BTW, we got a new camera. Our five-year old PowerShot died a tragic death when the husband, running down the stairs, dropped it and bam, said the lady. I managed to get the compact flash card out (yes, it was so old that it held a compact flash card) to scrape out the last few pics. Then I did a little research for our new one. I knew what I wanted all along, but played along and did the “due diligence” No DSLRs, because we just couldn’t afford it. The regular point and shoots would have been fine, but couldn’t find one we agered upon. So I suggested to the husband we get one in the “superzoom” or “megazoom” category and he went along. Thank you, one-day shipping from Amazon.com!

Today we are proud owners of the Canon PowerShot Sx120IS. It is pretty sweet, especially fun to see how far along digital cameras have come since we got our old PowerShot, an A75, one of the firsts in the point and shoots. The SX is about the same size (so bigger than those tiny PnS’ nowadays), but far lighter. Uses two AA batteries (as opposed to our old one, using four). Has several functions for which we may never have any use. The usability has improved dramatically! Stuff like self-timer is far more accessible. Plus, the camera automatically comes into macro-mode when it senses you are going in for a close-up pic. Now, perhaps cameras have been doing this for the past five years and I didn’t know. Very possible. But now I’m part of the cool group and can make use of these functions. Hoorah!

However, since we got the camera, the little girl refuses to smile for me. Case in point:

mom, stop playing with the camera ...

I like it. One more pic. This one was where I tested the zoom (10xoptical zoom)

zoom zoom zoom

I was sitting in our living and zoomed through the living/dining area, and the kitchen and into the backdeck to focus in ou the pin holding up the deck umbrella. Not bad.