Missing my camera

Adam has been encouraging me to get another camera. My little digital Fuji gave out about a month ago, and I've felt like I've been missing an eye! I always kept it with me and kept an eye on everything around me, to see what looked interesting or strange.

I'm in a new place and flooded with new images, so that I find it hard to "see" things, because everything is unfamiliar. I've also been so overwhelmed with new activities that it's been hard to pay much attention to the visuals of things around me.

Sometime I will have a new camera. I've needed things like a new couch, clergy-wear, and other items-necessary-after-a-move that I can't think of right now. Not to speak of all the pictures, ordination certificates, diplomas, and photographs I should frame someday. Just think, if we ever finished our to-do lists, what would we ever have to look forward to?

I'm also trying to give more to charity, since I have money now. Although true confession: I received a $100 giftcard from Rent.com since I signed a lease after using their website to find my apartment. After some hesitation, I decided just to go ahead and spend it on something fun (7-8 CDs!). I thought about giving it away... especially since I've been fixated on the Rafah Crossing crisis in Gaza, and now I'm feeling queasy over the increasing violence in Kenya... Now that I have resources, I'd like to use them, thoughtfully, to help other people. It would be especially good to develop a relationship with a charity and really get to know their work -- maybe even go on a mission trip. That would probably improve my life more than 2 more Ann Taylor sweaters. But sometimes a CD and an Ann Taylor sweater is also a good thing.