Today's weird event... plus one from Tuesday. Both Pen related.

This morning a very *interesting* character walked into my office to chat.

Dude: I'm going to get right to the point here
Laura: okay...
Dude: I've recently received an inheritance, and i wanted to give a substantial donation to *Laura's Workplace*
Laura: Oh! That's nice!
Dude: Yeah, so - y'know. I just have always really like *Laura's Workplace* and so i wanted to give you some money.
Laura: Okay.
Dude: (is quiet, dude and Laura have awkward moment of silence) ....do you have a pen?
Laura: pardon? (as dude is clearly holding a pen in his hand, one that he picked up off her desk)
Dude: a pen. Do you have a *Laura's Workplace* pen? y'know, like a promotional pen, one with *Laura's Workplace* name on it?
Laura: Uhm, no.
Dude: You have no promotional pens?
Laura: No, we don't have anything like that. We have PINS, though, like the kind you'd put on your jacket.
Dude: (Stares at Laura as if insulted) I collect promotional pens. (putting my pen BACK on the desk)
Laura: (that's weird) oh. Sorry. we don't have anything like that.
Dude: Can i look at your bookshelf?
Laura: sure.
Dude: i see you have books on there. My friend was looking for a book like that.
Laura: Oh, yeah?
Dude:.......WELL! thanks for your time! (exits)

I'm thinking that we won't be seeing his substantial donation anytime soon. Maybe if we had promotional pens? Will have to talk to Communications about that.

ALSO, another office pen related story:

on Tuesday a man came into the office looking for a colleague of mine. She was not in, so he stood at my desk and chatted for a few minutes. He's come in before and is generally a really nice guy.

As we chatted, he reached over onto my desk and grabbed my pen and a post it, and began to scribble what i had assumed to be a note for my colleague. He looked up from his writing and said: "Wow, this is a nice pen!"
Laura: "Yeah, that's a good one."
Friendly dude: "Okay, well! Tell *Laura's Colleague* to call me when she gets in. oh, and I'm having this pen!
Laura: You're taking my pen!?
Friendly dude: No, i'm having it. Talk to you later!

exits with pen...

i thought about chasing him down the street crying; My pen! My PEN!! a la Kids in the Hall, but i figured the humour would be lost on him.