March 13th, 2002:

I drew your naked figure
on my refrigerator using
magnetic poetry.
I was even
careful of the
words
I used.

I watched you
cover and uncover
your breasts,
nervous under my
light-hearted gaze.

Through
grinning teeth
you spoke as
I watched,
half hearing the words
you were using to
cover
yourself.

I wanted you
still.

I wanted,
more
than
anything,
to be him
and you to be mine.

You dressed,
they came,
we talked,
they left.

I saw your
nipples through your
shirt in the
cool night air.

I begged you to stay.
I joked.
I pleaded.
I begged.

I wanted you
still.

I looked out my
window
several times before
realizing
you were not coming back.

I did it.

$1001.87.

I’m already having buyer’s remorse. I really shouldn’t purchase anything ever again. I need to give all my money to someone else, and have them buy everything for me. Any volunteers?

Unless I have a Job Interview this Friday, I am going to New Orleans for the weekend with Lisa, Mike, Robbie, Jeff, and maybe Lisa’s friend Natasha. I think we’ll have a great time.

If I don’t have a digital camera by then (because I am too anal about paying too much and getting it from a GOOD place) then I’ll borrow my mom’s for the weekend so I get a chance to play with it.

Jaclyn’s going to take Toby to her place while I’m gone, and is going to drop by here once a day to feed and pet Umlaut.

After MUCH searching, and dealing with online stores NOT advertising that their products are gray-imports and, when you call them on the phone, having them do their best to hide that fact from you, I have found the following items:

• Minolta DiMAGE 7 (USA) $771.99
  
• Compact Flash Card 256MB $104.99
  
• 4 Sakar AA NiMH batteries with rapid charger $34.95
  
• Zio Compact Flash Card Reader $34.99
  
• 49mm UV Filter $8.75

TOTAL: $955.67 plus shipping ($96.87)

I’d prefer to get EVERYTHING from the same store, if possible. In this case, it is all coming from FocusCamera. If any of you know anything bad about this store, or can find cheaper prices on any of these items (in particular the camera as I would rather get all the stuff in ONE place, even if that means spending 2 or 4 extra dollars on the card reader) or if you know of local prices that are cheaper than these, please let me know NOW!

I have managed to find the camera at Sharper Digital for $727.00, but I have been unable to determine if it is a gray-import or not. I will call them as soon as they open. I am also unable to determine if they are good to do business with.

My father bought this same camera from Marine Park during Christmas for $664 (for a USA model) but they are now charging $774.

B&H Photo has it for $799.99, and it includes the rechargable NiMH batteries. Adorama has it for $799.99 without the NiMH batteries.