“She had the loaded handbag of someone who camps out and seldom goes home, or who imagines life must be full of emergencies.”
The day is amazing, third day in a row with lots of sun, bearable temperatures and no humidity. The temperature is 73˚. It will get higher but stay in the 70’s during the day and down the 60’s at night. I keep wondering what we did right to receive such gifts as the last three days.
I don’t carry a purse or a pocketbook, haven’t for years. The last one I remember having was a straw bag which was the victim of an attempted purse snatching on my first weekend in Ghana. I can only imagine what perfect targets we both made, the bag and I. There I was walking along a bridge, swinging my bag and swiveling my head to catch all the sights while a nimble thief waited his opportunity. He tried but didn’t get the bag. Later, I ditched the straw for a mesh shepherd’s bag and that’s what I used for the next two years. When I got home, the natural transition was to a small backpack sort of bag. My early ones were nylon with lots of zippered pockets. Later, I got a bit of fashion sense and switched to leather. I still carry one.
The leather bag I have now is my winter bag. It is black with soft, beautiful leather. I bought it in a leather store when I was looking for sandals. This bag has a roomy middle but only two pockets, one inside and one outside, but I still manage to carry all sorts of necessities. Here is a rundown:
In the front pocket are my keys, a pen and a measuring tape. I use the tape to measure furniture I find to see if it’ll fit in a spot in my house. The inside pocket has my cell phone, a watch and a few gift cards left over from Christmas. Everything else is in the roomy middle. Besides the usual wallet, checkbook and glasses, I have a comb, two kinds of lip gloss and some dental floss which tastes like cinnamon. A small notebook is for sudden inspirations as is the case holding blank cards. My change purse has keys, never change. My trips have taught me to keep odd things so I have sanitizing hand-spray, dissolving soap sheets and a couple of toothettes in case I need to brush my teeth. I figure I’m ready for just about any contingency.
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July 9, 2018 at 11:33 am
I wondered where he was
The Tour de France started and somewhere from deep in the forest, Big Rick emerged. His knee cap is floating, his back is still painful from the last operation and he reported that he is laying in his La-Z-Boy. Of course all his cockamamie schemes are about to product a billion dollars. My bike is ready to go but the chapter that is Sundays in the Park with Big Rick is well and truly closed
Careful preparation is underway for gathering of the Clans for the World Cup semi final on Wednesday. Media closedown will begin first thing in the morning and a routine will be followed. Mrs MDH, my children and their spouses. No predictions are to be made
July 9, 2018 at 12:03 pm
My Dear Hedley,
I am sorry for the closing of the My Dear Hedley and Big Rick era. It was truly monumental. I guess vicariously watching is the best Big Rick can do.
I’m glad the festivities will soon be underway for Wednesday’s big event. Having all the family there adds to the greatness!
July 9, 2018 at 3:05 pm
I always wondered why carrying a ‘man purse’ is considered tabo here in the US? We are such a homophobic society. 🙁 I used to carry a leather pouch containing a pipe, tobacco and pipe cleaners when I used to smoke. Later on I switched over to a photographers vest with lots of pockets as long as the weather got warm, even after I quit smoking.
Now, I carry too much stuff than I really need in my threefold wallet in my front right pant pocket. I carry my iPhone in my left front pocket. This way it’s easier to keep track of them. Eventually, I could ditch the wallet when I can have all that information I carry on the phone. I use Apple Pay every day to pay for lunch at work and at anyplace that will accept Apple Pay. I used to carry my wallet in my back pants pocket until my back started hurting from sitting on the wallet on one side.
Sadly, tonight we will discover which conservative judge Trump will pick to,sit on the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, woman’s rights, minority rights, voting rights and gay rights will be in serious jeopardy. 🙁 Elections have concequences as we and our British friends are discovering as they go through Brexit. Tomorrow 45 departs for NATO where he will begin taking apart the greatest alliance in history on his way to have his bromance with Putin. 🙁
Slight chance of rain today with mid 90s temperature.
July 9, 2018 at 7:09 pm
Bob,
Many men now carry messenger bags which is their way around the scorn of carrying a man purse. I use a messenger bag as my summer bag. It is made from canvas and is much lighter than my backpack. I even used it when I went to Ghana.
I carry far more in my bag, and it can feel heavy at times, but I don’t want to ditch anything. I can ever fit my iPad in it if I need to carry the iPad somewhere.
I won’t even watch him. I can’t stand his face and his voice; instead, I am watching the Red Sox.
Boston got to 90˚ but we only had a high of only 75˚.
July 9, 2018 at 8:27 pm
I carry a leather brief bag to work every day similar to a messenger bag. It contains my iPad, an umbrella, my earbuds, a charger and a crapload of stuff I never look at but might be necessary someday. When I was doing a lot of traveling I would carry my laptop along with copies of handout material for the students. Now that everyone has an iPad and wifi they can download the paperwork anywhere. My courseware is now online so I really don’t need the the laptop or even the bag. However, it makes me look important to carry the bag. Sometimes it’s better to look important even if you’re not. 🙂
July 10, 2018 at 11:10 am
Bob,
I think carrying more rather than lesser is the norm. Depending upon where I might be going means packing a variety of items. And I think I ambe permanently stooped by the heft of what I carry,
July 9, 2018 at 3:40 pm
The day started warm and humid and later on the thunder arrived. It stayed for quite some time but gave almost no rain, we are all a bit disappointed.
The last backpack I had was years ago and it was destroyed by my cat Doris. She was angry at me for bringing her home from the cottage I rented, she used to stay there until winter arrived but this time I didn’t know when I could go there again. So she jumped in to it and peed 🙂 🙂 🙂 I could never use it again and later on one of my dogs chewed it to pieces, he just loved the leather with the cat pee taste 🙂 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
July 9, 2018 at 7:14 pm
Christer,
I am never sad when we have a summer rain unless it occurs day after day. I figure all growing things need the water. We have a maybe a shower tomorrow night.
I once had a male cat who peed on any guest’s luggage. Luckily I found a product which was actually able to get rid of that horrible male cat pee smell.
I think Henry might be the type of dog who’d chew a backpack. He is chewing the binding on a book near where he sleeps on the couch, chews all his toys and pulls out the stuffing, has chewed my quilt on the bed, made a hole in the cushion he sleeps on on the couch and keeps trying to pull out the stuffing. There is more but you get the idea!
Have a great day!!