Remember what Tuesday means?

New camera! See?


I know, you can see I'm a dork. I don't care, I am excited to have a camera again. This one is, as expected, very very similar to my old one, though there are some small functional differences, and superficially it's a lot darker. The important thing is, it takes pictures! In fact, I took one as soon as it was out of the box.


When's the last time you saw "pilfer" used in a sentence?

I also noticed a typo in the office supply catalog, as I'm pretty sure that type of coffee is actually a "dark" roast. That's one spell-check wouldn't catch.


Unlike this one. When I saw this on the newspaper bag Sunday, I saved the bag until I could take a picture.


Because, puh-leeze. What's with that "makea"? I hope they're not trying to tell the schools anything about how to teach!

On to more important issues. Harold seems to be getting around pretty well. His bloodwork was not scary, so I count my blessings. He came out to greet me again tonight, but after eating a bit, he retreated to the cozy blanket in the closet. Wherever he's comfy, right?


And finally, a few photos that were on the camera card from pre-breakdown. I was following a car whose driver is, apparently, a big fan of Eeyore. Well, who isn't, right?


And this one is way fuzzy, but the best I could do on the highway. I don't usually take pictures while driving, but traffic was pretty light that day, and look at the car!


Not the usual sight on 93. Very cool, though.

Of camera and cameras

In search of aid for my camera woes, I went to Canon's website to see if there's a facility nearby where I could go in person to learn more about repair options. The service finder on the website is clearly set up to do that, the same way I can search most chain stores' sites to find the nearest Petsmart or Hannaford store, but in this case, the only location listed was 900 miles away, in Illinois. That's a bit far to go on an errand, though of course I appreciate the link to click for directions in case I decided to do that.

Instead, I sent them an e-mail, explaining the problem. Since I learned that these cameras have, in the past, had problems with the battery-level sensors or whatever they're called, I mentioned that I was only opening the battery door to work around this issue, in case that helped. (No idea if it did.)

I was pleased with how quickly I got a response: only about two hours later, and this on a holiday weekend! Go, Canon. They say I have two options, since the camera is well out of warranty (which I knew): I can purchase a new, or rather a refurbished camera at a reduced rate, or send mine in for repairs.

The first option, in fact, has three sub-options, since I can get one of three different models: the one I have, the Powershot A530, for $79; a smaller one, the SD1100 IS, for $99; or a bigger one, the SX110 IS, for $129. (They would each come with a 90-day warranty.)

The other choice, sending it in for repairs, means being camera-less until they receive it, send me an estimate, and then make the repairs if I authorize them. Considering that:

"The standard labor cost to make the repair is $79. Parts may be an additional cost."

I think I may choose door number one. And I'm pretty sure I'll get the same kind, the A530.

The bigger one, though doubtless a good camera (it's a Consumer Reports Best Buy, even), is more than I need, weighs more, and so on. There are already settings on mine I've never used! I hardly need a "superzoom". And the little one, though very portable and pocket-friendly, gives me nothing to hang on to. My hands are, ah, challenged, and I remember from camera shopping last time that I felt like I was going to drop the smaller ones. I like the "handle" that the A530 gives me:


CNET's review calls it clunky-looking, but points out that it "... provides a steady grip." Yes, and I appreciate that. In fact, I've proven that I use it. I don't mind a camera that "won't elicit any impressed gasps from your friends"*, as long as it feels right and takes good pictures.

*Really, is that criterion on anyone's list? Perhaps I run with the wrong crowd.

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Note-taking fail

Sometimes I'll make myself a note for something to remember to blog about later. The problem arises when too much time elapses between incident and seeing the note again. Or maybe I overrated my memory for details?

I went to take a note card out of my bag. On one side, I had made a list of the magazines in the waiting room at the neurologist's office, when I was in for my migraine appointment:

• Neurology Now
• Hope: Stroke Recovery
• Field and Stream
• Cottage Living
• People
  

Isn't that an interesting mix?

Unfortunately, one of the other notes simply lists these items:

• crocs
• beach ball
• baby
  

What in the world was that? Memory fails me. It's too bad; it sounds like it could have been worth sharing.

It reminds me of when I had a little writing club with a couple of friends, and we set ourselves the task of writing short stories that featured certain items: a hockey stick, or an autumn leaf, or the like. That was kind of fun. What story would you tell with that list of items?