Overheard in D.C.: The Few, The Proud
With military recruitment numbers continuing to spiral downward, this week's quote of the week got us thinking. All the military really needs is better marketing. You can't really envy their task in trying to get people to sign up for an unpopular war. Maybe they need to play down the grim realities. Play up the softer side of the military. Use things like the volleyball montage from Top Gun to show that doing your duty for God and Country can be just like a vacation. Just please ignore any and all homoerotic subtext, no matter how much Maverick and Iceman grin slyly at each other with the sun glinting off their oiled chests. And the slogans need work. I don't know about you, but I'd prefer to not be an "Army of One." If I'm going into combat, I'd kind of prefer to be in an "Army of a Whole Lot More Than the Other Guy Has." The woman in this week's top quote is on the right track. I think something like "Navy: For People Who Like Paddling and Water and Stuff" has real potential.
Quote of the Week
Dupont Circle, girl on a cell phone:
"The Navy?!?"
(pause)
"But does the Navy get called up? I mean, I know the Marines do... they do everything."
(pause)
"Yeah, if I was gonna be in the armed forces, I would have done the Air Force or the Navy. The paddling, the water... I like that kind of stuff."
(pause)
"Yeah... so does the Navy really get called up?"
After the jump, lube jobs, Strom of the Dead, and being rich means never having to say you're sorry.
This being a holiday weekend, we will make exceptions to the "In D.C." rule for next week: Overheard at the Beach is a perfectly acceptable substitute. Either way, send your quotes to overheardindc (at) gmail (dot) com.
Photo by Flickr user Miscelena.
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Slip slidin' away.
In the Tenleytown CVS:
Frat dude on a cell phone: "Actually, it's kind of embarrassing. I need to get some lubrication. It's for a project."
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The Father, the Son, and the Holy Segregationist
In the office:
Unaware Peppy Girl: "I didn't know you worked for Strom Thurmond!"
Senior Staff Member: "Oh I didn't, I just know one of his old staffers."
UPG: "Oh cool. We went to the same school. Yep, we both went to Clemson!"
SSM: "Oh that's cool."
UPG: "Yay! Anyway he's one of my favorite dead people... besides Jesus."
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And we'll bet it's double parked, too.
The Diner at 3 a.m. on a Sunday night:
Two girls are sitting next to each other. One gets up to go to the bathroom. A drunk woman barges in, and sits down in the empty seat.
Girl: "Excuse me, my friend was sitting there."
Drunk Woman: "I don't give a fuck, she ain't got as much money as me!"
Girl: "Uhhh... that doesn't matter, you're sitting in my friend's seat."
Drunk Woman: "I gotta $80k car outside, I can sit wherever the fuck I want!"
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The dog can stay. You, on the other hand, have to get off now.
On the 32 Bus going down Wisconsin Avenue:
An annoying, high-strung woman trying to convince a metrobus driver to let her carry a tiny, yappy dog onto the bus, Paris Hilton style: "I have a permit for him somewhere...I have a disability, I have to carry him with me. I swear. You can trust me, I'm white."
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The planes land in left field.
Employee speaking to customer on phone at a business:
"D-U-L-L-E-S. Yes, uh-huh. City? Not sure...No, ma'am it's not in Washington, that's the other Airport, RFK..."
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Euphemisms gone horribly awry.
Outside the Union Pub on Mass. Ave.:
Young blonde woman: "Nuh uh. That can't be true."
Brunette friend: "Yeah. They are called Kegel exercises and they tighten up your, um...Chihuahua."
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It's the place where dreams come true.
On the Blue Line:
"Here's another place I'd like to work: The Pentagon. From what I understand, they have everything you could ever want there."
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Malaysian time preferred.
On the 54 bus:
Girl on cell phone: "Ok, I'll pick you up at 6:30." *pause* "No, I am sick of Filipino time!"
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Now that's an ugly duckling.
Next to the Reflecting Pool among the geese and goslings:
Parent to children: "Look at all the baby ostriches!"
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Unfamiliar with the concept.
Leaving the tomb of George and Martha Washington:
Tour Guide: "So everyone, what is the most exotic thing you have ever eaten before?"
Teenage Boy: "Rocky Mountain Oysters!"
Teenage Girl: "I've had oysters!"