Aug 1, 2017:

Meanwhile, at the #tollbooth...

A banged-up dirty pickup truck pulls forward. Inside are two men, looking just as worn and filthy, covered in a hard work day's sweat and grime. They could be White or Latino, the dirt and evening shadow making it difficult to tell which, and probably in their 30s, though labor has aged them beyond that.

"Hey man," says the driver in a gruff and tired voice, "I'm a dime short, is that okay?"

...

Tales from the #tollbooth...
July 27, 2013.

Driver: (with an accent I can't immediately place) "Excuse me, am I going the right way to detwah?"

Me: I'm sorry, to where?

Driver: "Detwah."

Me: Do you mean, Ottawa?

Driver: "No, no, detwah."

Me: *fumbling through list of nearby towns*

*lightbulb moment*

Me: Are you talking about Michigan?

Driver: *consults map*
Yes! Michigan!

Me: *trying not to laugh*
Ahhhh, DETROIT.

Tales from the #tollbooth. June 20, 2015: Well, that's now the second #DeLorean to come to my booth. Or maybe... IT'S THE FIRST. o.O

June 13, 2013:
Meanwhile, at the #tollbooth...
While working the southbound lanes,
Trucker: "Can I catch 80 East to Indiana from here?"
Me: Yes, to your left.
"That sign says Iowa."
That's your right. Try your other left.

June 22, 2015 (Monday after Father's Day):

Yesterday, at the #tollbooth...
An older gent, average build with a scruffy face, pulled up in an old pickup.
"What do I owe ya, Daddy?"
One-fifty.
"You are a daddy, aren't ya?"
... On a good day.

I took this photo ten years ago in the #tollbooth, but I guess I never shared it.
#GayDollar
#Pride

6/6/13: At the #tollbooth...

A large black pick-up truck rolled into my lane. A white, sleeveless arm hung out the driver's window, bearing a bicep as thick as my head & a brawny fist to match. His jawline: clean-shaven & square. I'm sure his shaved head led to some thick folds at his neck. He took off his sunglasses, exposing deep brown eyes. "Hey buddy," a low Southern drawl emerged. "I don't have any cash... What can I do?"

I had to pick myself up from the floor before I could answer.

The Tollbooth Steeple and the Mercat Cross Unicorn, Glasgow Cross, Glasgow

Glasgow Cross is the original heart of the city, marking the point where its five main roads (High Street, Gallowgate, London Road, Saltmarket and Argyle Street) radiate out to connect Glasgow to the rest of Scotland and beyond.

The Tollbooth Steeple dates from the 1630s, while the Mercat Cross is a 20th Century replica of a 17th Century one.

#glasgow #glasgowcross #tollbooth #unicorn #glasgowbuildings
#scotland

More #Godvertising at the #tollbooth... I used to get pamphlets like these all the time. The other collectors and I would laugh because, as often as we received them, we wondered if our occupation is especially damned.
#SneakInTheBack
#FakeID
#IKnowTheDJ

Working from home has been a blessing. I'm now able to keep an eye on Hubz and the cats, the former more than the latter. I know when he's actually taken his meds, and I know he's had a real lunch, not just "some cookies" he found in the cabinet.
But as pathetic as it may sound, work at the #tollbooth provided me with a social outlet. I had about 30 coworkers whom I liked, who brought light to my day. Getting through the workday felt easier with them.

I should put something here...
#Introduction Part 1: B&R in #Chicago, I'm adjusting to suburban life as a #gay / #queer #ISTJ #Aquarius #caregiver for a disabled Hubz, whom I've been with for 20 yrs. I'm #catdad to two #kitTeas, Pekoe & Earl Grey. After 8 yrs in a #tollbooth, I'm now a #WFH CSR. I enjoy #dance music, #crossstitch, #Tarot, #BttF, #books, #strongman events, #XFiles, #ushistory, #roadtrips, #malepolish, fun #socks, & social #nudism. Sometimes I write words that sound nice together.