Bags and Tags

Sometime last week, oomph tagged me to do a post on the contents of my purse.  Until Rags began publishing regularly last August, I was not in the habit of carrying a purse.  I carried a brief case or a book bag, but if I was out and about, it was my wallet only.    And that wallet was firmly clamped under my arm. For many years I thought of purses as a visible sign of a person's vulnerability.  In one fell swoop, an interested person could make off with another's identity.

Above you'll see the tiny collection of bags I've accumulated while thrifting this past year.  The black bag on the left is made of some sort of synthetic material and features one zip and one outer pocket.  It's marketed by Talbots, though I bought it for $3.  The middle bag in the middle is by Mark Thompson, a maker of leather goods for travelers.  It has many little pockets and zippers and places to secure pens.  The strap is adaptable so it can be worn as a backpack or carried as a purse.  The leather is buttery soft.  And when I googled it, I was amazed to find it was originally a $175 bag which I'd found for $7.  The bag on the right is the one I'm currently carrying.  I bought it for .99.  The tag inside says Marizio Taituti, made in Italy.  I like the woven leather.

One of my pet peeves is women rooting around in purses big enough to carry the kitchen sink.  You may have everything with you...but whether you can find it or not is another question.  Below, you'll see what I was carrying on Thursday when I met my daughters and my mother for lunch.

~my wallet bulging with change that needs to go into the change jar, cards, coupons, sewing tape.
~the receipt from the car payment I made
~date book, where I keep a rough schedule of blog posts

~a button I got at last weekend's Maker Faire
~one allergy tab
~a mini tripod
~a men's handkerchief, used once
~spare battery and charger for my camera
~gum
~a lighter
~flossers
~one huge bobby pin for French roll purposes.
~my keys
~camera case (I got quite caught up in the philosophical problem of how one takes a photo of their camera.  My camera is a Sony Cybershot)
~four turnips, a gift from our garden to my mother.

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In recent months I have been tagged a number of times.  I haven't forgotten:  Adrienne at A Rich Life; Chalkdust at Chalkdust and Boots; Meri at Meri-Go-Round; and Rad from Cohabitating Closet have all tagged me at one time or another.  I have forgotten the terms of the various awards, but it often means revealing 7 things about yourself that your readers might not have known.  So in the spirit of "playing well with others" here goes:

1)  My husband and I have captured a number of bee swarms.  

2)  I was "detained" for skinny dipping in a geyser pool in a national park.

3)  Twice this year, I have been a bridesmaid.

4)  I do not carry or own a cell phone and it keeps my life sane.

5)  I am envious of my students who have participated in NaNoWriMo.

6)  I once lost my glasses and was too blind to drive home.  I tried, but could not read the signs.  Took my first exit off the Interstate and ended up on a dead end in a railroad yard at 11 p.m.  I was driving my sportscar and dressed to the nines from a conference I'd attended that day.  A man in overalls chuckled at my dilemma, called my husband, and gave him directions on how to retrieve me.

7)  If I could pursue another degree, it would be in American history.

I'd like to pass the "tag" along to 

Keri at the Chronicles of Lady K.

Lori at Lori's Wardrobe

Ofelia at My Intended Life 

Cynthia at Be Fabulous Daily 

Paula at fashion over fifty 

Serene at The Elegant Bohemian 

Ana at She's Addicted to Clothes 

as well as any other of my readers who would like to play.  Please don't feel obligated.  Take your time...even six months if necessary.