“But what about chocolate-covered manhole covers?” is a suitably surreal opening line, in my opinion (5 points to anyone who recognizes it and responds properly).
If you’re looking specifically for a greeting, try “Zhai’elleva”–it’ll draw lots of confusion and impress the Mercedes Lackey fans.
Like several previous posters, I have no objection to a simple “Hi”–or even more simply starting the conversation without a greeting.
UncleBill, your last two transliterations (Italian and Russian) are goodbyes, I think. Was that intentional? For Russian greetings you might use (rough transliterations from Cyrillic):
“A funny thing happened on the way to the WOC. I was going over the PCN of the runway, and the ACN of the airplane, and remembered that the CBR wasn’t set up for the frost level! So, I headed over to OSS, called up CE, and asked 'em for an AFCESA guide to pavement in the NT. . .”
I actually said this to someone. If you want explanations, I’d be glad to oblige.
<tsking at Tristan>
The proper response is to look blank, pretend to be as stupid as possible, and try to make fire with two wet rocks, until the inquirer goes away. This is to avoid being kidnapped and dumped on another planet to breed a race of better slaves.
</tsking as Tristan>
You can have the points for catching the reference, anyway–your quote is correct, I believe. That was said upon finding the one he left behind.
That said, my favorite response is from one of the Cons:
The weasels! THE WEASELS ARE EATING MY BRAIN!! And how are you?
Hellooooooooo Nurse!
Greetings Esteemed Earth-Person. (Or Earth-Boy/ Earth-Girl to be gender specific)
Hi-dee-ho (name)-a-roonie.
Now using the “Standard Shift Sig” to improve server speed:
“Oh, for the love of Mike” BGY-11
