Don't Talk to Me

I like to wear headphones when I work out.  I've got my phone set up with an app for music which helps me keep up a pace and gives me energy.  We're talking heavy metal here boys and girls....none of that namby pamby sentimental shit that passes for music these days.   

It just makes training more enjoyable.  When I am playing music through my little earbuds....I'm focused.  I don't care about anything or anybody around me.  I'm centered on the task at hand which is either shooting for that extra mile on the elliptical or another two reps of weight over what I did the last time.  The one thing I do not want to do is have a conversation with some other person in the gym!

It invariably happens that, right as I get into a groove with my workout, right when my selected song hits a good spot where I can really push hard....some dumbass comes up to me and starts yammering.  I look up and see their lips moving but can't hear a word, so I put a screeching halt to whatever I'm doing and yank out the earbuds.  I mean, it could be an emergency; like the gym is on fire or a rich dude is throwing hundred dollar bills around in the parking lot.

It's never important.  It's always some type of mundane chit-chat.  "How long ya been working out?  Do you want a spot?  Some weather we're having, eh?"  Crap like that.  Why some people feel an obligation to have conversations with people that have no interest in talking is something I will probably never understand.  Maybe they're lonely.  Maybe they think I'm lonely.  Most likely they are just self centered inconsiderate boobs who love to hear their lips flapping and figures everybody else does as well. 

Or....maybe they don't even realize I'm listening to music to help my workout.  They may just see me staring in their general direction across the gym and figure that I want to start up a conversation.  The earbuds are kind of small.  Perhaps they are too subtle...and I need to upgrade to something larger and more obvious.