An Old Bag and an Amusement Park
Posted By teeni on September 4, 2007
Just so you know - the old bag I’m referring to in the title is NOT me! No siree. The old bag is an old black, imitation leather fanny pack that had an adjustable strap and zippered compartments all over. It was very convenient but at the time I owned it, it wasn’t practical. I used to smoke and fitting my pack of smokes, money, credit cards, keys, pens, cell phone and camera never would have been possible and I tried many times to fit it all in so I know what I’m talking about. Because of this, oftentimes the little bag would sit in the closet, unused and hidden from daylight. Finally, one day we sold it at a yard sale. I’m sure someone is getting great use out of it now. But I sure could use it again.
While I was at the amusement park the other day, the gravity of my error really hit home. I really could have used that bag at the park. TGH and I went on the Tilt-a-Whirl, which is now called the Twist-and-Shout, the bumper cars, and the haunted house ride where it would have been much more convenient to be wearing a fannypack type bag than carrying a purse. I hate purses/pocketbooks/bags, whatever you want to call them. I still carry one but I hate being tied down by it. They are such a nuisance. I believe all clothes should have plenty of pockets sewn right into them so that you don’t need a purse. Believe me, if you were as short as me, you wouldn’t want any unnecessary objects weighing you down. But that is a topic for a future post.
Anyway, I would have been able to be more carefree if I could go on those rides without having to place my pocketbook at my feet and then hold on for dear life, all the while worrying whether my feminine accessory was going to end up flying out of the car during the ride. Also, it was a pain to tote around a giant Fraggle (see previous post) AND a purse while walking around the park or standing in lines. Additionally, I had to put down the pocketbook on a conveniently out-of-order lane while playing skee-ball so that I would have free movement of my arms (why this was important I don’t know because I stunk up the scores on skee-ball, but it was still fun to play - LOL).
TGH and I also saw a show, during which I had to hold both the giant Fraggle and my purse on my lap because the seating was the metal folding kind, placed in rows within an inch of eachother. The children in the row ahead of us, who kept turning around in their seats, were delighted to see the giant Fraggle. However, I don’t think they gave my purse much attention.
Now, with the advance in technology and the tinier cell phones and digital cameras, plus the fact that I no longer smoke, I could easily fit all my junk into a fanny pack these days. But I can’t find a good one like the one I had. I did try to get one at a large discount store we shall simply refer to as Door-Mart, but it was made of nylon and did not adjust small enough for my waist. So I returned it and am still in search of a good one. The moral is that you always seem to appreciate things after they are gone. Wish I still had that fanny pack!
We really did have a great time, great weather, and great fun at the park. Not having the fannypack didn’t damper things much - it just would have made things a little easier. So I just figured I’d complain about it. LOL.
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Note: This post is part of an ongoing game of volley-blog that I’m playing with Thomas and was inspired by his What’s in Your Bag post. Curious? I’ll be posting more details on playing volley-blog very soon.
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oh dear, please don’t go the fannypack route, there has GOT to be a better way!!
also, i’ve done the “What’s in your Bag” if you want to check it out - although it is a year old, it’s still cool. i don’t carry that big of a bag anymore as i don’t commute by public transit. The contents of my current bag would be very boring.
http://iamthediva.blogspot.com/2006/10/whats-in-your-bag-baby.html
Great post - I’m going to go back and read it again later - going to the movies with TGH tonight! I may do this one myself - It’s been a while since I dug to the bottom of the purse.
Fannypacks are NOT cool!
It’s funny, I HATE having anything in my pockets, so always prefer to take a bag. But better still, give all your stuff to hubby to put in HIS pockets, and then you don’t have to carry anything!!
I know - fannypacks are so uncool. But I need time to sew tons of pockets into my clothes so I won’t need it. A pocket for my phone, one for the camera, one for the credit cards, um, one for my notepad which functions as my reserve memory banks cuz mY memory is worth nothing. Until then I need someplace to carry all my junk. I like using hubby’s pockets though, Hannah - great idea!
It sounds like you had a lot of fun well except for carrying all your stuff around.
I don’t like carrying purses either. I usually carry a small backpack. Occasionally if I can find it I will carry a fanny pack. My daughter loves it by the way.
When I do my runs I have that on. It came in handy when I volunteered at the Latino Festival last year. I was handing out the beer.
I think by now you might know that I don’t care if something is cool or not if I like it that’s all that matters, lol.
A co-worker told me that I followed the the beat of a different drummer. You see another nice way to say I’m crazy.
I mainly hear “eccentric”. 
Well, Opal - you are not alone. I know fanny packs are out but I like them too just because they free me up, but then I’ve also been called crazy too so who knows? Like I always say, at least I’m the happy kind. You had a great volunteer job at the Latino Festival. Did you get to taste it all first? LOL
sorry BUT I have to agree with Hannah! Fanny packs are passe…
I never take any bag, just put things in my pockets..
But we are all different and vive la difference!
Its great!
I’m with the above, NO FANNYPACKS please! Get some cargo pants and load em up instead
I love my purse, and I do try to keep it from looking like a bag lady owns it too
Kami - if you saw me in cargo pants you’d laugh your butt off. I’m sure I’d look like an Oompa Loompa
NO! Okay, maybe I should ask first who Oompa Loompa is?
I’m going to guess it’s not a good look though
How about a backpack purse then? I have a nice brown leather one that I find handy with the children - 2 free arms necessary!
An Oompa Loompa is one of the little people who were in the book/movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - they were quite odd looking. Actually a little backpack type of bag might work for me also. I like having free arms.
Teeni,
I look at it this way if I stopped doing things because something was “out” there are many things that I enjoy that I would not do anymore.
It’s a great lesson that I’m teaching my daughter as long as you are not hurting anyone you should do what makes you happy even if it isn’t cool. I learned that lesson early from my parents and I beleive it helped me in so many ways not only with the “little” things but the “major” things also.
My former boss told me that I could not wear white after labor day and I asked her give me one good reason besides “someone didn’t think it was “appropriate?” Is the world going to come to an end? She could not give me an answer.
A few of my mentees are in that spot right not. One passed up a scholarship at a very good school because in her group of friends it is “not cool”. She lives in a high crime area the school she goes to does not even compare. There are a lot of students per class. That would have been valuable opportunity. I’m just sad she let other kids opinions influence her decision.
I could go on a long rant about how at times people restrict themselves from doing a variety of things because it’s not cool not just with simple things like fanny packs but major things like with this young lady. Who knows I might?
In regards to the beer I didn’t taste any of it. I don’t drink alcohol but our table had the longest line.
Opal - you spewed on my comments page! LOL. I’m so honored (and glad I’m not the only one who does it). You are right about everything of course. Funny I was in a similar situation as one of your mentees. I had an opportunity to attend a very prestigious high school but wouldn’t even give it a chance because none of my friends were going there and it was extremely different than the public schools I was used to. Horseback riding? In school? C’mon - I was more of a city kid and that seemed snobby to me and my friends. So we made fun of it back then. But I wonder now how differently my life might have been if I had taken advantage of that opportunity. I might be better at something other than Whack-a-Mole. LOL (Now I HAVE to joke about it or I might cry!)
teeni - It sounds like you had a great day at the park - excellent volleyblog post.
Thomas - Well Wishes > teeni - Cell Phones > Thomas - What’s in your bag > teeni - An Old Bag and an Amusement Park
Have you looked at carrying a small backpack, or one of those single strapped jobs like a messenger bag? You don’t have to get anything huge, but they are great for carrying all your gear.
Opal mentions marching to the tune of a different drummer, I like to think that I march to the tune of a deviant drummer. I am not big on fanny packs myself, but if it suits your needs, then do what you gotta do.
Also I responded to your volleyblog rules, and they seem a little too liberal.
A small backpack might work also. It might not have on the rides at the amusement park though because I’d have to take it off to sit back and I’d have the same issue as with a purse. Someone needs to invent a cooler fannypack kind of thing for me I guess. LOL. That’s cooler as in what the cool kids wear, not cooler as in the thing that keeps drinks cold, although that might not be a bad idea to incorporate either.
I responded to your response about the volleyblog rules so the ball is in your court there too. LOL
Thanks for volunteering me Hannah. Now I’ll need suspenders to hold up my cargo shorts.
I was thinking Charlie and Chocolate Factory so I was right. And I doubt you could ever look like one of those but if you would feel like one then stay away from the cargos!
And I feel bad about saying Fanny packs aren’t cool now. Opal makes EXCELLENT points. We get too hung up on these trivial things sometimes!
Hugs
Don’t feel bad, Kami - I don’t particularly think fannypacks are cool anyway - never did. But they really do serve a purpose that my other bags don’t. Anyway - I still think YOU and OPAL are cool so no worries!
I’ll just play it off that I’m so cool that wearing an uncool fannypack wouldn’t really hinder my coolness anyway - how’s that?
Kami,
You should not feel bad about it I was just giving my thoughts, lol. I don’t think badly of you. It’s something I never thought about until recently that is until one of my daughters friends told her something she was wearing was not cool. My daughter had no idea what in the world she was talking about. Aiyana is only four years old.
My daughter on the other hand will tell me when things don’t match. She’s been doing this since she was two years old. I have no idea where she got that from since I never talk about things matching. I think I’m raising an undercover diva.
Teeni,
Should I go to the spewing corner? I always hesitate about voicing my opinion, at times, online since people don’t often know how your tone.
Whoops I hit submit too fast…
People cannot always pick up your tone online.
Yeah the school thing with my mentee had me upset. The crime is high there and these are children! The opportunities are limited as far as education. A very smart girl who has been hanging around the wrong crowd. How can you hang around the wrong crowd in the fifth grade? The positive thing is her mom is very involved in her education last year we helped our mentees change their views on a lot of issues. That was a good thing!
I guess it’s like when I spew on your blog I feel bad but I don’t mind when someone leaves long comments here so I guess I know what you and Harmonia were talking about now. LOL. I won’t feel so bad about it in the future. SO I guess that means no spewing corner for you!
Good points about the tone online - I usually always try to leave an “LOL” or a smiley to let people know I’m kidding but it’s hard to convey emotions even with those. I just hope most people can tell from the context or from previous posts that I almost never mean any harm!
I love that Aiyana is so fashion conscious! Some children are just born with gifts and we never know where it comes from. But you are creative so I’m sure she gets a lot of it from you. She just may express it in different ways. You may have to post more about her matching stuff though. That is so cute.
ooh i love the colours in that photo!
Thanks Jen. Wish I could take the credit. But I’m no photographer. That is another morguefile.com find!
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