Journal entries in 'Dear Diary' for March, 2006

Inspired by some conversations on the photo.net forums, I decided to try to hack together a handheld 4x5 large format camera using parts from various old Polaroid Land cameras from the 1960s. Polaroid long ago discontinued the film for these cameras, so they're available really cheap on eBay. To most people, they're pretty much worthless except as a collectors' item, but with a little fearless application of a Dremel tool, they should quickly find themselves back in useful service. The resulting camera will not be a beauty queen — the main ingredient will be glue — but it should result in something only slightly less portable than the Holga, but with much higher quality results, and for roughly the same total investment (about $20).

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I've sold my R/C helicopter. I have no savings, and lately I've been growing more aware of how tenuous that financial position really is. I decided I wanted to get out of that position as quickly as possible. I still really like the helicopter and it was a really difficult decision to sell it (as I worked with it, cleaning it up and taking the pictures for the auction, I started to reconsider my decision), but the fact is, I've only flown it once in the last year. That $1000-worth could be put to better use.

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Anyone who knows me is probably aware of my perpetual lust for Taco Bell's Cheesy Gordita Crunch. Sadly, it's not a regular menu item, and even when they do bring it back, it's seldom available in Puerto Rico. I ask for it from time to time out of vain desperation, but I always get the same response: blank looks and a shake of the head.

Today, I tried to get crafty. I noticed in the bottom left corner of the menu that they have something called a Dobladilla, which is a hard taco shell surrounded by melted cheese and then a soft taco shell. I realized it was quite similar to the structure of a Gordita Crunch. With little hope for success, I asked if they could make a Dobladilla but replace the soft taco shell with a Gordita shell. He replied, "Well, yeah, but that'd basically just be a Gordita Crunch."

As he said that, I glanced slightly to the right and realized that the entire right half of the menu was a large ad promoting the Cheesy Gordita Crunch. Ah. I guess it's back.

Tonight I feasted like a king. A king who dines at Taco Bell. Life is good.

When I got my view camera, I worried about feeling ridiculous to stand out there adjusting a camera that looked like it came out of a cartoon. In fact, toady when I got out of work I took the camera to the park across the street to try out the large format Polaroid film that arrived yesterday, and the only attention I got was when one pretty cute girl came over and asked, "Is that a camera? I saw you standing there concentrating so intently." I said yes and showed her the image on the ground glass. She asked if I was doing it for a class and I said no, just as a hobby. We talked briefly and then she headed off. That wasn't so bad. Somehow I just can't imagine my next encounter will be equally pleasant.

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