----- Original Message -----

>From: "Cleveland, Kyle E." <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Heart procedure
>Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001 10:37:26 -0500

>...Had a blast in San Antone except for getting a camera lens
>ripped off.  Oh well, it was my lack of vigilance, so there's really nobody
>to blame but me.
>

-----Original Message-----
From: ISM [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2001 3:40 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Go Ahead: Blame Yourself (was: Heart procedure)


>You don't think it more appropriate to blame the thief?  (Even if you can't
>find him/her?)

>S.



Well, yeah, he did steal it, didn't he?  Trouble was, we were on a tight
schedule and I didn't have time to deal with it.  Went something like this:

Me: "Oh, sh*t, hon!  I can't find the 28mm!"

Laura: "Where did you have it last?"

Me: "Where I was sitting on that bench outside the restaurant."

(zoom back to park bench...no lens in sight, but an old gent with a shopping
cart now ensconced where my lens used to be)

Me: "Excuse me, Senor, but did you see a camera lens hanging across the back
of the bench where your sitting?"

Old guy: "Si.  Was it a small Sigma lens with a Canon mount?"

Me: "Why yes!"

Old guy: "Oh, well, an hombre' grabbed it and ran that way (pointing east)
about five minutes ago."

Me: "Gracias, Senor!"

(I jump back in the car and tell Laura, "Head east!  Fellow says the guy
that stole my lens went east!")

Laura: "You, dear, are an idiot."

Me: "Why aren't you zooming east, and why am I an idiot."

Laura:  "We aren't zooming east because your lens is probably headed west
with that old guy?"

Me: "Oh, so how do you know all this, 'Ms. Smart-A*s Detective'?"

Laura:  "Ok, El Stup-ee-do, how could he know what brand, type and size of
lens unless he opened the case, took out the lens and pulled the caps?
Stupid gringo..."

Me: "Doh!"

Never saw the old guy again....


-Kyle