Thursday, December 26, 2019

Christmas Present - Almost

Mittry Lake - near Yuma, Arizona

Slept pretty good last night and actually woke up in time to catch the sunrise.


I was also excited because I was heading into Yuma this morning in the rain to buy a new camera for Christmas for me.  For some reason my Canon Power Shot SX60 decided to quit on me Christmas Day.

Had to shoot last night's sunset with my cell phone.  It probably happened because of sand in the zoom or  just dropped it one time too many.  Doesn't matter, it just won't take pictures anymore.

I'm not a great photographer so I'm not going to buy anything over $500 as a replacement.  I liked that Canon camera so much that after viewing many other similar cameras online I decided to buy the same camera but a newer model.

So after breakfast, Yuma and I headed South into Yuma in a sprinkle that added mud to my already dirty Jeep.  Oh well.  They both wash off.

I had checked and Walmart had it for $456, but when I got there they didn't have any; but it is available online.  I even looked for something similar but everything was sold out.  

I went out to the Jeep and was going to order it, but all three stores indicated that I couldn't pick it up.  I would have to have it sent to my address.  I have no address and I didn't feel like trying to set one up, so Walmart is out.

I was confident that Best Buy would save me so I headed across town to their store.  Now mind you, at this time of year in Yuma you don't just walk up to the counter and start talking.  No!!  There are lines for everything, and I hate lines.  I hate shopping!!!

All sold out!  Of almost all cameras.  Would you know that cameras were a hot item this Christmas in Yuma.  The nice clerk said they would have it in and available for pick-up on January 1, 2020.  Too long.  

I went out to the Jeep exasperated!  A simple camera purchase made so difficult.  I was sitting in the Best Buy parking lot trying to find anyone in town with a Canon Power Shot SX70 and all I find was online order stores.

Yuma was getting tired of this and pawing at my hand as I tried to Google so reluctantly, I walked back into Best Buy and after waiting in line again, I ordered it for pickup on the first.   I checked and they are open on New Year's Day.  I guess I will be getting a New Year's present instead of a Christmas present.

When I got back to camp, it was cold and wet with a good amount of breeze.  Not Arizona weather at all.  During my drive into the lake area, I saw a place much further off the road than my present location and it is within walking distance.

Pulled in the slides and unhooked all the TV antennas and moved the MH and then walked back for the Jeep.  All done quickly and efficiently. :))

As I was doing this the sun came out, the wind died down and Arizona was back in a flash.  It was even warm again.  I was dreading the thought of five days using a cell phone as a camera, when I remembered seeing a camera bag in the closet when I packed to leave.

Looking inside I found my original camera I used when I first started coming to the Southwest.  It is a small point and shoot Sony Cyber-Shot with a decent zoom.

Pulled it out and everything still worked and I even had the charger.  The reason I had replaced it with the one I have now is because I dropped it and broke the viewer.  Still works, just can't see what you're aiming at.

I ended my day by shooting a few pictures with it before darkness fell.

My new camp.
View from my front door looking West.
Sunset
Had an excellent dinner.  Trying to eat twice as much at dinner.  For some reason I'm losing weight and don't need to be doing that.  I'll play around with my diet to see what works best.

That was my day.  Merry Christmas!  Ah, humbug!

See you later.


18 comments:

  1. It's no fun shopping, when you know exactly what you want, but it's nowhere to be found. Glad your old camera works, until you pick up your new one. Hopefully, tomorrow will be sunny and warmer.

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    1. Thank you Dolly. One day of bad weather and it's going be great again, I'm sure. Good night.

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  2. Looks like your new site is gonna be a good one. Glad you didn't get all the rain that looked so threatening on radar. Your old camera does a pretty good job. 😎

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    1. Thank you Moonfly. I think we dodged a bullet with the rain. They called off the flood warnings early. At least between the zoom camera and my cellphone, I will be okay till the new one gets here.

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  3. The best camera you can have is the one in your hand. Glad your old one is working until your new one comes in. Nice campsite!!

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    1. You're right Nancy. Glad I just put that camera away in the closet and not in the trash. I'm off the road now in a beautiful site overlooking the marsh and a piece of the Lake.

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  4. Nice to have found your old camera! Beautiful pictures and I love your new spot! Twice as much dinner, nice if you can do it. Do you eat lunch or only two meals a day? Just being nosey lol...

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    1. Thanks Shirley. I'll take more pictures of my site today showing how far I'm from the road now. I don't eat lunch or snack, but I do love my slow three course breakfasts with three cups of coffee. I think carbs have always kept my weight up and without as many it becomes harder.

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  5. Glad you can still photos. I agree with Nancy, the best camera is the one you have in your hand. Maybe a camera shop could give you an idea of what's wrong with your camera. There must be one around somewhere.
    Looks like a nice spot you and Yuma have found over there.

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    1. Thank you Deb. Sure glad my poor memory didnt forget seeing that camera bag hidden away in the closet. I think I'll be more comfortable further from that dusty road.

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  6. Your new area is beautiful. Jerry will be out today to purchase a camera. Thanks for the heads up.

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    1. Thanks Elva. I think everyone is purchasing new cameras. )):

      I didn't give the best directions to Mittry Lake last time. Go East on 95 to the stoplight at S Ave 7 E and turn left. Follow main road to the Lake.

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  7. Looks like a great site, always nice to get further off the road and dust.
    You are very brave to be shopping the day after Christmas...lol Glad in the end you found, even though you have wait, the camera you were looking for. Though your old one seems to be doing a good job.

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  8. Thanks Deb. I really wasn't thinking the day after Christmas crowds so was caught off guard. Be interested to see if I notice a difference with my newer camera.

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  9. I'm very surprised all those cameras were sold out. With the ease and great optics of smart phone cameras I thought that was the in thing for everybody. I was envisioning cameras going the way of the Dinosaur. I had a smart phone with a good camera but I just didn't like it. Nothing wrong with the phone's camera but I just couldn't do the things with it the way I wanted to do things. Didn't much care for the whole smart phone thing anyway so sold it. We've bought a few things in that Yuma Mall Best Buy store. Last thing a few years ago was my Dell laptop which has worked flawlessly ever since. The one night we spent at Mittry Lake we were parked right beside the road and in the morning we looked like we had just driven into a dust bowl. Good thing your back from the road.

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    1. I was surprised too. For some reason this city is booming. Lots of shoppers. I'm not a shopping person so it may just be normal after Christmas crowds. I use my phone camera, but like you, prefer not to. Everything is great here except for the gunfire. Yuma is always afraid.

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  10. Drove by your camp late morning today (Friday), but no one or dog was outside, so I kept rolling down to Yuma (the city). Hoping to find improved AT&T at Mittry, but it was not to be. And I see most of the lake-front spots are now day-use only - which is a good, and bad thing. Sure don't want to camp on that new gravel parking area though.

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  11. Sorry I missed you,Ivan. I met a lady the other day walking North on the canal road looking for AT&T reception so I know it's spotty at best. I think staying overnight at Mittry Lake is about to change.

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