The Amateur Archeologist- pursedelving.

I have always been amazed at My Lovely Wife's amazing ability to pull useful items out of her purse at a moment's notice. And so, as we've just returned from a friend's wedding, and My Lovely Wife is clearing out her purse, I decided to do a bit of amateur archeology on an average woman's purse. What the contents say about her role in society, as well as her individual resourcefulness and things she holds personally important, is something to speculate on. And so, the purse's contents.

Double sided foam tape, 2 packs chopsticks, and 11 sachet pouches for m&ms were specially added for the trip, and not counted.

Modest sized purse, color black
Weight: 4 pounds, 3 ounces
Length (w/side pockets) 11.75 inches; main purse body: 10.5"
Width 6.5 " ; base 4.5"
Height: 6.875"

This is considered a mid-sized purse.

Contents:

Main pouch

1 Wallet: overstuffed, 6.75"X1.575"x4" Containing one checkbook, and approximately two dozen cards, cash (various U.S. denominations, and change.

paper referral for doctor's visit

business card

index card: 3"x5"

1 3"x5" notebook

1 bag Bactrim, prescription

1 eyeglasses case

1 15-pack Extra gum, Wildberry Frost

1 bottle eye drops, .5 fluid oz.

1 post-it note w/addresses

main pouch right side pocket:

1 PhD multi pen/pencil

1 Clinique lipstick: Pink Chocolate

2 tubes, "Burts Bees" lip shimmer, (Watermelon & Raisin), .0975 oz (2.6grm) ea

1 tube plain Burt's Bees lip balm, .15 oz

main pouch left side pocket 1:

1 house key ring (3 keys, Ralph's card, gym card, tiger charm)

1 Swiss army knife (explorer)

1 set, work keys (carabineer, 11 keys, assorted sizes)

main pouch zippered (secret) pocket, rear

1 pair, clip-on sunglasses

1 checkbook for second bank account

Front zipper pocket

1 packet: Clean & Clear oil-absorbing sheets

1 folding hand mirror

1 bottle, Nasonex (17grm)

3 AD pills, in foil

1 small tin, Caswell Massey's Elixir of Love Solid Perfume 1.8oz

1 small tin, ibuprofen

1 small tin, Burt's Bees hand Salve .3oz

1 bottle, Purell, .5oz

1 stick, doublemint gum

14 pseudophedrine pills, in foil wrapper

Front Velcro pouch

1 packet: Lens Clear sheets

1 Macy's wedding registry, on printout

1 packet, Hello Kitty oil-absorbing sheets (carried just because they're cute and a gift from a friend, so shut up already)

1 Johnson & Johnson first aid pouch

1 3x5 card with complete inventory of crochet hooks and knitting needles owned, so as to avoid duplication when shopping

1 DEA logo tape measure, 150 cm

2 glass bead earrings, sky blue w/roses

Right side pocket:

1 hairbrush

Left Side pocket

1 cellular phone, Nokia, blue

Rear velcro pouch:

1 receipt for a man's tie, Norman's of San Pedro

1 invitation, wedding

1 invitation, wedding reception

1 set, Mapquest directions, 2 pages 8.5"x11"

The entire collection, when taken out of the purse and spread out, could not fit in a 2'x3' tray without materials overlapping.

I'm...I'm speechless.