The Good News was
I have a great digital camera that I use all the time.
I have a great digital camera that I use all the time.
The Bad News is
I had a great digital camera that I used to use all the time.
We went to the rodeo last weekend (I always root for the horses), it's usually pretty good for some family-friendly entertainment. With the exception of the "Grand Entry", that is, which always makes my left eye twitch. Actually, I call it Idiots on Parade with 300+ horses pouring into the arena at a gallop (and let me just add that not all the riders can ride, nor are they all sober). This was a banner year, as only five folks hit the ground (fell off) and there was one false alarm. Some guy hit the ground deliberately and went down on one knee to propose amid all that chaos (I'm thinking he was part of the non-sober crowd, but you never can tell :o) I had a great digital camera that I used to use all the time.
The temperature was easing toward cool as the sun went down, so I laid my folded jacket across my lap for some warmth and to give me a handy place to keep my camera. Full hands are not conducive to signing, so I'd pick it up for a shot or two and put it down again either on my lap or in the bag by my leg to keep it secure while I interpreted bits and pieces of what the announcer was talking about to DD. Above is my attempted shot of the Grand Entry...it was kind of far for my little camera and had lots (and lots) of motion...


The Good News: I need to get another camera right away.
The Bad News: I need to get another camera right away.
ALL of the pictures on this blog, our website, and many of those on my umpteen lenses on Squidoo are/were taken with that camera. Clear photographs of the items up for sale in the Etsy shop are also a critical factor, as are progress reports for our donors. In other words I use the camera almost every single day, and it is definitely an integral part of the non profit. I had some grand picture plans lined up for this week, too. I've started teaching DD how to use the video mode (which you all know I've already been using), and had countless other "meaning to take" photos I was going to knock out during fall break this week. It's way to big an expenditure for our little non-profit to handle, although I did consider it for almost a full 10 seconds before rejecting it as an option (hey, I was desperate, and that's pretty much all I use it for anyway). Okay scratch that for a funding source, so what am I going to do now?
The Good News: Cameras have improved considerably since January; there are some phenomenal digital options out there.
The Bad News: My pocketbook has not improved since January, my financial abilities are definitely limited (so, you want your old film camera back or are ya gonna just use the cell phone? Pick one sistafriend *sniffle*).
- BUT -

The Bad News is: I've done some research and I think it would be a good idea to upgrade just a little bit; what do you think, honey? (uh-oh-Ummmm).
Since I am pretty sure that a gift of this magnitude should be covered by WAY more than just my paltry little birthday and Christmas, I thought tossing in a few more holidays might help my cause. Here is a proposed list (with justifications in parenthesis) of the covered holidays over the next three month period:
For This Month:
1.Columbus Day (because I am on fall break and it will - hopefully - be official camera-purchase day);
2.Eleanor Roosevelt's birthday (to make it a birthday twofer, I really don't think she'll mind);
3.National Grouch Day (in honor of DH, although I'm not telling him about this one until after we go get the camera);
4.Dictionary Day (for fellow lexophiles and because I use it to doublecheck words which are sometimes used in the description of my photographs);
5.American Craft Week (since I photograph most of my crafts);
6.National Apple Month (goes with the horses who I take frequent pictures of, and I did photograph a bucket of apples once);
7.Polish American History Month (because Lady is a Polish Arabian American and she has quite a history).
For Next Month:
8.National Model Railroad Month (because I sometimes take photos of my dad's iron horses - er, trains);
9.National Candy Day (I use the camera to photograph step by steps for my lenses on Squidoo - my Candy Day lens is here);
10.Parade Day (because if I ever go to a parade I will probably take pictures);
11.National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day (um a participation pass, but the front of my fridge is covered with photos, so I'm counting it);
12.Thanksgiving (I photograph the food and sometimes the folks - proof of that is here :o)
In December:
13.National Fritters Day (since I can fritter away LOTS of time photographing stuff; and I'm exercising artistic license on the word usage);
14.National Brownie Day (hey, it's chocolate);
15.Nobel Peace Prize Award Day (because if I can't take pictures anymore, I am pretty sure there will be no peace in this house);
16.Chocolate Covered Anything Day (again I say: Chocolate);
17.Humbug Day (in honor of my camera's tragic and untimely death);
18. Christmas (of course).
Well, that about wraps it up; that's 18 Jen-u-whine (that was WAY too good bad punny to pass up, sorry) holidays that will be covered by this purchase. I'm thinking that oughtta do it, don't you? Now I'm off to take my list of holidays to DH which will [hopefully] help me plead my case; I'll let you know what happens, 'kay? I think I'll take a page out of MiKael's book, and just say To be Continued. Mwah-ha-ha...
It makes me so sad that your camera got broked :(
ReplyDeleteOh no, not the camera, say it isn't so. Can I send flowers? Will there be a service with an open casket? I think if I dropped my camera I would have to be hospitalized or tranquilized or something. I do think that you are sufficiently armed with enough holidays though to make your request for an upgrade
ReplyDeleteOh no! I have a dream camera, and momentarily felt your pain. I go through separation anxiety. I don't even know how to use the bells and whistles yet, but start twitching when it's not near my body.
ReplyDeleteI identify with the holidays. Hudson (my horse) is my every holiday present forever, and I am happy about that! Add them holidays up girl!
Jane
Daisy: Thank you; we was feeling berry squished about it :o/
ReplyDeleteAnn: I know, can you believe it? You were "here" for the big purchase too , weren't you? (I'm still kind of blinking in disbelief over the whole thing *sigh*). Guess we'll have to see.
Jane: The first two horses we got I gave my husband a two year sabbatical from all gift giving. Of course now that we have nine, he's kind of debating the wisdom of that brilliant gift idea (and wondering how the heck it happened *grin*)
Too bad your camera suffered an untimely death. I do love all your holidays though, I don't think I could have come up with that many. I'm sure the list will do the trick for a new camera.
ReplyDeleteGreyHorse: Yes, I was pretty bummed over the whole deal (although a camera is only a thing, it tends to become rather distressing when it's your thing doesn't it? ;o)
ReplyDeleteI dropped one in a pond while bending over to look at a fish. Racing to the camera shop the owner asked if I was Catholic. I asked why, and he said he knew a priest to call.Before you buy look up the model on a good search engine and see who has the best price, it may surprise you.I just bought 2 and found them at different venders.It can be like losing a friend, I have one with 15,000 pics taken on it in 5 years.A gift can be just because he loves you.
ReplyDeleteOutOnThePrairie: A pond? Man, that must've been awful! Thanks for the advice, although I must say that 15,000 photos scared me a little :o)
ReplyDeleteSorry about the camera.
ReplyDeleteThat picture of the Chief on the paint with the war bonnet and shield is awesome! What a beautiful animal..and he's pretty cool, too! LOL
Carol: Thanks. Yep, the Chief was phenomenal; I only wish I could have gotten a clearer shot. I will say, though, that I kind of wondered how much the poor guy was sweating underneath that 250lbs of fur he was wearing :o)
ReplyDeleteOh crapola. I am so sorry to hear that!!! I will pray you get a new one right away :)
ReplyDeleteMeghann: Can you believe it?? I have to say that it really hurt my feelings (all of them ;o)
ReplyDelete