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(that, let's face it, is pretty much with themselves). They've gotten a response, they may or may not have refuted it, and now they have time to process it. They might just sit there and think about how the conversation you just had affects you and this will lead them to more thinking. Believe me they won't stay quiet for long. But it prevents them from just rambling on about nothing.

Now, while they're thinking about their next plan of attack, you can throw in a CD you know that they like. You would think it would spur a conversation about how great that band was when her saw them with his kid sister two years ago and ran into his old girlfriend that is now with this big tattooed biker that looks a lot like The Hulk but it won't. They'll sink into a deep appreciation for the fact that you both like the same music, and just sit back and enjoy it. You still have to worry about the brief intermissions between tracks, but if you're a whiz with burning the disc yourself, you could always eliminate that pause if you're that worried about it.

You have to keep in mind that you're friends with this person for a reason. You have a good time together, however brief the encounter must be. They're a good person, and so are you. Just because you're ready to rip your hair out at the thought of hearing one more story about their roommate's cat's tumor doesn't mean you're a terrible person. You have limits. We all do. We just have to realize that relationships aren't always easy even if they are just friendships.

Learn more about this author, Leslie Haasch.
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