The story of my life, written in a (pocket)book

Probably unlike most women, I rarely change purses. Even though I might have a cuter purse for today's outfit, it's easier to just pick up the one that has my stash of, well, everything, than taking time to switch my stash to a prettier purse for a day.

Classics work much better for me.

A Times-Gazette blogger, who cleans houses, recently wrote that you can learn a lot about a person -- whether or not they're a slob -- by simply looking in their car. If the car's a mess, you might assume correctly their house is, too.

I believe you can probably learn a lot about a woman by the contents of her purse.

I cleaned my purse out a few days ago, which I try to do once a week.

Dumping its contents on my desk, I find a variety of random things inside, all with a story of their own.

Item one: Half a book of Bart Simpson stamps. A couple weeks ago in New York, I had to run errands with my dad. He needed stamps. I asked him for some money to by him a roll of stamps, which would have cost more than $50. He looked at me like I had 10 heads and asked if I was crazy.

"How much do stamps cost? They're only 38 cents, right?" he said.

No, he doesn't do much of his own shopping, and no, he didn't give me money to get him a roll. We settled on a book, and I accidentally carried them back to Tennessee with me.

Item two: Celebration tickets from Wednesday night, Sept. 2. I had my own set of tickets for the week, but a co-worker gave me his ticket, for Jack (my husband) to use last Wednesday. When I got home and asked Jack if he wanted to go, he said, "I thought we were just going to go one night, like Friday or Saturday night?"

I told Jack we should go twice and he said he'd make a deal with me.

"If we go twice, then will you go metal detecting with me twice over the weekend?"

One time at the Celebration this year would be just fine, thanks.

Items three: Nine dollars, and plenty of change. Whoo Hoo, let's go shopping! Actually, it's very funny to me, and rare, that I have $9 in my purse, because I never carry cash. Even fast food places take cards for measly orders like even a coffee, and I guess psychologically, to me, it seems like I'm spending less money if I never visit an ATM machine.

Sure, Sadie, good excuse.

Item four: An empty book of matches. Nope, I don't smoke, but I'll probably always carry this book with me. It says, "Sadie's Place -- Lake George, N.Y.," and my father gave it to me months back. Who knows why he went to a gift shop called "Sadie's" in Lake George, but this, when I look at the book of matches, is the only time the fact that he still smokes brings a smile to my face.

Item five: My fortune from the last time I ate Chinese. It says, "Soon, you will receive pleasant news."

Maybe today, six months after the fact, is the day for my fortune to come true!

Item six: A $20 receipt from checking one bag, one way, on U.S. Airways. Don't even get me started on this one! The fact that airlines charge so much to check bags only encourages folks to carry their bags into the cabin, where there simply is never enough room for everyone's bags anymore. This ends up delaying the boarding process as flight attendants end up pleading with passengers to check their bags at the last minute.

Item seven: The dreaded "to do list" for this weekend. Buy new make up, e-mail Mom pictures of our recent hot air balloon ride, write in pregnancy journal, read (yes, I actually have to remind myself to read), put about 2000 loose photos in photo albums (that one never seems to get crossed off the list), register for baby items, buy maternity clothes, give husband a hug ... yada, yada, yada.

Items eight: Prescription bottles. If someone were to peek inside my purse it's would look like a pharmacy. But my orange bottles are quite boring -- prenatal plus vitamins, folic acid and metformin, to control blood sugar.

Other items: I have got jewelry (an old Tiffany's necklace that should NOT be in a purse ... we all have a bit of messiness in us), this week's chap stick (stolen from Jack) and lipsticks (both of which will be replaced next week after I lose this week's bunch), "Got Milk" stickers for the dairy girl in me, tweezers, a picture or two, pennies, pennies, pennies and more pennies (never walk by a penny on the ground ... it's bad luck!)

Last item: A business card. It's for "The Compulsive Quilter," a business that specializes in handmade purses.

-- Sadie Fowler is lifestyles editor at the Times-Gazette. Her columns, Sadie Says and Simply Delish, run every Sunday. She may be reached at sfowler@t-g.com or 684-1200 ext. 214.