What's in YOUR Purse?

Man Bag… Murse… or as a male friend of my daughter calls them, Thatchel (there is a lisp in there). I like to think of mine as a Possibles Bag because that’s what the mountain men called them. Let’s face it though – it’s a purse.

I carry mine around most days to and from my tent–making business and, just like my wife’s purse, mine accumulates STUFF. I decided to clean it out and see just what I have in there and, what the heck – I bet you want to know what I tote around too, huh?

What you don’t see in the picture below is my lunch which I usually toss in there. Typically it is leftovers from supper in a Tupperware container with a spoon or fork as needed.

I reckon we’ll just start in the upper left corner and work our way around…(you can click on the picture to enlarge it)



Steno pad and some mail I still need to deal with.
My badges. I work in a secure facility so I have to go through combination locks, key locks and little machines one “swipes” one’s magnetic card across. That’s the card you see. While walking around this prison, er, place of employment, one must display the required picture ID – it’s on the other side but hanging on the same lanyard (you are not allowed to see it). What I did was Scotch-tape the two cards on either side of a Tool Logic “Survival Card”. It’s about as big as a credit card (or ID badge) but thicker. It contains an LED light, a knife, toothpick and tweezers. When I get to work I wear this gizmo around my neck.

A bunch of pens (I only put two back in the bag) and a little notebook – I have started to write everything down. If I think of something – bam, it goes in the notebook. Quite handy.

My daily carry knife. I was actually wondering where I put that thing – I usually carry it in my front pocket but I put it in the bag one day as I was headed to CrossFit because I didn’t want to lose it in the gym. It will be in my pocket tomorrow.

I have a snap link (“NOT FOR CLIMBING!” shyea, like anyone would try)…. that I clip my keys to. A water bottle. I carry a variety of water bottles and at least one 3-liter bottle of water (not shown) every day.

A ziplock of cash and a fire starter that fell out of the survival kit.

Some AA batteries - don’t know why they were there, but what the heck – I kept them.
That black fanny pack is a survival kit I have carried around the world several times. I had to make some modifications (removals) after 9-11. I really don’t like going anywhere without it – it comforts me. Perhaps I’ll blog about it next.

Three lighters “Viking Pocket Fire” with inner tube pieces. I think one fell out of the survival kit – I tossed it back in there, kept one more and removed the other. I typically also carry one in my pants pocket.

An Army “Demo Knife” (sounds cooler than Boy Scout knife) – it fell out of the survival kit because its zippers are toast.
Tupperware sandwich box containing a first aid kit I have carried all over the world.
Two permanent markers – for marking stuff…

A little ratchet set for the Leatherman Wave you see below it. I’ve never used it but got it for free. I put it back in the bag – what the heck, good a place as any to keep it…
Cold Steel Bushman survival knife with some wraps of tape around the handle for grip. Sometimes you just need a bigger blade.

Some tiny zipties I picked up from a techie and a comb for my long locks (beard).
One rubber glove – we have boxes of them at home we use for medical calls (Volunteer Fire Department) and I guess I tossed some in there one day. It was trashed – it’s gone now.

Ya know those $5 flashlights they sell at the counter of the auto parts store? The LED ones that take three AAA batteries? Real bright in the store? Yeah….they don’t hold up well bouncing around the bottom of a Man Bag. The batteries are fine – the light does not work anymore. Chinese junk.

Fork and a plastic knife from some lunch long ago – put in the dishwasher.
A magazine a buddy gave me containing an article on a DIY solar hot water heater – I still need to read it – moved to the bathroom.

Blood powder – so if I had some free time I could look up the ingredients on the Internet. I did. The bottle is now in the medical closet.
Some chestnuts a buddy gave me last fall – they are now on the kitchen table….

Assorted paper trash – in the burn pile now.

So that’s it. Obviously not a super thought-out Uber Kit. But it’s real. And it’s what I’ve been toting around.

I’ll see ya out there!

Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. - Luke 22:36
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If you have any comments I’d love to hear them.
If they really interest me, I may even post them.
You can reach me at Joe

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