What's in My Bag

What’s in my NOW? — Michael A. Denner

issue #170

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I’m a professor of Russian literature at Stetson University. I am the editor of Tolstoy Studies Journal. I’ve written a cookbook on Georgian (Black Sea!) cooking. I am a fairly competitive powerlifter. I was attacked by a rabid raccoon recently. I’ve lived in places and done things that most people can’t imagine. I restore used cowboy boots. — Michael A. Denner

Restored boots.

PHYSICAL

  • My knife/awl/scraper, prybar, handmade from a lawnmower blade cut in half and wrapped with leather bootlace, and absolutely necessary for restoring old boots.
  • Good tape. Never skimp on tape. Use it exorbitantly. One minute on job prep means saving 10 minutes on cleanup. Like everyone else, I use FROGTAPE.
  • baker’s bench knife. It should always be on the counter when you’re cooking. I use it for everything.

DIGITAL

  • Take a few minutes and turn off everything that makes noise, vibrates, flashes lights, whistles, blows bubbles on your phone. Then, throw your phone away.
  • I have become somewhat addicted to Soft White Underbelly on YouTube. “Soft White Underbelly interviews and portraits of the human condition by photographer, Mark Laita.” If you want to understand the human condition, watch it.

INVISIBLE

  • Anything you do not give freely and abundantly becomes lost to you. You open your safe and find ashes. (Annie Dillard)

What’s in your NOW?

We want to know what’s in your now — a list of 6 things that are significant to you now — 3 physical, 2 digital and 1 invisible. 

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03/13/24

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