Conversational volleyball

There are too many times in life where I feel as if I am trying to play a game of conversational volleyball.

When I'm talking one on one with a person, I do okay. 

But the minute someone else joins the conversation--or two or three or more people--I start feeling doomed.

Because often, the flow of the conversation is such that 1. the exact second someone stops talking, someone else starts, leaving me no room to jump in, or 2. I"m able to open my mouth and get a breath out, or maybe a word or two or three, but then I get interrupted. 

I feel like I'm playing a game of volleyball, but just as the ball comes my way, someone steps in front of me and, whack!  They hit the ball, not giving me a chance to play. 

Here's an illustration of what I'm talking about:

(Me in a group of three people)

Scenario 1:

Person #1:  "Did you read where it might snow this weekend?"
Me:  *thinks yes, I did read that, but before I can open my mouth . . .*
Person #2:  "What?  It might snow?  I'd better go and get my bread and milk!"

Scenario 2:

Person #1:  "Did you read where it might snow this weekend?"
Me:  *opens mouth to say, yes, I read that, but as I inhale . . . *
Person #2:  "What?  It might snow?  I'd better go and get my bread and milk!"

Scenario 3:

Person #1:  "Did you read where it might snow this weekend?"
Me:  "Yes --"
Person #2:  "What?  It might snow?  I'd better go and get my bread and milk!"

Scenario 4:

Person #1:  "Did you read where it might snow this weekend?"
Me:  "Yes, I --"
Person #2:  "What?  It might snow?  I'd better go and get my bread and milk!"

Scenario 5:

Person #1:  "Did you read where it might snow this weekend?"
Me:  "Yes, I did.  It's --"
Person #2:  "What?  It might snow?  I'd better go and get my bread and milk!"

It does not seem to matter what group I'm in.  It's happened in church, it's happened among work people, it's happened so many times that I've just about given up trying to break into a conversation.  One time, I said that breaking into a conversation was hard for me because I didn't want to interrupt people.  The response I got was, "Well, Tina, you just haven't learned how to be rude."

I can remember one time when I heard someone make a reference to Pampered Chef, and it took ten minutes from the time I first heard the reference to the time when there was enough of a lull in the conversation to finally ask the question, "What is Pampered Chef?"

I did get so frustrated one time trying to break into a conversation that I threw a tantrum.  Admittedly, it wasn't appropriate for me to do so.  I'm too old for tantrums. 

I understand that good manners dictate that you are supposed to wait until the other person finishes talking before I say something.  I am supposed to wait my turn.

But what happens when it's never your turn?

What happens when someone whacks the conversational ball out of your hand before you can even hit it? 

I don't know the answer, and I wish someone did.

Just my .04, adjusted for inflation.