I’m antsy in a way I haven’t been since I believed in Santa Claus. This year for my birthday my family members pooled their money to allow me to purchase my first ever big-girl camera. Well, the first I’ve owned since the ancient Minolta I perma-borrowed from my parents when I was on my high school newspaper staff, then handed over to my brother when I graduated and no longer had daily darkroom access.
I ordered my new toy over a week ago, and it’s still in transit, which means that I’ve been checking shipping information every three hours, just in case the package mysteriously traveled from Secaucus, NJ to my corner of the southwestern U.S. in less time than it would take for me to watch Anne of Green Gables for the seventy-eighth time. (<– An estimation. Probably a low one.) I’m actually squirming with impatience.
Too bad, since according to UPS, which is now employing an especially slow breed of Peruvian snail to deliver all its packages, my camera should arrive Monday evening. That’s a whole weekend and several full week days from now. The good news is that the filters I ordered to go with it have already arrived, so I can fondle them and dream of pictures to come whenever I’m tempted to check the tracking information yet again.
Out of the two filters I ordered, the one below is my preference, not because of its spectacular performance — it’s still sealed in its case — but because of the packaging. And what, ladies and gentlemen, do you think this amazing filter might do? Go ahead. Take a guess.
Yes, that’s right! This special filter adds a hat!
Oh, wait. No it doesn’t. It has something to do with UV rays. Um. Yeah. That’s right. Too bad, since that blue hat is pretty snazzy, I must say.
As much as that amuses me (and, oh, does it ever) I have plans to do more than gaze adoringly at my filters and check the UPS website for the quadrillionth time. My mother has informed my father (who also has a June birthday) and me that we are to be spirited away to a mysterious location tomorrow evening. I’ve been given strict instructions on when to show up and what to wear, but no other clues as to the occasion. I’m up for about anything as long as it’s not skydiving; I draw the line when a flimsy piece of fabric is all that stands between me and the pull of gravity from a great distance. With most mothers this would not be a concern, but this is the woman who took me hot air ballooning for one birthday and requested a canyoneering trip, complete with two rappels over 100 feet each, for Mother’s Day a few years ago. Nothing is beyond her, which I admit is kind of fun.
My other big plan for the weekend involves skidding into Monday morning’s SoCNoC deadline with an unimpressive number of words written for the month. So far I’ve managed just over half of the 50,000 required, so unless I develop an unprecedented amount of discipline and creativity and an unhealthy reliance on caffeine, I’m not going to make the official word count. Which is fine, since I’d rather take my time now than untangle a hurried manuscript later. Anyway, I did warn everyone that I’m writing at my own pace, even if said pace currently feels slower than the slothful snails who’ve been holding my brand new Nikon hostage.
I feel your pain. UPS here is so slow I think the pony express would be faster and certainly more entertaining I mean come on, who wouldn’t want a pony? I also find that the tracking usually upsets me more than it should, especially when the package goes 200 miles out of it’s way after practically driving by the house first.
Oh and the filter, it doesn’t just add a hat it seems to improve the mood of your model.
Have fun with your new toys and good luck with SocNoc (you’re doing better than I am).
Gasp! I am so excited for you!!! I want a Big Girl camera SO badly…too bad my birthday isn’t until February. Grrr.
I can’t wait to see what pictures you take and how many of them add hats…I mean, don’t have UV rays. (?)
xox
brand new Nikon?! wowsers, i do hope you’ll tell us more about this!
Cynthia, when I was little I threw a holy temper tantrum because I wanted a pony, and no amount of logic on my parents’ part would convince me that I should not, could not have a horse. So I agree — it *would* be nice. Still. And I had to laugh, because I noticed her uplifted mood, too. I didn’t know that filters could make people so happy.
Heidi, time to start lobbying! Or you could ask for it for Christmas.
Emily, I’m certain you’ll see tons of pictures from it very soon. I can’t wait to take it for a test run…uh, walk.
I’ve always wanted one of those really professional cameras! JEALOUS! Be sure to get lots of good use out of it…!!!
Don’t worry about the word count. As long as you felt you did your best, and produced quality work instead of just throwing stuff together to make the number, then that’s all that matters! Good for you!
Have fun on your surprise birthday adventure!
I think the second picture (which that AMAZING filter added the cute cap to) is over-exposed. I think you should send it back immediately, and ask them to replace it with one that adds a pope’s hat (mitre?) instead.
Really though…Yea, Caryn! Can’t wait until it gets here, so we can go for a photographic (testing) expedition!
I’m obsessive about those “track packages” things! Obsessive.
LOL on the lens that adds a hat. Sometimes the packing for stuff really cracks me up.
I, too am going to slide into SoCNoC’s deadline with a less than impressive showing. BUT I’m happy with what I’ve written so far. Unlike my NaNo book, which is still a muddly mess.
Cannot WAIT to hear what the birthday adventure is!
Kyle, I’ve been drooling over DSLRs ever since I knew they existed, and I think my family knows it! And thanks for the good thoughts on the word count and the birthday adventure. 🙂
Katie, I’m up for it. As soon as my camera arrives and I get that battery charged, I’m out the door with it and ready to take it for a test run. I’ll even take a picture of you with the special filter so that you, too, can have a hat like that.
Amy, I am, too, even if it’s something I’m not as excited about. As for your SoCNoC showing, at least you got a lot more written than you originally had, so that’s something. I did it for the motivation, and it did help. Good luck with your WIP!
CONFESSION: I find the UPS Tracking system most entertaining and incredibly accurate. How do they do it?!
i love new toys! when i got a new camera earlier this year i used it non-stop for days.
have a great weekend!