EDC Post – 2026

March 4, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Another in my series of seeing how things change year over year. I tend to carry a lot of stuff. Here are my previous posts:

2018 post.

2019 post.

2020 post.

2021 post.

2022 post.

2023 post.

2024 post.

2025 post.

With the return to the office, my daily carry has semi-expanded, in as much as I have a completely different set of bags that routinely get used.

On Person – Just Around The House

This is the EDC I will carry most days that I don’t go outside the house, or at least, outside the neighborhood.

Phone

I’m using an iPhone 16 Pro. I have the 512 GB model because I kept hitting storage limits on my old phone. Particularly since I’m out and about more. My case is one of those that allow me to use MagSafe chargers. It came with a wallet, but I really disliked it. I splurged and picked up a Pelican branded one that slips into my pocket better. Plus, I like the carbon fiber look.

Earbuds

I’ve been using some Apple AirPods Pro 2. I particularly like Apple’s “transparent” mode which allows more of the outside sound through. I’ve experimented with a few other earbuds, but I keep coming back to my Airpods.

Pocketknife

I carry a Leatherman Skeletool. for just around the house. Much to The Wife’s chagrin, I’ve found I need a knife or one of the myriad of little tools far too often.

Flashlight

For walking around the house, I have my Streamlight ProTac 1L-1AA. I switched out my previous flashlight for one that took AA batteries, as I have a lot of rechargeables and some quick rechargers.

Watch

I’m using a 45mm Series 9 Apple Watch. I’m in the Apple ecosystem, and the Apple Watch works best.

On Person – Out of the House

Additional stuff when I’m going out that I keep on my person.

Wallet

I use a Saddleback Large Leather Wallet to hold all the cards and such that don’t fit into the phone wallet.

Keys

The Brother gave me a Lifelong Ring 300 key ring system a few years ago. I mainly use the main big ring and have all my keys on wire key rings. In addition to my keys, I keep:

  1. Olight I1R 2 Pro Eos – I don’t pull my keys out a lot, but there have been a few times I’ve needed extra light.
  2. Gerber Mullet multi-tool – Mostly because it’s TSA-approved
  3. SSK 128 GB flash drive – I like that the body is metal and has USB-A and USB-C attachments.

Pocketknife

My Leatherman gets switched out for a Spyderco Tenacious. I’ve always liked Spyderco knives, and I found this one on sale.

Flashlight

For going out of the house, I carry a Streamlight ProTac 750 lumen flashlight. It’s too big to really be a pocket flashlight, so I carry it in one of my IWB spare magazine holders.

Pepper Spray

I carry a small POM pepper spray for when I need something between strong words and deadly force.

Sidearm

Unless I’m going to a place I’m not legally allowed to carry, I generally have my Smith and Wesson M&P9 M2.0.

  1. Weapon-Mounted Light – Streamlight TLR-1 has been my go to for years
  2. Ammo – 124-grain Speer Gold Dots in the pistol and in the spare magazine, since that’s what the local cops use
  3. Holster – These days, I use a Raven Concealment IWB holster and Concealment Solutions IWB double mag holder.

On Person – Going to Work

Pretty much the same as above, but some things get switched out due to workplace restrictions. Some other stuff gets left home, but I’m not going to mention those.

Pocketknife

I carry a Leatherman Skeletool to work, but a different one. Mostly because my work Leatherman’s clip is bent and can’t really be securely clipped to my pants. It just rides in a pocket.

Flashlight

I have a Streamlight Pro-Tac 500 lumen that I carry to work. Small enough to ride in the pocket, but strong enough to throw a lot of light.

The Bags – Non-Work

Generally when I go out some place around town, I carry a 5.11 LVC12 Backpack for all the other essential bits and bobs I want to have on-hand.

Electronics Support

  1. Spare cables – I have a Maxpedition Fatboy Organizer with several cables that I need to recharge my various devices. I use almost exclusively Anker cables.
  2. Earbuds – A spare pair of Apple EarPods in case my Airpods are not available. Or someone needs them.
  3. Power Banks – I keep a couple versions of Anker’s MagChargers because I like the ability to just slap them on the back of my phone to recharge.
  4. Wall Plug – I have an Anker wall plug to recharge when the batteries are depleted. Or when I don’t want to use my chargers.
  5. Batteries – I keep some spare CR123’s for my flashlights and a couple of AA’s for the odd device that needs them.

First Aid Stuff

  1. The “Boo-Boo” First Aid Kit – Coleman Mini First Aid Kit although I’ve replaced most of the guts with my own band-aids, disinfecting wipes, and small antibiotics.
  2. The “Oh-Shit” First Aid Kit – I have a generic MOLLE IFAK bag that I stashed a CAT Tourniquet (because that’s what I trained with), a QuickClot bandage, a pair of trauma shears, a roll of vet tape, and a bunch of gauze pads.
  3. Spare Meds – I generally keep small bottles of ibuprofen, tylenol, and Pepcid AC. Because that’s generally what I need to deal with the aches and pains of going outside.
  4. N-95 Mask – I keep a couple of the 3M N-95 disposables in case of sickness or other such emergencies. Or I’m in a confined space and someone is coughing just a bit too much.

Tools

  1. Mini Tape Measure – I think mine is from Tractor Supply, but running around with The Wife necessitates having a tape measure when she finds stuff for the house.
  2. Reusable twist ties – The Brother got me these a long time ago, and they’ve come in handy on more than one occasion.
  3. Flashlight – Streamlight Polytac X Flashlight – Yes, I have another flashlight. Don’t judge. I like this one because it has a rechargeable battery, but will also run on a couple of CR123’s.
  4. Pair of Paracord Shoelaces – Because sometimes my shoelaces break in the most inconvenient places. Or I need to tie something while I’m out and about.

Odds and Ends

  1. Cleaning cloth – Amazon Microfiber Cloth – These are really handy for cleaning my eyeglasses and my electronics’ screens.
  2. Hand Sanitizer – I prefer the small little bottles from Bath and Bodyworks.
  3. Field Notes Notebook – Well, a generic version of the little pad of paper.
  4. Pen(s) – Zebra Metal Ball Point Pens – I’ve been keeping a couple of these in the bag. These tend to get through security better than dedicated tactical pens.
  5. Travel Pack Tissues – I keep a pack or two of the Kleenex Travel Packs. Because allergies. And occasional cleaning.
  6. Emergency cash – No, I’m not going to say how much
  7. Hairbrush
  8. Lint Roller – Flint Retractable Roller – I like this one because of its form factor

The Bags – Work

The Briefcase

My briefcase is a Maxpedition Attache bag. The concept behind the briefcase is it should have everything I need to set up for work. I should be able to sit down at a desk or table and have everything I need to do my job.

Workstation and Peripherals

  1. Laptop and Phone – These are issued by my employer, so I have no control or input on what I get. It also makes getting peripherals sometimes challenging. Particularly for anything I want that would require software being installed.
  2. Portable Monitor – I have an LG Gram portable monitor. The Wife and I got used to having two monitors even while traveling.
  3. Headphones – My headphones for work-related stuff (meetings, calls, etc) is a pair of Jabra Evolve 75 UC. I really like the light weight, comfortable fit, and noise cancellation.
  4. Laptop Stands – I keep a couple of collapsible stands. They help keep the monitors at eye level and the laptop from overheating.
  5. Phone Stand – I have a foldable stand that I use for the work phone so I can monitor it while I’m working. Plus it lets me plug in the phone while on the stand.
  6. Webcam – I keep a Logitech C310 webcam in my bag. It lets me get a better picture when I’m required to have my camera on.
  7. Trackball – I have a Logitech MX Ergo trackball. I prefer trackballs for their ergonomics and the fact that they don’t need additional space beyond their footprint to work. It helps in tight spaces.
  8. Keyboard – With the laptop on a stand, I can’t use its keyboard. So, I have a ProtoArc Ergonomic Foldable Keyboard

Electronic Support

  1. Extension Cord / Power Bar – I have an Anker Nano Charging Station. It’s relatively small and compact, as well as being able to take two traditional plugs, two USB-A and two USB-C.
  2. Power Block – I keep an Anker 140W MAX charging block. It has three USB-C ports and a USB-A port.
  3. Cables – I keep a pouch with the necessary cables, such as Thunderbolt, USB-C, lightning, and Micro-USB. Again, these are generally Anker.
  4. USB Hub – I have a Monkin USB Hub because it has two USB-C display ports. Which is helpful if I have my ASUS dual monitors along.

The Backpack

I have a 5.11 COVRT 24 backpack that I use as my “get home” and version of my non-work slingbag. It carries almost all same things as my normal backpack – or at least some variation thereof. In addition, I tend to carry along:

Nebula Capsule – Because I have gone into a presentation/training one too many times where there was no screen / monitor to show my slides.

Headphones – I have some Soundcore over the ear headphones. They work pretty well, fit pretty well, will get through several days of music, and I really like their transparency mode.

The Lunchbox

I use a Maxpedition Jumbo Versipack as my lunchbox. Really, it’s more of a drink carrier, but I make sure I have additional supplies – just in case.

Drinks – I keep a pair of Camelbak 50 oz bottles – one for sweet tea and one for Crystal Lite. In addition, I have a smaller Camelbak Eddy full of water, just in case.

Emergency Food – I keep a Cliff bar for emergency food, because I can eat a Cliff bar and not like it. Which means I won’t eat it unless I really need to.

Breath mints – I keep a tin of cinnamon Altoids. Most of the time, it’s just to “reload” the tin I keep in the car.

Promise to the Magic Heart – Chapter 25

March 2, 2026 / / 0 Comments

The Reclamation Army, a motley crew of seasoned veterans from the Daemon War and green recruits with only basic training, found themselves thrust into the crumbling expanse of the Southern Empire. Their fortune lay in the disarray of the lands they first sought invaded. Yet, even the fragmented and warring tribes, each vying to carve out their own dominions, managed to exact a toll far heavier than anticipated. The ominous signs were there, but the leaders of the Reclamation Army chose to ignore them, attributing the losses to the inexperience of their sword fodder. Some generals even went so far as to claim that the bloodshed was a necessary evil, a means to separate the wheat from the chaff. In a grim twist of fate, they were not entirely wrong. The brutal lessons learned in the Southlands’ skirmishes were the very crucible that tempered the Reclamation Army. Without these harsh experiences, they would have faced annihilation when the disciplined legions of the Mareian Republic and the formidable knights of the Northern Kingdom emerged from the steppe. – Bens Kir, Foreward to “The Reclamation Army – A History”

KURT

Kurt cracked a Purist’s head with an offhand blow while deflecting another’s sword with his shield. Kurt grunted at the impact. Mad God, he just barely managed to get his shield up in time. He was getting too old to be in the thick of combat.

“Except Marteen has to be in the center of the fighting, and for some stupid reason, I have to go with him,” Kurt muttered as the Purist tried to skewer him again. Kurt slammed his heavy blade down on the elf’s sword and snapped it at the hilt. The Purist just stopped and stared at his broken weapon. The dwarf broke the Purist’s collarbone and his right knee with a pair of fast blows. Kurt stepped over the screaming Purist. He wasn’t getting up anytime soon. No sense wasting any more energy.

The plan was simple. Poke the Purists around the trebuchets enough to get them to chase the volunteers and the constables back into narrower streets where the veterans among the volunteers and constables would have an easier time defeating the Purists in detail. The plan worked at first. The Purists’ discipline dissolved when the veterans ambushed them in the tight confines of Lisandra’s outer city.

Kurt held a glimmer of hope Marteen’s mad scheme would work. That lasted right up until that bitch Edess Kul sent in heavy reinforcements from the trebuchet camp. The volunteers would have routed, but Marteen personally led the defense. The Scythe appearing in the middle of the fighting somehow kept the line from completely breaking. Kurt heard the stories from the Reclamation War, but he never really believed them until Marteen anchored a line that held off nearly three times its own number. Shortly after that, Kurt got split off with a small group of volunteers into a street melee with some Purists. That melee was done with both sides taking heavy casualties.

“Here you are Kurt,” Marteen said, emerging from the melee. Blood coated the elf’s crystal armor. A small puddle formed at Marteen’s feet. “I thought maybe you were off taking a nap.” Kurt grimaced as he saw the look in the elf’s eyes.

“Damn it Marteen, this is not a time for your madness,” Kurt snarled. “The volunteers are getting slaughtered by those Purist reinforcements. The constables are barely holding their own. I sent what was left to root out the last of the first rabble to open up an avenue of retreat.”

“What are you talking about? I’m perfectly fine,” Marteen said as he casually sidestepped a Purist lunging at him. In one fluid motion, Marteen turned and decapitated the soldier.

Kurt’s retort was cut off as a fresh platoon of halberd-armed Purists marched into the melee. Marteen, with a predatory smile on his face, danced into the new arrivals. Kurt and the volunteers around him were transfixed by Marteen’s dance. None could look away as the Purist platoon melted under his attack. As Kurt watched Marteen’s movements, he realized what was bothering him. There was a manic edge to Marteen’s dance. It was something Kurt hadn’t seen before – not even in the most desperate fights against Cull’s Red and Black. The Purist soldiers tried to flee, but Marteen continued to hack them down with his whirlwind.

“Marteen, stop!” Kurt shouted, wading into the melee. Kurt shouted again as he slipped on blood and spilled innards. Marteen spun on him. The blade stopped less than an inch from Kurt’s face. The predatory grin was now a rictus smile.

“Enough Marteen,” Kurt said, “We can’t make it to the trebuchets, and I’m not going to sacrifice our people just to indulge your sudden desire to kill every Purist around us.”

“Why not? It’s not like they deserve mercy,” Marteen said, bitterly. Kurt saw the pain behind the elf’s rage. Gripping the elf’s armor, Kurt dragged Marteen back down the street.

“You’ve never killed just to kill, Marteen,” Kurt said.

“I’m killing those Purists to protect Lisandra,” Marteen said, nearly shouting at Kurt.

“No, you’re not,” Kurt said, “You’re just trying to kill as many of them as you can.”

“What does it matter, so long as the Purists are beaten?”

“Because of what it will do to you!” Kurt answered, punching Marteen in the chest. Marteen rocked back from the blow and fell to the cobblestones. The elf stared dumbfounded at Kurt.

“It took years of Rin, Ela, and me working with you to marginally heal your wounds from the Reclamation War. You tell everyone that it’s because of what you saw and felt in the Badlands, but we both know it was more than that. It was fighting in a war where you did things you still regret. I do not want to see you go back down that dark hole again!”

“I’m not going to regret killing Purists!”

“Did you think at the time you would regret sacking those human towns?” Marteen stopped as if Kurt punched him in the nose. The two old friends stared at each other. The volunteers around them didn’t dare interrupt the stand-off. Loud explosions thundered down the street. Kurt whipped his head around trying to find who was attacking. More explosions roared. Kurt finally located the explosions’ origin and saw the trebuchets collapsing. Smoke and fire rose into the sky. Marteen chuckled and then erupted in manic laughter. Kurt looked between Marteen and the rising smoke. Marteen stood up and punched Kurt’s shoulder.

“Don’t look so surprised,” Marteen said, still laughing. “I listened when my sister was teaching Rin and Pallus. What did she always tell the boys if they hunted big prey?”

“Make it focus on what you want it to see, so the first time it notices your knife is when it’s in its ribs,” Kurt said. “What did you do, Marteen?”

“Well, while we were busy here killing Purists, the Knifehand’s assassins were busy setting that up,” Marteen answered, pointing to where the trebuchets were collapsing. “That black powder the humans use makes a lot more noise than I thought.”

“So, we wasted all of these lives on a distraction?” Kurt bellowed.

“If you want to look at it that way,” Marteen answered, shrugging his shoulders. “We also put down a good payment of what I owe these bastards for murdering Ela.”

Birds of Ward Manor – Feb 2026

February 26, 2026 / / 0 Comments

We had a flock, um flight, um maybe a half-dozen of a new bird floating in the pond. At first I thought they were the hooded mercasers from an earlier post. Yet, the more I looked, that didn’t sit right. So, I pulled out my handy-dandy guide and found them. Ring necked ducks.

Image from Wikipedia

One of the nice things about the pond in the back is the variety of birds, including those that come and go.

Joke’s On You, I’m Into That

February 23, 2026 / / 1 Comment

I’m sure most of my readers will be aware of the debacle that was the Pathways game put out by the British authorities in a ham-handed attempt to “combat right-wing extremism.” At first, it seemed like the normal issue of the left-wing elites not being able to distinguish real extremists from people who disagree with them.

Then, there was Amelia. One of the “bad” characters who is supposed to lead the player down the road to anti-migrant sentiments.

Funny thing about art. Sometimes characters take a life of their own. Amelia has become a standard bearer for a lot of the anger, not just on the right, but for folks in Great Britain who are tired of a government that will tolerate rape gangs, but not speech it doesn’t approve of. Personally, I found the phenomenon fascinating. I was listening to the most recent ACP Mag Dump and was introduced to this little video.

Then, since I watched that one too much, the algorithm popped this little gem up. A rock version of an old English tune that I know from the Sharpe television series? I’m game.

Ward Manor Happenings – 02.19.26

February 19, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Night Startles Happenings – There is nothing like waking up in the middle of the night from a weird dream that you can’t remember but elevated your adrenaline, walking into the bathroom, hitting the tap light next to the toilet, and seeing this large gray blob in the middle of the toilet. Adrenaline spiked before I realized it was the ass-end of our hairless cat who was drinking out of the toilet. I may have woken The Wife with my yelling at the cat.

Bag Happenings – We were coming back from someplace and I noticed the strap on my sling bag was starting to fray. I’ve been thinking I should really switch from a sling to a straight backpack. Not to carry more stuff, but to help with my back and shoulders. On Valentines Day, we went down to 5.11 and found two backpacks that I liked. I really couldn’t decide, but with them both on sale, we ended up bringing them both home. One is replacing the sling bag. The issue is that with the sling bag, all of my stuff was right there without having to dig down. With a backpack, somethings are going to have to be at the bottom. Thankfully, the new pack uses a bunch of “hook and loop” (i.e., velcro). So, I’m arranging my stuff into velcro-backed pouches. So, this one is going to be kind of a bag of bags. The trick is to make things I need frequently easily accessible.The other bag is replacing my work backpack. I love my Maxpedition backpacks, but they are clearly tactical. This one looks more like a regular backpack.