Two for the price of one

Another post in the Awkward Encounters with Men at the Gym series (note, this isn't really about these random guys, it's about how awkward I really am; wanted to clarify that I'm really not mocking them).

First encounter: waiting for bhangra while reading The Long Goodbye. I am approached by one of the older trainers, who squints at my book cover for a solid 45 seconds before asking: "Is that the old book or a new book?" Me: "Um, the old one. I guess?" Trainer: "Huh. Just was wondering if they made a new one with the same title." Me: "I don't think so." Trainer: "Okay; well, enjoy it."

I really had no idea what to say to that one.

Second encounter: waiting for hip hop while reading Glamorama. I am approached by a random gym member who addresses me as ma'am (so awkward to begin with), before asking what I am reading and then what it is about. I give a remarkably superficial summary (it's about a male model in New York; I'm not even kidding, that's how I described it). He then launches into a lengthy story about how his fiancee/girlfriend has told him that he should model in New York. We won't comment on that piece, but what struck me as most interesting was that she started out as a fiancee, but by the end of the story she was a girlfriend. Make of that what you will (I could more see it going the other way if it was a recent engagement).

Also, I found this picture and I thought it was fun. I've always wanted to participate in a living art thing, and maybe I could do this one.