Let's Celebrate!

My camera has returned! yeyyyyy.....well, truth be told, it's not MY camera, it's a replacement camera. And, for all those who couldn't believe that it was being fixed for zero dollars....it wasn't. I knew it couldn't possibly be, no one fixes things for nothing when you drop it. I received an email from Canon letting me know that they received my camera for repair and that it would be $80 + $10 s/h + $5 tax. Ouch.

Within the email there is a blurb about Customer Loyalty Benefits, so before handing over my credit card number, I gave them a buzz...."what's this about?" I ask. The man on the other end of the phone tells me that if you don't want to pay for the repair, that you can upgrade (or downgrade) the camera for cheaper than if you were to buy them at a store. Essentially, they are referred to as refurbished, but what they are are the overstock of stores such as Best Buy. To 'upgrade' mine for the same camera would be $105. We talked a little more and I found out that my camera doesn't get repaired..they replace...with a 'refurbished' one. So, for $80 instead of $105 I was still getting a new camera.

I opened the box and found not only a camera but also all the things that typically come with it. An SD card, USB connection, video connection and 2 batteries, plus the CD about the camera. The strap is different, thicker, darker. I like the color but the strap opening is too big -- too much chance of slipping off my skinny wrist when falling, because, yes, I will always have the wristlet on from now on. Looks like the handy dandy sewing machine is going to make it shorter, too. I wish I had taken the other one off the original camera, I liked that it was thinner. Oh well, I'm just happy I have a camera again!

I have to say, whenever I've needed assistance about the camera or my Canon printer, the customer service rep or technical assistant was always pleasant and helpful. Good product and customer service? gets my vote!

Dog Portraits

I was roaming around the www. and found these:

Gary Gross is a New York photographer that does beautiful dog portraits. check him out.

These photos are from the Senior Gallery of photos...beautiful, sweet, touching.

I'd love for him to take one of my Weezie.

Lucy is Home -- Her New Home

Lucy has done well with her first evening and full day in her new home.

The little shit actually seemed to show no remorse when she got to her new place. She didn't run to her crate, she relaxed with Tom on the sofa watching TV, she had walks shoulder to shoulder with Lady and she chawed on a bone. Yes, the little shit. Isn't she supposed to miss me?

That's the thing with dogs, they acclimate, move on, do what they need to do.

I'm happy that she is OK. She's eating....always a good sign with transition. She's enjoying her walks. She always loved her walks at camp and being outside in general.

I do miss her, but this is good. She has been a fighter and a survivor from the beginning and she will continue to thrive and blossom.

If you'd like to keep abreast of her progress, her new mom has made a blog for Her and Lady. I have, of course, become a follower, and you can, too. Here's the beginning of her new story.

How friggin' cute is she? just love that girl.

My Lucy Girl is Gone

She left just a bit ago. She didn't want to go, or that's how I perceived her body language. Her new owners will take very good care of her, I know, but her little face looked at me like "what are you doing putting me in this crate in this car?" as she was shaking like a leaf. I felt horrible. I couldn't talk and had to walk away and bawl my eyes out. Not really the last image I wanted of her, either. But, I will see her in a month at her next eye appointment...and she will wonder who I am. That's how it is with dogs that you transition, plus, with her being partially shut down anyway and being uncomfortable at the vet...I won't be getting any special how-d'ya-do's.

It's funny. Whenever a dog leaves here, even if it's the quietest dog you've ever met and was absolutely no trouble, when they leave, the house feels different....quieter....the house is quieter.

It won't last long, I'm dog sitting Bella for the weekend, she's a good girl. Next week I get Emma who needs some serious potty training at 4 years old. Yey for me. (yup, that was sarcasm)

Time to get busy to take my mind off things....

I Broke My Camera

Yup! Can you believe it? I was taking pictures yesterday of things for my etsy shop and dropped the camera, lens extended -- and yes, of course, it's the lens that hit the floor. I was not happy. Just when you think you're getting ahead, the myriad of thoughts of buying another camera (this time out of my pocket, R. bought the current one) or paying out the butt for repair...swirl around in your head.

What's a girl to do? head to the computer, find Canon's phone number, call Canon and after answering most of the animated questions, hang up and fill out the form on the Canon website. Which, I'm glad I did because this is what I found out...I don't have to ship it half way across the country, just to VA, the fake phone gal had me sending it to IL. AND! it's under warranty so it's free free free -- I just have to find my receipt, I have my receipt, I always save my receipts...where the #$% is my receipt?

I answered the question on how it was broken and was surprised to find it was covered. I DROPPED IT. they don't cover for stuff like that....or do they really? Of course, once they get it and they possibly find something more wrong with it than the lens ring and shutters completely coming apart, I'll get an email asking me to send them a gazillion dollars to fix it. Or, I'll be pleasantly surprised and they will just send me an email saying they are returning it to me fixed (or sending me a refurbished one, or new one, or old one -- no guarantees on getting your original back) within the 7-10 day turn around time. Hey, as long as it's not all scratched and looking used and abused, I'll be fine.

Can you believe I did this?

Crap -- I wanted to take more pictures of Lucy before she left.

She's leaving me tomorrow.


She will have a good life.


I will worry about her for awhile.


I will see her in a month for her last eye appt. with me. 


I said I would dog sit if she ever needed someone (even though we live 2.5 hours from each other)


I will be fine.

I also wanted to take pictures of the treadle sewing machine I was taught how to clean yesterday so I can get it onto ebay.

UGH! I gotta borrow me a camera!!!

Anyone Want These?

Drinking Straw Boxes:

I really like the designs but don't want to keep them. Maybe a collage artist or someone that collects this type of stuff can use them....I'm giving them away.

Leave a comment and I'll draw a name on the 26th.

Make sure there's a way that I can get in touch if you're the winner.