Merry Christmas to me!

Decision made.

Saturday morning I strolled into the local camera shop and asked to see the Panasonic LX3. I even used some mad bargaining skills (I guess the Dave Ramsey class paid off!). I loved what I saw of the camera. It's truly a photographer's point and shoot. Small, light, f2.0 lens. I thought I'd miss not having an articulating LCD screen, but the one on the camera is so bright and clear that I can see enough to frame the shot, even when I'm holding it below my waist or above my head. If I had a big SLR, I'd use it for 'official' photo shoots, but I think, would feel too self-conscious to have it with me in my friend's car,



on the street,



or in church,


or in a restaurant.



I told the guy at the store, "I know that I can get this camera for $409 on Amazon with no shipping cost. I'd rather the money go to a local store, is there anything you can do for me?"

He went and typed on the computer for a minute and came back, "Well, the only black model we have in stock has been opened. So, based on that, I can give it to you for $450."

I looked at him, "Could you do $425?" He went away, typed a bit more and then nodded, "Yes. We can do that." Of course, with tax, it's more like $460 which is an ouch (well, all of it is an ouch...).

It's been 24 hours and I've already taken 243 pictures! Most of them bad, but a few I'm happy about.


When I brought it home and inflicted my ravings on Jrex, he smiled, then hugged me and said, "Merry Christmas."

Indeed! And to all a good night.