[8:30 am, a credit card decline notice from a customer in Hawaii is placed on Paul’s* desk. Paul starts dialing the number.]Will*: Paul, don’t you know it’s 3:30 am there?
Paul, continuing to dial: It’s okay, they’re used to it.
Seminole Trail
Charlottesville, Virginia
Overheard by: They are *not* used to that
[Nurse #1 attempting to restrain combative patient in a dark room.]Nurse #2: You ah… Want me to turn the lights on?
Nurse #1: No, I tie people up in the dark all the time.
University Hospital
San Antonio, Texas
Resident doctor: Hey! How was the concert? I’m sorry I missed it.
Pre-med: What concert?
Resident doctor: Your dad’s concert.
Pre-med: Oh, it was more like a hoe-down.
Resident doctor: Was there promenading?
Pre-med, nodding head in agreement: There was some promenading.
Seattle, Washington
Overheard by: snickerpants
Superior #1: So, Joanne wasn’t umm… working out so she left… I shouldn’t say any more.
Inferior #1: She didn’t come to work naked or something?!
Superior #2: [Responds to quizzical looks from others.] That comment has a context!
Cornwallis Road
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Overheard by: Ben A. Fit
CSR, on speakerphone: And where would you like this order shipped?
Secretary: 123 Main St.*, Los Alamos, New Mexico.
CSR : We don’t ship out of the country.
Secretary: That’s fine, but this address is in the country.
CSR : No, you said to ship it to New Mexico.
Secretary: Yes, New Mexico is a state in the US.
CSR : Sorry, but we can’t ship out of the US.
Secretary: Do you have a supervisor I can talk to, please?
[Long pause.]CSR supervisor: This is Tim. Can I help you?
Secretary: I hope so, Tim. Your employee doesn’t seem to understand that New Mexico is a state in the United States, and so refuses to ship me your product.
Supervisor: Well, that’s true. We can’t ship out of the country. I’m sorry ma’am.
Secretary, raising her voice a little: Have you never even heard of the state of New Mexico? It’s one of the big, square ones? It’s right between Texas and Arizona? It’s one of the 50 United States?
Supervisor: I’m sorry, it’s just our policy not to ship out of the US.
Secretary: Tim, let me get this straight. Your company is going to lose a $14,000 order because the people in your customer service department are too moronic to know or comprehend that the state of New Mexico is a part of the United States?
Supervisor: Yes, ma’am. That’s our policy.
Secretary, completely exasperated: Well, I guess there’s nothing more to be said, is there?
Supervisor: No, ma’am. Have a nice day.
Los Alamos, New Mexico
Overheard by: New Mexican
[Whistling can be heard through a door.]Co-worker: Where’s that goddamn whistling coming from? Hello?! Stop fucking whistling! Don’t you know there are people trying to be miserable here?!
Escanaba, Michigan
Overheard by: Auds
Nurse assistant to patient: Do you want corn, carrots, or peas?
Patient: Cake.
Nurse assistant: Cake isn’t a vegetable. What would you like to drink?
Patient: Cookies.
Nurse assistant: You can’t drink cookies.
St. John Hospital
Detroit, Michigan
Overheard by: I was laughing
Secretary: …and the next time you talk to her, ask her why my cell phone was up her shirt.
Akron, Ohio
Copywriter: I haven’t seen Mallrats.
Designer: What?!
Copywriter: Or The Goonies.
Designer: Have you seen any movie?
Copywriter: Those are the only two I haven’t seen.
Plum Street, Cincinnati
Ohio
Overheard by: Erica
Female worker #1: You couldn’t tell how big it was?
Female worker #2: Well, I hadn’t touched it before then.
The Daily Reflector
Greenville, North Carolina
