Photo by M.V. Jantzen

Photo by M.V. Jantzen

Washington D.C. is, understandably, a big destination for tourists. It’s the seat of power for the country, the architecture is grand, there are monuments, world-class museums, historical sites, and tons to learn. It’s really a great experience for anybody, even if it does mean the sidewalks are sometimes clogged with middle schoolers wearing neon FBI hats. And everybody comes away with fond memories of the city.

Overheard of the Week

On a Friday afternoon on 14th Street across from the Holocaust Museum:

A family of tourists are walking by, with what appears to be a mom, grandmother, a maybe 10-year-old girl and maybe six-year-old boy.

All but the boy seem to be discussing where to go next, when the little boy walks over to a big pile of horse shit on the sidewalk.

“Hey, look!” he says, pointing at the pile with a smile on his face.

After the jump, tourists, bad party planning, and Metro shenanigans.

As always, Overheard in D.C. relies on YOU to send in the good stuff. Make sure you tell us who said it, where, and in what situation. And make sure to use our special Overheard in D.C. email address.

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Thank you, The League, for letting us know about this term

Weekend lunchtime at Panera in Columbia Heights:

Two 20s-ish women are talking about a party one organized a couple of days before.

Woman 1: “I need to work on my guest-listing.”
Woman 2: “Yeah what was up with that!? Were you trying to make Eskimo brothers?”

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Good friends are hard to come by

Outside of Tyson’s Corner Mall:

Two mid-20s skinny girls talking: “…well the thing about [girl’s name], is that she doesn’t mind being fat…”

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And the award for most things wrong in a short period of time goes to…

Outside Union Station:

A family of tourists is walking past the Liberty Bell replica outside Union Station.

Mom, pointing to the bell: “Look, it’s the Liberty Bell. They must’ve relocated it here after the war.”

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Metro riders, getting aggressive?

At the Cleveland Park station during morning rush hour:

50-ish woman boards the crowded train and falls over her roller bag. The crowd parts, oohs, and helps her to her feet.

She looks behind her at a young woman and says, “Please don’t push me.”
Young woman: “Oh, did I push you?”
First woman: “Yes.”
Second woman: “I was just trying to make sure I didn’t get caught in the doors.”

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Stupid ambulance jerks ruining everyone’s fun

On the Metro the other day:

Two preppy-looking 20-somethings are talking.

20-something 1: “They just took me to the hospital, can they do that? I mean, I don’t remember, but [name] said I was perfectly coherent when I was talking to them.”
20-something 2 basically says yes, if you’re in danger or dangerously drunk.
20-something 1: “I don’t remember, but [name] said they asked if I wanted to go to the hospital, and I was like, ‘yeah.’ “

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Being obnoxious: nature or nurture?

At the Fairfax Harris Teeter, Sunday morning:

An early-30s mom in yoga outfit and designer bag with five-year-old daughter in tow are in the dairy section.

Five-year-old: “Mommy, are we getting milk?”
Mom (looking down her nose at another shopper putting store brand organic milk in cart): “Yes, honey, we’ll get the Nature Valley, because that is the true organic.”

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We’ve heard of the Twinkie defense, but this is ridiculous

Monday morning at D.C. Superior Court:

Two ladies are at the door of a courtroom. One says to the other: “I don’t want to go in there. I have diarrhea.”

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Who says Federal employees aren’t good at their jobs?

In a federal agency office building, outside a cubicle:

Woman in cubicle, talking on phone: “No, I think pouring Dr. Pepper into your computer would be the opposite of good.”

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