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.
Sorry about your camera. I know how that feels. My camera is attached to me like no other. I use it for work, too. So I don't know what I would do if something happened to it.
But I can't tell much from the picture as that tart is staring right at me saying "make me now!" Literally just drool on myself from the sight of the tart.
Posted by: jenn | September 29, 2009 at 01:43 PM
Oh no, sucks about your camera...you still have your point and shoot though don't you...that's all I use.
your tart looks wonderful!
Posted by: Wendy | September 29, 2009 at 01:52 PM
Your tart looks wonderful.
And I hope that your beloved camera is as good as new in no time!
Did you know that "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" were created in the town I work in? It was a VERY big deal here this month!:)
Posted by: Jennifer | September 29, 2009 at 01:59 PM
Ciao Tanna !I'm sorry ! But you are not going to loose us ! I love so much your stories I would read them even without pictures !!Baci
Posted by: natalia | September 29, 2009 at 02:11 PM
Yum! This looks so delicious! Hope your camera is back on its feet soon! ;D
Posted by: theUngourmet.blogspot.com | September 29, 2009 at 02:24 PM
Oh, I am so sorry about your camera, I would flip if I had to send mine for repair. But, you can always use that as an excuse to bake that delicious tart again, to drown your sorrows in. ;) I love the idea of praline, genius!
Posted by: LyB | September 29, 2009 at 02:40 PM
your name is a lot like mine - i'm TIANNE :)
Anyways, you rphotos look great and your tart looks divine!
Posted by: tia | September 29, 2009 at 03:03 PM
Sorry to hear about your camera, I hope it feels better soon:) LOVE the tart! It is so glamorous!
Posted by: Maria | September 29, 2009 at 03:12 PM
I really liked this recipe, too, and really wanted to do hazelnuts, but they were just a bit too expensive here.
There are so many variations that could be made, too, for example, with nutella instead of caramel.
Posted by: Jennifer | September 29, 2009 at 03:14 PM
Wow. That is decadence in the best way. Too much good stuff!
Posted by: The Duo Dishes | September 29, 2009 at 03:23 PM
Not a bad pic from where I am sitting. Looks soooo yummy. Love the edge of candied pralines. Makes it extra special delicious.
Hope your camera is better soon. Does Hallmark make a card for that??
Posted by: Margaret | September 29, 2009 at 03:37 PM
Your tart looks incredible! I'm sure you'll find a work around while your camera is repaired. Does shattered iPhone mean that its camera isn't working either?
Posted by: lisaiscooking | September 29, 2009 at 03:44 PM
Your tart looks so beautiful and delicious. Way to rock out your sadness!
Posted by: Nicole | September 29, 2009 at 04:37 PM
You will be adored no matter with or without pictures...and your tart looks delicious and perfect! You are so funny and please, by all means, stay in touch with your emotions or you just may become grown up...which would be terrible and not as much FUN!
Posted by: Shandy | September 29, 2009 at 05:11 PM
The candied pralines on top are a great idea! Sorry about your camera, but it will be nice and clean and ready for action when you get it back!
Posted by: Jill | September 29, 2009 at 06:40 PM
Hope you get your camera back soon....we will read your blog even if the pictures are crayon drawings!
Posted by: Mary | September 29, 2009 at 06:43 PM
ohhh that sucks! I'm sorry to hear about your camera! I know how you feel, my camera is the heart and soul Simply Scrumptious. At least you have an awesome chocolate praline tart to cheer you up! :)
Posted by: Jessie | September 29, 2009 at 06:48 PM
Sorry to hear about the camera, but those pictures are great!! Your tart looks amazing. And I'm loving the praline around the top. You amaze me!
Posted by: pamela | September 29, 2009 at 09:06 PM
I'm so sorry about your camera! Not to worry, I am sure that you would not lose readers - you have more than great pictures - like great recipes, and hysterical stories!
Posted by: Jen | September 29, 2009 at 09:26 PM
Oh NO! Korean Skirt Steak with grilled scallions sounds AWESOMe...but too bad no pics! I feel for you...I don't know what I would do without my trusty camera...
But your tart looks PERFECT! I hope it cheered you up just looking at it!
Posted by: Sophia | September 30, 2009 at 02:01 AM