IN WHICH THE SPINSTER CARRIES A HANDBAG

So I did a thing a few weeks ago.

Well, several things, actually.

I started watching the Read Well podcast on the YouTubes and became fascinated with the idea of being a better reader. I've always had my nose in a book in one way or another, but it was always casual/light/fun reading on the back porch swing or tucked into bed before lights out. 

I also started watching/listening to The Daily Stoic, and this made me want to start some new and better habits that would serve me well as I move into "the age in which one really should know better". The guy in this podcast wants me to read and study stoic philosophy as well as do something I used to do for years and years but haven't since starting this here blog...keep a daily journal.

So I found some videos about journaling and morning pages, and $11 later (because I had to have a new notebook from the amazons)...I was off. You'll be happy to note that I studiously avoided all of the videos that showed amazing art journals and scrap journals and perfectly curated memory journals, and decided instead that this would be a simple brain dump/morning pages book where I could exorcise my demons and clear my head every day before sitting in my chair doing nothing all day except running to the bathroom. (Sorry. TMI.)

Not to be forgotten in all of this is my Erin Condren Life Planner. Yes...I still have one, yet I do confess that it is a huge struggle trying to figure out how to use it. I don't exactly have a lot to "plan", I keep all of my tests and appointments on my phone, and actually committing a to-do list to paper is damn near impossible since I'm never quite sure if it's going to be a good day physically or a big girl sleigh bed day.

But I digress...

I also have a BOB...a book of books...that I've kept since 1991. This is basically just a little book in which I record the title and author of whatever book I've just finished reading. It's a bit beat up and falling apart, but I love being able to look back and remember what I was doing and where I was doing it and what book I had along for the adventure.

In short...this new life involved GEAR. A stack of books and journals and pens and chapstick and hair clips and a reading light and a portable fan and...

Cue the handbag.

I remembered that I had purchased a "planner tote" about a hundred years ago for the two weeks when I was obsessed with all things planner. It was grey felt, and I'm pretty sure it was supposed to be a diaper bag, but I kinda sorta remembered it being perfect for what I needed. Well, Dearies, I went on a massive search for the damn thing, and after about two hours of peeking into every nook and cranny and even venturing down to the garage/storage tower of crap from my life that I'm more attached to than my liver...I came up empty and it was back to the amazons I went.

Perfection! Bliss! Wonderful addition to my day! I put all of my stuff into the newly acquired tote and started carrying it out to the balcony for morning coffee, or over to the kitchen table for planning, or in to bed for pre-sleep reading.

I did this for about a week when Rich took one look at me in my crazy "they're pajamas, but let's just think of them as my inside clothers" getup and said "Con? What's with the handbag?" before going back to the Phillies game.

So me and my handbag are doing very nicely, thankyouverymuch. I am presently working on a plan for adding my stitchy project to the mix, but at the moment I'm letting it live on my ottoman because I don't have to worry about stashing things away into the project bag.

I'll leave you with a progress pic so Betty doesn't get her knickers twisted. Happy Futzingday!