Mr. Gordon.

The department at my university job not only serves students but also the general public. We get our fair share of crazies and homeless from time to time.

One of our "regulars" is an older alum that feels compelled to tell us (loudly) what's going on in his life--everything from bed bugs in his apartment to his bank putting fraudulent charges on his account.

He mainly comes in to use our computers, looking at street level views of google maps, sometimes hours on end.

I've seen him searching through the trash, he mutters to himself, wears the same overcoat everyday, and is always dragging carry-on luggage behind him.

Whenever he'd come up to the front desk, I'd be polite but engage as little as possible, not wanting to get caught up in one of his drawn-out stories (he tends to latch onto you otherwise).

He's more of a nuisance than anything. At times I'd mimic his thick city accent and repeat his stories to my coworkers. Making light of the situation--and the frustrations of dealing with him, but at his expense.

Shame on me. Growing up in school, I was made fun of and harassed just for being who I was. And now I'm essentially doing the same thing.

He came up to the front desk the other day before leaving to wish me a good night (as usual).

Out-of-nowhere he added, "An hour from now, fourteen years ago, my mother had passed."

"I'm sorry to hear that," I said.

"Well, that was a a long time ago," he replied, brushing it off. But there were imperceptible tears in his eyes. "It still gets me even now."

In that moment it hit me that for all his oddities he's still very much a human.

I smiled and wished him a good night as I always do. "Take care," I said.

Forgive me, Mr. Gordon. From now on I will try looking at you in a new light.

Six!

Exploding Doughnut turns SIX today!

With social media ever-evolving, I don't know where that leaves my blog(s), but it's still here--for now…and I'm glad about that.

Thanks to everyone who has supported my art and words this far.

This blog would be nothing without all of you!

Shake-up at the university.

Oh shit!

Let's just say I was disappointed when I heard the news.

But as the poem goes, nothing gold can stay.

There are changes taking place at my university job.

When I first started over three years ago, my supervisor was a bit of a nightmare. Impatient, aggressive, mean at times. I'm convinced she has demon-blood in her veins. Thankfully she was relieved of watching over the Loop location about a year-and-a-half ago.

Well there's been another restructuring and she's back in charge of the downtown campus where I work.

Because I work the weeknight shift, I'll rarely see her but just knowing she'll be around at anytime puts a damper on things.

We were also notified a full-time colleague will be permanently sent to the Northside location.

To top it all off, of the nine AWESOME students working for us, eight are graduating this year and new ones will have to be hired to replace them.

It feels like we're loose pieces in a snowglobe that's just been shaken.

Hopefully those of us that remain can adapt to the changes once everything's settled and not lose the amazing dynamic our department has.

Married Engagement.

There was happiness on her face. She showed me the ring. Engaged. My God.

One of my student workers told me her boyfriend of five years proposed over Christmas break. They're still quite young but are planning for a long engagement and a wedding when they're both done with school.

And the other day, the department-head at my old city job e-mailed me saying him and his partner of 17 years got married last month.

Both my student worker and former coworker are AWESOME. They totally deserve it. It warms my heart to hear their news yet I'm a touch saddened it's not my news.

Don't I deserve it too?

I LOVE this!!

How does love find some so easily and effortlessly but for the rest of us, we wander, adrift and alone? I don't think I'll ever understand that.

Will I ever meet a wonderful man who will propose and marry me one day?

God, I sure hope so.

Tagging cats!

You know if I end up in hell one day, I'll be scratched non-stop by cats for all eternity.

That's what I get--but it'll be worth it. .;)

Another year over, another cat calendar defaced at work.

Here are my favorite sharpie "enhancements" from the past year courtesy of my office space…

Perm.

Bookish.

Cool cat.

G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S

Nerd.

Maybe she's born with it--maybe it's Maybelline.

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? cats.

Ah, the memories.

Which do YOU like the best?

I've done so many of these, maybe I should add "cat-tagger" to my resume.

Tee hee hee.