...Whether by random people in the airport, in the hotel lobby, in the elevator, and my personal favorite, going through security. <- the absolute worst. Seriously. Just scan my suitcase and leave me the hell alone!
Actually I take that back. The worst is when you are seated on the airplane by the Romeo. Last night I was on a flight to Birmingham and I took my seat by a man probably in his late 30's. He struck up small talk with me as a I settled into my seat (by the window of course). I was tired. I had worked at the office all day. I didn't feel like talking.
"Hi, how are you?" Romeo asked. "I'm good, thanks," I said as I clicked my seatbelt and shuffled through the pocket of the seat in front of me to find the latest edition of Sky Mall magazine to give the impression that I was very busy.
But my cues didn't work (one word responses, looking down at the magazine, fake note-taking, etc). Romeo proceeded to play "20 questions" with me until I decided to plant my face against the window to hint to this guy that I simply wasn't interested in talking or getting to know him. (Another reason why the window seat can come in handy).
I managed to ignore him to the point that once up in the air, he didn't ask me any further questions until we landed in Birmingham.
As we were pulling up to our gate, my face still planted to the window, he starts talking to me again: "You know, since you're staying in Birmingham, you should really try Nicki's West cafeteria downtown."
"Thanks for the recommendation- I'll have to try it sometime," I replied, and then glued my face back to window.
Romeo continued, "So... how long are you staying in Birmingham?"
Knowing perfectly well that this wasn't exactly a question he would have asked the 90 year old lady sitting three rows up, I turned to him, looked him straight in the eye and said, "No offense- but it's none of your business."
Suffice it to say he stopped asking me questions after that.
