Overheard in D.C.: Customer Service
In case you didn't hear, it snowed this weekend.
Idiot drivers were a big issue. At one point we saw a giant Range Rover with Florida plates stuck on an unplowed street, spinning its wheels at full speed trying to get unstuck, while folks in small cars wisely dug all around their tires and were able to tool around town.
And then there were the plows. Sort of counterproductive if you don't actually plow, however.
Overheard of the Week
Thursday on the 700 block of Gresham Place, near Howard University:
A plow driver is spreading salt on the street, with his plow blade raised off the ground. He then raised the blade higher after he started to get stuck.
Angry plow driver out the window: "You say you never see a plow on your street? Huh, well what do you think this is?"
Maybe because everybody was inside for a lot of the time, there really weren't that many snow-related overheards this week. People did seem to keep themselves amused with numerous "official" snowball fights, sledding, and other shenanigans, so if you did hear something funny, send it in to us: overheardindc(at)gmail(dot)com.
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Only in D.C.
A homeless man is struggling to make his way down Irving Street at the height of the blizzard.
At the top of his lungs: "Al Gore can go f**k himself!"
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THAT'S what we're supposed to do!?
On the Red Line at Fort Totten, about 8:15 a.m.:
Train operator: "If you have any body parts or objects blocking the door, please remove them."
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Got to admire the drunk for trying
At Ironhorse Tap Room in Chinatown, Saturday afternoon after the Obama Georgetown game:
Inebriated Gtown Fan: (after being told he would no longer be served any drinks) "I have a question for you."
Bartender: "What's that, buddy?"
Inebriated Gtown Fan: "Do you like games of chance?"
Bartender: "Uh...not with you."
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Prescient!
On Feb. 4 in the office:
Thursday morning, two co-workers discussing Tuesday's snow and school closings.
Co-worker #1: "I'm getting pretty worried about the kids in Fauquier and Spotsylvania Counties."
Co-worker #2: "Why?"
Co-worker#1: "Because it doesn't look as if they'll ever go back to school."
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Being asked about it, for example
Walking out of the V Apartments:
White 20-something guy: "So, you're black. I feel like you have some issues about that. Let's talk about it."
Black 20-something buy: "Oh gosh - totally. "
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Don't try this at Whole Foods
At Barnes & Noble on the corner of 12th and E streets NW a couple weeks ago:
A family was sitting at a table in Starbucks and the father was talking to one of the children, about 10 years-old:
Father: "You spit on that magazine on purpose."
Kid: "No I didn't, it was an accident."
Father: "It was no accident. You spit on that magazine so we would have to buy it."
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Cue the Fox News "what are they teaching your children!" stories
At 8 a.m. in Dupont:
Four high school age girls crossing the street, one turns to the rest and says loudly: "did you learn NOTHING in STD class??"