Revenge of the Alamo!  Didn't know old guys could move so fast.
Course, always knew Laura could think on her feet.
Now to kick my sedentary lifestyle, limber up, and try an unguarded zoom
lens expedition.
Thanks for a great story.
S.
----- 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 lenscripped
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