[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

But you expect that sort of thing in NYC!

LOL - I realize that now. That happened to be my first trip to The Big Apple. : ) (Errr...nice story about Houston...yikes!)

I used to work in the University District in Seattle, and one day a man came into the store and asked me a question...I couldn't quite hear him, so I leaned closer and said, "Pardon me, could you repeat the question?"

He leaned in very close to my face and repeated it, and this time I heard every word, which I will never forget: "My ancestors killed Abraham Lincoln. It haunts me still. Do you know where I can get a bucket of chicken?"

I'm not good quickly identifying people with emotional problems, apparently. ; )

(I pointed him to a Subway sandwich shop across the street, and he left.)

[weegee]

While in college I encountered a cultist on the street. He initially approached me and "asked for directions" (maybe even with a map) but then started to talk about his "meetings" and even tried to play up sex (although not as much as the Children of God did, "hooking for Jesus"). He said at some point, "you like pleasure, right?"

I told him I was an engineering student and didn't have time for pleasure. He laughed, the spell was broken, he could BS me no more and I moved on to join my friends up the way.