just carry a big box of shoes in the other arm to even it all out.

and am i allowed to be first when i commented 3 times yesterday?

I know what you mean, Laurie! I was having back issues and went to the doctor who chastised me for such a heavy purse. But he is a man, who has a tiny wallet or a money clip or a wife who carries all his crap for him. Now that I'm a little older, I have noticed that I have "down-sized" and don't carry nearly as much. Xanax is great for flying, I took two on the way to Paris, and fell asleep on the shoulder of the guy next to me!

The best thing was when someone hefted my handbag once and said, "What do you have in there? An anvil??" And I said YES.

Because I did, in fact, have a (small) anvil, which I had just bought as a birthday present for someone. I carry a smallish pocketbook (with reversible screwdriver! Phillips head and regular! and a tapemeasure!); I make up for this by toting a huge ... tote, full of Stuff and some books, plus, generally, my gym bag. On the other hand, at 50 years old, I can applaud and my triceps don't move after I stop applauding.

I have a handbag just like that! I can't leave home without my phone, money-purse (the size of a small handbag itself as I can never ever throw receipts away in case I need to return something to the shop), sunglasses, make-up (that I never wear - the good stuff is in the bathroom but the red lipstick I wore once in 1992 travels with me everywhere!)

Now I also carry tissues, crayons, blank paper, tissues, sweets, more tissues, wet-wipes, driving licences from three countries and a list of phone numbers for everyone I know written on the back of an envelope (because I keep forgetting how to use my mobile phone).

Oh, and the manual for my mobile phone. And my knitting.

And the pills for my nagging back and shoulder pain...

I hear 'ya sister! My downfall into big bag territory came when I had asthma in 9th grade...had to start carring an inhaler, its been all downhill since then. If I had a scale, I would weigh my enorm-o-bag, but I don't. Probably for the best to not know exactly how much it weighs anyway.

Hrm, so maybe you start switching which arm you carry your purse with, so you can build up an equal muscle in your right arm? :) Congrats on the "exercise as a lifestyle habit"! I hear that's the best kind (from me, who doesn't ever exercise - of course, I've only HEARD about exercise as a lifestyle habit)!

I think that Bob could probably fit in that purse. Tee hee.

Big Purse Anonymous here... well, not so anonymous, I guess, but yes. When I saw a co-worker's Tano bucket, I had to have one, too. And she spazzed when she picked it up one day, that I had loaded it down so unfashionably. But I :need: everything in that purse, dang it! I was able to lighten it by removing a large quantity of pennies from my coin purse - and about 7 lipsticks. Who knew the weight of lipsticks could be so cumulative?????

Hey! I like 'em big and black, too!!

Oh.my.God. I heart you. Don't forget digital camera. I always carry my digital camera and I think it weighs at least a pound. And a bottle of water. And the little single packet drink mixes. Like a hundred. A planner calendar. A notebook. Change purse. Regular wallet. Coupons. Checkbook. Check, check, check, and...check.

Camera, ipod, phone, knitting (usually a sock, but it's amazing how much this can weigh), wallet, change purse, asthma inhaler, lipstick, two lip glosses, hand lotion, advil, shiny sheets, moleskine notebook, gum, compact mirror, keys, excedrin migraine. I love my pursinizer thing - it lets me get away with carrying around a LOT, and yet I never have to rummage. I equate rummaging around in a purse with my mom. Who, paradoxically, carries a teeny tiny purse with cigarettes, lipstick, money and phone. Her lighter? She puts that in her bra. :)

By the way Laurie, you should take off that ad for the "Help me find my husband". I looked at it thinking that it was so sad but it turns out it is a joke. It's just a sick contest by Court TV sponsered by Applebee's and Suzuki. What and insult to people who have actually had family members disappear. That ad is just digusting, I can't believe that people can market that stuff and get away with it!

I so need to see this haircut. I always cry after a haircut. Especially hard if its not symmetrical :)

I agree with Toni. Need to see the hair. I'm considering a cut myself. There is a great picture of Renee Zellweger in the issue of Life & Style with Tyra Banks on the cover...

I used to be a "small purse girl" until I had children. I can magically stuff the important things in an average size purse most of the time though!
Last fall, my very best friend was in the ICU, so I traveled down to see her (we thought it was her last days) to join her husband, her sister and brother in law and our mutual other best friend. Since we had all come from great distances with the exception of her husband, everyone seemed to be lacking something they needed. Not I! Seemed every time someone said they needed something.. a sharpie, a kleenex, some bac gel, advil, emery board, I had it. Our friend Ed said I had turned into Mary Poppins because it seemed impossible that I had all of those needful things in my "average bag".

i tired switching to a smaller bag
but guess what i always needed something i forgot
or i crammed so much in every time i wanted something i needed to throw the entire contents of the bag on a table.
sometimes i think i need help, other times i know that science will invent weightless bags and that will resolve everything

Last year I chopped off 15 INCHES of hair and then dyed huge chunks of it bright (fire-engine) red. Kind of a quarter-life crisis hair-cut. Took a loooooong time to get used to that one.
(I think my parents are still trying to deal with it... even though the red is gone)

I have also moved into a stage in my life where I have huge handbags. More like Shoulder-bags since they are SO. Dang. Heavy.
I blame my friends. A girlfriend hosted a purse-party a long time ago and I bought two adorable (big) bags. "Ooooh - looks like a bowling bag - I MUST have it!"

Since then, I have been repeatedly gifted with more Huge bags. They are so cute, and it would be *rude* not to use them. SO - here I am. With my wallet, makeup, kleenex, book (or two!), notebook, gum, phone, blue tooth, snack, sunglasses, cd's, lotion, etc. I even shoved a change of shirt and socks in there last week!

But don't worry - I can quit anytime. Honest!

post hair pix PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE! I'll have a sympathy Margarita on your behalf tonight :o)

I was at a hockey game with a friend when my camera batteries died (I have a vampire camera, it sucks the life out of rechargeables sooo fast), and she just happened to have a package of AA batteries in her purse. I thought I was a prepared-purse person, but I bowed down to her.

Mine doesn't weigh as much as yours, I'm sure. I love that you thought you had a tumor, and it's a muscle. Your doctor sounds great. Go, muscle!

It's ok, honey, I can't even just carry a purse I have so much stuff. Yes, I'm a grad student, but I'm out for the summer. So why do I still have my backpack with me pretty much every day? It has a knitting pocket, a main pocket with my notebook and planner and whatever magazine or book or whatever I'm reading right then, plus my camera, because dude, something might happen, plus eleventy-million other very essential things that I could not get through my day without, and side pockets for my water bottle and bug-and-sun spray, because I end up walking along the Charles River a lot. So don't feel bad about your purse, just find one that's more ergonomic and distributes the weight more evenly. :)

And I bet you look really cute with short hair, or Aharon totally wouldn't have done it.

Yeah, I have one of those... The giant overstuffed handbag not the muscle.

I am constantly reaching in for my wallet or a pen and pulling out toddler underwear that I just happened to shove in my purse without really noticing. Thank goodness I have children or that would be embrassing.

Haircuts are so traumatic for me that I used to bring a hat along to the salon just in case.

I read somewhere that a bigger purse helps camouflage a large caboose...makes it seem not so big. A small purse only accentuates how big one's butt is.

I still haven't found a purse big enough! Maybe I should be carrying a suitcase.

A few months ago I gave up the small purse thing and just bought a LL Bean custom tote (medium size but its still BIG). I can't tell you how many cheap small purses I ripped out over the years. I try to pare it down but I need everything in it...my daughter's Epi Pen and Benadryl, a book for waiting rooms, Ipod, wallet, keys, phone, knitting, etc. My mother made fun of me the first time she saw The Bag but its the best $40 I ever spent.

I nearly ruined my neck by carrying a very heavy purse for many years. I still have monthly chiropractic visits to maintain.

For the past few years I just carry a little bag that holds keys, lipstick, cash, ID, and spare glasses.

You can do it!

As a man, I am truly in awe at how much can be shoved into a purse. It's like Felix the cat's magic bag. My bestest friend Gladys' cellphone rang and she turned to me and said "Here, hold this" and proceeded to unload into my arms another cellphone (for work), two wallets, a hair brush, a small spray bottle of something, hand cream, car keys, a pack of tissues, a compact, lip stuff, a hair clip and various other items of interest. I was stunned. "You fit that all in there?" She then looked at me like I asked the dumbest question in the world.

Woohoo! Another Valise Girl! I have been carrying a purse the size of carry-on luggage since I was about 15, when I suddenly realized that I NEEDED to have Kleenex, an extra pad, at least two shades of lipstick (my favorite - Rose Quartz by Cover Girl - and something that actually went with what I was wearing), a compact (can't be shiny when I get to Chemistry, which contains four adorable guys, for whom my friend Janet and I had Secret Code Names), a little notebook, 12 pens, a picture wallet with all of my friends' school pics in, a regular wallet which was usually sadly short of funds, whatever book I was reading, and a hi-bouncer. (Yes, I mean the little rubber ball from the quarter machine at the supermarket. There is still one of those in my purse; it's a tradition now.)

Aharon can totally be trusted; I bet your hair looks fantastic! You're just not used to it yet! Soon - possibly today - you'll walk past a large reflective surface and do a double-take and realize that cute girl was you. :)

Yay, for the big bags. And you haven't even gotten to the carrying for the kids/cats stuff. We have tylenol, children's tylenol, Anaprox, Motrin caplets, needle and thread, yarn needle for rethreading the little ties in ballet shoes, batteries (they are REALLY heavy) old film cannister containing quarters for parking meter and TWO knitting projects, one mindless (for conversations) and one attention requiring for boring waits with no one to whom one wishes to chat.

I too carry a very heavy purse. I try so hard to downsize, but then I just end up carrying a separate bag around....so then I have two bags on my arm.

I want to see a picture of this new hair. I'm sure it's gaw-juss! Did you ask him to cut it off, or did he just surprise you?

I have to admit, I'm a big purse girl. What's the point of carrying something around if I can't have everything I need? A phone, a camera, an ipod, some knitting, a notebook, a wallet, lipsticks to choose from, saline for my contacts, advil, an emory board, bandaids, tums, etc etc etc - and anything else I might feel like jamming in there from time to time.

I also have to admit that I take great pleasure when somebody says 'does anybody have...' and I can say 'why, yes, yes I do'

That is just so much endlessly better than when I went to a doctor concerned about a possible tumor in my upper thigh and it turned out to be a lump of fat. Now, I not only have a lump of fat in my upper thigh that feels like a tumor, but if I actually get a tumor I'll never know since I will assume it is a brother or sister lump of fat to the first one. *sigh*

I would LOVE for you to empty the bag, take a photo, and submit it to the Flickr group "What's In Your Bag?" (I just did it myself.) Then you can compare yourself with other huge-bag girls, and feel totally young and normal and not like your mom.

Can't wait to see the haircut!!!!

Must post picture, please. I refuse to believe that you aren't still as cute as a button without photographic evidence... and even then, I bet you're still cute.

I also suffer from bigbagitis. My friends call it a suitcase, I call it "I need all my shit with me, shut up!".

Switch arms every other day (boy that could get confusing..) and you'll have matching tumors.

I actually have managed to slim down my purse to something that will not fit anyone elses stuff in it and has only enough space for gum for me. It is like getting a new pair of shoes it feels so good on my neck.

Of course I have a giant bag I carry with me to work every day that has everything else in it...

My husband has started laughing at me for putting my rather large purse, my small knitting bag, and my itty-bitty lunch bag in a large tote bag. But who is the one who stops at the fruit market and carrys home a ton of produce? Who stops at the library and brings home a stack of books for the weekend? And who shall not have any of the cake I brought home from the bakery in my tote bag if he doesn't stop snickering at my "purse within a purse?" It is not a purse in a purse, its a purse and a knitting bag inside a tote bag! Its practically a necessity on public transportation.

Yes, one of my friends was laughing at the huge tote bag I carry to work, until I pointed out that I am not one of the women who juggles a purse a briefcase a lunch bag and three small tote bags all at once. I carry one bag. Yes, it is big. And it holds everything, thank you. She stopped snickering, to my face anyway.

Um, I am still in the tiny purse phase. Though I suppose if I ever find it necessary to wear and carry makeup, kleenex, a mobile device, notebook, etc. I would have to upgrade my purse size. But how do you get to 15 lbs of stuff? That is really amazing. Maybe if you carry 2 purses of 7.5 lbs each and do bicep curls with them while you wait for the buss you arm tumors will even out.

Also, please post pictures of your haircut. I’m sure it’s fabulous and you just aren’t used to it yet, but you must let the internets see!

I love your blog, Laurie and just had to comment on this one today. I am sitting here laughing so hard, I have tears in my eyes. I'm going to print this one out and make my husband read it on our drive home today. My purse is huge, but it only weighs 6 pounds 12 ounces. ROTFLMAO.

Big Purse Girls Unite! I can so relate.

A few months ago my husband and I took seperate cars somewhere. He has a bad habit of leaving the keys in the ignition. When my daughter got out she accidentally locked the doors. It was 400 below zero out and we had 6 of us crammed in my kia to stay warm. I was emptying out my purse to see if I had a spare key for his truck. As I started handing everything over to my sis-in-law (who has a bigger purse than me!) she suddenly started laughing hysterically at all the weird stuff I had. She asked if I had a rubber chicken in there - so I dug deep and handed her a plastic toy chicken.

I wonder what mine weighs...

OK, must stop reading blog while drinking coffee. When you got to the part where you had your sweatpants on backwards with your ziplog baggie money to go to the liquor store (which I know was full of change, I just know it) and you bought the EXPENSIVE purse because you deserved it because you were spurned...I almost spewed coffee over the keyboard I was laughing so hard.

Man, talk about seeing yourself.

When I found out the ex was having (multiple) affairs -- one of the ways I found out was a receipt for a Louis Vuitton handbag. Are you f*ing kidding me with this? I was a Target girl with a puritanical Midwestern staunch refusal to buy a bag over $20 as I treated them so roughly. Such a waste of money, tsk. So I'm doing something silly, like, oh, saving for retirement instead of spending it on handbags, and he's off buying expensive purses for (insert your favorite bad word for loose women here).

Well, I did something I will be ever proud of -- I got in the car, passed the liquor store (I'll just stop on the way home) and went straight to the handbag section at Nordies. And did I EVER get a crash course on expensive handbags! Who knew? The chic Kate Spade, luscious Dooney and Burke, the velvet smooth leather of Coach bags -- Well, I spent over $2K on bags and that was NOT hard to do I found. Hmm. Well, I might as well get shoes! Which led to clothes, and jewelery, but that's an entirely different story. I still stand that my Momma needed that car. That I bought. And shipped to Chicago. With a big red bow on it.

The way I saw it, he didn't need that retirement account. After I spent over $100K on assorted necessary accoutrements (no, that's not a typo) he finally saw fit to apologize.

I graciously accepted. I am a lady.

We all learn our lessons the way the Lord sees fit to bring them to us.

Okay, I'll admit I'm a lurker, but I just had to add something. My mom carries the equivalent of a fanny pack... but my grandmother was the queen of large pocketbooks. People would joke that she was carrying everything but the kitchen sink.

Then she'd reach into an inner pocket and pull out a doll-house sized kitchen sink. I can still see the smug look on her face and the twinkle in her eye when she would do that.

Just think of all the cute hats you have to cover the bad haircut!

Always remember, in every silver lining there is a dark cloud...oh wait, that can't be right.

Greetings - I really enjoy your blog and decided I'd officially come out of lurk-status. :)

I carry a messenger bag that used to have room for all sorts of things for me (lunch, book, knitting, wallet, hair brush and a cornucopia of other useful junk). Of course, all that has changed with the arrival of my son. Now I have room for my wallet and the rest of the space is taken up by diapers, extra clothes for him, wipes, and toys. I was just thinking the other day that I might need a bigger bag. If it's any consolation, at least you don't have to carry 3 bags. I've got the messenger bag, the backpack which holds the breast pump, and a canvas bag that holds all the stuff the messenger bag used to hold (lunch, book, knitting) which all get brought to work everyday.

you crack me up; and sadly, I'm ashamed to tell the contents of my purse

OMG I had a tumor too. Actually, I had two of them. Only they weren't muscles.

I had lost about 50 lbs, and one morning in the shower as I was using my scrubbie on my left upper abdomen, I felt this big lump. Hard lump. Almost a bulge. I got that feeling where all the blood drains from your head? And I thought, "I have a tumor. I am going to die. How did I not feel this thing yesterday??????"

So I moved my hand to my right side (you know, to compare my abnormal left side with my normal right side....)and there was ANOTHER TUMOR. Odd.

Oh.

It was my ribcage. Hadn't actually been able to discern bone there for many years.

At least I wasn't dying!!!

Okay, I feel your pain, sister. My mom and I are big handbag girls, but my grandmother actually carried a carry-on piece of luggage, even had wheels on it. I knew I was doomed from an early age.

By the way, I have been thinking about cutting my hair about half off. It is too long and I am sick of strangling myself in the middle of the night. Haven't done it yet, but you have inspired me. I will show you my pics if your show yours!

My mother: "Small women should carry small handbags." I expect that's the Fashion Edict from May 1950. I'm 4'11" and I bet my bag's bigger than yours. YES to everyone ahead of me, I have all that stuff (well, no toddler underwear any more) and at least two books, a ring with eight of those neat mini-sharpies on, a roll of masking tape (ever have to leave a note on a car?), my camera, some knitting, two tins of those yummie sour new lifesavers (in the too-cool tins), a tin with phake sugar in, couple teabags, a shoehorn {you never know}, my teeny radio (for hearing Dr. Phil on its TV channel if I'm not home), --that's in a little zip bag of its own --my calendar book, my little knitting-notes book, a notebook for notes, about 74 pens and pencils {OH how I love office supplies}. I can manage to haul this purse around, but you know? If I ever get a cell phone it might be all over......

Incidentally, check it out. ALL us knitting types have huge bags full of useful stuff. If you're ever lost or break your leg, call a knitter!

1. I was convinced sometime in my 20s that I had a particular disease. I drove myself nuts and my family nuts and it wasn't until I saw a doctor who, after twenty minutes of my self-diagnosis and five minutes of an examination, looked me in the eye and said "YOU DO NOT HAVE [DISEASE]" that I finally calmed down about it. Ugh - not one of my prouder moments.

2. I carry all my stuff in a cheap black messenger bag that I got for free at a conference a few years ago. It's like my mother's bag but it's, like, black and canvas and it looks like a messenger bag, so I'm cooler than my Mom, dammit. :0)

3. SO looking forward to seeing you on Saturday and I won't say ANYthing about your hair if you don't say anything about mine. :0)

Forget the transportation part. You're now understanding why most people buy a car. It is their traveling purse.

I am 21 years old, and I have been carrying the whole world around in my bag (as a friend at school bluntly put it) for years now. Not only do I need my wallet, keys, hairbrush, makeup bag, kleenex, first aid kit, cell phone, planner, pens and pencils, water bottle, stapler, and hair clips, I also like to have my camera, a book to read, my journal, and a knitting project handy. Just to keep me occupied, you know. :-)

I want to see the hair cut also!!! PLLLLEEEEASE?

Ugh...sorry about your haircut. That is the WORST!!! I have cried over a few myself.

My purse isn't too huge, but it is way overstuffed and way too heavy. But I've gotten to the point where I refuse to buy a bigger purse, because then I'll just find more absolutely necessary stuff to pack into it and make it overstuffed. Then I'd need a bigger purse, and I'd find more stuff...you see. It's a terrible cycle.

But all you need to do is alternate sides. One month, use your left arm for your purse, the next month, use your right arm. Excellent for preserving your posture, and great for building up the tumor in your right arm, too.

I always thought the giant purse phenomenon was a New York thing. I guess because my Boston friends always commented on it when they visited.

I don't think anyone mentioned: bottle of water, portable snacks (for the full time employee/full time student), a tooth brush, vitamins, birth control. Once I found cat poop in my purse, thanks to my long haired cat trying to wipe her fanny. And I did hurt my thumb once, from hooking it through the very heavy strap.

Phew. Your daughter's Epi pen. Let's get our priorities straight, shall we? (JK)

I'm not giving up my big purses. I commute on public transportation in New York City. I never know how long it will take me to get somewhere, or if I change my mind, where I will wind up.

I didn't know we could have sympathy drinks for Laurie. I'm going to have one right now (um, ok, it's 10am.) Just remember, hair will grow back.

And better living through chemistry! (And herbs. Cough. Cough.)

I once had a hammer in my purse, I can't remember why, but I had to take it out in a public place and THAT was embarrassing.

Some of the most traumatic experiences of my life have been haircut related. I feel for ya'.

HAHA my boyfriend and I were just talking about the size of handbags. I am not a girl that carries a handbag. I sort of cringe when someone calls my bag a handbag or purse (luckily in the UK purse means wallet or coin purse and not bag) which is difficult since generally I carry a backpack or child's bag. Anyway, the thing is I actually saw a fancy, girly handbag the other day and I liked the look of it, but the price was too much. It was mere pennies compared to the Chanel's and Gucci's people buy, but for me, owner of a hundred backpacks and messenger bags and mini-bags that you can sling across your chest to really separate your boobs, it is a lot of money.

Oh yeah, so we were saying that the older you get, the bigger the bag. I always assumed there was a child factor involved 'cause god knows my mom had a "handbag" the size of a duffel bag when we were growing up because she had four children handing her all manner of things to hold on to. Blame it on the cats?

So, we need to see the hair, lady.

Last year about this time I got my long long hair stuck in a bush when I was weeding and it took me 10 minutes to fight my way out, and also using words I didn't even know I knew. I made an appt that day, bolstered by an unfortunate long hair/poopy diaper incident later that day. By the next day my hair was 8" shorter. But a goofy cut. so a few months later, it was another 4" shorter. Still kinda goofy. I had loooooong bangs that pretended to be longish hair, but couldn't do anything with other than those clippy things. I complained about the lack of style, and the lady said "I can fix it, I know EXACTLY what to do" and she picked up her scissors and CHOP CHOP CHOP. She actually paused when she saw my face, cause all the blood was...somewhere, probably in my butt for safe keeping, and I felt like I was going to pass out. It was SO SHORT. For about 4 months I had short, spikey hair and after I learned about hair paste, and my new CURLY HAIR THAT I LOVED, and gel and stuff I was in hair heaven. Now Scott is allowing it to grow back out, and I"m hating every moment of this process. I really liked my shorter hair.

Aharon is VERY VERY good, so I'm sure you look lovely. Show us a picture so we can gush over Aharon's genius and get you over this hump.

julie

I skipped (or haven't yet hit) the Mom Purse, but I went straight from backpack in college to messenger bag type briefcase in working world. Actually I have two, my slightly smaller everyday one, and then my hunka-hunka huge going out of town to seminars one.

And yes, I always have everything anyone needs.

When I was a wild teenager, I used to carry an extra top and panties in my huge bag, along with a book, makeup, toothpaste and toothbrush, hair stuff, perfume, notebook and pencils, phone book, money and ID, ciggies, band-aids, wet-wipes, snacks, candy, and slippers. Yes, slippers. I had an unusual childhood and decided to live with a band for a while. Sometimes we'd all wind up somewhere other than the House on Church St.
When I entered my 20's I downsized to a change purse. It fit everything I needed: lipstick, ID, cash and ATM card. I used a variety of this for many years!
Well, when I took up knitting, everything changed, because I NEEDED to carry my UFO with me AT ALL TIMES, along with a book, my camera, phone, makeup, notebook and pens, toothbrush and toothpaste, several lipsticks, slippers (yep, slippers again), and a small purse with just ID, business cards, money, Visa and ATM cards. See, now, I can abandon my Big Kitty Bag (from Red Tango, so cute! Has a kitty on it!) in a safe resting spot, such as the trunk of the car, while I go lightly on my way with the mini purse! And yet I've still got everything (relatively) close at hand!
Laurie, I agree with the posters who said to give your hair time. Aahron would NOT give you ugly hair. And I hope you post a picture. And I KNOW you're going to have a marvelous time in NYC! It's my favorite town - everyone there accepts everyone else. They may not LIKE everyone else, but it's all good.

My purse has been downsized now that the boys are older and I don't have to carry around kiddie stuff but it still is crammed with the necessities, wallet, checkbook, lipstick, carmex, compact, foudation stick, comb, nail file, lip gloss, dental picks, gum, pen, cell phone, work badge & keys, car keys, spare car key for mine & son's car, memory stick, cell phone memory adapter, cold pills, 2 ear buds, 800 mg motrin, hair clip, hair ties, moneyclip/utility knif thing. I think that about covers it.

Then there is the other bag I carry too, it has a Steno pad, mail/bills, my camera and extra battery, lunch, pens, toothbrush, floss, sun screen, and any thing else I need for the day.

Then there is my car (which probably is my biggest purse) that has blankets, mints, chairs, soccer ball, umbrella, eye lash curler, purfume, compact, cell phone charger, binoculars, kleenex, windex wipe, etc.

Okay I'm stopping now, WTF do I carry all this stuff?

Have fun on your trip and don't worry about the hair, you could be bald with your arm tumor and still be BEAUTIFUL, and it will grow back. I once shave off all my hair like an inch long, it was liberating and very easy to style in the morning.

I found the cutest $10 canvas tote bag and Chez Wal-Mart. It is the perfect summer purse for me while I commute between work and grad school. Contents: 1 text book, 1 legal pad, 1 folder, 2 black pens, 1 blue pen, 1 green pen, 1 yellow highliter, 2 lipsticks, 1 lip gloss, 1 lip balm, iPod, cell phone, keys, umbrella, Excedrin Migraine, Premarin, cough drops.

My worst hair disaster: bangs cut up to my hairline. I found out later that the stylist had a substance abuse problem. That explains a lot! And later, when he was "working the steps" and was trying to atone for all his wrongs, he offered me a free haircut. Um, I forgive you, but no!

Short-ish hair is the perfect accessory for roll brim hats. I bet you look super cute.

I had a 20-pound purse, but I recently downsized ... into a 5-pound purse and a 25-pound tote bag. But I NEED all that stuff! What knitblogger can ever be without her camera (and the cord to connect it to the work computer so she can tell everyone about it), her pda (ditto on the cord), knitting project, spare purse sized bag of knitting doodads (I once was knitting at lunch with NO pretty stitch holders so I had to use paper clips -- tres ugly), pens, lunch, mail you are going to call someone about at some point?

i carry two bags. so you might think that the weight gets evenly distributed. but it doesn't. because i have one shoulder higher than the other and if i put a bag on the lower shoulder, it just slides off. so i carry two bags on one shoulder and have acquired a quasimodo-like gait as a result. i do not yet have the hump though.

and dude, i'm sure the hair is not that bad. i'm sure it's adorable. relax about the hair. it'll grow back.

It's time to switch amrs, Laurie.

Other suggestions for heavy hand bag:

Tricep extensions - Hold bag in hand behind head and extend arm until straight up - repeat 10X for each arm.

One arm rows for upper back - Using coffee table as bench , rest one knee and hand on table and with opposite, bend elbow back until hand meets chest. Repeat 10x each side.

Upper chest and shoulders - Using both hands holding bag, extend arms straight ahead until arms level to shoulder. 10 x.

Walking lunges - holding bag close to chest, take giant lunging steps, bending knees until rear knee touches ground and front knee is at a 90 degree angle. 10x steps each side.

There, you have a total body work out, using weights that cost nothing. See, I saved you money for a gym membership.

W. :o)

Justin's post reminded me of my Mum's handbag, which Dad and I call the Tardis bag - ie. bigger on the inside than on the outside. When she tips out the contents of her bag, the pile of stuff is almost twice the size of the bag. :)

I have purse layers. I have the ginormous purse with my day planner, pharmacy, book, etc. I have a small handbag which holds my phone, check book and wallet with a strap. And then the wallet with a strap is my mini bag for grocery shopping and such. It is very sad. My chiropractor did yell at me about it. What was even worse was when I was in grad school. Ginormous purse, laptop bag, rolly backpack, and craft bag. I felt like a sherpa.

The law of purses is that the bigger the bag the more crap you carry in it. I think you'd find that things fit just fine if you cut it down to 1/2 the size.

Oh, and one of my mom's friends made her husband start carrying a "man purse" because she was tired of lugging his crap around, haha.

You are too awesome, Laurie. It's so true! I purchased a tote from my favorite purse label and, by golly, I filled that bad boy up.
I now have a medium sized purse which is oozing out my stuff like two cell phones, a GPS, a PDA, make up, yadda yadda yadda.

You are too awesome, Laurie. It's so true! I purchased a tote from my favorite purse label and, by golly, I filled that bad boy up.
I now have a medium sized purse which is oozing out my stuff like two cell phones, a GPS, a PDA, make up, yadda yadda yadda.

Ahhh...I call mine my "Mary Poppins Purse". Sadly, my Mom carries much smaller, chicer purses than I.

Hee-hee. Because I carry around too much, I do not have helpful advice in that regard. My mom used to say the heavy bags are what made me so short. My helpful advice is to switch sides with your bag. Develop a matching "arm tumor" on the other side. I try to be personal growthy and carry around less, but lately I've been settling on trying to find an ergonomic bag to carry around too much so I do less damage to my body.

Oh, I didn't turn into my mother - I hugely outdid her. Ask anyone who's ever been a dancer; that was me. Ask anybody who's been a dancer and a business owner and a knitter at the same time; that was me. I've done the bag-weighing thing, and the individual-item-downsizing thing - but by the time I did it was way too late: not muscles in the arms but permanently wrecked shoulders. I wasn't carrying Al Capone's grave, but that bag (dance bags *start out* orders of magnitude bigger than handbags, i.e. they barely qualify as carry-on luggage, so you're already at a disadvantage) contained my office complete with laptop (hey, it only weighed two pounds, which is small for a computer but just as hard on your shoulders as two pounds of lead); a full set of dance gear including spare pointe shoes and towel and physical therapy tools and hair hardware and outrageous amounts of ragged warm-up clothing; a knitting project (proud of this: only one!); and all those zillion what-if-I-need things that you're just afraid to be without. And they wonder why my shoulders hurt.... After 20-some years of carrying on the left I finally managed to make myself switch sides: equal-opportunity injury. OTOH, when I was out without the dance bag I carried *everything* in my pockets. And I never let anyone hang up my jacket because inevitably they'd ask me if I carried lead weights in it and about the dozenth or so time it just stopped being cute and funny, you know?

And yeah, we definitely need to see the hair.

I could never have my mom's bag; she carries a medium sized bag, but stuffs it to the max, making it as heavy as an anvil. I carry a big bag, but my day-to-day stuff is confined to the bottom third. This leaves the upper 2/3rds free for the various things I acquire during the day-- knitting, toys, diapers, books, small animals. Of course, you need a big bag with kids, but as I get older, I need to carry more crap also. It used to be a slim wallet and brush, now it's checkbook, glasses, cell, glucometer, MP3, glaah the list seems endless. How do guys do it? My husband carries a lot of the same stuff (except the knitting, natch), and he doesn't even take a fanny pack.

Okay, so let's see the hair!

And I bet $100 that your definition of "short" is most people's idea of mid-length or even long. I've had my hair every length from the middle of my back to a pixie cut. I don't consider a cut "short" unless it's above my ears. But I'm one of those crazy northerners who's never understood crying over hair - it will grow back.

Also, here's a reason to have shorter hair:
A 1mm hair follicle can harbour 50,000 germs!!!

So let's see it!!

I am a big handbag girl.

My handbag is so big that it's actually a rucksack. Seriously.

I just took a photo of it to show y'all but it's so big I think I'll keep it to myself.

This shit is also heavy.

Wait, first no picture of the shoes... and now no picture of the haircut!??!!! Come on, you're so keeping us in suspense! I bet it looks great!

Yesterday the allergy-suffering guy sitting next to me on the train asked me if I had a tissue. I did not, and for the rest of the ride to work I was self-flagellating...oh, I should have had some tissues! If you're carrying the big bag, you almost never have to disappoint sniffling strangers.

I've tried to downsize the purse but everytime I do I end up with a broken nail and no file or in the sweltering heat with no tissues to mop up the persperation. Now that every store has a discount card I have to carry eleventy of them in my wallet or on my keychain. I haven't had the bad haircut in a while but a few months ago my hairdresser accidentally dyed my hair ash brown instead of ash blonde.

I am so glad I have found my "big purse family"!! I have a good sized purse that holds cups, inhalers, diapers, wipes, ipod, cell, date book, everything a mom on the go could possibly need. it elimates the need for a diaper bag and I never have to change purses and be without the necessities. Carry on the big purses!!!

I've been a lurker - had to come out. I had a tumor once too, lost 80 pounds and thought when I slept on my stomach that I had a tumor. It was actually my hip bones.
I am ashamed to say I only have one purse and when it wears out, I buy another one.
Have a good time in New York - wish I could visit. Actually, wish we could sit down and talk about weight as I need to get in the right frame of mind again to lose the 80 pounds plus I gained back. I need my focus back. Thanks for writing so honestly about the whole weight issue. I can SO relate.

I heart you, crazy lady.

hey, if you have time, see if you can find an acupuncturist to do eartacks for you for your airplane ride - you might find, as I did, that you won't need meds at all. i used to be a 2-3 xanax + 2 ginantonnixs flyer, but now I can fly unmedicated as long as i have these things in my ears. It's crazy, and has given me a freedom I never thought I'd have. Just a thought. Love the huge handbag, btw!!

But do you have the unwrapped-lint-covered-caramel-candy (preferably werther's original) at the bottom? No? Then you're fine.

Hey Laurie - Loved your post!! and I too -love it when some one asks for an obsure object - and low and behold ... we can produce it! It's kind of like - we could be on the show "Let's Make a Deal!!" I wish your trip included the Twin Cities because I would so be in your line to say "Hey!" Have a blast on your trip - and I agree with everyone else - we need a new pic please :-)

Sue

keys, metrocard, book, knitting, book for knitting, wallet, ipod, cell phone, pens, pain killers, lock for when i go to the gym, hair clips, bobby pins (never know when one will be useful), chapstick, lipstick, notebeook, vitamin water, sunglasses, sweater, kleenex and a tape measure.

hard when you're living in a walking city NOT to bring all that crap with you. Never know when you'll need something.

I am almost caught up with my mom and her monster purse. Hubby likes to point fingers, but you don't see him complain when I whip out the Dr. Scholl's moleskin for his blister!! Now do ya?
I think that I am slightly behind, still, in number of random cards -- business, credit, rack 'em up, insurances, and so on -- and also I don't carry around the huge wad of receipts. Mom always has about a hundred-and-eleventy-two receipts, and maybe another hundred at Christmas time.

You would have been perfect for a contestant on "Let's Make a Deal." Remember when Monty Hall would offer some woman dressed up as Raggedy Ann or a bumblebee $100 for, oh, say, a pair of pliers, and she would dig through her pocketbook until she found it?

must

see

hair

...

I carry a huge purse but there isn't usually very much in it... but it comes in handy when you and your fiance decide to sneak two lunchables and two bottles of Dr Pepper into the movie theater so you can have a cheap lunch. Or when you buy four boxes of girl scout cookies and have to get them home somehow. I kid you not.

This is twice now in a week that you've teased us, first the shoe buying frenzy and now with reports of a stunning new hairdo....can't you tell that none of your faithful readers will rest until they've seen the evidence?!

I love the word pocketbook, I do believe it's a Southern-ism. Personally I carry either my favorite Coach bag or a vintage 1950s or 60s handbag because I like to express myself with my accessories, and since they're always on the small side, it's forced me to eliminate all but the most basic of necessities. Which is actually fine, you'd be surprised what you don't need!

Oh, sure, you may have all these things in my purse, but how long does it take to find them when you need them? And do I need to mention the embarrassment of pads spilling out while digging for wallet / keys / yarn?

I know this and I will never learn, because everywhere I go I must always "be prepared"!

I am always suffering the comments of others regarding the weight of my purse. And, inevitably, they with light pockets and pocketbooks will ALWAYS turn to me for something they need and I happen to have stowed away in there.

More than once, someone has made a "bag of rocks" comment, and I have then pulled out, indeed, rocks from my purse. In my defense, we live at the beach, I like to collect stones from my walks, and they end up in there. At other times, you may find wrenches, rolls of quarters, and other very heavy items which (obviously) sink down into Davey Jones's locker at the bottom of my purse, never to be heard from again until I finally have to lighten my load and they are re-discovered.

As for the hair, I chopped all mine off 2 years ago, and I'm not sure I'll ever grow it back. Give it a chance and enjoy the freedom. Pretend it was intentional and you are fearless!

I gave up carrying the large bag by going to the small expensive purse. Inside are only things I need --dl, debit card, insurance card, an expensive pen in a case(used to sell them, got it cheap)a tiny sketch book, super slim reading glasses and OTC painkillers. It is so nice not to have an aching shoulder everyday. And yes, spending the extra money on the wonderful bag was worth it. I find I treat it like gold and I really don't miss the rest of the stuff I used to carry! Go figure. :)

*
.. brilliant and delightful ..

*

Sure, and it's the purse of the world, for all love. Your hair will grow, didn't your mom tell you that when she cut your bangs that one time and you had a screaming fit because you were trying to grow them out?

Had to LOL about the strange diseases. I was just in my dr's office last week: "My hair hurts, I'm exhausted, I'm dropping things-4 teacups in a month! I feel like crap....yadda, yadda." She gave me a stern look and said, "You don't have Lyme disease or a brain tumor". Isn't self-diagnosis fun?

The strangest thing I've ever carried in my purse? Hmm probably a baggie of used syringes I was taking back to the vet's office for disposal after vaccinating the sheep. Really, Officer.

Well, shit. My purse is going on a diet right now! Oh, and what exactly is wrong with short hair? It is a WHOLE lot less trouble.

I went from carrying *just* a wallet to a giant, massive purse. I now have a massive collection of what can only be interpreted as carry-on luggage.

You, at least, get a muscle out of it! I just hurt my rotator cuff. Yarr!

I'm sorry, but I must demand pictures of the hair cut. MUST!

Sounds like you have a great doctor with a good sense of humor! I am no longer allowed to go on Web MD because I tend to diagnose myself with life threatening illnesses a bit too often.

You've just shamed me into going thru my giganto purse/suitcase.
6 pens; 2 pencils; 4 half-used Post-It pads
Cosmetic bag containing half my make-up plus mysterious feminine products that you never know when you'll suddenly need, and tissues, ibuprofen, & a nail file
Pink Daytimer-thing which has calendar, adress book, notepad, and all my financial accoutrements(minus loose change) stored neatly in it. Plus another pen! But this one is fancy and monogrammed! And pink!
A change purse which ideally would hold all the loose change partying in the bottom of my purse
Hardback book (a biography of Anne Frank)
Cellphone charger, but where's the cellphone? Whoops.
iPod & two pairs of earbud thingies
A ball of yarn (but no knitting needles)
A bag of Whisker Lickin's cat treats (???)
Spare earrings
File folder containing a training manual that needs to be put in a binder
Yesterday's mail

The worst part is that I started to clean it out, and the only thing I could throw away was a stack of receipts

OH my god.... i can't stop laughing. I'm crying here, girl, I swear. We have got to get you a tv show of your own. I'm tellin you, you are such a funny and wonderful girl. and I totally adore you. In a "I totally get you" kind of way !(i'm a southern girl too, from new orleans) i would love to sit and drink some wine with you some day, oh my god, we would be laffing our asses off. thanks for being you laurie! heheheheheheh. oh god. stomach hurts. mascara running down my face.

Also demanding to SEE YOUR HAIR! I'll bet you look gorgeous! Aharon would not do you wrong.

Wow, I have ALSO been known to diagnose myself with melanoma via WebMD. I'm really curious about your "chemical enhancement" to get through a plane ride. I've developed a BIG issue with planes just this year, and I've got a trip halfway around the world coming up, and I would really love to be "enhanced" in some way for that. Could you fill me in?

Delurking to say, I'm guilty! I carry not one, but two bags - my handbag, with the wallet, cell phone, keys, gum, make-up, paperback book, train schedule, various business cards/pieces of paper, things my children give me to hold, and the knitting bag, which has my travel knitting, some knitting tools (CHIBI with various darning needles, folding scissors, 3 crochet hooks, coilless pins, stitch markers, row counters), pattern, kleenex, feminine products (ahem!), roll-up needlecase with at least 3 size 0 sets of double points in case I break one, sewing kit, and umbrella in case of rain. Whew! My chiropracter regularly scolds me for carrying way too much junk. Please post pictures of you sans hair. Did Aharon get a wild hair, or what??

I have been married for 14 years and the "bag" kept getting bigger until I shamlessly worked my way into the stone mountian big bag (I know gasp stone mountian)I started therapy last year for the bag and her name was Kate Spade. Nope no regrets just me and Kate (when i can find her at tj maxx ;)

When I was visiting home last summer (in Washington), I was in the ladies' room on the ferry when a mom and daughter -- maybe 10 yrs old -- came in to wash up a cut on the girls arm. I watched them for a moment and realized that all they had to put on the cut was some toilet paper (ew!), so I offered her a band-aid. (Just happen to keep a dozen in my little makeup bag in my purse, of course.) The mom was really grateful. As I was getting the band aid, I asked what the cut was from -- the girl said she'd brushed against a rusty side mirror on a truck on the car deck. So, naturally, I pulled out some antibiotic and put that on the bandage first. The mom asked if I was a nurse. No -- just a big handbag lady, at your service!

It's like Mother Teresa, Florence Nightingale and cold fusion all rolled into one. I love it.

My purse really isn't very big. (my back can't handle it) But if I go anywhere for more than a couple hours, I usually have a tote bag with me as well as a purse.
We want to see the new haircut!!!!!!!!
I bet it's totally adorable.

My daddy always swore that women did not get astioperosis from a lack of estrogen, they got it from carrying a 40 pound handbag for 60 years. After reading your (too funny) post I still believe he is right.

Good job on the tumor thingy!

OMG...too funny! Listen: Have I got a bag for you, m'dear!
:)
Please stop by...oh well, two clicks. To my blog, then in the sidebar, to my website!
(oh, and "cat not exactly to scale" - hysterical!)
(((hugs)))

I gave up my over-filled purse when I realized it was my own file cabinet. I mean, I have NEVER cut my toenails in public, but damn, if I wanted to, I could have.

I've come to rely on the kindness of strangers for files and such, but I am NEVER without tissues! NEVER!

Short hair makes one look younger. One of my shorthaired coworkers is growing hers out. I haven't had the heart to tell her it makes her look older (and she is already in AARP!)

I have scoliosis and list to the right. So I carry both my big purse and my knitting bag on the left to even things out. Occassionally I try to simplify the contents of said purse, but nothing seems discardable. I even have an emergency sanitary pad, just in case I suddenly have a postmenopausal period.

No, a purse is NEVER too big. I never carried a purse/handbag until I lived in New York. After you have been stuck on a stuck subway for two hours, you will appreciate the bigger than god purse. To this day, even though I own a car, I still carry a ton of stuff with me. You never know when you will be stranded and have to depend on your purse for food, water and entertainment. Therefore, a purse can never be too big!

i carry one normal sized purse with a wallet and checkbook and a dollar-two-ninety-eight in change. and a diaper bag with five diapers, a gallon zippy full of wipes and two outfits. and a knit/crochet/tatting bag full of ufo's. and a bag with milk and snacks. none of the three weighs more than 5 or 6 pounds. then there's the 20 pound toddler on the hip on the side of my body with the bags (to keep the bags from sliding down my arm, talk about your anchor baby LOL) and the 45 pound 8 year old with adhd trying to pull my left arm out of socket. i should lose 5 pounds everytime i go to wal-mart.
yes i take my knitting to wal-mart. what if i have to wait for a prescription or a deli chicken?

You would have a chance at winning one of those items in your purse games they play at some bridal and baby showers.

Oh, Laurie. I always read your blog, and today I laughed louder than what is socially acceptable in terms of laughing-to-oneself-while-at-work.

Pocketbook. My grandma (born in 1908) used to use that word.

I do not carry a handbag; I've never found one that I could easily get in and out of, and that I didn't leave all kinds of random places. I carry a knitting bag, which is bigger than a handbag. On occasions when the knitting bag is too small, I wear a backpack *and* carry the knitting bag. You never know when you might have to go to the hospital.

(Your mother gave that as the reason why you should always wear clean, hole-free underwear. In fact hospital staff will treat you no matter what the state of your underwear, if any, but only after making you wait a really long time, which is why you need your knitting.)

Also: you are beautiful, we love you, you will be brilliant, and afterward there will be drinking.

Also, you should see what lifting 80 pounds daily does to your musculature.

Initially, I purchased MY purse of doom when I had about 18 million knitting projects that needed to be finished... yesterday - therefore, it was necessary to carry a bag that could carry my projects. Obviously, this bag needed to hold the capacity of the likes of Mary Poppin's carpet bag.

This was my excuse. The projects are now FO's and I no longer have an excuse. I still carry it. Empty.

But you know what? You've given a new life to my giant purse driven purpose: muscles. YESSS!!

When my husband asked me what I wanted for a wedding gift, I requested a big fancy purse. I got it, with him shaking his head the whole time. However, everytime he asks for gum, dental floss, ibuprophen, a pen, pencil, notebook, last month's bills, next month's schedule - I HAVE IT! Today's contents include all of the above PLUS checkbook/wallet, 4 bottles of vitamins (i'm pre-pregnant y'all - gots to have that folic acid), antibiotics, travel shopping bags from BOTH Whole Foods and Central Market (can't be using the comptitor's bag...), a pedometer, a couple single-packaged prunes, raisins, scrunchies, tissues and a hankie! wow.

Well, you'll be ready if Monty Hall stops you, but you're going to get lopsided. My Mom's killer handbag ended up sending her to physical therapy to "even her out". But you know, I bet it feels good to know those muscles have been waiting to get out and show off! Don't worry about the hair. It grows back.

holy crap! i snorted and laughed so hard! and then called my mom and told her "go read crazy aunt purl! now!".

Yeah, and let some mugger try and take that puppy from you. I maintain that my huge purse is a great weapon. And, if some jerk thinks he can take it from me, he deserves the hernia. Yeah, no grab and run with MY purse.

I have downsized though, when my younger two were much smaller, I used to be able to carry a pair of shoes for each of them in my purse. That is when they were both wearing about a toddler size 8 or nine and I made sure I got unisex sandals, so they wouldn't argue as much.

Long live the purse/steamer trunk! And, I am sure your hair is darling, you just need to adjust. Your BEST asset is your smile that lights up all your pictures, you don't want hair in your face to ruin that. (Hair will grow back...)

What? You didn't mention the heavy bottle of water~ (or is it just me that always carries a heavy bottle of water?)

But, ask yourselves.. just who would you rather be stuck in a trapped elevator or some other 'stress, trauma, or freak force of nature or mankind?'

Someone w/ a purse w/ everything in it.. for either entertainment, medical needs contained there-in.. (hey, I'm sure that someone could use dental floss for emergency surgery stitches?) or maybe even enough stuff that someone could 'pull a McGuyver' and manage to rescue everything from 'just a few' things found in the giant heavy purse? Also, not to mention you could wack it against someone's head- if need be?

OR someone w/ some lipstick in their pocket?

**SORRY.. if these comments have already been mentioned.. I noticed the 120 comments and hit the 'end' button that I've just recently discovered that it actually has a purpose on my computer..

Plese do not laugh at me.. I do have other talents.. honest.. I do.

This post made me giggle so loud my office mate thought I was crazy. Here I am pulling stuff out of my bag so that I have the bare minimum to cart on the lengthy commute when I really should be carrying a bowling ball and the kitchen sink to get rid of my flabby arms. It's exercising without thinking about it! I really think you're on to something here!

This post made me giggle so loud my office mate thought I was crazy. Here I am pulling stuff out of my bag so that I have the bare minimum to cart on the lengthy commute when I really should be carrying a bowling ball and the kitchen sink to get rid of my flabby arms. It's exercising without thinking about it! I really think you're on to something here!

ETA: Sorry I'm posting twice. For some reason, my computer erased my contact info. Oops. That's the Internets for ya.

I had a Purse Incident this spring. I decided I needed a new purse so I bought one of those LL Bean Healthy Back bags. Unfortunately three weeks later (the week before Maryland Sheep & Wool, talk about bad timing) I was in the doctor's office getting diagnosed with a pinched nerve in my neck/shoulder. The timing with the new purse was too suspicious to ignore. So I took my teenage daughter with me to the mall (to keep me from buying anything *too* dorky) and bought.... another new purse. My goal was to buy the smallest purse I could find that I could get the bare minimum of my necessities in. It's tough not being able to fit a book or a bottle of water in my purse, but at least the pain and numbness in my arm is much better. And my new purse does fit a half knit sock. :-)

"Pre-pregnant"... OMG that is too funny!

dude.hair.now.

i love your rational thinking regarding fatal tumors and smoking. rocks.

i'm a convert of the big bag but i love it and will cry when fashion industry tells me it's time to switch back. i have my fair share of clutches for nights out to dinner, shows, weddings, parties, etc....

plus the big bag makes me look smaller :)

Oh yeah, big purse time. I have an excuse though: law school. For quite a while I carried a very small purse and a bigger backpack, which the small purse could go inside, so to go to lunch I only needed the small one, but the backpack could haul all my work stuff back and forth.

Then I went to law school, where I didn't have a place of my own to keep stuff (just a shared locker) and an irregular schedule, and more stuff than could fit in my backpack even without the little purse, plus the little purse that was ok for lunch and for work where extra stuff lived in the drawer, didn't cut it for all day with nowhere to keep stuff. Not to mention, I started having interviews all the time, so makeup, which I never bothered with at my old job, suddenly became a must. This year I have a better place to keep stuff, but I still move self and stuff around a lot more than at the job.

So, I switched to a big purse-ish bag which is just big enough to hold 8.5x11 items as long as they're not too fat. So the purse carries the minimum items needed for class in case I'm running late or forget my books (paper, pen) plus everything that isn't specific to one class, along with normal purse stuff. Let's see what's in there currently:

Week's worth of my daily meds (that way if I forget to take them in the morning, they're with me). Tums, blank checks, various cards I need only occasonally, PO Box key, emergency supply of girl stuff (when it's actually time, that's a whole separate bag), different container of cards, mini pen, blue pencil (for editing).

Wallet thing with cash and minimum ID & credit cards, spare keys, five zillion hair clips that I don't need (because about three weeks ago I got irritated one Sunday night and hauled out the shears and hacked it off, with not 100% success but more than you'd think), lipstick I hate, lipstick I love but it's nearly gone, lip balm I love but it's nearly gone (both of the latter two no longer sold, wah), lip balm I'm lukewarm about, cell phone.

Hairspray, hairbrush, powder, foundation stick, other foundation I'm actually wearing, enough other makeup to do a basic job if something comes up and I wasn't already wearing it, folding hat, folding nylon bag (for when the main bag isn't enough), sunglasses, more tums, kleenex, hand sanitizer, lotion, eye drops, reading glasses & cleaning cloth, more lipsticks, mini flashlight, vitamins, several sorts of nail files, tiny bag with aspirin and nail clippers and breath mints and etc., iPod, granola bar, too many pens (but so cute colors! love office supplies!) calculator, and temporarily: pencil sharpener, extra pens, bag of drawing tools (for class!), cell phone charger, roll of quarters (oh, that explains why it seemed even heavier than normal).

Notebook/planner, pencil bag full of pens and pencils and highlighters and lots more office supplies, More pens. Plastic zipper envelope full of emergency backup notetaking paper, receipts, random pieces of paper that for some reason I am carrying around, coupons, sometimes stamps or bills that need paying or mail I picked up or basically any paper that doesn't get stuck in the planner.

And no tea.
(Although it has had tea in it occasionally.)

Suddenly, it doesn't seem so strange that one of the straps broke this winter. (I sewed on new ones.)

I also carry a backpack for books and notebooks and such.

I want the Tardis bag too. It should hold all my stuff including my several 1000+ page textbooks and notebooks and computer, in a way that it's easy to find what I want, and when filled should be no bigger than 4x6x1 and weigh no more than six ounces. I do not know why nobody is selling this bag. I'm sure it would sell really well. Someone should tell Kate Spade. (I'm normally a Target girl, but I'd pay Kate Spade prices for a Tardis bag.)

And I don't even carry my knitting around. I never seem to have to wait long enough. Usually the second I decide to get out the knitting, it's my turn and then everyone has to wait on me while I put it all away again. I tried bringing it to school as a study break, but no matter how long a UFO has been sitting around, it suddenly becomes EXTREMELY URGENT that I finish it RIGHT NOW when its only competition is Civil Procedure, so I was doing much more knitting than studying.

I am so with you on this. If I were left on an island that had no stores on it, I would be able to live out of my purse for at least a week and make lots of business and personal calls too. I have the cell phone, the prescription bottle, the two sets of keys, the makeup case, the toothbrush and toothpaste and floss, the umpteen business cards, all the change I've ever received from any paper money I've used to pay for something, notepaper, pens, and more. If I don't have my purse with me at all times I feel as if I'm missing a limb. And the one time I purposely don't bring it because I feel silly bringing it to a friend's house next door or whatever, that is the one time I need something from it!

Does this mean the love affair with Aharon is over?

I will not own my mother's purse until I start carrying around little packets of condiments and assorted plastic cutlery. Ugh!

Clearly this is an issue a lot of us face. I guess my purse wouldn't be so heavy if I didn't carry around 2-3 books at a time.

When I got my latest purse, my husband questioned why I needed another purse, and I admitted I needed a "grown-up woman purse". So yeah, I'm now my mom.

I've always been the prepared type, I love being able to pull out kleenex, Tide-to-Go stick, emery board, pens, pencils, hand sanitizer, mirror, chapstick or every feminine protection when there is a need. I call it victory!

Sorry your hair is causing you sadness. I thought Aharon was so reliable, too! He's got to answer for this!

When are we getting a chat room? Why am I so obsessed with this thread today, that I'm commenting twice? And I've checked back a dozen times to read the new posts. (Ok, favorite products was really good too.)

So, for the pre-pregnant, the peri-pregnant, post-pregnant, etc: Most wimmin can use folic acid, 400 ug to be exact, every day. I take mine due to HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) and a history of atypical Pap smears.

And can I count my brand new smart phone as a health care deduction? I eliminated my ipod, cell phone, and (much beloved) palm pilot by purchasing a very nice, very expensive smart phone.

Wait till you have kids - I have one, only one, but I have a diaper bag FULL of stuff. And I STILL never have what I need! No matter I have 4 diapers, a package of wipes, butt paste (no, really, that's what it's called - Boudreaux's Butt Paste - must be a southern thang!), EIGHTEEN lip glosses, the cell phone that's never on (seriously, my message actually says "I'm buried at the bottom of the diaper bag"), mints, wallet, keys. Let the kid leak through a diaper - do I have a change of pants for her? Nope. Can I FIND the butt paste under the avalanche of accumulated shit (not real shit - I realize how that sounds with the whole diaper thing, but this is metaphorical shit)? Nope. But I've got hubby's sunglasses, his wallet, his keys, his multitude of pens. And half the time? Not my wallet.

And I just wanted to comment on your "fat girl" post from the other day (I'm behind - a big behind). Girl, I'm sure a lot of other people said this, but I could have written that post. Well, not as wittily, or touchingly, and definitely without all the self-awareness and composure you seem to have attained, but it could have been me. Well, I also never lost that much with Atkins - probably because I literally cannot resist carbs. I've gone through WW twice now in the past 2 years, always joining in October (why?!?!) Lost 26 pounds the first time in 5 months, lovin' life, lovin' myself, had 25 more to go. Gained it all but 2 pounds back over the summer. Ok, joined again. Lost 15 pounds, but just WAS NOT feeling it like the first time. Gained that all back, well, not all back, but I'm 10 pounds up (and we're going to Disney next week for 2 weeks, and I so didn't want to haul around extra weight in the heat, or try to cram myself into kiddie rides - ugh). Can you please bottle whatever it is that has made you more serene about the whole thing? Whatever it is that has made you finally trust yourself with food and not beat yourself up? Because me? I'm all about the beatings. Self-flagellation is my speciality. I am trying not to beat myself up all the time, trying not to eat like every meal is going to be my last, but I am having SUCH a hard time. I'm just hoping that one day I'll have the self-assurance you do!

My "purse" is actually a black leather weekender bag... I kid you not. I'm currently baking kid#4, but I have the three previous versions of kids....
One who is 10 and has annoyingly noisey toys that must be confiscated from him
One who is 4 and is still working on that whole 'When you have to pee you go to the bathroom then' thing... so I have to carry around an extra set of undies and pants for him (in addition to whatever toys he has snuck into the purse)
One who is 2 and still in diapers but somehow at that age that regardless of how recent ago I change his butt, still manages to pee all over himself... so I have to carry around extra pants and diapers for him too (and his secret hidden stash of toys)
...... its not uncommon for me to be at the market paying for groceries and have a dinosaur and two cars fall out of my purse........
Then we get to my stuff..... my wallet, 3 pens, lip balm, lotion (for the big itchy pregger belly), mp3 player, book, knitting (conveniently stored in one of those see thru plastic zippered bags you get sheets in), tums, gum, wipies, and whatever my husbands shoves in there when we leave the car.

It was always my goal to that mom Michelle Pfeiffer played in that movie (i think it was One Fine Day with George Clooney?) where she too had a big purse and could not only institute a wardrobe malfunction save (juice on work blouse) but was able to construct not one but TWO Halloween costumes from stuff in her purse. Though I have yet to graduate to carrying around rolls of aluminum foil.

I have a rather small (or medium, I suppose) purse, but I can fit EVERYTHING in there. The downside is I have to take everything out to find, say, a ringing cell phone that always happens to be on the bottom. I wonder if a larger purse would mitigate that?

But, to turn into my mother, I'd have to carry a large tote bag as a purse. (Why a tote bag? I don't know. She doesn't even carry much in there.) As long as I limit myself to purses, huge or small, I'm safe.

One question... Why didn't you throw your 3 pairs of shoes in that purse yesterday and chuck the box??

I want to add my voice to those who are eager to see the new 'do! I'm still waiting for my hair to grow back, but mine was definitely self-inflicted - I shaved it off for a St. Baldrick's fundraiser. (For the kids, you know) It's just over an inch long now, 2 months later, but still standing straight up!

I've been kidding myself on the purse front. I have a tiny purse capable of holding just the wallet & cell, maybe some tissues. But 5 days a week I really carry a large Timbuk2 bag with knitting, PDA, lunch, 3 books minimum, calendar, hand sanitizer, supplies for Aunt Flo's visits, and whatever else is essential. I finally broke down and bought a larger purse for non-commuting times, but haven't pushed myself to use it yet. I know when I do, there won't be any going back.

Maybe I need to buy another in a summer color rather than black?

One year I went to a Halloween party as a bag lady. Now, I have to comment that I hate to play dress up. Maybe it's a lack of imagination, but when you put your heart and soul and hours of work into a costume only to look at everybody else and say, "Gee, I have tin foil and kite string at home, why didn't I think of that!", you lose interest.

Anyhoo, back to the bag lady story, it was the only thing I could come up with. I took a pillow case with me as my "purse" and stuffed all sorts of things in it, dog leash (I have a cat not a dog, but...), pliers, deck of cards, ciggies, you name it. People would come up to me and ask me if I had a so and so, and sure enough I did!

The unforunate side to this story is that most of those things came out of my everyday purse. You just never know when you'll need that pair of pliers!

Laurie,

I feel your hair pain! I've had medium or long hair all my life except for "The Incident." When I was 17 years old and a senior in high school, I got the brilliant idea to chop my hair (which was below my shoulder blades at the time) totally off. What can I say? It was the Pat Benatar era and all my friends were doing it and yes, I was that much of a lame follower. I was actually pretty proud of myself for taking such a daring step until my boyfriend came over to the house and when I opened the door, he didn't even miss a beat before he said "Holy crap! How long will it take before it grows back?" Then there was a huge "pop" noise as my ego deflated. Oh, and turns out the answer to his question is TWO FREAKIN' YEARS! But, I learned my lesson and my hair's never been shorter than the tops of my shoulders since then.

I'm also a big-purse girl. Small purses just look silly with my figure - it looks like I robbed some little girl's doll wardrobe of a purse. Plus, I need something large enough to fit whatever book I'm currently reading and that includes hardcovers. I do have a nice selection of appropriately-sized clutches that I call my "going out" purses and use for special occasions where all I need are the "essentials" (cash, i.d., credit cards, chapstick, lipgloss, powder, cell phone, keys and sunglasses).

P.S. I'll post a picture of my "incident" hair on my blog if you'll post a pic of your new 'do ;-)

show us the new doo.....

Heidi in Idaho

Wallet, checkbook, cellphone, digital camera & cable; flash drive, 4 prescription bottles and a card of migraine meds, one inhaler, 2 pens, one notebook (ringbound 3 x 5 cards), powder compact, 2 lipsticks, lipliner and mine weighs a ton and my MPU is always ragging me. However, it's been a long long time since SHE worked outside the home at a non-family-owned business, so I think she forgets how you have to have all your survival stuff with you ...

Judging by the not-to-scale size, you could fit all four cats in there. I have summarily abandoned the role of official family Beast of Burden, File Cabinet, Magical Homework Generator, Document Retreival System, Electronic Gadget Depository, Annexed Clothes Closet and Gym Locker. Oh, and Dad's Entire Estate-History Toter. And if the family doesn't like it, they can lump it. The new me: bag dimensions 12" x 7" x 3", weight 2.2 lbs. I feel as though I have achieved liftoff! When they say, "Mom! Carry this for me!" I say, "Sorry, see, I don't have room, my bag is too small."

Next I'm working on downsizing the car--a Mini Cooper. So I won't have room to chauffeur them. When they wanna ride? I'll offer to bungee them to the roof.

You need to start lifting that bag with your right hand half the time, so you don't start looking like The Governator on one side and Pee Wee Herman on the other (come to think of it, given his well-known movie theater pastime, perhaps he's pretty muscled-up on the one side, too).

I had the big purse with the huge bottle of ozone-layer-destroying hair spray as well as a million other things when I was a kid (Southern habit, apparently). Moving to California worked it out of me. I did have anything a person could desire in there, though.

Could be worse -- I've given up my "big purse" for the "big diaper bag". The purse is now smaller, but the amount of stuff I carry has grown exponentially.

I have a little tiny kitchen sink from a doll house in my handbag just for all the smart asses out there who ask.

I also have nearly everything else and the toy box.

Am I weird that I dont habitually carry a purse? I keep my wallet (a credit card holder) in my right pocket (money is usually stuffed inside the cc holder) and my cellphone in my left pocket. I do occasionally carry a little pill holder than has an assortment of allergy medicine, migraine meds, muscle relaxers, ibuprofen, dramamine (I have neurological disease that can cause vertigo), and tylenol.

For the times that I do carry a purse (usually only because I cant fit the supplies for that ever-so-special week that I need to have supplies for into my pockets) I usually just have the neccessities.

I do, for some reason carry a purse when I go out with my boyfriend. Mostly because I need to have some place to safely store my earrings, cellphone, wallet and small pharmacy when my boyfriend and I go to the park and errr...ummmm...park. :)

I really just dont feel the need to carry 50 pounds of stuff I dont use.

Plus I dont have to worry about my purse being stolen.

Laurie! My friend with a horrible, we thought irreversible, plane-flying-terror issue has found her panacea: ear tacks! She goes to the acupuncturist and gets these little pins put in her ears and she is a sea of calm... In fact, maybe some of us should just always have them in. Anyway, check it out!!!

Where

Is

The

Hair

Shot??

please?????

Just ONE giant handbag? And you only started carrying it within the last two years? You amateur!

And I agree with everyone else who is begging for a self-portrait of the haircut. I'll bet it's adorable. -)

just switch that sucker to the other arm every other day and you'll be working out! talk about personal improvement the easy way....

Laurie,

I once had my hair cut by the owner of a very frou frou salon (expensive). It was so short - he even gave me sideburns - yes, I said sideburns!! I cried for over a month. The way I got through this time was to go to the beauty shop each week (the cheap one) and have them wash it and blow dry it - it just looked better when they did it - like I had more hair.

I'm also a big purse girl - I have an Aigner one that is black and it is quite dangerous - I'm forever knocking things (and people) over when I go into stores!

Linda in VA

I had long hair once...ok, actually twice.

When I was little my mom always had my hair cut short (Dorothy Hamill short...Dorothy was an Olympic skater in the early to mid-70s) When I hit about 9 or 10, I refused to get my hair cut. I let my hair grow out (or down to my butt) until I was about 13 when I decided that I must have bangs.

My mom took this as an opportunity to once again take control of my hair length...so she told the guy who cut my hair (and still cuts my hair) to cut my hair to just below my shoulders. I was in mourning for years.

Altho, I sort of maintained the haircut that was forced on me till I was in my early 20s. When I started to grow it out again. I again got it down to butt level. Then, last year I found out that I'm sick with a lifelong neurological disease. I tried to keep my hair really long for a while, but my arms were getting tired from having to comb and dry my hair for two hours every day.

So, I again got it cut short. Then got it cut short again. (short is relative, it's just about shoulder length) I'm considering another chopping session, but I dont think I'll go thru with it. I might let it grow out again for awhile (seeing as how I still have use of my arms for the time being)

I really miss braiding my hair. Right now it's so short that any braids I try to do end up looking weird.

You are so funny, you made me pee in my pants a little. At work.

I have a little purple fanny pack. And a big navy purse most people call a CAR.

And now I'm shopping for a new purse on eBay, thanks to you! I'll be stylin' soon. I hope.

Ok.... 1st, please do not visit my blog which I have abandoned to have time to read you and the eleventy billion comments you get everyday. Really! I had to use a search feature on your comments to see if anyone else had immeadiately thought of "Let's Make a Deal" when reading your post today, because I just don't have the time to read all the comments right now.

2nd, yes, where IS the hair shot? Come on, you can't tell us you got a haircut and that you are freaking out over it and NOT SHARE A PICTURE.... Your "Hairstory" was not meant to be a cliff hanger. We can't take it!!!!!!

3rd, I'm a recovering big purse gal. Usually I just carry my little wallet and cell phone and keys. Yes, it is akward carrying 3 items, but I never have to search for my keys in the parking lot. I know my mother-in-law thinks I'm crazy, she of the purse-that-always-has-tissue-and-emory-boards-cult. But I've learned, the bigger the purse, the more I will stuff in it and then need to get a bigger purse. It is a NEVER ENDING CYCLE!!!! Step away from the purse ma'am....

*cough*

Sorry. Love ya!

I have avoided succumbing to the huge handbag by periodically carrying a clear bag. It cuts down on my urge to hoard. I always look for a huge handbag girl though when I need kleenexes or an emery board or a pen....

I call mine my suitcase. And I am never without something I really need.

I got my first real handbag after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Before that, I'd refused to carry anything but a ladies' wallet, which worried my mother no end, as I kept it in hand and she was forever asking me, "aren't you afraid you're going to leave that somewhere?"

With the diabetes, I now have to carry a glucometer, which forced the move up to a handbag. My mother is not happy I'm diabetic, but I do think she's deeply consoled by the fact that at least now I carry a proper purse.

Haha, the NY Times just had this piece on women and their back problems due to oversize bags. I am a medium-size purse carrier, but it is always overstuffed, so I'm considering an upgrade.

I'm glad you do not have a tumor. Goof.

Oh, I far surpassed my mom in the purse-size department ages ago. But ya know, I'm a big girl. And nothing looks sillier than a big girl with a little bag... at least I'm proportionate. :)

I cannot live without my big bag!! I think I would feel naked without it :)

Laurie, I so heart you! Nothing wrong with a big bag girl! Like Casey, I am on the fluffy side and nothing looks funnier than a big girl with a non existant bag! (imagine Chris Farley singing "fat man in a little coat" here) I do not feel like I have turned into my mom,she never did carry a huge bag, she would carry this teeny tiny little clutch. Maybe THAT is why I now am a big bag gal; because she did not, and was not ready for anything... I am! :o) Besides, you can't hide a WIP in a small bag! I have kids, I am ready with anti bacterial goodness, kleenex, band aids you name it! Welcome to the big bag gal side!

Slow down people! We just asked her to post pictures of the shoes yesterday. She'll get to the hair later.

My brother and sister are doctors and so I get the inside scoop. Most doctors, while they are in medical school, diagnose themselves with something weird. My sister thought she had skin cancer (it was a regular mole) and my brother thought he had colon cancer (don't ask!). Doctors always like to roll their eyes when their patients self diagnose, but they've all been there!

A comment about the shoe post. I mentioned it to my dear boyfriend. He is also confused on the need to own 30 pairs of black shoes, but then he shrugged and said that everyone needed a vice. Do I dare show him the yarn stash???

I was told once that a "lady" doesn't carry a bag bigger than her head.

Guess I'm no lady then...

OMG... I had the SAME experience, but I didn't build a muscle... I PULLED ONE. My chiro was trying to determine the cause of me wearing a shoulder as an earring and saw my HUGE purple suede Coach bag on the floor. "Your everyday purse?" she asked. "Yep". She hefted it (I don't know what the purse actually weighs), and it's contents: Ipod, cell phone, sunglasses, wallet, day planner (the petite, thank you), makeup bag, hairspray, eye drops, saline, two sets of keys, jump drive, book, sometimes knitting... and said, 'you might want to rethink this'. So I bought a cross-body messenger bag for weekdays, and it did help. I don't carry any less (trust me, I'd die w/out 5 lip balms), but it's distributed better and I don't wear my shoulder up around my ear anymore.

Laurie, I'm sorry about your haircut. I could knit you up a hat real quick!

RE: the big purse. I am so there with you. I just got an even bigger one as I now have things like teething toys and baby spoons in there along with the 10 packs of gum, hand sanitizer, 3 tubes of lip balm (because sometimes we're not in the mood for mint, but cherry.)

True story about big purses.

For the brief second I lived in Dallas, I once worked for a woman who carried around a huge handbag. She was at a business lunch one day, outside on a patio. Something flew in her eye and so she fumbled around in that bag for her eyedrops with one eye closed, searching by feeling shapes. She tilted her head back and put 2 drops in her eye. Then, as she was screwing the cap back on, she realized she had not put eyedrops but nail glue in her eye.

(She ended up being fine, luckily, but it did require a trip to the emergency room.)

YES! And I can't be turning into my mother, because her purse is smaller than mine and ALWAYS has been! Let's see what's in there today: one large, heavy wallet; one PDA in leather case; one packet of kleenex; comb; business cards in lovely metal case; cellphone in holder; receipts from the grocery store, dating back to March; multiple lipsticks; sever