Things I Carry Around In My Bag

I am not, by definition, a purse carrier. The reason is: I usually leave it behind. In restaurants, on buses, at friends' places, in unlocked cars. As a result of this absent-mindedness, I began the practice of popping my wallet in my pocket. But that became problematic when I wanted to carry a cheque book as well. Or my camera. And then there are keys to think about. All those things tend to make pockets bulge. Which can be so unsightly.

Before Joe whisked me off to Paris last summer, I bought a bag. A big, bright, pink and orange, woven Liz Claiborne bag. I love it. It carries all and sundry. Have I mentioned I love it?

This is what rattled out onto the kitchen floor when I upturned it this evening:

1. A ziplock bag of prescription strength Advil. Because I never know when a headache will hit. And I want to be prepared to kill it.

2. Unopened pay slips. My school board could be ripping me off to no end and I would be none the wiser. I rarely open these things.

3. A small pad of lined paper. Because I never know when I will be called upon to take minutes. I just noticed I do not have a pen in my bag.

4. Plastic spoons. My students often forget to bring a spoon in their lunch kit and need spoons to eat their yogurt, or pudding, or soup. So I supply them.

5. A purple comb. What the heck? I don't even brush my hair, never mind comb it.

6. A toothbrush. Because dental hygiene is crucial.

7. My wallet. I love this old leather thing.

8. A grapefruit. I was wondering what was making my bag so heavy!

9. Three chequebooks. Why three you may ask? Who knows!

10. A plastic cockroach. Leftover from my class's Hallowe'en party in October. I bought a bag of them to put into my students' party drinks and I guess one of them migrated into my bag.

11. A CD of educational material. I've never listened to it.

12. A screw driver. Because I often find myself needing to drive a screw into or out of a wall either at school or work.

13. Two desk leg ends. We are always looking for these things at school. I don't know why they are in my bag though. I should put them in my desk.

14. Three lip balms. Which is really crazy as I rarely suffer from chapped lips. But if my lips ever start to dry up, I will have a good stock to choose from.