I’m so bitter. I’ve been planning a blog entry for four days over something Christmasy but I wanted it to have a certain picture with it. I just think it’s so cool how AJ can download (upload? freeload? buckload? what-the-heck-ever load, I-don’t-even-care-load) a picture with an article. I’m constantly wishing I could do the same thing and, had I been able to before now, you would have had all manner of thrilling snapshot at my birdfeeders. Maybe even some frame-ables. I know you hate that you’ve missed that. And, indeed it may be God sparing you that I can’t seem to have a photography breakthrough.
I had a sudden rush of confidence this week and decided I was going to buy myself a camera with thingies I could plug into my computer and do whatever it is you do to get a picture on a blog. I didn’t want just any kind of camera. I was ready for a fine one. One you don’t even throw away. I marched myself to the One-Hour Photo department at my neighborhood Walgreens and gazed with discerning eyes at the cameras hanging on the rack behind the counter. I couldn’t test any of them because they were the kinds with the grossly annoying heavy see-through plastic packaging on them that portable CD players come in. There was one camera for $69 (after rebate, she explained. Like I’m going to follow-through with a rebate. At our house rebate is something you do when the worm fell off your fish-hook) but, remember, I wasn’t there for a cheap one. Nope. My Siestas are worth more than that. I asked, “How much is that one right there?” She sighed like it bothered her to have to work for a living and said, “$129.” I responded smugly, “I’ll take it!” One hundred and twenty-nine dollars I spent on y’all at the Walgreens! When’s the last time you spent that at the drug store if you weren’t getting drugs? Yep, I dropped it like it was hot for my beloved Siestas.
I was so happy driving home. So full of hope. Peace on Earth. Good will to men. I only quenched about 20% of the Spirit trying to open it. I practically had to get a buzz-saw from the garage to get into the dad-blasted thing. My arms are sore today. The instruction manual was three-fourths of an inch thick which I found disconcerting. I have commentaries shorter than that. I finally pulled the gadget out and pushed different stuff until it made a noise and the front popped out. (The light, lens, or whatever it is.) I had somehow turned it on and was thrilled by the victory. God who’d begun a good work was going to be faithful to complete it! The screen asked me what kind of picture I wanted to take. I said out loud, “Christmas.” That must not have been what it meant because it soon lost interest and turned itself off. I pushed different stuff until it came on again. I could tell already that it didn’t like me and I just don’t get why. I liked it. Why didn’t it like me? I mean, give me a chance, will ya? A girl’s gotta learn, doesn’t she?
Camera on and ready, I, then, went to my library (that used to be a dining room until Keith gave up and put bookshelves in there in an attempt to move all the resources off the table) and took a picture of what I wanted to take a picture of. (I’m not telling because I’m still going to do it. The thing of it is, it’s not even that good. It will be a titanic let down by the time I even do it! Now it’s just the stinkin’ point. I’m in such a foul mood.) I took the picture and felt a fun feeling in my stomach. Then, I’ll swear to goodness if the screen didn’t come up with the words “Memory Full.” What the heck fire do you mean “Memory Full”????? What the heck-shooting-dern-dang-every-slang-word-that’s-not-quite-a-cuss-word do you mean “Memory Full”? I just took ONE PICTURE!!!! And don’t even start talking to me about memory cards. Amanda’s already tried that. The stupid thing ought to have some memory without a card. And, anyway, if it needed one, why didn’t it come with it? I tried to get Melissa to help me but all she could say was, “Bless your heart, Mom. I love you so much.” I didn’t even say it back.
I packed up the whole thing in a bag and brought it to work today to see which one of my staff members loves me most. So far I don’t think anyone loves me at all. And you know what galls me most? I couldn’t even figure out how to get the wrist strap on it. (I had to flip through the camera commentary to even see what you called the stupid thing.) OK. There you have it. Or, to be more accurate, there you don’t.
With love and good intentions,
Incompetent in Houston
haa haa haa haa haa haa
haa ha heee heeee
Wooo…that’s funnay!
Love the technically challenged! Your attempt is awesome…thanks for trying…keep it up, you never know, you may just be the next blog-master of photography…the shutterbug shark…the leader of the lense. lol
IIIIIII love you! You can do it!!!
I can not wait to see the pictures, I know you can do it.I do not know how to do it either, but if I lived in Houston (I Don;t)I would come right over and we could make some coffee and we would figure it out. We could have it working by daybreak anyway. I just love your stories. I have the gift of helping, I can not teach or sing but I love to help people. I hope you have a better day. I so wish I was one of the ones coming to San Antonio to met all the siestas. Your whole family is a Blessing to me. I hope you have a better day…
Love
Cindy
You are too funny for words!! I can so relate to the frustation over these technical gadgets!! I have missed seeing any commentaries this week and this laugh for the day was medicine for my soul! And may I say it does your siestas good to see that you are incompetent at SOMETHING!!!! HA HA
Beth,
You are slaying me with out loud (at work) laughter. I can feel your “incompetent” pain. In our home my man is the go to guy for all things electronic. I have worked up the courage to attempt to video our boy this year in baseball ugh!!! Did I really commit to this out loud. I have only found this new courage due to our son’s video bible interview (with his mom as the subject) 1John was the project. I was filled with hope as I was able (with direction from my man) to turn the camera on and actually start the video recording process. Do not despair!!! I am sure your staff will jump right in a tutor you through your new adventure in photography 101. Thank you for the laughter as it is so easy to relate to you.
God bless and keep you my mentor and friend.
PS I am so enjoying your devotional Jesus the One and Only.
“I tried to get Melissa to help me but all she could say was, “Bless your heart, Mom. I love you so much.” I didn’t even say it back.”
You make me laugh…although I’m understanding your frustration (really, I do because I, too, am technologically challenged–am I labeling you? smile). Thank you for sharing, Miss Beth! And, I’m anxiously awaiting to see what you wanna bless us Siestas with whenever you figure out how to download, upload or whatever the heck load.
Be Blessed and Merry Christmas
Melissa B.
Dear Incompetent:
Rest assured that you are in good company. My dearly beloved mother cannot figure out how to forward emails, because it is all so very confusing. Yet, she can operate with ease a computerized sewing machine with at least 357 mechanized features.
We love incompetent people around here. It wouldn’t be very sporting of God to make us good at everything, now, would it?
There is nothing on God’s green earth as annoying as technology when it is confusing or doesn’t work. You know, about 50% of the time?
Sometimes I just want to chuck it all in the ocean and go back to rotary phones and letter writing.
Thank You Beth! What is important is the thought behind the gift! I would love to see the “special picture” but your words are gift enough!
Isn’t that so sweet it makes you want to vomit but it’s true!
Liz in Oregon
OH
MY
GOSH
Beth, I wish I could be there to help you out of this predicament. And you tried SO HARD to get it up. It’s a travesty!!! Memory card full? That is unconscionable!!!
You don’t know how I appreciate the effort you put yourself through to get a picture on this blog. Peace on earth, good will toward men….
PS you’re not incompetent – it’s the camera.
Beth, I just had surgery & I am NOT supposed to laugh…But you just gave me a good belly laugh. And it was worth it, too! 🙂 Thanks for being you! You tickle me so!!
Thankyou for sharing! I’m laughing out loud here at my desk in the church office, thankful that I am not the only one who doesn’t understand these technical things. Hang in there! We will wait with great anticipation for the picture you are planning and promise to be “wow”ed by it.
New to this blog and loving it,
Iris
Beth,
That happened to me too! I had to go back to Circut City and buy a another memory card for my fun pink Polaroid Digital Camera. The one that came with it didn’t hold but like 5 pics. Looks like yours doesn’t hold any! (sigh…) I pray for good days ahead with your new camera. Once I got past that episode with mine, all was well. Oh, and those tight plastic wrappings on items test my patience too. aaaah!
Love,
Allison
Oh mama Beth!!! I am laughing until my sides hurt!!! The words of Corinthians 12:11 come to mind when I read this post: “I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it.” It’s okay….Paul felt the same way about his fellow so-journers too!!
P.S….isn’t it crazy we can send a man to the moon, but we can’t make opening those plastic packages any easier?!!
This is unrelated, but I am so stinking overwhelmed with life and marriage and hurt and loving the Lord and striving for the calling of the Lord, which by the way is not as easy as I ever though. I am exhausted inside and out mentaly and SPIRITUALLY. I cry as I write this, I thank God for you! You are one of my dearest friends and I am having an incompetant in Dallas day. I am so thankful i am not alone. You made my day by your 129.00 investment in me. Thank you.
I sent a picture out once and my sister-in-law who has one of those very nice expensive cameras that she can do weddings with asked my husband if I used a “fish-eye lens.” (are you kidding me?!!?) No, he replied, she mainly uses “auto.” I don’t know if she was impressed any more or not, but who cares?! My auto knew how to do “fish eye lens-ing!” T.G.
It’s a warm fuzzy feeling to know that my husband is not the only technologically challenged person in the world. My son and I just recently moved him into the 20th century and we are optimistic about living long enough to see him enter the 21st.
Bless your heart Beth — Good luck!
Miss Beth,
You just don’t know what I would give to be there watching all of this. And I would help you eventually but you are just way too funny not to get a chuckle out of the whole experience. You are such a doll and I am so glad you wrote this post today. It ruined my gotta-get-pictures-taken-for-the-church-directory-tonight make-up, but I’ll forgive you.
XOXO,
Cacklin’ in Jacksonville
http://www.thedudleyfamily.blogspot.com
OOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
YOU ARE SO TALKING MY LANGUAGE…
I’ve had my digital camera for one year and if I get a picture up on my blog, AND I DO, I don’t have a clue how I do it. It just pops up. Finally finished a memory card so what do I do w/this postage stamp sized thingy? Do you file them?
When you got to the “Memory Full” part—I was ROTFL
I enjoy you more than words can tell especially for my current weary soul state. Thank you for this hilarity! Is that even a word?
Katie would help, Katie would help!! (If only I wasn’t all the way down here in dang-florida, siesta!) But I bet your girls will get you and your 129 dollar camera with no card taken care of (and learned and everything) over Christmas…
I WILL give you a free photo session next time you’re at Disney as a thank you for all the time you’ve given your siestas??
xoxo
http://www.howiwonderphotography.com
[email protected]
Just remember Believing God faith statement number 4: “I can do all things through Christ!” 🙂
You are such a blessing!!
*Hugs*
~Shannon
Oh I thought that same thing while I was reading your post, Bless your heart Beth Moore, you are so sweet.
Hey, if I was there, I’d help you. Cuz not only do I love you, I might be able to help. I’m not really a techno-geek, but I do like gadgets, AND I like to read the instruction books. I know, I’m weird. Beth Dear, there has to be someone who can help. Do you have any 10 year olds in the neighborhood. I’m thinkin’ that’s your best bet.
And you’re not incompetent…you’re just gifted differently. And I don’t think I’m alone here when I say, I’m glad you’re gifts are where they are. As much as I can hardly wait to see this picture, you’re other gifts have helped change my life. Course, maybe the picture will too. We shall see. (Or shall we?)
I know this is so off the fun subject at hand, but could all you siestas be praying for little 6 year old Riley Hauf. His family attends our church. All 4 of them, mom, dad, Riley and little sister Brenna were baptized on October 28th. Riley was diagnosed with leukemia on December 2nd. They flew him to Salt Lake and he is there now. If you go to
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rileyhauf you will see his story and some pictures. Please lift this dear little person and his sweet family up to our father. Thanks siestas!
Melana in Wyoming
Mama Beth,
I have to admit, the first thing I thought was..
“Houston, we have a problem”
The fact that you would consider dropping anything like it’s hot just for us…well, I can’t tell you the Holiday cheer that brought me. (HAHAHAHA) We may not have a picture to smile at, but I think your mission may have been single-handedly accomplished by that one 12-word sentence.
(I can so see Melissa getting the biggest kick out of that!)
..and you know I was just thinkin’ a bird-feeder snapshot would go perfect in my room. Oh how you know us so well 😉
Bless you heart, Beth. Some days are just like that aren’t they? I wish I were there, I’d help ya ’cause I love ya like that!
Susan
This post is so funny. I laughed so hard I cried. Beth, I am really very sorry you are having so many tech challenges. I completely understand. On Wed. we had our 4th week of the Daniel study. We had many difficulties while trying to set up. First we could not get any sound with the DVD on. We had picture but no sound. The sound was working in all other respects just not the DVD. We called my son who was attending a bible study. After much talking and figuring we got it working. When we started to do some worship, the power point would not work at all. Another call to my son, while talking to him it started to work again. No we don’t know what happened. Well, at least the DVD was working . Then about 10 min. before the end of the lecture, the power point machine over heated. So at that point we had sound but no picture. So we finished by listening onl. Can’t wait to see how God uses it all. I myself just started week 5,it is exactly what I needed. In fact I need to get this down to the very core of my soul. The declaration at the end said it all. It has been my long time prayer that I would see my self worth as God see’s it. I have been declared holy by God and His name is on me. Kim B. in Az
I’m with Melissa…bless your heart! If I lived in Houston and was on staff (or even if I wasn’t) I’d definitely help you out…but Arkansas is just a little far I suppose, for a camera tutorial. I still love ya!
~Ginger
Beth, You are so precious 🙂 It is the thought that counts and we sure do appreciate all you went through.
Love,
Amanda in SC
Beth,
I love your sense of humor, I love your honesty, and most of all I love your stories and the way you tell them. With such expression and emotion. I love that you can laugh at yourself, that you have good days and bad days and that you share them both. I love your heart for the Lord and your heart for women of the world. I just adore you and appreciate all you are doing through your ministry. Your bible studies have brought me through many trials and I look forward to each new one that is published.
May the Lord continue to bless you and may he continue to make others smile through you. Thank you for your wonderful story this morning. Have a wonderful Christmas season!
Love in Christ
Beth,
I love your sense of humor, I love your honesty, and most of all I love your stories and the way you tell them. With such expression and emotion. I love that you can laugh at yourself, that you have good days and bad days and that you share them both. I love your heart for the Lord and your heart for women of the world. I just adore you and appreciate all you are doing through your ministry. Your bible studies have brought me through many trials and I look forward to each new one that is published.
May the Lord continue to bless you and may he continue to make others smile through you. Thank you for your wonderful story this morning. Have a wonderful Christmas season!
Love in Christ
I could not exist in this very technologically advanced world without two people: My husband, and the tech guy here at work. I don’t even try when things start to go wrong, I must admit. I just call “help!” And get out of the way. I’m willing to cook, clean and submit, as long as I don’t even have to THINK about anything technological. LOL! 🙂
You crack me up and everything you said reminds me of me! I just got high speed internet a couple of months ago because I was so afraid it would be difficult to change and I hate reading instuctions!!! Even with that, it had a little dvd with pictures and exact, step-by-step directions. That’s what we need!
I don’t know why they make that plastic covering SO difficult. It really is like they don’t want anyone getting into it.
My husband got me a Sony digital camera last year for Christmas and gave it to me early so I could take family pictures. I think he got it at Walmart and I’m sure it wasn’t very expensive. I LOVE IT! I was just telling him last night that that’s the best gift he’s ever gotten me. He bought a little Sony divice (I think I can view pictures w/out it, but he bought it for a card he has to see if deer or turkeys are on his plot) that you put the memory card in and it automatically comes up on the computer. I’m not even sure how I got on a Walgreens site,???(sometimes the Lord just blesses me with favor) but the other day I was so proud….I made a slide show with music and all I did was click on “yes” when the site asked if I’d like to make a slide show. It was really cool and I impressed so many people. My latest thing that I’m so proud of is that I downloaded my pictures on my computer and placed an order from my computer to Walgreens and picked them up in an hour! You can do it Beth! If I can, you CAN!
My next thing to learn to how to put my picture by my comment on the blog. My son will be home one of these days soon and I’ll get him to help me.
Love you and hope you have a very blessed weekend!
Valerie
I am smilin and laughin and wishin I could be back in Houston to teach you how to use the camera! Keep at it–you will love it once you figure it out! Maybe I should buy a plane ticket home to Sugar Land—I could be home again and give you photography lessons!
Oh Beth! It’s probably not even fair that I laugh and find your situation humorous – is it? But I do. You just have a way of putting into words so succintly what we all feel at times.
Uploading pictures to blogger is soo easy. I promise. Once you figure it out (or have someone know how to walk you through it) you will be so impressed with yourself. Of course then something new will come along that you will have to figure out – but that keeps life interesting, right?
I can’t wait to see this “not-so-good” picture of yours.
Oh yah – and my husband would have been more than happy to not only go camera shopping with you and help you pick out a camera, but teach you how to use it too. So if none of your office girls helps you out – you just fly on down here to Boise okay? We’ll get you all situated. 🙂
i just love it that you said “drop it like it’s hot”…that is GREAT!!!
I needed something to smile at today. Thanks for sharing. You are such a crack up! In Florida, that means “hysterical”. Love u Beth.
PS–I have a one of those camera thingees since last Christmas AND a color printer to go with it and its still in the box! Don’t know how to do it either.
Shelly, Largo, Fl.
Bless your heart! At least you made a great post out of it! You have me cracking up! I just love the way you can take this and turn it into a beautiful post that makes me laugh … and I needed a good laugh today! if you need any help just ask … I’d be glad to help!
Oh Beth!
That was the funniest post ever! God bless your loving heart. We still love you. And while you may not have the anointing of technological savvy to share pictures with us- you have a heart full of love for the Lord Jesus that you share so freely with us – and that’s the best thing EVER!
much love,
Sister Lynn
Hugs to you, Beth =) Those cameras can be pretty frustrating. Next time, take a techie person with you to the store to buy one and make them set it up and show you how to use it. You will be saved so much frustration…. Lord love you!
Man, I wish I was in Houston – I would so come down to Living Proof and tame that camera for you. Not that I’m an expert, but I do what used to be called ‘computer programming’ for a living, so while Bible studies intimidate me, computers (and associated peripherials) do not. If you want to mail it to Orlando, I’m your girl!
Dear Incompetent in Houston.
We love and appreciate your openness and honesty. You were wise beyond your years to ask for assistance. Why frustrate yourself further?
lol
Hugs and can’t wait to see the photos!
Susan
Beth,
You crack me up. I am trying so hard to get “with it,too!” I’m having no luck or I’d have a cute little photo with my comment. I’m even taking my girls to a very racy “Spice Girls” concert tonight in LA and I’m sure we will spend more time in traffic than in concert!! Pray that we will hear different lyrics…I didn’t listen the first time around!!!
Anyway, my plan is to get a camera at a discount store with a person at the counter that has to show me how to work the thing in private…Then my girls and all you siestas will know I’m hip!! Tammy in Cali
So fun – but I’m still laughing about “rebate”. That is one of the funniest things I’ve read in a while. You are so hilarious Beth!
hI am laughing my head off. Dear Miss Beth, you must be a sight to behold in this state. I know I’m right b/c of Melissa’s reply. God Bless your incompetence and your competence too! We look forward to whatever it is you’re hoping to share with us. I love you sister. And I love our Jesus, I can almost see him grinning over this too!! Love in Jesus, Kim in PA
Dearest Beth,
First of all the little lady at Walgreens should have let you know about the memory card because if you don’t have one the camera not a lot of good to you. Go to Walmart to get it and take your camera there is always someone there that can help and knows about cameras. They will even put it in for you. You and your camera reminds me of my mother. She got a new digital camera for Christmas last year and the batteries will not stay charged. The other night someone from the warranty department at Sears called her about her maintance warranty which she did not know she had. (Of course they wanted to extend it) Well needless to say my mother told them about the battery situation and now she is getting another new camera for Christmas. She said if she had known it came with a warranty she would have taken it back sooner. But she loves to make pictures the only problem she has is getting them onto her computer. She usually gets one of us kids to do that for her. So be prepared once you figure out your camera you will have to figure out how to download them onto your computer. I look forward to seeing your pics when you get to send them. Make a pic of your back porch we get to hear about so much.
We will be praying for you and the camera.
Becky
Attalla, AL
I feel a bit bad about laughing SO hard that I snorted, but girl, I did. Truly.
Please come to to the frozen north and I will teach you. I would be honored. 🙂
Bless your heart Beth!
I love you!
You need to submit this blogpost to a newspaper. A/P. This is the thing good columns are made of. Laughing a bit at your expense..but have also “been there done that.” Blasted technology.
Beth, I “tech” challenged too! My kids went & switched my cell phone to another language one time….hasn’t happend since! I have a tech savy DH who loves to buy me tech gadgets. (last yr it was an iPod — all my favorite LP conference worship songs have their own genre called “Moore”)Oops! I digress –have someone walk you through it and take notes! I have them above my computer telling me how to do certain things. You can do it! Greater is He that is in you….:) I can do ALL things through Christ….need I go on?! 😉
Beth I love you so much…I love reading as you share your heart…I will pray that you become very acquainted with your new camera and that it would come to love you just as well…I can hardly wait to meet with you in heaven just so I can give you the biggest hug…I look forward to seeing those cool pictures soon too…
A friend in Chattanooga, TN