It is with a heavy heart that I write this post.
My beloved camera, my baby, my heart, my love... is in the hospital.
Yes, I have entrusted my baby with the good doctors at the Best Buy Geek Squad.
Let's rewind. I had made a delicious dish of Korean Skirt Steak with grilled scallions that I wanted to photograph. I placed the dish on it's "set" (AKA, a wooden TV table set by the windows in my apartment. There. You know my secret), checked my lighting, and started to photograph. Everything looked blurry. I didn't panic, but instead again reminded myself that I really need to study more about photography and camera settings to get a good picture. I tried to adjust the focus of the camera. The lense wouldn't budge. No worries, this happens often. I took off the lense for a moment and replaced it back on the camera. Jammed. I started to slightly panic. I took off the lense and pute it back again. Nothing.
Full on panic mode set in.
"Baby!" I called to my boyfriend, Jack.
He ran into the living room, thinking I had cut, burned, or dropped something on myself, which is not out of the ordinary.
"My lense is jammed!"
He stared at me, blankly.
"I can't take pictures! It doesn't work!"
"Take it in to get it fixed." He said.
"It'll be at least two weeks to repair!" I exclaimed, feeling my heart rate rise and tears burning my eyes (I really am super dramatic).
He looked at me, still confused, still silent.
"It's my blog! I'll lose all of my readers! They'll never come back!"
"You'll be fine." He reassured me. "Take it in to get it fixed and it'll come back good as new. We'll find you another camera to use in the meantime."
Thank God for Jack, because otherwise, I'd constantly run around fretting and crying and shouting. I blame it in my background in theatre. I need to be in touch with my emotions! It's my excuse for everything.
I took my camera to Best Buy and showed the Geek Squad the damage. As I was talking, I placed my iPhone on the counter. My iPhone, by the way, is completely shattered from when I dropped it on the floor in Pier 1 because I was checking Facebook as I was shopping.
"Did you get that here, too?" the Geek Squad-der asked.
"No." I answered sheepishly, knowing that he probably thought I was just some girl who dropped things and broke things with wreckless abandon, which wouldn't be far from the truth.
"So what's the damage?" I asked, apprehensively.
"Two weeks. Probably three." He said sympathetically.
"Noooooooooooooooooooooooo." (Really. I did say that. With that many "o"s.)
He laughed. "We'll call you when it's ready."
I sighed, collected my paperwork, and headed over to the Play Station "Rock Band" display, picked up a guitar, and drowned my sorrows with some kick ass guitar licks. Maybe people were judging me - an almost 28 year old girl (woman? I refuse to admit I'm an adult) rocking out to ACDC on a Saturday afternoon, but my heart felt no shame. Just sorrow for my dearly departed camera.
So here you see the last photos taken by my camera. And unfortunately, they are not that good. But what is that good? This tart. This tart is good. REALLY good. Like, I've made this three times in the past month, good. Amazing good.
I replaced the peanuts with hazelnuts and put a ring of candied pralines around the edge of the tart by melting 75 grams of sugar with 30 mL water and pouring it over 1/3 cup hazelnuts and then pulsing it in the food processor.
This tart is rich, velvety, and so luxurious and is definitely a top 5 Dorie dessert. If there was any dessert for my camera to go out on, this would be the one.
Check Carla of Chocolate Moosey for the recipe. Check TWD for more tarts. And keep my camera in your hearts.
I'm so sorry about your camera! Don't worry you can't loose us that easily! ;) The tart really does look super delicious and beautifully presented. Hope your camera get's better soon!
Posted by: Cheri | September 30, 2009 at 04:21 AM
Sorry about your camera. My camera is my life, so I understand your dismay at not being able to get it back for two weeks. I do have a decent point and shoot that does back up. BTW, the tart rocks!
Posted by: Lynne | September 30, 2009 at 07:33 AM
I post enough crappy photos on my blog so rest assured you won't lose me as a reader :)
Posted by: Eliana | September 30, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Three times! It is that good. =)
It's one of those desserts that makes you feel like you can make anything. Right? Yours is beautiful - sorry about the camera.
Posted by: Rachel | September 30, 2009 at 01:16 PM
One of my cameras died that way! And the dropping of the iphone thing is totally something I would do. You got some great last photos in though!
Posted by: cheffresco | September 30, 2009 at 09:39 PM
Aw sucks about your camera. I highly doubt you'll lose any readers though! Wish I could have a slice of this tart.
Posted by: Ashley | October 01, 2009 at 11:46 PM
Ok, if you think these photos are not that good--you are crazy! As soon as I saw it I was saying wow! These are beautiful photos!!! I had to take mine at night...so mine are dark.
What kind of camera do you use? Hope it gets back to you soon ;)
Posted by: Courtney | October 02, 2009 at 08:37 AM
Oh no! Every time I pick up my camera I fear that this might happen to me. But you'll be back up and running with the fixed camera in no time!
Also, hazelnut and chocolate....mmmm. Amazing.
Posted by: Charli | October 02, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Sweet story, awwwww, but I am thoroughly amused at the thought of you jamming Rock Band! And this tart? Yeah, definitely candy for grown-ups, which means I'm going to have to make it soon!
Posted by: CinnamonQuill | October 03, 2009 at 10:56 AM
Don't worry I won't leave while your camera is being fixed, In fact I'm posting here and not at your latest post because I am transfixed, hypnotized by this delicious tart, eating it up with my eyes. I'm not sure I can move from this page that tart looks so good. I might even still be here drooling when you do get your camera back!
Posted by: Wizzythestick | October 04, 2009 at 10:59 PM
This is amazing- looks simply droolworthy. I was really happy when my camera broke last summer... gave me the excuse to buy the DSLR that I had been begging my husband for!!
Posted by: Lori @ RecipeGirl | October 05, 2009 at 12:54 AM
It'll be party time when the "eye of the tiger" returns.... he he. Par-tay!!! We'll be seein some shots of the par-tay!!! Hope the camera returns soon.
The tart on the other hand is super luscious looking! Great that you have made it multiple times. WOW Hows the catering going?
Great job Teanna
AmyRuth
Posted by: AmyRuth | October 05, 2009 at 09:55 AM
The tart looks DE-LISH-US! Yum! I had to buy a new camera this year...I also tend to break things...
Posted by: Caitlin | October 05, 2009 at 04:18 PM
Oh no, your poor camera! I feel so badly for you because, seriously, I would have had exactly the same reaction! I'm overly dramatic about everything, but especially things that relate to my blog. You won't lose me, don't worry :) Now I'm going to go downstairs and play some Beatles Rock Band in your honor!
Oh, by the way, your tart looks awesome!
Posted by: Tracey | October 06, 2009 at 11:45 PM
So sorry to hear about your loss ;) (I'm WAY behind on blog reading!) Hope you get your camera back SOON! First this tart--and the photos look de-lish!, now your newest/newer love--the pudding. Sigh!
Posted by: Katrina | October 07, 2009 at 12:40 AM
Tomorrow is December already! Can you believe it? In Japanese, December is called “SHIWASU,” which means "monks running around." This word aptly describes the busiest month of the year in Japan. Why is December so busy?
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