Dependent on the person:

A copy of A Room of One’s Own with certain passages underlined: 4.7 ounces

A bottle of hand lotion: 2 ounces

A nail file: 1 ounce & two tubes of lipstick: 1.5 ounces

A condom: 1 ounce

A tin of Altoids: 1 ounce

Fresh oranges: 1 pound 1 ounce & sometimes a kiwi: 6.4 ounces

A picture of their children: 1 ounce without a frame, 3.3 ounces

with a cheap plastic one


On some days:

A fruit bar: 1.2 ounces or

Banana: 5.4 ounces

Bottled water: 1 pound 10.6 ounces

Guilt: When they are approached by the homeless man on the corner & they are reminded that they at least have a job

A lightweight jacket: 2 pounds 4.9 ounces

A retractable umbrella: 13.8 ounces

Futility: When a student stops one of them in the hall & asks to talk & they cannot return to their shared office because someone else is utilizing the space

A down-filled coat: 3 pounds 3 ounces

Wool mittens: 5.3 ounces

A wool hat 2.1 ounces

A plaid scarf: 5.1 ounces

Anger: When they discuss with the chair of the department about the possibility of a permanent position & she sighs & says she “cannot create, only advocate”

Three manila folders, each filled with up to thirty 4-8 page papers: 2 pounds 13.6 ounces

Frustration: When another adjunct (always from another department) brings in her baby & it wails the entire two hours of their allotted office time


On all days:

Car keys: 3.1 ounces

A wallet: 11.7 ounces

Fear: When the schedule for the upcoming semester lists not their names but “TBA”

A mini-stapler & box of staples: 2.7 ounces

Four ballpoint pens: 1.2 ounces

Three mechanical pencils: 1.1 ounces

One Post-it pad in green: 1.4 ounces

Ten paper clips: .4 ounces

A cell phone on vibrate: 3.7 ounces

Three manila folders in varying colors to distinguish between the three separate classes taught & two to three sheets of lecture notes in each: 9.8 ounces

Three to six textbooks: from 3 pounds 15 ounces to 6 pounds 14 ounces

Despair: When the bills pile up on the kitchen counter at home & their check will not cover them, or when their supplemental health insurance rates go up &

Despair &

Despair.