up with results faster than we are.

'Sure, I cam up with fire, and the wheel, but you're only as good as your last idea.'

Develop Your Social Skills: Asking Questions is a Great Way to Keep a Conversation Going.

The Art of Bantering!

"I just completely disagree with what you just said about America lacking focus."

Bar Therapy

'Hold on, there might be someone more interesting on the other line...'

"Are you busy or are you at work?"

"Embrace the idea, Stevens, not the ideator."

After talking one stranger to death, Velma starts in on the next.

"She can be outspoken."

Animal office workers at a meeting. Lion says to giraffe: 'Gerry, I think you're best placed to do a spot of blue-sky thinking on this.'

Followers

"How did I get to be the only one that listens?"

'Head of Ideas' In and Out trays

'Mind you, this isn't a secret I'd tell just everybody.'

'Yes, I laugh at most things, but it doesn't mean I can't have a serious conversation...'

Ok, I'm back. Sorry about the screaming.

Today's alpha-lesson is called "Always Jujutsu the Suspense." If someone says "I've got a great idea" and then pauses to create suspense, that's a power-move. They want you to beg them to continue. The alpha counter-move in this case is simple. Use the suspense-monger's suspense against them: say absolutely nothing.* *This move should never, ever be applied in the boudoir.

And what kind of banter do you want with that? I got light, witty, or wry. Breakfast.

'Let's go some place where we can walk.'

"Watch out for Bernie...he's a man of few words but a lot of gestures."