My Review of Nikon D5000 DX-Format 12.3 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera Body - Refurbished by Nikon U.S.A.

Originally submitted at Adorama

Nikon D5000 DX-Format 12.3 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera Body - Refurbished by Nikon U.S.A.

Nikon D5000 DX-Format 12.3 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera Body - Refurbished by Nikon U.S.A.

I like my new Nikon d5000

By mariposa from Eastern Oregon on 11/21/2010

 

4out of 5

Pros: Good Image Quality, Easy To Use, Fast Shutter Speed, Tilt /Swivel LCD

Best Uses: Family Photos, Travel, Landscape/Scenery, Sports/Action, Wildlife photos, Weddings/Events, Indoors/Low Light

Describe Yourself: Photo Enthusiast

Was this a gift?: No

The camera is refurbished, but looks brand-new. I was a little overwhelmed at first though, as it seemed quite complicated.I am going to be using the auto settings until I feel comfortable using this camera. The pictures I've taken so far have turned out really well though. I'm also using the viewfinder mostly, as it focuses much faster than the LCD screen. I hope I can master all the functions on the camera in time.

(legalese)

I'm a grandma again and other news

I'm starting to feel better finally. I have been very tired, due to anemia. On Monday I slept practically all day and it must have helped, because on Tuesday I felt way better. On Tuesday I spent some time having lunch with a friend and did some errands.

In the evening Greg and I visited a Hispanic couple who are having some problems. They wanted us to come over and pray with them. It's sort of ironic, because last week we were having some problems. I guess there will always be problems, and the best thing to do is forgive and go on. The evening turned out well. We first met one Hispanic couple, and through them have met 2 more recently. The original couple moved to LA though. I guess I will have more opportunity now to practice Spanish, as both of the mom's don't know English very well.

Even though I feel extremely better, I've had a sore throat since Monday morning, so I know I'm fighting a virus. I'm taking enough vitamins that I am sure I'll be OK.

Last night I cleaned Burger King's bathrooms. It's a good thing that we live in town, as I had forgotten things and had to go back to my house twice. I almost decided to do it on Wednesday, but I finally got everything I needed and got the job done. The walls and floors still need to be scrubbed more, but that will have to happen another day.

My daughter Petra, who has been living in Mexico will be flying in on Thursday! Also, she will be bringing with her our 18 year old son Levi, who went down to visit with her and a friend from Idaho. Her friend also helped at the deaf school. She will only be here a day, as her parents will come to get her. It's been 7 months since I've seen Petra and I am really looking forward to it. I also can't wait to see Levi.

The last news, but perhaps the most notable is that I am a grandma again! My son David and daughter-in-law, Zyanya who live in San Antonio just had their first baby. A boy. They named him Nathaniel, which is my sons' middle name. He weighed 9 pounds 3 oz. and is adorable. If I can get my photos off my phone, then I'll post a photo of the little guy.

I'm back again...

It's been quite awhile since I've posted anything here. Part of the reason is I am quite busy. When I'm not busy I am at home and have many other things I am doing.

I am really looking forward to summer. The weather here is not easy to get used to! I adjusted to the HOT climate of Sonora and Tucson. Here, our winters are cold, our springs are cold and windy with an occasional hot day thrown in. We had a week on almost summer, now it's back in the 60's again with clouds and or rain. But, I'm guessing after memorial day weekend it will get hot and stay that way.

I am still cleaning houses. I now have 5 houses that I clean once a week. Then I clean 2 different businesses on Thursday or Friday. Greg and the kids clean 3 businesses on Saturday. I help them when I get back from a house cleaning job out of town.

I almost got a free horse, but it would have cost me more than I could pay. It had some issues, as it was foundered (if you know what that is) and was not trained well. It was a really nice horse, but I knew I could not give it the care and time it needed. It was really hard to finally tell the owner, "No, I can't get it", but I had to. Now I found out about another free horse. It is 19 years old and that's all I know as I haven't pursued it (yet). I don't know if I will.

I really wanted to go to Mexico in June to pick up Petra, but finally, after Greg relented and said I could go, realized it wasn't the best thing. I may be able to go when it gets cold here and stay for a month. Levi will be flying in a week to Tucson, ride the bus to Los Mochis and help at the deaf school for a month. Then, he will fly back with Petra in July. I am going to miss him a lot.

I'm enjoying my 2 days of work-free days. Susannah cleaned the house really good yesterday, which was nice because I was really tired after the weekend.

Susannah has been really enjoying gymnastics. It keeps her in shape and It's fun to watch her improve. I am trying to get the motivation to start exercising (besides house cleaning). I'm not sure what will be best yet. Right now I am getting a lot of exercise housecleaning, but I know that I need some other kind like bike riding, walking, running, swimming or HORSE BACK RIDING.

We are going to a family reunion on Saturday and part of Sunday. That means I need to do extra cleaning jobs on Friday so I can get Saturday off. Greg will still clean with the kids on Saturday, then come out to the ranch. I'm hoping we don't get too much rain, as the dirt roads get really muddy and may wash out.

Well, that's about all for now. The only other new news is that Greg is working for the Census, we are still remodeling the basement and Levi and Gideon have been landscaping and planting a garden.

Tim fell in the sewer!

Last night I went to the back door of our church and walked up the stairs. Our 4 children, ages 10 - 17 were playing wild games and having fun. My friend and her husband were on the couch looking really tired.

Because their son's team had lost his basketball game, they were now in the "losers circle". That means that if they do not win their game toady, they are out and my friends will be packing up and going home. I am hoping they win!

Angie and I were reminiscing about how our families' met in Mexico. I remember when they arrived, I was in the back of the house washing cloth diapers in a bucket, using a plunger to agitate them. Later we got a washer, but for a few weeks I did all of our laundry by hand.

I couldn't remember all the details, so I asked Angie a lot of questions. She had 7 children at that time, 2 were adopted from Liberia. They sang us a song, "Lord I lift your name on high." I still like the Spanish version better, because I learned it first in Spanish!

Their 21 year old son walked in the room at the church, so I had a few questions to ask him. I will call their son "Tim". Here's a story that happened to him at "Campo Cristiano" in Mexico at the time our families both stayed there:

"Tim" and my son, "Bob", ages 9 and 7 were playing outside. They noticed a little dip in the earth and so they investigated. When they walked on it, it moved a little. So, after running on the dip over and over, they started putting big rocks over it. After that, when Tim ran on it the earth shook, and he thought that was really cool.

He jumped on it, then it gave way and he fell in .... a sewer! He pulled himself up on the beam, but fell back down, so Bob pulled him out. He could have drowned, as it was over his head! After that they both needed showers!

I had heard this story before, but not the details. Since Bob is visiting, I'm going to ask him his "take" on the story tonight. I hope our friends stay so Tim and Bob can see each other and reminisce...

Out of town friends visiting

I only have a minute to write. I just got off work. I cleaned 2 businesses. One is an internet/computer place with 3 rooms. The other is the doctors' offices. My days were cut back from 4 to 1 at the docs'. I wondered how dirty it would be now that I will only be going in once a week. Everything was pretty clean, except the floors. They were not noticeably dirtier, but they took longer to clean and I had to change the mop water half way through.

The internet business is in the same building on the 3rd floor. It took me longer there too, as their nice wooden mats to protect the wooden floors were quite dirty. One of the employees asked if I could get them clean. I told him I would try some special furniture polish. It ended up working well and they look a lot better.

Some very good friends are in town this weekend. Some of their children are in a basketball tournament here. I just talked to Angie, and she said they lost their first game. :( Our girls are staying overnight with their family, who are all staying at the church.

We met this family over 10 years ago on our very first trip to Mexico. We were at a Christian retreat center, helping out, when they showed up. They knew the directors of the camp well and just came to visit for a while. At that time they had several of their own children and had recently adopted children from Liberia. Now they have 10 children, 4 from Liberia.

Well, I'd better go, as I am going to try to see my friend before she goes to bed.

A country drive and the GPS

The first time I used my new GPS was when I drove to the "Valley" to see my son and daughter-in-law in January. I also would be taking my oldest daughter to the airport. I had no problems with the GPS. It really helped me, as I am quite "directionally challenged." It is possible that it lead me around a different way, sometimes, but I felt secure knowing I wouldn't get lost any more. My daughter, who had had her doubts about my purchase, even commented, "You should have had one of these years ago."

Yesterday I got up after Greg left for work. He left me a note of "things to do". Among them was, "Can you please bring us lunch, I would like re-fried beans and chips or chicken tacos." I did start the beans, but they did not get done in time, so ended up buying him and Levi a subway sandwich.

He called me around 8 to see if I had gotten up yet. I asked him where he was working and how to get there. He said, "You can just put the address in the GPS and find it."

When I was finally able to leave, I drove out of town and followed the instructions that the GPS gave me. I took a left several miles out of town. Then I took another left, just like the GPS said. Then the voice said, "In 200 yards you will reach your destination" ... then "You have reached your destination" The problem was that there was no house there. I drove about 4 miles ahead and finally turned around. Because I couldn't find where they were working I came home.

Gideon knew where they were working, and took me out there. The GPS had tried to take me a long way around on the road and was way off. It actually was only a few miles out of town. Greg and Levi got their lunch at 4 pm. I'm was glad he had taken a lot of snacks with him.

I still plan on using my GPS on out of town trips, but for the country drives , I probably should get directions from someone who has been there.

Question: What is your experience with a GPS? Do you own one or do you trust your sense of direction?

The sun is shining today!

I'm hoping the day will come soon when I will be able to spend more time writing something that is really worth reading. My weekends are filled up with cleaning. Starting in March (tomorrow) I will not be cleaning offices in the morning, so perhaps it will give me some extra time - if I keep getting up early...

I have been missing Arizona and Mexico a lot lately because the weather here has been gloomy for a long time. But... this morning the sun has come out and it looks like a different place altogether.

In my mind I am already planning a trip to Arizona and Mexico. I think it has to do with the fact that for over 10 years in May or June we would travel to Oregon. So, it seems strange not to travel anymore. Also I miss some of my friends in Arizona. I may or may not go this year. I am leaving it in God's hands and will see how things develop.

I'm still alive

I don't write much on this blog because my life has been very ordinary for quite sometime. I also haven't had a lot of time to write. I still clean 3 mornings and 2 afternoons by myself at offices. On Friday I clean 2 houses. On Saturday I have a new house I am cleaning. Then Saturday afternoons I help the family clean the bank,insurance office and lawyers office, if they aren't done.

I have been trying to cook better meals, keep our house cleaner and help the kids more with their school work.

The family is doing great. Levi and Gideon are making a super-water-cooled computer system. They also do Algebra together and other school work. They help Greg with different jobs he has: tree trimming, construction, fencing...

Susannah has been taking gymnastics for about a year. She just got promoted to "team" and goes 3 times a week for 3 hours each time. It is a good PE class and she really likes it.

Right now we have a temporary membership at the RAC (athletic club). I competed again for the "Free throw challenge". Last year I won (in my age and gender) with a whopping 5 out of 25! This year I made 8, but don't know if I won yet, as I think there was someone else competing. Last year I was the only one in my age :(

It is raining here and I am missing Arizona and Mexico a lot these days. The winters here are very long. I got used to LONG summers for 10 years and it is still hard to adjust.

I will try to write more often here. So, until next time... adios!

I caught the cleaning bug...

This morning I went to Hamleys'coffee shop with Greg before my house cleaning job. After that I went to pick Lynn up so, as we were going to drive together to clean her mom's house. Fog made driving a little dangerous, so I went slow. Lynn's mom's house looked much better when we were done. We ended up only working 2 1/2 hours, as her mom needed a nap. It looks like I will be cleaning there again in a couple of weeks. Any work I get right now is a blessing. Hopefully we'll pick up some more janitorial accounts this month also.

I must have caught the cleaning bug, as I cleaned our house for a couple of hours after I got home. Then I took a hot bath to wash all the dust mites off me. Just joking - but maybe not.

Susannah and I played Rummikub for about an hour or so. She said, I thought you were going to do blogit? I said that I wanted to play Rummikub with her more. It was fun and she won! (I came in second) That game makes you think!

My oldest son and daughter-in-law found a used piano in a nearby town. My husband took his pickup and helped them go get it. Now she can fill their home with beautiful music.

Tomorrow while many are watching the Super Bowl, we are taking a drive to the mountains so the kids can play in the snow. We'll have a campfire and roast hot dogs and make smores and just relaxing. I might make "hobo stew", an easy meal that is cooked in the coals.Maybe I'll have time to finish the book I started 3 weeks ago, while sitting around the campfire.

When we get back, Greg does plan to watch part of the Super Bowl with a friend.