# What's in your bag, baby? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 15, 2002, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197 "2002-05-15T14:02:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197/21 "2002-05-16T14:49:29Z")
I actually just cleaned out my bag. Wallet Makeup Tampon Tylenol Cold (Non-Drowsy) Tape Measure Ticket stubs from LOTR, Spiderman and AOTC Keys Altoids ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Bianca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@Miss\_Bianca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Bianca)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197/22 "2002-05-16T14:53:01Z")
**General Supplies** - Wallet with attached keys. - 2 pens. - Jade green Post-It pad. - Gum. - Fresh workout clothes for today. - Lunch (yogurt, Granny Smith apple). **Girly Stuff** - LipFinity lipstick and violet lip balm for removing it. - 3 hair fasteners. **Emergency Equipment** - Folding paper fan with giraffes on it (I spend a lot of time on public transportation, so I never go anywhere without this). - 2 packs of Kleenex, one plain and one zebra print. - A little iridescent bag with a safety pin, nail clippers, nail file, mirror, a few Band-Aids, a perfume sample, 2 Wash-n-Dris, aspirin, Ibuprofen, and Sudafed in it. **Reference** - 2 train schedules and 2 bus schedules for the trains and buses I take most often. - My “to read” book list for reference when I stop by the library (with 98 books that I want to read listed right now – yikes!). - A list of good warm-up exercises that my husband gave me. **Work** - A manuscript we’re working on for submission to an academic journal. - A batch of questionnaires, data from which I need to analyze. **Entertaining Reading Material for the Train** - A copy of the _New Yorker_. - A copy of _The American Spectator_. - A printout of today’s article from the _Tomorrow’s Professor_ listserv. - Articles printed out from the Internet this morning (3 from _Medscape_, one from the _Village Voice_, one from _Working for Change_, and one chapter from a book for attorneys and expert witnesses on psychometrics). ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197/23 "2002-05-16T15:11:57Z")
Well, now, let’s see. First off, it’s a very nice Samsonite leather attaché case ( **Valkyrie** calls it a “man-bag”), which at present contains: [list] [li]“Teach Yourself Japanese”[/li][li]notebook for notes from same[/li][li]Langenscheidt E\<\>J dictionary[/li][li]Watson-Guptill sketchbook[/li][li]Copy of Clausewitz’ _On War_[/li][li]Notebook with notes from “Teach Yourself Latin American Spanish”[/li][li]Russian edition of _The Golden Calf_ - comic novel featuring beloved Russian hero Ostap Bender[/li][li]current and back issues of _Socialist Worker_[/li][li]latest issue of _Games_ Magazine[/li][li]smaller wire-bound sketchpad, almost filled[/li][li]two pocket-sized notebooks[/li][li]#2 sketch pencil[/li][li]two Rollerball pens[/li][li]stack of homemade business cards advertising myself as a translator[/li][li]Franklin Covey planner[/li][li]stack of 1/4-size handouts advertising the ISO’s summer conference[/li][li]my checkbook[/li] …guess that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197/24 "2002-05-16T15:14:20Z")
Obviously, I should include a copy of “UBB Coding for Dummies” in there sometime soon. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197/25 "2002-05-16T15:31:40Z")
Today, mine contains: Wallet Monthly train pass Bus tickets Checkbook Pen Various keys on 2 rings Cellphone Work IDs on a clip Handspring Visor Neo Barbara Tuchman’s _A Distant Mirror_ (about 14th century Europe, specifically France) Rio Volt CD/MP3 player with headphones (been ripping my CDs to MP3s, I can fit several CDs worth of music onto one CD-RW and listen to music during my long commute) spare AA and AAA batteries for the Rio player and Visor ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197/26 "2002-05-16T15:45:06Z")
4 pens. 2 pencils. 1 checkbook for an account that no longer exists (I haven’t gotten around to tossing it yet). 1 wallet. 1 set of spare keys. (My standard keys are on a peg by the door.) 3 samples of Formica laminate. 1 notepad stolen from the on-site hotel at Hershey Park. 2 chapsticks (strawberry and mint). Various scraps of paper with phone numbers on them. 1 packet of breathmints. Paper with **Gunslinger** ’s sizes and measurements written on it in case I decide to buy or make him clothing. 2 knives. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197/27 "2002-05-16T15:58:30Z")
Does a laptop case count? Since I just got back from a business trip to Las Vegas, I have: HP OmniBook PC Palm Vx Business Cards _Empire Falls_, by Richard Russo Hotel bill Post it notepad Dentyne Ice Discs with Powerpoint presentations Other people’s business cards A winning (yes!) $50 ticket Colorado Avalanche over San Jose Sharks game 7 Pens Receipts ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197/28 "2002-05-16T16:48:21Z")
Does a brief case count? -Two yellow legal pads -About 20 business cards (mine) -Checkbook (today’s payday) -Folder containing bills to be paid -A little, solar-powered calculator -Copy of GQ (oh, shut up) -A page from the Food Section of the Washington Post (I think I wanted a recipe, but nothing on the page looks very interesting) -A folder containing my speaking points for a presentation I gave yesterday at a conference -A CD with my PowerPoint presentation for the conference on it -A pen and pencil set -A laser pointer ---
**Author:** ![zber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c5a1d2/32.png) [@zber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zber)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197/29 "2002-05-16T19:16:47Z")
you know your a mom when the contents of your backpack change from books etc to: -3 diapers -small thing of wipes -gum -plastic bag from ralphs -disposable breast pads -a cloth diaper -changing pad -small blanket -2 pens -lip balm -knife -handful of change -stamps -tums ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197/30 "2002-05-16T20:11:51Z")
I think we have a tie between **tigergirl** for the “penis-shaped straw” and **leechbabe** for the “friend’s pants” (with a special mention for **Miss Bianca** for organizing the contents of her bag into separate categories). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ferrous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197/31 "2002-05-16T20:41:27Z")
Lessee here… Wallet, keys, and folding knife are in pockets. Backpack contains: -Hooded sweatjacket -Fleece vest -Baseball cap -20 oz. bottle of water -Sunglasses -Bag of Ricola cough drops -Couple of napkins -Paperback book, “The Snow Queen” by Joan D. Vinge -Electric bill -Boarding pass from recent flight -Ballpoint pen -Packet of Rolaids I’m ready for anything! ---
**Author:** ![Dagny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9f8e36/32.png) [@Dagny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dagny)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197/32 "2002-05-16T20:50:30Z")
Frist Aid Bag: gauze pads tape vial of peroxide pill box (asprin, tums, imodium) band aids eye drops floss empty plastic baggie (acts as a trash bag if no trash can is to be found) Makeup Bag: Stila stick concealer cheesey looking Clinique GWP mirror mini perfume vials (Mahora, Pleasures and Casmir) lipstick/gloss of the day Blistex Silk and Shine Locctaine hand cream Just Floating Around: iPAQ phone wallet keys foldable headphones (so I can listen to mp3’s while out and about, it’s better than screaming children or loud annoying people) gum mini tin of Penguin mints mini rubber chicken (for good luck) pen/pencil/stylus all in one thingy Really, it doesn’t take up that much room. The iPAQ is the biggest thing I carry with me. ---
**Author:** ![Billy\_Baroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/76d3ee/32.png) [@Billy\_Baroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billy_Baroo)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197/33 "2002-05-16T21:48:06Z")
Portable shovel Small bag of lime Flat sap Bone saw Breath Mints And what’s that at the bottom there? Oh, it’s a clump of hair with a bit of scalp still attached. Ahh, much better. I thought I’d lost that. ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197/34 "2002-05-16T23:36:47Z")
In the bookbag… Newton Messagepad 120 bottle of Motrin laser pointer compact umbrella a couple of outdated bus schedules CD: _Dark Side of the Moon_ unopened direct deposit pay stub empty Media Play bag (what’s that doin’ in there?) 2 issues of _New Scientist_ magazine plastic mail wrapper from one of aforementioned magazines super-secret thingy I can’t tell you about (yet) half-eaten bagel (now tossed) a few band-aids ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197/35 "2002-05-16T23:54:03Z")
Which bag? Eh, I’ll just go with the one that’s closer to me. Wallet Novel _(Father Elijah)_ Tampons Knoxville News-Sentinel classifieds - apartments and jobs 2 hairbrushes Eye drops Contact lens case Makeup - foundation and powder only Dental Floss Toothbrush Toothpaste (Tom’s of Maine) Adaptor for the work laptop to hook into the network when I’m on the road 2 hair clips Round styrofoam ball given out at work - it’s the world in blue and green with the company logo on it Listerin Pocket Pak (2) 5 AA batteries (??) 3 Powerbars 1 pair of earrings 1 glove Aspirin Wallet - contains cash, train pass, work ID, etc. Various pens and pencils (about 20 total) ---
**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197/36 "2002-05-17T00:03:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by featherlou \* > \*\*I think we have a tie between **tigergirl** for the “penis-shaped straw” and **leechbabe** for the “friend’s pants” (with a special mention for **Miss Bianca** for organizing the contents of her bag into separate categories). 😃 \*\* In my defence I’d like to state the pants are clean, I would never carry around someones dirty clothing in my bag. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197/37 "2002-05-17T00:35:08Z")
I just cleaned my purse out. I took out two old library cards, and other assorted junk. I am reduced to: Cash checkbook doctor’s excuse note card my doctor gave me with my test results miscellaneous cards (debit, driver’s license, AAA, etc) I also took out and counted almost twenty dollars worth of loose change. That is my movie money for tomorrow night. 🙂 Robin ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Bianca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@Miss\_Bianca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Bianca)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197/38 "2002-05-17T00:52:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by featherlou \* > \*\*I think we have a tie between **tigergirl** for the “penis-shaped straw” and **leechbabe** for the “friend’s pants” (with a special mention for **Miss Bianca** for organizing the contents of her bag into separate categories). 😃 \*\* Thanks for the special mention, **featherlou**! Maybe you can tell that I’m a little obsessive-compulsive, and in that spirit, I need to say that under “Entertaining Reading for the Train,” I meant to write _The American **Prospect** _, not \*The American **Spectator** , if there even is such a magazine. Dar. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197/39 "2002-05-17T01:34:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kayeby \* > \*\*My backpack today: > Cybersociety reader > Cybersociety notebook > A printout of my Cybersociety presentation > \*\* Hey Kayeby, are you doing Cybersociety at Melb. in the HPS (History and Philosophy of Science) dept by any chance? OK, MY bag has: Diary Manilla folders X 2 Notebooks X 3 Gas Bill A flyer for a demo at the Maribyrnong Detention Centre. Tampons Perfume Matches Leaky pens ANOTHER FLYER for a ‘Rock Against Racism’ concert. Stapler Loose staples Highlighter pens Book of articles for Science, Life and Mind Chewie lots and lots of loose crap including tobacco that has fallen out of the ciggies. ---
**Author:** ![tigergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@tigergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tigergirl)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197/40 "2002-05-17T01:40:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by featherlou \* > \*\*I think we have a tie between **tigergirl** for the “penis-shaped straw” and **leechbabe** for the “friend’s pants” (with a special mention for **Miss Bianca** for organizing the contents of her bag into separate categories). 😃 \*\* **bows to the audience and accepts her place on the podium with leechy and Miss Bianca** I dare anyone out there to admit that they have replicated genitals in _their_ bag 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-bag-baby/109197.md?page=3)