My disappointment with humankind is not restricted to abuse of animals, of course. I think that I’m touched most by this because animals have always been such a big part of my life and I can’t imagine life without them.

However, I cannot even fathom the horrors of the human psyche that would allow PARENTS to sexually abuse their children for an internet child pornography ring. I can’t even imagine. This is beyond my scope of what is conceivable. I see a child and sexual thoughts are the furthest from my mind. I think of fun and laughter and pure, pure love.

I’m sure if I dwell on all of this too much, I’ll lose myself in all of it.

There are good stories out there as many of you have reminded me. I’d like to think that my family has had a part in those positive stories. We do greyhound rescue. We have taken in pets that were going to be destroyed (pot-bellied pigs that have worn out their novelty, dogs that didn’t “fit” with a family, etc.).

I can remember as a child having a house that was often populated with people who were traveling cross-country and needed a place to crash. As I grew up and became an adult, my houses have become similar places. I’ve had people from all over the world stay with me as they traveled.

Charity begins at home as the saying goes. Warren and I were recently discussing street people and how we may feel a type of responsibility for them. I don’t feel it is my job to provide a life for them or to support their habits. If they are hungry, though, what is $5 to buy them a lunch? It gets some food in their bellies and they can at least feel some sort of satisfaction.

I know it’s controversial. I know some people feel that “those people” should get a job and take care of themselves. Sometimes, though, they can’t. Compassion can go a long way.

I’ve found that at my work the people who complain about a lack of respect are usually the ones who disrespect others. Yesterday, a co-worker was lamenting that people didn’t respect her or her role in the organization. She was saying that people just walk into her office with no regard to what she is doing. We have an open door policy here and it is expected that it will be ok to walk in. If you have someone with you, though, you should expect some decorum and the waiting person can either come back later or wait out of ear shot. Funny thing is, she partakes in the very activity she complains that others do. I can’t tell you how many times she has walked into my office while I was on the phone or working and talking with someone else and just started talking and made herself the most important person there.

We are hiring a new HR director for our department. While we, as HR employees, have some say, the rest of the school (I work at a community college) also has input into the hiring process because that person will be affecting all of us on a daily basis. Yesterday, we were talking to one of the candidates in a private HR interview. There are four of us in this department and the director would make five. I’m the systems analyst for the HR department and tend to be left out of the loop because I’m considered a “techie” and not an HR person. That’s fine with me for the most part.

So, we’re talking with this candidate and it’s very relaxed. She starts telling us that she wasn’t sure of what to wear to her interview because this town tends to be very non-formal but some people who move here from the cities try to make it more formal. The other women of my department all commented that they couldn’t wait for Tuesday when we weren’t doing interviews any longer so they could dress down. I laughed and replied that I didn’t dress up for other people’s interviews, that I dressed the same way I usually did: khakis or jeans and a blouse or t-shirt. I said that being a “techie” had it’s perks and luckily the college is very casual. The woman who was complaining about respect turned to me and said, “Yes, we’ve noticed. You would think that with as much money as you IT people make, you could afford better clothes.”

She said this in an interview. I was shocked but covered it with a laugh. The interviewee said that she noticed that IT people tended to buy more toys and lived comfortable lives, instead. I laughed more and agreed with her, telling them that I had fun toys.

I’m always amazed at what comes out of people’s mouths. I shouldn’t be, though. This particular woman tends to get her digs into me. I’ve been told it’s because she’s threatened by me. Whatever it is, it can be amusing to watch. I wish I were at more of a distance to watch it, though.