on conversations at work

It was hard to wake up this morning because of the grayness outside. I am accepting of my unavoidable lateness to work. As I walk from the train and approach my building, I hear my name called, urgently, like it had been called several times before with my not responding. It's my coworker K, who insists I wait for her to catch up instead of going inside where the cold wind doesn't blow from the river.

She loves my "headdresses" (my one headband I'm wearing) and my necklace. A conversation we've had many times before begins again.

Don't tell me you made that one too!
Actually, no, this one my friend made for me.
Oh, is this your friend that lives in CA?
Well about 90% of my friends live in CA.
Really? Wow!
When you live somewhere for 24 years, you tend to make friends, and they don't all move to NY with you (unfortunately).
Oh that's right, I keep forgetting you're from CA.
But you remember that this particular necklace was made by a particular person in CA?

Then, a new subject, with no bridge between the two; she continues as if it is one fluid conversation.

So I bought her some toys and now we're friends again.
Yeah, that's what you said yesterday.

Luckily (?) I know that she is talking about her Grandma's cat and not about my friend from CA. She has this wonderful habit of continuing conversations out loud that she had started in her head, and expects whomever she's talking to to know what she's talking about. It angries up my blood.

So here I am at work, pre-irritated (which I'm trying not to be) and with absolutely no work to do. I've been here an hour and have already read blogs and the paper. Only 7 more hours to go. Super.