What's in YOUR Wallet?
I've been doing a lot of things to stimulate creativity lately, to bend my mind and my ideas in new ways and try new approaches to writing. One of those things have been trying out writing exercises that catch my eye and some of them are work, like building character profiles, that while fun, require quite a bit of investment, and others are more like party games. So, I decided it would be fun to share one here, and everyone can join in, readers and writers alike, because stimulating your creativity feels good!
How about this one?
If a detective were to find your purse, what would it tell them about you? Describe the purse, the contents, and describe what you think the detective would discover about you!
Mine: A lime green Overland Equipment Loie bag with adjustable black strap that has:
4 pens
1 Small notebook, sidebound, colorful circles on the cover
1 Blistex
5 packages of Lactaid
6 Sudafed
1 Small nail file
1 Tube of lightly scented hand lotion
Wallet
Receipt from lunch yesterday (now removed)
Cell Phone
Axim, Keyboard, or Paperback
What the detective might think:
I'm obviously a writer/reader of some sort, and I like to stay connected where ever I am. I like to horde pens, LOL. Focus is on what I need, not clutter or extras like candy, make-up (which I don't use), hair brushes, etc. No children, dry skin, lactose intolerant, and has allergies. The detective might assume short hair (would be wrong though -- I just learned from my hairdresser that brushing your hair is bad for it), and that I have long nails (also wrong, they've all been bitten off lately), but that I am organized and don't keep old things hanging around.
They might associate the style of the bag with a younger woman, but I like colorful, casual styles. They might think I'm a student, given the technology, the style of the bag, no children, etc., but if they looked through my wallet they'd find ID that would point to a 40+ woman, professional, who doesn't carry a lot of cash on hand. :) They'd notice my medical insurance cards are in a different name, and might deduce that my husband's last name is not mine, so mine is a maiden name, since you can only cover spouses or relatives on your insurance.
All in all, I think my bag is very much like me, but might mislead a detective who was trying to pick out clues...
What about you?
More fun!!!
My bag is a Harvey's Seatbelt North-South Shopper in bright red. Contents:
cell phone
yellow highlighter
chapstick
red sharpie
2 pens
1 mechanical pencil
iPod
keys
sunglasses
wallet
Moleskine calendar
Moleskine notebook
hand cream
tissues
gray linen zipper bag containing a small pharmacy - band aids, 2nd chapstick, 5 year old lipstick, cold meds, shout wipes
Tibetan zipper bag containing a small digital camera - pictures include son's swim lessons and son sleeping off a cold on DH's chest
Zipper pocket containing: iPod headphones, ear plugs, index cards, hand sanitizer
I shudder to think what this says about me, as everything, and I mean everything is in its place. I like bags with lots of pockets, etc, so there's an iPod pocket, a cell phone pocket, pencil pockets, and a zipper pocket on the other side. Not much identifies me as the mother of a 3 year old, but the index cards and sharpie are for entertaining in difficult situations (thank you, Anne Lamott), and my Visa card has my son's photo on it. Inside my wallet is a business card for my local yarn shop, with all my needle sizes marked on the back, so I know whether I need to buy needles for a project.
A detective would eventually find evidence of motherhood in my bag, but she'd have to search for it. I like to be prepared for anything from dry lips to a stain disaster, and rather than read when I have down time in lines, I either make notes re: writing projects or listen to podcasts.
You are prepared for anything!
And so detailed... I like lots of pockets, too, even if I don't use them all. Sometimes I do, if I'm going out for the day -- I like the potential to be able to carry more if I need to, even if I typically don't.
Sam
Good one!
Very large black leather bag. (Straps too short and irritate me;)
Cell Phone and Son's Cell Phone
iPod with Gym Door Entry Card.
2 - Mechanical Pencils with Skulls. (I have a teen ds.)
4 - Pens/Sharpie
Receipts for WalMart, Chili's and Post Office
3 - Army Guys and Multiple Lego Pieces (A StarWars ship that fell apart.)
2 - Gum and a Package of Gummies
Keys and Sunglass Case
Scratch off lottery cards I need to cash in. (Won $28)
Package of Tissues and Babywipes
Batteries and Digital Camera
Wallet: DL, Truck Insurance Card, Bank Card and $47 Cash
Family Pictures
Insurance cards for entire family.
Too many credit cards!!
Passport Photos
Side Pocket:
Eye Drops for Contacts
2 - Lipgloss and Powder
Fingernail Clippers and File
Tums, Small Bottle Tylenol and Imodium
Well...you can definitely tell I'm married and have boys. I carry emergency snacks...I had a juice box in there yesterday. I'd be easy to profile. *sigh* Kinda makes me feel old. LOL!
I like longer straps, too
I need to be able to sling it over crossways, I hate carrying it on my shoulder; I like my hands free.
Wow. You carry your digital camera around?
Chelle... I hope you don't have backaches, LOL. That's A LOT in one purse...
I think someone would deduce you are a busy woman, practical, with a lot of responsibility. Kids, yes, no real luxury items... not vain. ;) Also a risk-taker, LOL -- who else would carry a potentially explosive juice box in their purse? LOL
Sam
What’s in my wallet?
Nine West fabric bag in cinnamon and tan print with leather handle -- Police will deduce I am of the Autumn color family--which I am not. I'm a Summer. I do have an Autumn mother who forever influenced my color choices.
Credit card holder with cards
Checkbooks from two different accounts
Lip gloss (that I rarely use)
Cell phone
Pen
Keys
Mirror (contact lens wearer)
Police will deduce I am a well-organized person who gets along with only the essntials. They will be wrong. When I change purses, I leave a ton of stuff behind.
Inside the credit card holder, in addition to credit cards:
Husband’s student ID from 1978
Children’s “cookie credit cards” from late 1980’s
Original REI membership card from 1980’s—printed on paper
Original Blockbuster card from early 1990’s
Police will deduce that I am a sentimental person who hangs onto things hoping they will increase in value. They will be correct. What do you think a 1978 University of Idaho student ID with a devilish handsome student on it will go for in the future?
ROTFL
My God, it's like an archeology project, LOL.
Very funny...
I didn't get into wallet contents, but yes, the usual credit cards, ID, and a picture of Mike that he sent to me when we only knew each other online -- the first time I ever "saw" him -- one of those funny little booth pictures, you know, like at Fairs? I love it.
I would also guess outdoorsy -- the colors, REI, Idaho, etc...
Sam
I bet I could get the kitchen sink in here too.
Good one Sam!
For the purposes of this exercise, I'm going to use my purse only and ignore the Barnes and Noble tote I also carry with me at all times. It includes my writing basics.
Camel colored hobo-style with two front pockets purse contents: Are you really ready for this?
Empty saltine wrapper
A watch I need to buy a battery for
A bottlecap
A lipgloss compact (includes three varieties)
A stray lipgloss
A lipstick
Two containers of lip balm
A ponytail holder
A reminder card for my next haircut
My friend's business card and a frequent buyer card to Sephora
Another lipstick
Two empty Lactaid packets and one full one (yep, Sam, me too)
My wallet (including credit cards, receipts and photos of kids but alas, no cash)
Another lipgloss
Three more packets of Lactaid (I hate getting caught at a buffet table loaded with cream cheese without my crutch)
Grocery list scribbled on a piece of yellow ledger paper
Receipt for a candle party from last week
Checks - without the book
Empty checks
Another grocery list
Protective eyewear for the tanning bed (I'm going to Mexico in three weeks)
Outdated vehicle registration card
Another grocery list
A pen
Gift card to Best Buy
Sunglasses
Hand cream
Fruit snacks
An empty baggie
5 million receipts dating back to December
Perfume
Another pen
Luna bar wrapper
Another pen
Sunglass case (for the sunglasses that were floating around earlier)
Another lipgloss
A second wallet that has my library card and all three kids library cards
Coupon for Weight Watcher desserts (Hmmm..to busy buying the full fat kind)
Three more pens
Two crushed packets of Saltines
Two more Lactaid packets
Assorted change
A small pad of paper in case I get inspired and my writing tote isn't handy.
And surprise, surprise, another lipgloss.
If a detective could bring himself to go through my purse after taking a peek, she'd probably say I'm obsessed with my lips (I am, it's really the only makeup I wear aside from eyeliner). She'd probably also add I'm hopelessly unorganized and a bit of a slob. Also correct.
What Tasha has learned is that she needs to clean out her purse. Or just buy a new one and leave the mess behind! 'Course, then I'll wonder where all those lipglosses went to.
-Tasha
OMG, Tasha...
Do you have back problems? LOL Surely, that bag is doing some damage! :)
I, surprisingly, do not have a lot in my bag ('course there's not a lot of room in it either...tiny little thing). All I've got is:
Checkbook
Wallet with DL, insurance cards, and no credit cards--hubby's confiscated them :)
2 hair ties
4 Walmart receipts and 2 grocery store receipts
Bank deposit slip with story notes scrawled on it (so glad I found that--good thoughts that day!)
4 pens
Loose change totaling $6.42 (the only money in the bag!)
and an empty package of Watermelon gum
Except for the $200 grocery receipts ($50 of which went toward kid food like fruit snacks and Pop Tarts), no one would probably ever think I have kids. I don't even have their pics in my wallet because I'm too cheap to get them professionally taken and too lazy to make wallet size ones from my camera. And anyone who might have read the notes on my bank deposit slip would probably think I'm some kind of...well, slut or something because they're in regard to sex scenes and interesting places to make them happen. To anyone who doesn't know me, it might look like a tally sheet of some kind. LOL
Interesting lists, everyone! Fun post, Sam! :)
Wow, Tasha--
Where'd you find my old purse? Just kidding. But your purse sounds amazingly like mine before I decided I wanted to change purses more often. I then pared down to the essentials and discovered (and it was astounding) I could survive with just some stuff. Of course, my watch never has gotten the new battery because it isn't in my purse where it should be.
Bursitis
Now that you mention it, my shoulder has been a little sore lately.
-Tasha
My archaeology project
Sam, you do think of the weirdest posts---um, I mean the most intriguing!
My bag is a red and black nylon Ralph Lauren over-the-shoulder hobo bag, I guess it's called, with a front pocket. It has seen better days.
Here's what's inside:
Pair of prescription glasses and prescription sunglasses in hard cases
Plastic wide-toothed comb
2008 calendar from a CPA
Mini Maglite
Two pennies
A ten peso piece
Battered pack of Kleenex
Lip balm
Tooth floss
Binder clip
Two rubber bands stained with ink
Two broken teeth from a pink plastic comb (thanks for this excercise, just threw them out)
Lipstick
Two Splenda packets
Five moist towelette packs, including 3 from El Pollo Loco
Six Pepto-Bismol tablets
Round hand mirror that's a writers' promo item
Toothpick
Keys on a lanyard, including AAA and Ace Hardware mini-cards, and another Maglite
A red leather wallet with more receipts than cash in it
A pen
A tiny notebook that's almost full with a pencil stuck inside
Three mints from restaurants
Four business cards, including one of my old ones, and one from a local restaurant, a local musician-web designer, the local UPS store and a dentist in Houston
Ticket stubs from the Teatro Juarez in Guanajuato, the Museo Regional de Durango in Durango and the Museo de las Independencia National in Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico
Finally, two fortunes from fortune cookies. One says "Be patient and love will find you when you least expect it" and the other says "Read a good book."
Obviously I have a mouth fetish, have traveled, including to Mexico, believe in being prepared, am a pack rat, need a new bag and write romance!
Another Sally Jane!
That's my name, too! :) I have never "met" another Sally Jane. Usually it's Sally Ann or Sally Jo. Very cool...
Another!
Oh, wow! I've never met another Sally Jane, either!
They're old family names, so I had no chance. :)) Personally, I would've picked something different, like Renata, Carla or even Marie. Yeah, I like Marie.
Very glad I checked back here. Happy Sally Jane-ing to you.
I think I win...
At least if it comes to being a minimalist. During everyday life (not on work days, where I do carry a bag to tote all my food and writing apparti around) I only carry a wallet, my cell phone and car keys. Yes, the wallet's bulging with coupons and credit and loyalty cards, but other than that, I like to stay unhampered. :)
Cari
I did this for years...
And sometimes still do. I'll let Mike carry the cash or whatever, and just leave my bag home. Or, I'll just put my grocery list and wallet in my jacket pocket, and go to the store that way, though the cell phone kind of jazzed things up. My MIL went to no bag carrying recently, and I sent her a "wrist wallet" so she could carry her card and license, etc in the little zip pocket, it's just a little sleeve that fits over her wrist -- I meant to ask her if she's been using that. Ideally I like being unfettered as much as possible, too, and if not, at least not have a heavy bag... My keys are always in my jacket pocket. I hate digging for them anywhere else.
Maybe it's a CNY thing. :)
Sam
Car Keys
Sam, I always carry my car keys in my pocket; I learned the hard way how inconvenient it is to be spreading the contents of one's handbag across the hood of one's car in search of keys.
I hate carrying a pocketbook. I keep thinking I'll invest in one of those cute little packs that you can wear on your back, but that would probably annoy the hell out of me, too, not being able to quickly pull it around to the front to dig for money, phone, whatever. I usually leave my pocketbook behind and just carry my license and ATM card in a little business card holder in my pocket. I like the idea of your Overland bag, worn diagonally across the front, leaving your hands free.
This is so funny!
I'd be mortified if anyone actually had to determine who I was based on my pocketbook! But this has been a very entertaining post! I bought my pocketbook about six years ago at a local craft fair; a chenille-like fabric, tapestry bag with a fold-over flap in lime green, black, red, and navy blue, with a long strap. I love it. The police would no doubt think it belongs to someone who is a little bohemian; they'd be wrong.
The first thing the police would notice is that the inside lining is ripped. They'd know why, once they tried to pull my fat wallet out, since it's really too big for the pocketbook, but I cram it in there anyway. It's fat with credit cards and old receipts; no money. No pictures of anyone, either. Beneath the wallet, they'd find my lanyard with my DoD ID Card and a gold key attached to it; they'd think I look like your typical bureaucrat; dour. The picture looks more like a criminal mug shot.
Beneath that, they'd discover my lime green Chocolate phone. They'd also find a tube of Brave Soldier antiseptic healing ointment, a trial-sized container of hand sanitizer, a bright blue pill box (empty), a baggie filled with 6 decaf Earl Grey tea bags and packets of Splenda, five pens, a 2X2 pad of sticky notes, a tube of lip balm, the cover of a lipstick, a checkbook with no checks, a 2-year pocket calendar with every deadline, appointment, and significant event annotated inside.
If they examined the space behind the ripped lining, they'd find a tampon, a ponytail holder, another pen, and some loose change amounting to 34 cents.
LOL
I want to see that pic when we get together in April, LOL!
Sam
liz & co bright red leather
liz & co bright red leather bag with one zip compartment, 2 compartments and a pocket on the back.
First compartment (contains two small pockets):
Bright flowered vinyl bag (with broken zipper) that contains
address book
small notebook (no notes)
Delivery Confirmation slips from Post Office
Ferry schedule
Expired coupon for hand cream (now thrown away)
Misc hair colour, oatmeal, tea and gum coupons
Black leatherette case that contains a hand held recording device
Small gold change purse that contains
tube of Natures Lipcare in chamomile
old lipstick (Jamaican Rum)
Colgate dental floss
Package of Tums smoothies
Very small tube of Suave Advanced Therapy lotion
Reach Cleanpaste dental floss
Blue fabric pouch that contains
Pink Ribbon Kleenex tissues
Bottle of Purell Hand Sanitizer (tossed because it looks nasty)
Nature's Lipcare in ylang ylang
Another old lipstick (Cranberry Wine)
Another package of Tums
Small nail file
Small flip mirror
6 Loonies (Canadian $1 coins my son brought back from a field trip. None of the banks will cash out for him)
A card from a friend I plan on answering "soon"
Small pockets on side contain one pink shimmer lip gloss and one pineapple flavoured lip gloss
Zip compartment in purse holds
Small bottle of Purell (Now transferred to blue pouch)
hairbrush
1 Barnes & Noble gift card (unused
1 Christopher & Banks gift card ($10 left)
Other compartment
Rosetti red alligator wallet which holds my cell phone too
Last pay stub
Voters ballot to be mailed out today
Small tube of Healing Garden Relax Therapy Lavender lotion
Outside pocket
Packet of Emergen-C
1 Yogi Tea Breathe Deep tea bag
That probably makes me look like I'm very organized and concerned about my appearance and skin.
Ha! Most of the lip glosses are there so I'll remember (and I probably forgot one was in one bag so threw in another). The shimmer and pineapple ones are that heavy kind and I slick them on if I'm out with hubby since I wear no other makeup.
I aspire to being organized and pull together stuff to help but never use. The hand held recorder probably has dead batteries.
I got a bunch of new lotions for the holidays so stuffed the lavendar one in my purse one day. I was amazed to find it just now.
And I couldn't tell you the last time I used that brush!
ani
Lipgloss lovers unite!
Ani, I was so relieved to see your purse contents. Granted you seem to be a little more organized than me, but I believe you have as many lipstick/glosses as I do. Yeah us! Our lips are always plump and ready!
-Tasha
OMG....
Do you KNOW how hard it is to resist a setup line like that??? LOL
Sam
Sam...
Feel free to stop resisting - I could use a good laugh!
-Tasha
Wow
You ladies with the large bags are astounding me -- I don't know how you do it, seriously... not only couldn't I carry that much around, but I would get so frustrated trying to find things! Maybe that's it -- it's not that I'm so organized, it's that my simple little brain can't stand the confusion of too many things in one place! LOL
But seriously, you have some major bag contents there... I love the descriptions of your bags, too -- I think the color we pick for a bag might be more telling than just about anything...
Sam
We Interrupt the Regularly Scheduled Programming w/ this message
I've been following an industry blog for television, and the TV Strike might be close to over.... they have a verbal agreement, and have to see if it will hold in writing....
Please please please...
Sam
Please oh please!
Please oh please oh please oh please oh please.....I'm tired of Law and Order and I never thought that would happen!
-Tasha
I'm embarrassed!
I'm still carrying a Lands End Little Tripper diaper bag as a
"purse." I don't know exactly what's in it right now, and quite honestly, I'm a bit afraid to dig around and find out. I know that I've got at least:
- smallish wallet
- diaper (although my "baby" is just about done with these--yippee!)
- lip gloss
- small pack of crayons from the last restaurant we ate at
- crumpled napkins and kleenex
- last year's datebook stuffed with assorted coupons, rainchecks, and handouts from a couple meetings
- a couple empty Ziploc bags
- a few Bandaids
- two pens
- an old granola bar
There's probably more... but I'm not sure I want to know about it :)
Everything but the kitchen sink
Large patchwork leather, 4 compartment purse.
It contains:
My keys
3pens
1 notepad with daily calendar
phonebook with friends and family numbers
small first aid kit
small sewing kit
wallet with pictures and credit card holder
checkbook
small package of Kleenex
Indian Medicine Pouch
small pocket knife with screwdrivers attached
breathmints
liquid hand wash
hand lotion
hair brush
small bottle of Heaven Sent cologne
What a detective might think:
He might question why I have a pocket knife with screwdrivers, since most females don't usually carry these kind of things. I used the screwdrivers to fix my car a few times. I'm never without them. They really do come in handy. Other than that, I think I have a pretty normal female purse.
Mads:)
My handbag
Hail to the Redskins!
Red paisley vera bradley bag
work ID
cell phone
book (right now its The Black Sheep and the Hidden Beauty by Donna Kauffman)
wallet with credit cards, rewards cards, drivers licenses, receipts, pictures of dd, neices and nephews
nursing license
calender
hand lotion
hand sanitizeer
bottle of aleve
lip gloss
bandaids
notepad
2 pens
kleenex
reading glasses
dh's reading glasses (borrowed from him and need to return)
shout wipes
2 sets of keys (in case I lock one set in the car, which I've been known to do)
dectivive may look for the kitchen sink, lol I've been asked if thats in my purse. I always carry stuff like that, it always pays to be prepared!