Melanie and Charlie give me a gift to take to Sarah Palin's book signing; Funny Face in Texas gives me two gift cards - so does Anonymous
Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 7:21AM ;)
About those HUGE "thank you's" that I mentioned in yesterday's post - I can sum them both up in these two photos of Carmen at the drive-though window to Metro Cafe. Yesterday afternoon, when I pulled up to Metro Cafe, Carmen pulled out this little log book and started reading something that she had written down in it.
I was a little confused. I thought it was a note that somebody had written to her and that she was so proud of it, she wanted to share it with me. She started to read something from a "Funny Face in Texas," who "loves your blog." This was very surprising to me because I did not even know that Carmen kept a blog. She had never given me a hint of any such thing. After she finished she handed me two business-sized cards and I thought that's what they were: business cards, her business cards.
;)
I set the cards down in the little tray-like thing by my gear shift and placed my order. When Carmen brought it, I pulled out my wallet, removed a five and tried to hand it to her, but she would not take it.
"No!" she said. "You've got cards now. From Funny Face in Texas. Use your cards."
Holy cow!
Those hadn't been business cards at all. They were punch cards that cost $20 each but are worth $22. They were a gift from Funny Face in Texas, who reads my blog. So I handed one card to Carmen, she marked it, placed it atop the cup and handed it back to me.
So again, Funny Face: a HUGE Thank you.
BTW: With a little help from her mister, Funny Face left a comment on yesterday's post. I think Funny Face wears fur - all the time, in cold or warmth.
;)
So what does Funny Face's gift card have to with what Melanie and Charlie gave to me? The same thing this picture of Royce does. See, the above three photos are all test shots that I did with the gift that Melanie and Charlie gave me - a brand new pocket camera: the Canon s90.
It makes even my G10 pocket camera - which I thought was so tiny when I got it - look big.
What an Amazing thing Melanie and Charlie did! I am overwhelmed! And grateful!
Here is how it happened: on Sunday, when Melanie, Charlie, Jacob, Lavina and Kalib were visiting, we got to talking about the book signing that Sarah Palin had scheduled for Tuesday, December 22.
I was wondering if maybe this would finally be the time for me to break down and go take a picture of Sarah Palin. In our 28 years-plus of living in Alaska, I had met and photographed every governor from Jay Hammond on through Frank Murkowski, and had interviewed most of them.
But I had never met, photographed, or interviewed Sarah Palin - the one from my hometown, the one in the news every day now, the one that all America is talking about, everyday, in rage and adoration.
I'm not going to say that I had never seen her. It is possible that, before she became famous, we crossed paths in Carr's or some such place, but I have no recollection of ever having seen her.
Yet, I did not really like the idea of going to the Wasilla Sports Center to wait around for who knows how long just to photograph Sarah Palin when I've got so much to do.
And yet - I keep a blog on Wasilla. There is simply no way around it - news-wise, notoriety-wise, famous-wise, celebrity-wise if not wise-wise, Sarah Palin is simply the biggest name ever to come out of this town - or this state.
I figured that maybe it was time to break down and go get a photo of her.
But, I told Melanie and Charlie, I did not want to go over there carrying one of my big, professional-looking, DSLR cameras. I had read the stories about media people being denied access at some of her Lower-48 book signing events.
Such a camera would immediately brand me as "professional." I feared I might be turned away.
So it would be a job for the pocket camera. But the light in the Sports Center is horrible. Low and of atrocious color quality. I did not think that the G10 would do a very good job with it.
But I had read good things about the s90 and low light; I had seen some excellent samples.
So that was the camera that I needed. Sarah Palin book signing or no Sarah Palin signing, I had been wanting to get that camera.
But I was still too broke to buy it and could not afford to take the time to go to Anchorage, anyway.
Margie went to town yesterday with Caleb and when they got home, she handed me a gift-wrapped package and told me I had to open it, now.
"I can't wait until Christmas?" I asked.
"No!" she said. "Open it NOW!"
So I did. It was an s90 - a gift from Melanie and Charlie. And so, to test it out, I shot the above three pictures at 1600 ISO, jpeg, because I had not figured out how to make it RAW.
;)
I told you that I kept some pictures of Kalib in reserve from last Sunday. Here, he has just thrown a squishy ball to Melanie. What a great stretch she made to catch it!
;)
Then, to amuse Kalib, she put it on her head.
;)
To amuse him even further, she bounced it off his head.
;)
And then of all things, today, after I photographed Sarah Palin with the s90 pocket camera, I pulled up to the drive-through at Metro Cafe.
Carmen handed me two more punch cards.
An anonymous lady had come into the store and bought them for me, she said. Carmen had begged her to share her name, but she would not.
"You're rich!" Carmen exclaimed. "A lot of people come in and tell me they love your blog. They're all women! I'm jealous!"
Anonymous lady - a HUGE thank you!.
;)
So this evening, I finally found a little tree in our backyard that would do. Here it is.
So, what about the picture of Sarah Palin?
Look - I got to bed at 4:30 AM Tuesday and then woke up just a few hours later. Now it is 2:07 AM Wednesday. I need to go to bed. I need some sleep! It will take me some time to put the Sarah Palin book signing entry together.
I will do it tomorrow.
I know - the news value will be all gone by then. So it won't be news, just a record of what I saw.
Tomorrow I will put Sarah Palin in this blog.
Unless I decide to do it after I get up Wednesday morning. That could happen.
Either way, I will probably have all kinds of people yelling at me afterward - from both sides of the Palin fence.
As for my fear that my pro-camera might have kept me out, you will see that fear was justified.
Reader Comments (12)
I'd rather read about a princess with a squishy ball on her head, a handsome little boy and see Margie decorating the tree than see Mrs. Palin, any day! Happy Christmas to all of you!
Merry Christmas!! What nice gifts! I'm also glad you got your tree, sounds like you did it alone, but at least its not from the store.
A late tree is better than no tree. Our tree is up but we wanted to put some lights in the front window and so I ventured forth this morning on icy streets to pick up a couple strings. It's raining/sleeting and icy underfoot. Not wise to be about. But I made it home safe and sound and now I will make soup for family who are on icy roads headed our way. Theirs is a long drive and I will be worried until they get here. Sigh!
Merry Christmas! And I absolutely agree with Kelly. More squishy balls!! Less Palin!
This was your ONLY chance, Bill, for that Palin picture -- you've probably made it onto Palin's "enemies list" for your unauthorized violation of The Precious Palin Personal Space.
::::heh:::::
Merry Christmas to you and yours! Beautiful family you have. So glad that Margie is doing so much better now. Wonderful picture of Melanie -- she looks like a royal princess. Thank you so much for your blog, It gives me big smiles every day!
Merry Christmas and a happy new year from Hawaii! We are going to hit the beach before we have to prepare to go home next week to Alaska that is and then to the ACS tournament for Qalayauq's senior year countdown.
I will be interested in seeing your Palin photos, not because I am a fan of her, but because I am a fan of your photography. I have a feeling that you will have gotten some great candid shots of others at the event, too, and maybe some personal stories from your neighbors who might be there.
I KNEW it! I knew you got a new camera. Your legion of fans (is it just me, or does that sound ominous?) also thank Charlie and Melanie.
You have a tree up! Christmas comes to your house! I am so glad to see that it finally arrived.
Merry Christmas to all of you. With all that coffee, you probably will not sleep for weeks.
Bill,
Mele Kalikimaka from Maui! I love your blog, I'm here every day looking at your wonderful pictures and interesting commentary. What a wonderful family you have!
I'm so happy you have a new camera but all your pictures bring so much enjoyment, even the ones you claim aren't so good.
OT, Am I imagining things or has Kalib gotten a haircut? Do you have pictures of that? He's so adorable.
I feel so strongly for you all with Royce's aging. I went through the same thing with my beloved Snug. He told me he was ready to go at the royal age of 21. My heart was broken but he went peacefully, painlessly and in his time. It took me three years before I could even think of getting another. Now I have identical twin kitties. Their mother was killed before their eyes by an evil car. They were only 6-8 weeks old when a kind lady who saw the accident picked them up and brought them to our local humane society straight into my arms & heart. I laugh all day with their antics. They're almost 3 now.
OK - please forgive my rambling and let me say Thank You for bringing such happiness to us and wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Another greeting from Maui: Hau'oli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year)! The photos from the new camera look great so far, my favorite is the one of Margie dressing the tree. Good on'ya for getting pics of the 'other' Sarah - from what i hear, you guys in Wasilla are lucky she showed up at all for her book signing!
Glad to hear of getting your dream camera. We're hoping it's going to help in your future plans!