Visual Vocabulary: Strafe

The word "strafe" can be filed under the category of "words my husband thinks everyone should know and was taken aback that I didn't." When I asked him about it, he was appalled that I had no idea it meant gunning people down from a low-flying aircraft. Then I had to remind him that playing war-based shooter video games is his hobby, not mine. I'm not as well-versed as he is in war and military terminology. 

So I decided to make this an homage to him (seen here as the pilot, SgtScooter) and his buddy Paul (seen here as blonde Rambo, PolishPaul) since they are often playing video games together. Here's a smattering of our conversation while I was drawing this scene:

Me: A helicopter doesn't have a wheel, right? It has a stick for steering?
Scott: I mean it's called a yoke, but whatever.

And then I showed him the helicopter body:

Me: I'm sorry this isn't very badass-looking.
Scott: I'm sure it could report the shit out of the traffic.
Me: Well then, I'm not even going to ask about the anatomic-correctness of Paul's machine gun...
Scott: ...

And that, friends, that "..." of silence is what we call "knowing when to shut up to keep your marriage happy." Just kidding, I thought the helicopter comment was hilarious. He gave me a dose of my own snark. One day I might just quiz him on design terminology. 

Visual Vocabulary is a project I created for myself in which I attempt to sear new words into my memory by illustrating them.