beginnings

Yes, I'm beginning most of these posts with "so". That's because I'm viewing this forum as how I would start a phone conversation with you, if I had the time and energy to call all of you. I have for years considered it a waste of time to start off phone conversations in the conventional way, to wit: hi, hi, how r u? fine. how r u? fine. what r u doing? not much. what r u doing? u can skip 3 minutes of nothing by getting straight to the point. so, if i call u and u pick up, i'll usually start off with the point of my call, e.g. "So, did u know that Godiva sells chocolate-covered strawberries for FOUR DOLLARS?"