I always talk to my pets! The dog isn't much for chatter, but miss kitty loves a good conversation whether I'm talking to her normally, or responding to her mewls with my own meows.
I don't think it is nuts at all to talk to your pet(s)! Animals may not be able to communicate back to us in a way that we can always understand, but they can be great listeners. My dog knows all of my secrets, and it makes me feel cheered up when I'm lonely to say hello to him and be greeted with a lick and a tail wag. He responds more to baby talk then he does to regular talk; high pitched baby voice makes him excited for some reason, hehe. My cat, on the other hand, prefers being spoken to in a lower tone of voice, and if I say something to her she always responds back to me with a purr or a mew. I find it very comforting. I don't really know of any pet owners that don't spend at least some time talking to their pets, actually! Why wouldn't you, after all? They never interrupt, they always listen well to what you say, and even a reassuring meow and woof, or a slight tilt of the animal's head to show reaction, can be enough to make you feel better. Many people call animals therapeutic, and for good reason.