Are you talkin' to me? Are you talkin' to ME?

We sat down at our favorite local pub and grill to visit with our Saturday night bartenders (on Saturday, believe it or not!).  I'll call our bartender buddies "P" and "R."

Sitting across from us was another couple that are regulars and we six were having fun chatting with each other.  There was also a “gentleman” sitting to my right who seemed to want to constantly interrupt us.  I'll anoint him "Annoying Loudmouth Guy" (ALG for short).

We had ordered some Girl Scout cookies from Bartender P and he gave us a box to take to our car.  We joked that we'd ordered an entire case even though it was a small box.  ALG jumped into that conversation and said, "Wow!  You bought a ton of cookies.  I assume you are sharing with everyone at the bar?  How many are in there?  What kind did you buy?  How come you got a whole box full?"

I thought:  If I share, it will be with people I know.  Not some guy who can't shut his mouth about my cookies.

At one point, we were teasing our friend across the bar about being a Chicago Cubs fan and his long wait for a World Series appearance (let alone a victory!).  Suddenly, right in the middle of our teasing ALG says shouts, “I think there’s something wrong with the TV colors.  What do you guys think?  The reds and oranges stand out too much.  Don't ya think?” 

I thought:  Well now, if you wanted to join our conversation, how about talking about the Cubs or at least something sports related?  Otherwise, zip it.

Bartender P stopped in front of us and asked, “What’s new with you guys since last Saturday?”  Before either one of us could open our mouths to answer, ALG asked (me, I think), “Do you like seafood?  I know a great place nearby for seafood.”  Then he began telling me about a place we’ve visited many times.  I explained that to him and he insisted on telling me all about it. 

I thought:  What the hell?  Why do you keep interrupting us?  And shut up about the restaurant that I know quite well.

He was like a young child that wants to talk to Mommy when she is talking to another adult.  Usually kids are told, "You have to wait your turn.  Let Mommy finish talking to Susie and then you can tell me what you want to say."

He continued to shout things out in the middle of our conversations.  We tried struggled to be nice.  Don't get me wrong; I have no problems talking to strangers at bars and restaurants.  As long as they act like adults and join in the actual conversation that's going on instead of shouting out unrelated things.

After we were there for a while, I overheard him talking to Bartender R.  Here’s how that conversation went: 

Annoying Loudmouth Guy:  I was brought up Jewish.  But, I had the opportunity and calling to join the Priesthood.  I was going to join the ‘blah blah blah blah blah’ (it was a long, long list of names that I don’t care to remember) seminary in Chicago.

Bartender R (feigning interest):  Well, that’s quite a tongue twister.

ALG:  I was just about to join when I had an epiphany.

BR (rolling his eyes):  That’s interesting.

ALG:  My epiphany was that I’m atheist.  I’m an atheist.

BR (walking away as quickly as he could):  Well, that’s quite the flip-flop isn’t it?

I’m not sure that’s something you tell a complete stranger.  Did he assume that his bartenders cared enough to want to hear that?  Or maybe he thought that because he'd been there for a while (a couple of hours?) he was now best friends with P and R?

I know that the rest of us in the bar weren’t all that interested in his epiphany story.  Until he left.  Then we discussed it (and him) in great detail.