No More 3x5's

As I mentioned in my Father's Day Post, my camera broke. Sad face :( I am the girl who always has a camera attached to my hand to capture any and every moment possible. So my camera breaking really does upset me. My husband laughed at me when it happened, for two reasons, 1. I really was upset and he found it funny that I would be so sad over something so material, 2. He's been joking about me breaking my camera so I could get a new one, particularly the SLR I've had my eye on. Well, I'm here to say that was not the case. I am very sad that I don't have a camera at all.

How did it break you ask. The optical connection just died. I've been having trouble with it for awhile now, but it was being fickle, not really broken until the middle of our trip to the aquarium. It finally just died, kicked the bucket. I turned it on and there was no picture. I could see the menus and the pictures I had already taken so it wasn't the screen. But black pictures aren't very interesting so I unhappily stowed the camera away. Thankfully, it was time for lunch, so I got to brew about it then and not while we were actually visit the aquarium.

There is a positive to this. I mean, it sucks up one side and down the other, but I always try to find a positive. And in this case that is that we actually made it around the entire aquarium once when my camera died. So I have photos of Zoey and us through most all of the aquarium. After lunch we just went to the play area and revisited whatever Zoey wanted too (pretty much the whole thing again.) I also was able to just play with her and not stand back and take a picture every two seconds. Which was nice but it would have been better if I hadn't been thinking the entire time that this moment would make the perfect picture.

I still have the camera on my iPhone, thankfully. It is good for what it is, but it isn't my camera. I like that I can upload photos to facebook from my phone. Now, after about 10 updates, it is easy to put the pictures on my computer as well. But, the pictures just aren't as good. I can't adjust the settings or zoom easily or save the blurry moments when Zoey moves a fraction of a inch. I loved my real camera, did I mention that. I only had a little point and shoot. It was a Sony Cybershot and I loved it. It was even pink!

I realized that I got the camera from Best Buy and I had the warranty on it, which was still good. Stephen can attest  I actually did a happy dance. When we got home and Zoey was ready for a nap, I slipped out to go test my faiths at Best Buy. I didn't know what to expect, but I really wanted them to be able to do something that meant I got a camera without having to pay for a brand new one.

It took a little time and patience, but I got an answer. They were going to ship it off and then send me a new one to the house. What? Could it possibly be that easy? Apparently my camera (I've only had it a  year and a half) was discontinued so they weren't going to fix it. But the warehouse was going to send me a new camera that would arrive at my house. Okay, I can live with that. It would take up to two weeks. Sigh, two weeks is a long time to someone who takes pictures, literally everyday. But, it would be worth the wait if I really did get a brand new camera. I hope the whole transaction really goes that easily. That would be stellar.

So my advice to you...buy the warranty! I honestly thought about not getting it, but a camera is the one electronic that I can't happily live without so I need the security. I am very thankful that I had it or I would be a lot more upset about this than I am. Besides, the people at Best Buy are really nice, I should know I worked there for over two years myself. They aren't always as on the ball or organized as I like, but it is overall a good company and they want your business so they will take care of you as much as they can.

In the meantime, I will try to live without taking 10 billion pictures and just be in the moment. I will be using my iPhone camera more than I ever have. And I will be daydreaming while looking at SLR cameras. I'm still saving up for one. Does anyone have a used one that still works well they are trying to sale?

The whole situation makes me think of the John Mayer Song "3x5." I have always loved this song, but still am rarely without the 3x5s. Nonetheless, this song is making me happy right now.

"3x5" by John Mayer

I'm writing you to

catch you up on places I've been

You held this letter

probably got excited, but there's nothing else inside it

didn't have a camera by my side this time

hoping I would see the world with both my eyes

maybe I will tell you all about it when I'm

in the mood to lose my way with words

Today skies are painted colors of a cowboy's cliche'

And strange how clouds that look like mountains in the sky

are next to mountains anyway

Didn't have a camera by my side this time

Hoping I would see the world with both my eyes

Maybe I will tell you all about it when I'm in the mood to lose my way

but let me say

You should have seen that sunrise with your own eyes

it brought me back to life

You'll be with me next time I go outside

just no more 3x5's

Guess you had to be there

Guess you had to be with me

Today I finally overcame

tryin' to fit the world inside a picture frame

Maybe I will tell you all about it when I'm in the mood to

lose my way but let me say

You should have seen that sunrise with your own eyes

it brought me back to life

You'll be with me next time I go outside

no more 3x5's

just no more 3x5's

*********Update!

Yes, there is already an update. I got my camera today! It is an exact refurbished version of my own. I was extremely happy with the camera and the turn around until...there is not battery! They took my old battery with the camera to send off (confirmed on the invoice they gave me), but there is no new or replacement battery at all. Argh! I spent 40 minutes on the phone with Best Buy, the store and HR. This is not an easy thing to do with a toddler at your feet trying to get your attention. Finally, I get it all settled. I still don't know where the communication happened there, but I am getting a new (or replacement) camera battery. It should be here within 5 business days. Sigh. So now I have the camera, but still have to wait to use it and even to make sure it works.

However, in true me style, I have already found the silver lining. I mentioned above that I'd been having problems with my old camera for a while. Those problems were beginning to wear on an already aging battery. Because of the out of focus and lens issues the camera was having it would just completely stop working whenever the battery got to about a quarter juice left. So I would always keep the battery charged to the maximum, which of course isn't really good long-term on a battery. So it really is a blessing that I am getting a new(er) battery to go with this camera that hopefully has no issues. That will mean an entire new start to the camera and the warranty is still good on it until October, enough time to figure out if it is as awesome as I hope it is. Also, it will all be done (even if the battery takes five days, which it hopefully won't) within the time frame I had in mind for the entire transaction. I figured I wouldn't get anything until the middle of next week, so I'm still stoked! 

See, things really do happen for a reason!