[The Tourist]

I've reached the point in life where I can pretty much purchase the things I like.

Oh, to be sure, I have to budget, but if I want a certain knife or firearm, my wife and I plan for it around our other bills and figure out when it's a good time to acquire it.

For example, I wanted to slather my Harley handbars with chrome. By using the sales and waiting almost four months, I got what I wanted. Without too much pain, I got 1,300 bucks worth of chrome for 1,000 dollars.

That's not bad, until you look at my recent knife purchases.

You would expect more Pro Techs, Microtechs and Striders.

However, I've found more mundane box cutters. Granted, any new business drains you of ready cash, but I'm not that destitute that I can't have a new toy every few months.

My Li'l Temperance has been in my pocket over six months, a new record for a fickle guy like me. I bought a new jacket; yikes, fashion over firearms!

Here's my point. I was cleaning the house last night. (Yes, bikers clean, and we're very thorough about it.) The worst spot in the house was my end table by my 'TV watchin' place.' Like most guys, I like to diddle with new toys, guns, knives, new magazines and other bric-a-brac while I'm wasting time in front of the tube. The table was so junky that I sent a pic of it to Betty. Kind of a "can you believe this pile" photo.

I got to looking at the pic myself. Next to a crappy can of diet soda was a SuperKnife. Beside that was a one year old Buck mini-Alpha Hunter. Amid those was a can of hand cream.

Whether it's accidental or deliberate, I've come to depend on knives worth less than 100 bucks. I've ditched the bling and surrounded myself with good, dependable tools for reality! Yikes! I'm an adult!

Oh, the horror! I remember that happening to my parents' neighbors! Guys that could buy a '66 Mustang Cobra from their checkbook drove 4-door Buicks home to the 'burbs!

Worse yet, I rank hand cream up there with sharp blades! In fact, the hand cream was closer to the chair's arm than the knives.

Rather than admit that I'm older, I choose to say I'm losing that snob image of gleaming, expensive metal. However, the concept scares me. My fear is that the next time I want to "buy something sharp" it will be a new can-opener!

 

[Betty]

I've stopped collecting knives for now - I carry a BM Mini Stryker and a Spyderco Cricket, so I don't need any more for general utility use. The rest sit in their boxes in the safe. That includes the Microtech Lightfoot, various MODs and other 200+ dollar pieces. I've decided to not scuff up a $200+ knife and stick with my less expensive Benchmade that's still made well. Sure, a Buck 110 will get the job done, too, but I admit I love my Benchmades.

I've dished out for a new color laserjet and a scanner for my S.W.A.T. work. A this point I don't need to spend money on more knives. Being a freelance designer means you get a nice chunk taken out of your hindquarters come tax time. Betty has to get back to building her nest again. :biggrin: (And no, that doesn't necessarily have anything to do with a certain man, so don't go there, Tourist!)

I couldn't help but notice the old, crusty biker has some Burt's Bee's Hand Salve on the table. :tongue: *Burt's Bees Cuticle Cream and Carrot Day Cream bobs around in Betty's purse.*

Tourist's table:

 

[nighthawk]

Good lord, All this talk about hand cream and knifes!!

 

[Prospector]

What's hand cream?

 

[rocky]

Thats not too bad. I can see the table surface still. I always have stuff laying around too.

 

[Betty]

I'm wondering if Tourist will claim the hand cream is his or his wife's. :biggrin:

mrshonts: "My back is itchy. Will you scratch it for me, please?"
Betty: "If it's itchy, it's dry. Let me put some lotion on it."
*oozes a blob of Curel onto palm*
mrshonts: "Get that stuff away from me! Men don't use lotion!"

One gun, four knives, one lotion, one Surefire, one Diet Pepsi, and one tactical eye-gouging ballpoint pen...

 

[Euclidean]

Add a homework assignment pile and a DVD to that tabletop and that could be my house (If I had a house).

 

[The Tourist]

Sorry, guys, the Burt's Bees is indeed my hand cream. I wish I could say it's for something noble, like an old gang wound, but my hands are in and out of water all day. Burt's Bees is the one thing I've found that works--got the idea from another biker.

I re-read Betty's comment--four knives, one gun and a tactical pen--and while she's correct, I didn't consciously choose them. I mean, there's an Almanac and a few copies of 'The Enthusiast' in that pile.

Yikes! Those are adult, common sense ideas! I'm doomed!

Edit: By the by, that is one full tilt tactical pen. For some reason, people always notice my pen. It's a Focus LX "Flying Colors" in 0.7mm, oh come on, like you never bought anything gansta...