Networking

It might not be a surprise to some of you that the second or third thing I did in California was to join Gold's Gym in Venice. Gold's advertises itself as "The Mecca of Bodybuilding," and they just might be right. Anyway, here's my best effort at reconstructing a conversation I had there yesterday with a professional bodybuilder (this really happened, btw):

PB: Excuse me, are you Jewish?
Me: Uh, yeah, I am.
PB: You know that [pointing at the Star of David tattooed on my arm] is sacrilegious...
Me: Um, yes, well, heh, um...
PB: I have a Jewish cousin, so I know about that.
Me: Oh, okay.
PB: My name's Will, by the way [actually, the surprising thing is that I couldn't recognize him immediately].
Me: I'm Dan, nice to meet you [we shake hands].
PB: So, where you from Dan?
Me: New Jersey.
PB: Ah, Jersey boy.
Me: Yeah, I came out here to work for the summer.
PB: So you're here for what, 8, 9...
Me: 10 weeks.
PB: Oh, okay. And you're going to school back home?
Me: Uh-huh.
PB: Whereabouts?
Me: Oh, in Connecticut.
PB: Okay, Connecticut U.?
Me: Uh, actually, Yale.
PB: Ah, hah, I see. Forgive me, I thought you might have been a H-a-h-v-a-h-d man.
Me: Hehehehe.
PB: So what are you doing out here...I mean, your work?
Me: Working for a magazine.
PB: Which one?
Me: Have you heard of Reason? [I'm actually able to speak in italics--ed.]
PB: No, I don't think so.
Me: Well it's a political magazine based in LA.
PB: Hell, we need more of those. I'm a professional bodybuilder by the way.
Me: Heh, I can tell.
PB: So, don't let me keep you, but if you have any questions [gestures to indicate he means questions about anything to do with the gym], let me know.
Me: Alright, sure will. Good to meet you, Will [slap him on the back].
PB: Good to meet you [slaps me back].