Random Esquire

Lifehacker asked readers to take a picture of what they take with them to work each day. It’s making me re-evaluate how much I tote back and forth daily. (Part I and Part II) I’ve noticed that almost everyone carries some particular things - aside from laptop, Treo, Blackberry, and iPod: chapstick, mints/gum.

Things I’m surprised I did not see more often: Purel, cigarettes and lighters.

Here’s a rough list of what I bring to work with me each day:

Laptop, Levenger Leather Circa Notebook in black (which has proven to be worth the investment for me), iPod with audio books from Audible, pack of travel kleenex, Leatherman Micra, Nalgene water bottle, small bottle of Purel as well as some pre-packaged anti-bacterial wipes (I use the Purel as I exit the train), wallet, keys, business cards, and a Timbuk2 ID wallet where I keep my train pass and some extra cash so I don’t have to dig around for it, small bottle with Advil and Claritin in it, portable wireless mouse, and finally, a piece of fruit a lot of times. That’s the bulk of it.

And today, I considered this thing - the LiteRide - …I’m just not sure I can picture myself on it.

Last week, Boss said to me, “You can’t write about me any more.”

I said, “Why not?”

She said, “Because! Go find a girlfriend and write about her.”

So I considered it. But I can’t do it. It’s just too much to re-learn. I can’t keep track of how two women like their coffee. Or whose turn it is to change the roll of toilet paper. Or mow the lawn. Besides, it’s only a queen size bed. Where would she sleep? Plus, we don’t have a lawn and I don’t want to get one and I’m pretty sure that if I had two women in my life, one of them would be wanting a house. A house with a lawn.