I’m not sure what it was that changed Cleatus’s mind concerning the cost of the camera being SO EXTRAVAGANT AND RIDICULOUS AND ARE WE MADE OF MONEEEEEEYYYY?, but I’m happy that he did change his mind. IN FACT! I’m so happy that I just can’t stop buying cameras!
I ran to Sears the other day to return FIVE of the SIX swimsuits I ordered from Land’s End. You see, I hate trying swimsuits on and dressing room mirrors are so HATEFUL so I decided to just charge a million dollars worth of very expensive swimsuits on my credit card and then RETURN the ones I didn’t want after I tried them on in front of my LESS HATEFUL mirror at home. (It is less hateful because it is not full length. It stops at my thighs. Half of me is better than all of me. Trust me.)
As I was saying, I went to Sears to return the swimsuits and get mah money back. For some reason Cleatus had been hyperventilating every time he saw the box of swimsuits and, quite frankly, I was getting tired of him asking WHEN ARE YOU RETURNING THESE? TODAY? TOMORROW? RIGHT NOW? so I just decided to get it out of the way.
AND SINCE I WAS ALREADY THERE! I decided to stop by the electronics department and check out their cameras. You know, because I have this tree? In my backyard? It grows all this money? And so I spend it. To keep the tree healthy! It’s like dead heading the flowers or something! ITS GOOD FOR THE TREE, I SWEAR!
Back in the electronics department there was one lone DSLR camera on display and a big mess all over the place. I walked up to check out the camera and lo, it was the Sony A100! One of the cameras I was considering when I bough the Nikon! Unfortunately I couldn’t get it turned on, but with the help of Rob, my helpful electronics salesman, I had it turned on and was taking pictures. I wasn’t sure how much I loved it, because it was just so DIFFERENT than the Nikon that I had fallen in love with at home. It WAS on sale though for just $519. BARGAIN!
Rob promptly burst my bubble and told me that they were remodeling and didn’t actually have any Sony A100s in stock other than one that had been returned. He showed me the box and I noticed that it had a price of $489 on it! BIGGER BARGAIN! He didn’t know why it had been returned but assured me that it was working.
I am weak, okay? I am not made of stone. When someone tells me that something is ON SALE I feel that it is my duty to BUY IT! Especially if that something is THE VERY LAST ONE THEY HAVE, THE END. So I told Rob to ring that bitch up, SCAN THAT BITCH RIGHT NOW, ROB! SCAN IT BEFORE CLEATUS REALIZES I HAVE BEEN GONE TO LONG AND CALLS THE BANK TO CANCEL MY CARD! And then I calmly reached for my wallet.
Y’all. I very nearly DIED when Rob told me that OH LOOK! IT RANG UP FOR ONLY $360! Three. Hundred. And. Sixty. American. Dollars. For a camera that was normally around $550. JACKPOT!
But then Rob did something mean. Something very very mean that I was very very sad about. He pulled out a LENS. A real goooooood lens, man. And he told me it was ONLY $220. I looked at Rob. I looked at my credit card. I looked at the lens. I looked at the guy standing next to Rob, staring at me, wondering if I would do it.
“Rob,” I said, “let me get this camera home and see how much trouble I am already in. I’ll come back if it isn’t too bad.”
The guy next to Rob started laughing and making a joke about how I was going to be in trouble.
I looked him in the eye and said “You won’t be laughing if I come back here to return this camera and I HAVE A BLACK EYE.”
Oh, you’re right. I didn’t really say that. But, I wanted to, man. I really did. Instead I just kissed Rob right on the lips, thanked him for my REALLY GOOD DEAL, and got the hell outta there.
Cleatus didn’t even have a stroke. He DID remind me a couple times (by couple, I totally mean FIFTY OR MORE) that I would have to take one of them back. Sooner rather than later. And then he got a paper bag and started breathing in to it all funny like.
Doesn’t he know that all that money is just going to grow right back? DEAD HEADING! It is GOOD for the tree!
Katie says:
Can I just tell you I have been reading for a while and you never cease to make me literally LOL! Thanks so much for your honesty and keep it coming.
BTW–I too have to prune our tree–daily–sometimes twice a day because ya know you can’t jut not prune your plants and let them die!
May 21st, 2008 at 9:17 am
MommyCosm says:
You totally crack me up.
I need to find me one of those money trees. My money has a habit of being flushed down the toilet lately…or I roll up $100 bills and shove them into my car’s fuel tank. A tree, yeah, would be nice.
MommyCosm’s last blog post..From Raggs to Riches OR Free Stuff
May 21st, 2008 at 9:26 am
Jennifer says:
Send one of them to me.
Thank you!
You look especially gorgeous and thin today!
Jennifer’s last blog post..Probably the Only Jennifer Beals Reference You’ll Ever See Here
May 21st, 2008 at 9:29 am
Jill (CDJ) says:
If you buy something at an accidental $200 discount you should automatically get to keep it because it’s fate! Fat, I tell you!! Cleatus wouldn’t want you to upset the shopping gods, now would he?
Jill (CDJ)’s last blog post..WTF? Wednesday - Post Interrupted
May 21st, 2008 at 9:50 am
the planet of janet says:
i. am. crying.
and spewing honey latte all over my keyboard.
the planet of janet’s last blog post..My inner geek
May 21st, 2008 at 10:48 am
Kristin says:
OH. My. God. You are too funny.
Of course the money tree needs pruning. Because when you prune, bigger and better flowers/leaves/monies grow. Doesn’t Cleatus know that?
I want a new camera. So badly. sigh.
Kristin’s last blog post..Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?
May 21st, 2008 at 11:39 am
Gretchen says:
hmmmm, I’m thinking that the lesson here is “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, and don’t pass up an opportunity to support a small mom-owned business by sending one of the cameras to Lazy Mama Designs so she can fix some of her craptacular product photographs.”
Or something like that.
Gretchen’s last blog post..Even Jason thought this was really good
May 21st, 2008 at 11:57 am
feener says:
i did the same thing with the lands end suits. actually i need to do it again b/c i only have one suit and i need more than one living so close to the beach !! he he
feener’s last blog post..One of my favorite things to do…
May 21st, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Karly says:
Feener, Its a win-win situation if you have a coupon for free/super cheap shipping! Then you can return for free to Sears! I love that!
May 21st, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Karly says:
Katie, It’s really just good gardening sense.
May 21st, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Karly says:
Katie, No, no! Wait! I meant “It’s really just good gardening CENTS!” Ha! (I’m a loser. I know.)
May 21st, 2008 at 12:23 pm
David King says:
*hugs my A100*… stick with it
I was gonna put in a good word with Cleatus but we’re not hanging out, so if you manage to hang on to them for a week I’ll try next week :>
David King’s last blog post..Burger King, I forgive you.
May 21st, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Karly says:
Jennifer, I am probably going to sell both the Sony and the Kodak I had been using up til I got the Nikon. Interested?
May 21st, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Karly says:
David (that sounds weird…DJ), How ’bout you put in a good word about needing a zoom lens for the Nikon? Explain how photography is a REALLY GOOD HOBBY and IT MAKES PEOPLE HAPPY and HAPPY PEOPLE DON’T NAG THEIR SPOUSES and HAPPY PEOPLE GIVE BLOW JOBS. Then mention how a good lens is, um, good. Yeah. Do that.
May 21st, 2008 at 12:30 pm
David King says:
Works for me.. although I probably won’t go the blowjob route.
David King’s last blog post..Burger King, I forgive you.
May 21st, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Mrs. Schmitty says:
So, never mind the camera. You told us that came from Sears….more importantly…where did you buy that tree? I could use one of those or 4.
Mrs. Schmitty’s last blog post..I Did Giggle, Just A Little
May 21st, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Vicky says:
This post made me LOL because it is so like me. Great deals should be kept.
Vicky’s last blog post..Mmmm, beer
May 21st, 2008 at 12:58 pm
that girl says:
I stumbled this –you’re funny. I usually buy first, answer questions later.
that girl’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
May 21st, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Karly says:
That girl, Well thanks! I love bein’ stumbled!
May 21st, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Katie says:
Gardening CENTS buwahaahahhahaa!
You kill me!
May 21st, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Chris H says:
so did ya get the lens, I would have! Our money tree has died, I prune it too bloody much! Stew is sad… so sad.
Chris H’s last blog post..AMERICAN VISITORS
May 21st, 2008 at 3:06 pm
A Mom Anonymous says:
I am hunting you down this summer and bringing your tree home with ME! I just can’t seem to find one out here!
But I wholeheartedly agree, when it’s on sale like that, it is your duty to make the purchse. Just keep reminding him it was $200 off! You SAVED $200. $200 you DIDN’T spend! See, that’s $200 in the bank, right there. See how good you are with money!
May 21st, 2008 at 3:37 pm
noble pig says:
Ahhhhhh, it’s only money…you can’t take it with you. Congrats on the great find.
noble pig’s last blog post..Summertime and the Livin’ Is Easy
May 21st, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Colleen says:
I did the EXACT same thing with Lands’ End bathing suits last year. It was scary how much it cost to buy 6 of them. I ended up keeping 2 (actually 2 tops and 2 bottoms that all matched.) Nick nearly had a heart attack seeing how much I spent even with the reassurance that I was returning most of it.
Can’t wait to see how the camera turns out!
Colleen’s last blog post..Florida Vacation… or Big Sister Training 101?
May 21st, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Karly says:
Katie, Oh good. I’m glad I’m not the only one who finds me funny.
May 21st, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Karly says:
Chris, No…I practiced a little self restraint.
Didn’t want my money tree to have a stroke.
May 21st, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Karly says:
Amy, Oh dude. I don’t know about us getting together this summer anymore. You are BAD for me. That saving money thing? EXACTLY THE WAY I THINK. I do not need someone around who agrees with me.
May 21st, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Karly says:
Noble Pig, I’m totally forwarding that to my husband. Ya can’t take it with you. Good advice.
May 21st, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Karly says:
Colleen, I think I’ve decided on the Nikon. Now I just need to get my butt back to Sears. I’ll drag it out and watch Cleatus suffer first, though.
May 21st, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Leslie says:
You’re a better woman than me. If I buy it, that’s it. Done deal. I don’t take things back. I think I have a bag of stuff from Christmas that I was supposed to return. Never.Gonna.Happen. I just don’t do it. There’s probably something very revealing about my personality in that confession. I don’t know what it is. But, it seems poignant.
Now, this money tree. I need one. Can you hook me up?
May 21st, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Katie-KD says:
Just so you know I recieved a box of clothing inthe mail today…I bought two of the exact same pair of shorts in different colors.
Man I love those gardening CENTS!
Katie-KD’s last blog post..Not that we are all that interesting..
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Swistle says:
1) That is an awesome deal.
2) I, too, feel DUTY-BOUND to purchase awesome deals.
Swistle’s last blog post..Solution to the Plastic Baby Bottle Problem
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:35 am
Zephra says:
I love to garden so if you need any help with that tree…
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Auds at Barking Mad says:
OMG you crack me up. I’ve missed coming out here on a daily basis…but you know how it is, kids, crap, more kids, crappy kids…kids who crap on things, and then there is the teenager - don’t even get me started on her!
Anyhow, in all seriousness, I have a Sony A100 and I bought mine when they FIRST came out, almost two years ago. When I read how much you paid for yours I had myself a stroke. I literally burst a huge artery.
Do you even wanna know what I paid for mine? $1200!!!! And I thought that was a bargain for a brand new DSL that hadn’t been on the market for a month.
Imagine how sick I was, not even two months later when the price started dropping. And now I read what you bought yours for. Ugh.
Anyhow, it’s been an awesome first “big girl camera” for me, and it’s suited well for what I’ve been shooting lately…nature and seascapes and tons of prom and grad pictures for a couple of high school grad classes. It wasn’t a bad entry for Sony either, their first foray into the DSLR market. It got great reviews in all the pro rags, which was one of the reasons I bought it.
The only thing I can think of that I wish were different about the camera is the frame per second speed…or the lack thereof. Its still reasonably fast, but I find myself needing more speed especially in low-light situations. I shot up on top of Cadillac Mountain yesterday and whilst the shots were crisp and vivid, the weather was crap and the wind was really bad and a higher FPS would have rocked my freakin world.
However, having said that, the pictures still turned out pretty good. Even more so when you consider I am terrified of heights and was about to puke, way up there.
Ok now that I’ve written a book and got my shutterbug geek goin’ and you’re falling asleep….I just had to toss my two cents in about the camera. I have really loved my Sony. I’m looking forward to seeing some of your photos with it.
Auds
Auds at Barking Mad’s last blog post..For Mommy Pie…More Than Just a Gratuitous Shout Out!
May 27th, 2008 at 9:40 pm