June 29, 2007

  • Partially Broken Things

    Teacherperson and all the dirty laundry have returned home! (Thanks for missing me!) We actually got back Thursday afternoon, but I just wasn’t up to writing.  Unpacking, reading, and a hot bath were all I could manage.

    Our tent
    (Yes, that is an electric fan. I camp in comfort.)


    Our camper kitchen
    (I also like to be organized.)


    And who came to visit us in the night and found only unopened canned mandarin oranges not in the van? Perhaps he can just attack the B’s cooler or the W’s…



    Sunday morning before church, I went out to put the week’s chemicals in the pool since we’d be leaving after church for the camping trip.  We have a bit of a ditch on one side of the pool (three inches?).  I slipped on the side of it and caught two toes in the strap of my sandal as it was wrenched off. Yes, these were the SAME TWO TOES I broke before the camping trip last year! I don’t believe they are broken, but it’s been six days, and they still ache.  It didn’t keep me off my feet while camping, though! 

    Ghosty and Gockle make a castle fit for a king. 
    (Notice how carefully Gockle handles that broken collarbone–ha!)



    Yakety-yak! Let’s kayak!



    There is a lovely, wooded trail which circles the perimeter of the Crooked Run campsite at Prince Gallitzin State Park.  I (with two others) got to “hike” this trail several times; ride a bike here and there; discover that I do like Diet Coke, eat many, many, many s’mores; stand in refreshing, yet icky, water; play pinochle and Taboo; and break my camera.

    What? Yes, indeed. My beloved camera is not working properly. It’s a Kodak EasyShare with 10x optical zoom. It has this dial thing which turns it on and changes the settings. This dial had been difficult to turn of late, but it stopped turning altogether while camping. I feel rather silly now as I had angling for a new camera (the 6.1 megapixel version) for my trip to England), but TGD reminded me that I love my camera and that it takes wonderful pictures.  So, I was content to have my current camera and stop being a selfish American.

    I called all sorts of places to see if anyone would repair it.  “We’ll have to send it to Kodak, and it will be between two and eight weeks,” was the standard reply.  I called Kodak directly and was told, “It will cost $150 to repair the camera. But, we do have an upgrade special. You send us your camera and we’ll give you 15% off a refurbished camera–shipping extra.”  Wow. What an unimpressive deal. (I could buy a new camera at Wal-Mart for $70 more than the repair cost.) With those discouraging words in my ears, I thought I’d try a home repair.

    I took the advice of one of the camera men and got some isopropyl alcohol and dripped it around the dial.  After a few dumps, the dial turned–much effort needed–but it turned.  The test pictures I took looked fine. I also took TGD’s suggestion and bought a new camera as well.  Now, what should I do? Head on my dream trip with a camera which might break down again or “waste” the money on a new camera?
     
      


Comments (18)

  • ouch! Sorry about your toes. Yes, i got the job at Celebration. I’m waitressing at a wedding reception tomorrow and i know the bride and a lot of there people who are going to be there. Nothing like a little pressure huh? ;^P

  • Welcome back! Looks like you had a good time! Hope your toes feel better soon.

  • Oh my – that is an awesome camper kitchen!!  Very organizational looking!! *nodnod*

  • Your camping trip sounds like something I would like to try one day but probably won’t. We did build a camp fire out on our farm a few years back and roasted yummy stuff and just enjoyed the woods and chilly temps.  Wish I was more of an adventurer…Hope you get to rest up on the weekend!

  • Sounds like you had a fun time.  Your campsite looks almost as “organized” as mine we would tent.  We needed a utility trailer just to haul all our stuff (and that was when we only had one child!).  lol  Now we have a pop-up.  And yes!  My speakers came today! I have sound.

  • Buying a new camera is never wasting money.

  • A Cabela’s kitchen? So very organized. I still don’t know how you managed it.

    We’re schooling year round this year–first time really for us. If you can call doing math and reading only, doing school. And we will take two weeks off in July, starting up again in August. I’m really in a bit of a panic, since we will be in Scotland most of October.

    Welcome home. When do you leave again?

  • Is that a BEAR TRACK?!  We went all over Yellowstone five years ago and finally saw a little bear on the last day there.  You already bought a new camera?  Or are you still considering. By all means take the new camera, and perhaps take the old one in case it also breaks….Thanks for thinking of me.  Just for the record, although I am old enough, I am not now nor have I ever been a Deadhead. (But I think of you when when I deadhead lilies.)

  • Get the new camera, and take the old one.  Never a bad idea to have a backup, and once you are there you won’t be able to get another camera.  That is what I would do.

    But then I have been known to be more than a little obsessive about camera related issues…

    What kind of Kodak model do you have?  My new camera is a Kodak, as was my former.  I have been quite content with them.  =)

  • Oooooo A new camera sounds nice. Personally I would go for it (that is, if mine was broken, and IF I wasn’t in det…). However, It is a really nice camera. But I believe you can get pretty much the same one, just UPGRADED for about the same, maybe less, that what you payed for this one!!!!! So, yeah. That’s a bummer that it broke though (unless you really, really wanted a new one and this is just your reason for it!).

  • your vacation looks like it was alot of fun!  how long were the bike trails?  …enjoy your fixed camera! and welcome back. 

  • When I camp, I take out my camper.  Hot and cold running water, microwave and airconditioning.  Pitiful, isn’t it?  We used to take the camper out to the lake and camp all summer.  It is close enough for my husband to continue to go to work (thank goodness).  This is the 2nd summer that we have not gone.  I guess I burned out because I am not missing it.

    I think you probably ought to get the camera.  Too big of a risk for me.  I am not a gambler!

  • Your camping trip sounds fun! I love kayaking; we’re hoping to go canoing later this summer which is the next best thing. Your camping kitchen is hardcore, but I suppose with that many people it can be seen as a necessity.

    I would keep the new camera. Think about how awful it would be if your camera broke again and you missed some great photo ops and ‘memory keepers’!

  • Sounds like fun. I’ve had a few fun experiences with raccoons. Without being sure of the scale of your picture, I’m guessing that’s was your visitor? They apparently like cheerios – our family had a group run off with a box of those, and marshmallows, they really like them. Hope everyone is healing up in the house.

  • Oh, I’m so impressed with your Camping Kitchen setup!!! You’re an awesome person! If your new camera takes better pictures, take the new one; this is a special trip. But make sure you’re comfortable with it before you go…

  • Thanks for the pics. I am not a camping person. I never have been. Thankfully my hubby has never suggested going!! =) I don’t know what I would do if he did.  =)

  • It looks like you all had a lovely time! Nice with the whole fan thing…where did you plug it in?

    My birthday/graduation was great. Such a beautiful day with lots of good food and fun! ^_^

  • The trouble with Princess Bride was that 1) I don’t know that scene well enough and 2) there were too many words in it that Latin probably would not have distinct words for. But, I did consider it.

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