A common conversation starter is asking a question, obviously. If any of you have ever played the "question game" with that cute kid you've just started talking to, you'll have been asked, "What's your favorite animal?"

Think about yours.

I know that a lot of people choose dogs, cats, elephants, horses or some other kind of random, common and cute animal.

Now, in my past I would have answered this question with "dragons," which I understand is a weird enough answer alone. And I know because, let me tell you, I've received a lot of funny looks. (I know dragons are not real, don't patronize me!) But now I feel the need to go further and say "my favorite animal is a dragon...but everyone thinks it's an owl. It's really a funny story..."

Being someone who loves to repeat themselves (partially 'cause I like to hear my own voice and mostly because I forget I've already told the story to whoever), here's my chance to share that story again.

So, quite a few years ago, one of my very best friends gifted me a cute stuffed owl and went on to say, "'Cause I know they're your favorite." This of course confused me, since never once have I even considered the owl as my favorite. I must be a talented actress, since my face didn't give me away. I just thank her profusely and was happy to have gotten a gift.

Later on in the week I repeated this funny story to my mom, and, jeez, what a mistake it was.

Since then (a few years ago), my mom has now proceeded to treat the owl as my favorite animal. This "joke" has even gone so far that not only does my family think it, even my boyfriend's parents think I love owls, too.

For example, I received a devilishly cute owl that stares at me in the night (from my family — I put it up on display 'cause some kid used it as Hedwig in his Harry Potter costume, and I loved that).

That's not even the end of the owls. I keep receiving them! For Christmas, my birthday, even for Easter! There are so many owls in my room now.

What's worse is that these owls have started to grow on me...

Now, don't get me wrong, having a love of owls forced on me really isn't the worst thing, it's not the end of the world! But goodness, people, why is this so funny?

Well, maybe it's not that funny to most, but apparently to my mom it's the funniest joke ever.

Anyhoo, moral of the story: don't tell your mom a funny story.

Now, can anyone think of a good animal I can declare as my mom's favorite?