SELLING CAMERAS

It occurred to me yesterday that maybe I should try selling cameras on my website. I’ve been talking to friends about selling their artwork, but that’s a hard item to sell. Cameras on the other hand could be a natural. After all, the people visiting my site are sending photos they have taken with their cameras.

So, I thought I needed to contact Kodak or Fuji. But I doubt that those big companies would even give me the time a day. And then “voila”, the light bulb went off in my head. The owner of the Camera Co., a local camera business, judges the photos on my website. I should talk to him about selling his cameras on my site. It could be a win-win situation. What a genius idea. Well, maybe not a genius idea. At any rate, I need to pursue it and will get to work on it right away.

By Hannah --www.FunnyPhotosContest.com a photo contest for cute or funny photos and photo captions.

INK CARTRIDGES

For years, I have taken my used printer ink cartridges to the post office to dispose of them. But a few weeks ago, the post office had removed the bins for the used cartridges. When I asked about it, they said the company had gone out of business. In addition, they had no suggestions for disposing of them, so now I didn’t know what to do with my cartridges.

I wouldn’t just throw them in my garbage, as I knew they required special recycling. So I put them in a drawer until I could find out what I should do. But I didn’t have to wait long. A few days later when I returned some books to the library, I saw in their front hallway a big box for used cartridges. I was pleased to have solved the problem and planned to bring my cartridges next week when I returned for my weekly stop at the library.

Unfortunately, yesterday I forgot to bring my cartridges when I visited the library and so I have still not recycled them. The question now is how soon will I remember to drop off my ink cartridges at the library.


By Hannah --www.FunnyPhotosContest.com a photo contest for cute or funny photos and photo captions.

DIGITAL T.V.

Along with wrinkles and aches and pains, it seems that old age also brings the inability to figure out “new fangled” things. Last Nov. I purchased a converter box for my T.V. and felt pleased that I actually figured out how to hook it up. But in January I unhooked it so that I could watch a movie I rented. And this is where my problem began.

On Friday of this week, television stations will no longer display analog T.V. Since I haven’t watched television for the past nine months I thought I better check my set today to make sure it worked. Well guess what – no picture and no sound? I immediately called the 800 number printed on the converter box. Thank goodness the manufacturer displayed it so prominently. No doubt they probably expected lots of calls.

To make a long story short, I only had to wait a few minutes and the young man I spoke to very patiently helped me figure out how to fix my problem. I’m glad I took care of it this morning, though it will probably be another year until I even watch another program.

By Hannah --www.FunnyPhotosContest.com a photo contest for cute or funny photos and photo captions.

SLEASY ATTORNEY

Last week I sent a registered letter to the attorney who both drafted my Mother’s will and was the executor of the will. I asked when he would send me the $25,000 that my Mother had willed to me if my sister continued living in my Mother’s house. She bought the house when the two of them moved together to Las Vegas in January, 2008. However, last spring my sister surreptitiously convinced my Mom to give her a quitclaim deed to the house. As joint owners on the deed, when my Mom died, my sister became the sole owner of the house. As a result, I had my doubts that I would receive the money. Nevertheless, I wanted to find out for sure. And so I wrote the letter.

Yesterday, I received a response from the attorney. As I expected, the stipulation was no longer subject to the will. The quitclaim deed overrode it. Thus, I was not surprised. And since the real estate market in Las Vegas has taken such a dive, the house is worth less than the mortgage. But the attorney had the audacity to include with the letter a bill for $175. I was livid. I did not write him the letter to consult him or ask for his advice. I simply wanted to know when I might receive the money. In addition, the letter was only five sentences long. Certainly it took the secretary less than ten minutes to prepare it. And so, if I did owe him any money, the fee would hardly add up to such a large amount.

I have no intention of paying him. But on Monday, I will call the Wisconsin Coalition of Aging and ask their attorney, a service they offer for free, what they suggest I do.

By Hannah --www.FunnyPhotosContest.com a photo contest for cute or funny photos and photo captions.

UNCOOPERATIVE NEIGHBOORS

As President of my condominium association, the burden of condo problems falls upon me. Luckily, our condo consists of only 19 owners, thus we encounter few problems each year. And with the help of my very supportive officers the problems are quickly resolved. But it’s amazing that more often than not, the problems arise from the same few inconsiderate and uncooperative neighbors.

Recently one of the owners, Joel, without previous approval, rolled several large boulders from the perimeter of his property to the common area. As a result the Board began making arrangements to remove the boulders. But we learned that Joel had told Joan, another neighbor, she could have them. As a courtesy to Joan, I called to tell her that we would not take any action, if she would like to remove them in the next couple weeks.

Well, I couldn’t believe her response. She caustically said she was too busy now. She’ll take care of it when she can and I shouldn’t get myself all into a twit (or something like that). I silently waited for her to finish her tirade and knowing there was nothing more to say, I replied simply, “That’s not acceptable, and I’ll get back to her after I talk to the Board.”

It’s a shame she didn’t attempt to be cooperative, because now the Board has decided to send a message to all the owners letting them know that if anyone might like the boulders they are welcome to take them. Meantime, it’s just too bad Joel dumped the boulders on the common area in the first place. However, I shouldn’t complain. If I don’t like the job of President, I can always quit.

By Hannah --www.FunnyPhotosContest.com a photo contest for cute or funny photos and photo captions.

DRY HANDS

Gray hair, wrinkles, aches and pains, to mention just a few, all indicate the characteristics of old age. But last week when I tried to hem a pair of slacks, I discovered another unexpected inconvenience of aging -- dry fingers. The needle continually slipped through my fingers as I poked it into the fabric. With frustration, I kept cursing the needle and licking my fingers, as I struggled to finish the job.

So yesterday I did not look forward to sewing a button on my blouse. There had to be a better way I thought and I tried to come up with some alternatives. I finally decided I could possibly make the work easier if I rubbed my hands with some hand lotion. So when I gathered my sewing kit, blouse, etc, I also grabbed my hand lotion. And lo and behold I could sew much more easily by simply lubricating my fingers. On the other hand it seemed like ever few minutes I had to stop sewing and put more lotion on my hands. But I won’t complain. I sewed on the button with greater ease and much less frustration.

By Hannah --www.FunnyPhotosContest.com a photo contest for cute or funny photos and photo captions.

BROKEN RESOLUTION

When I made my New Year’s Resolution, in my heart, I knew that like most everyone else I too would break my resolution. But I really did want to change my ways. I really did want to stop staying up late into the wee hours of the morning playing the Free Cell solitaire game on my computer. I feel lousy the next day with so little sleep even though I am retired and can lie around the next day doing nothing. Plus, afterwards, I always chastise myself for wasting all that time when I could be doing something more productive.

So sure enough, I broke my resolve last night and played game after game after game. I know I should stop. I should just turn off my computer. But I love the game and I am so good at it. In addition, each time I win, which is often the thrill of success is so exhilarating that I am motivated to play another game and another and another. I tell myself just one more. But that doesn’t work. I am truly addicted and can empathize with other people who are addicts and just can’t stop.

The only good thing I can say is that since January this is only the second time I broke my resolution. And I really, really, really hope that maybe I will keep my resolution for the rest of the year.

By Hannah --www.FunnyPhotosContest.com a photo contest for cute or funny photos and photo captions.