I like to have a title before I start writing. I rarely use my first title, but it helps me get started to have something, anything, at the top of the page. A throwback to elementary school, I guess, when our names went in the upper right corner, title centered on the first line, no exceptions or lose 10 points.

So this post all started when I decided to clean out and organize my bag before getting on a plane tomorrow (more on that in a moment). The first idea that popped into my head was Flight Time and Big Easy. Two guys from the Harlem Globetrotters (and The Amazing Race). And for some reason that made me think of 30 Rock, although I have no idea why, and I spent about 10 minutes working through 30 Rock-related titles before realizing I was wasting my time. I am going to New York, though, so I guess there’s some rhyme to that reason. Somewhere.

That little story has nothing to do with anything; I just thought I’d share some of the process with you. Riveting stuff.

As for the impetus behind cleaning out my bag, it’s a trip to New York for BlogHer Writers ’11, presented by Penguin. I get two days devoted almost entirely to talking about, thinking about, and learning about writing and publishing. Luxury. Sure, variety is a good thing, but it’s also exhilarating to be in a room full of people with a shared passion. Like ComicCon without the costumes.

So in less than 24 hours, I’ll be on a plane, and that means there’s a lot to do between now and then. I am determined to travel light (it never works out that way; I’ll end up with the giant suitcase, filled with clothes and shoes I won’t even wear), so logic says I need to take the superfluous junk out of my purse. Why logic decided I should do this clean-out at 5:30 this morning is beyond me.

I switch purses and bags often, so it’s not unusual to have three or four bags in rotation. And in various states of full-of-crapness. I reached Threat Level: Red on the crapness about a week and a half ago, resulting in a complete clean out and reorganization. In the end, I was down to a gym bag and a purse, both clean and carrying only the necessities.

Ten days later, this bag looked innocent enough on the outside, but going in required riot gear.

Be afraid.

Inside, there was not only all manner of trash and paper, but three smaller, purse-like items. Each filled with more very important things crap.

Score! $11.

An incomplete list: two HEB receipts, two Target receipts, three receipts from two different coffee shops, another purse, a wallet containing three more receipts, a brag book from last year’s family pictures, two tubes of VeriPur hand sanitizer, a power cord to a computer I no longer use, a bracelet, a pair of sunglasses I never wear. Why?

After throwing out the kids’ snack wrappers and the other trash – all mothers know that trash receptacle is part of the job description – followed by filing away the few pieces of paper that I need to save, and then sorting through all the small purses that were inside my big purse, I got it down to this:

Ahhh. Much better.

Yes, I’m still carrying around smaller bags and purses inside the big purse, but it’s all stuff I need. Honest. Plus I made space for my business cards and iPad. I also switched out photo books for the new one. Organized and current. It’s a miracle.

Except in typing this, I realized that I forgot to throw in my notebook and the sunglasses I do wear. And my conference tickets. And space to bring home the stuff I can’t resist buying from New York street vendors. Time to break out the giant suitcase.

P.S. – Since I’m going out of town, I may not post again this week. No guarantees, either way (let’s keep the mystery alive!), but it’s probable you won’t hear from me again until next week.