Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Color Blind

Middle School Kid #1: Man, I'm so angry. I'm banned from Xbox, period.

Middle School Kid #2: Why don't you put it in your pocket?

Middle School Kid #1: My mom's not retarded.

Middle School Kid #2: Yeah, duh, she's color blind.

Middle School Kid #1: That has nothing to do with it, you idiot!

Middle School Kid #2: I had no idea your mom was color blind.


(Overheard near King Middle School.)

Saturday, December 29, 2007

I'm not talking about you

Loud woman: I'm not talking about you, but some people sound kinda snobby. Some people, when they say French words with an English accent, they sound kinda snobby. But that's okay. And anyway, I'm not talking about you.

Hipster guy: Are you thinking of that guy's name? Cause that was just his last name.

Loud woman: His name? Well. Well, it doesn't matter. And I wasn't talking about you. What about people who don't pronounce their own names the way they're supposed to be pronounced?

Overheard at Benkay.

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Bug Light

Man yelling into cellphone while pumping gas: Hello? Hello? Are you at Bug Light now? Cause me and the kids wanna see the fuckin' lighthouse!

(Overheard in Scarborough)

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Grundy Wooo!

Inebriated twenty-something yelling across the boat: GRUNNNNDYYY!
Grundy: It's like I'm in the Monkees!
Inebriated twenty-something: GRRRRUNNNNDYYY WOOOOOOOOO!
Me: He can't hear you with your shirt on.


(Overheard by Thump on the Peaks Island to Portland Sunday ferry)

Vinny the Brick

Guy on cell: Mr. Wagner, this is Vinny the Brick. I'm very sorry you've been so unlucky at the track. I'll be seeing you later today. (Voice changes to normal, non Vinny-the-Brick voice). I'll be there around seven, you want me to bring red or white?

(overheard by Matthew Myers outside Coffee By Design on India Street)

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

strawberry fields/other people

Organic-looking mom: Only pick the really red ones, sweetie. We leave the rest for other people.

(Overheard at Maxwell's fields)

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Feeding an Army

Me: (silently observing two full shopping carts' worth of hamburger and hot dog buns being rung up in front of me at the grocery store)

Military Guy in Camoflage: This may take a while, ma'am. We're feeding an army here.


(Overheard at Hannaford)

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Tres Chaud!

First Young Woman: Yeah, French is hot!

Second Young Woman: I know -- it's, like, the new Italian!


(Overheard at JoAnn Fabric)

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Old Lady: Did you see Serena Williams play last night?
Old Lady 2: She has the biggest rear end I've ever SEEN!

Courtesy of Comrade Rafa

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Taken

Loud woman, on cell phone: Yeah, I got my masters' in educating the hearing impaired, but I've been in insurance since '79. I guess I'm kind of dating myself.

Monday, January 08, 2007

Teacher: I've taught on four continents, and you guys are the WORST class I've EVER HAD!
Student: Which continents?
Teacher: Africa, North America, and Japan. Well, three. But I've been in a couple earthquakes!

Saturday, December 16, 2006

what do you want to call them?

at the latest ENK children's clothing trade show i went to, i overheard an elderly well-to-do woman who must have been a buyer, while standing over a sparkly t-shirt vendor lady inquire aggresively : "WELL WHAT DO YOU WANT TO CALL THEM, FAT KIDS?!"

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

The Facilities

Woman with huge glasses, a stocking cap, and lots 'o make-up: Are you a customer, or do you work here?

Store Owner: Yeah, i work here.

Woman: The facilities. You know, the facilities. Just wondering. I don't want to see your facilities for the purpose of using them. I just want a place to go through my wallet, you understand.



(Overheard at Casco Bay Books)

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Vampires?

Little boy: ...and then the teacher said, "That's not acceptable," and took his paper away from him, just because he was signing his name in blood.

Monday, November 27, 2006

Teen boy: What the hell is NPR?
Teen girl: National public radio.
Teen boy: National? Why does that not make sense?
Teen girl: It's national.
Teen boy: Then how can it be public?
Teen girl: It's a PUBLIC radio station that brodcasts NATIONALLY.
Teen boy: I don't get it.

Sunday, November 26, 2006

I'm Just Sayin'

Man, examining soup can, to imaginary companion: Yes, but this one has 220 mg of sodium per serving!

Man, after appearing to listen to imaginary companion's response: Well, I'm just sayin'!



(Overheard at Hannaford)

Saturday, November 25, 2006

You can't kill the rooster.

Man on cell phone: Hi Dave, this is 'The Hammer'...

Overheard outside Casco Bay Books

Monday, November 20, 2006

Maybe Our Relationship's Not THAT Interesting

Woman, to friends: Our relationship could be a book.

Woman, reconsidering: Or an article. In a relationship magazine.


(Overheard at the Udder Place)

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

French teacher: Voila, les devoirs.
Teen girl: Day-vwah? Ohmagod, that's so cool! Day-VWAH!
French teacher writes the homework on the board, titled, "devoirs."
Teen girl: What's dee-vores?
French teacher: Devoirs!
Teen girl: OHMAGOD! THAT'S day-vwah?

Monday, August 21, 2006

Vegan Cookies

First Guy (pointing to cookies): Hey, what's a "vegan cookie"?
Second Guy: That means it doesn't have any ingredients.


(Overheard at Casco Bay Books)

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Excuse my spelling.

Tween Girl 1: He's going to get a PhD. He's mad smart.
Tween Girl 2: Aren't PhDs what you need to be a shrink?
Tween Girl 1: Yeah, or a paleantologist.


Overheard near Waynflete.

Friday, July 21, 2006

North Carolina

Crazy Man on Congress Street (in a threatening manner): It's not like you have to tear your face off to North Carolina!

(Overheard by David Meiklejohn)

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Swimming Instructor: Ok, everybody, let's go over names.
Little Girl 1: Caitlin.
Swimming Intructor: Hailey?
Little Girl 1: Caitlin.
Swimming Intructor: Caitlin.
Little Girl 2: Eden.
Swimming Instructor: Hailey?
Little Girl 2: Eden.
Swimming Instructor: Eden.
Little Girl 3: Hannah.
Swimming Instructor: Hailey?
Little Girl 3: Hannah.
Swimming Instructor: Hannah. Is Hailey even a real name?

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Denmark, Maine?

Young woman, to boyfriend: So just go on over to Denmark and find yourself Wyland St!
Boyfriend: Ok.

Friday, July 14, 2006

Good plan

Girl: These ones don't hurt as much when you get hit by them.
Mom: These whats?
Girl: Tennis balls. This one might break your nose, but these ones can TOTALLY hit you straight on, and it will barely hurt.
Mom: Maybe you shouldn't put your face in front of them, then.


Overheard at Sports Authority

Friday, June 23, 2006

It's really worth more

Older Man in Italia shirt: ...because I'm Italian, that's why. Now, how much do I owe you?
Cashier woman: A million dollars. Well, a hundred thousand because you're Italian.
Older Man in Italia shirt: Fair enough.


Overheard at Amato's

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

The Happiest Season of All

Woman in twenties: ...so, and it was Christmas Eve, and it bit me, and I was swinging it back and forth when it just died! And I never got another hamster.

(Overheard at Scarborough Beach)

Monday, June 19, 2006

A condradiction, perhaps?

Man: I am Josef Stalin, the Pope, and God, all in one.
Teen girl: Yur pope-name should be Eular. Then you'd be Pope-Eular.
Man: I am the most pope-eular.

I'm telling you, I didn't think so

Teen Boy: I'm telling you, I did NOT give birth.

Overheard at South Portland tennis courts.

Papaya?

Non-latina non-Spanish speaking teenage girl: I can't read anything on this bottle! God, I wish it was in English. What is this anyway? Oh, a papayera. That's the blood fruit right?
Spanish speaking teenage girl: What? Papayera?
Non-latina non-Spanish speaking teenage girl: Papayaya? Papapapayah?