The government pays money to veterans for taking classes, an educational benefit for having served in the U.S. Military. The government paid Jeff when he took classes to get his Associate degree in Criminal Justice, and paid him again when he went through the Pikes Peak Community College Law Enforcement Academy. Again, Jeff took advantage of his educational benefit when he started taking classes in January 2004, this time going for his Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice (which, it appears, he will get in July 2005).

We had been talking about getting a VHS camcorder for some time, and again talked about it when he started receiving his educational payments in February. In March, we did some looking around on the internet for VHS camcorders and found that they are no longer sold. VHS-C camcorders are still available, but they use a much smaller tape that holds only 20 minutes (compared to 120 minutes for the full size VHS). These camcorders are quickly being replaced by the new digital camcorders. As digital camcorder technology is still in it's infancy, and the digital videos they create are not yet up to par on quality, and still very expensive, we would not even consider them.

One day in March, while I was at work, Jeff did some more looking around on the internet and found two used full size VHS camcorders at local area pawn shops. The description for one of them sounded like it was in like-new condition, either never used, or used very little. In other words, it should still be able to get good quality videos and the unit should last a long time before needing servicing or replacing (hopefully). A couple days later, Jeff ran over to the pawn shop and put a down payment on it for layaway. With three monthly payments remaining, we would be able to bring it home in June.

Guests at the hotel where Jeff works (formerly Antler's Adams Mark, now Antler's Hilton) sometimes leave things behind. These items are placed into lost and found in the security department. Items that go unclaimed for more than 30 days are free for the taking by hotel employees. Jeff had gotten rid of his film camera and tripod at a pawn shop, but we needed a tripod for the camcorder. As it so happens, there was a tripod in lost and found that was never claimed, so Jeff brought it home. We soon discovered, though, that this tripod was missing a part. Apparently, tripods these days have a plate or "shoe" that screws onto the bottom of the camera, then the camera quickly and easily snaps in and out of the tripod. We are missing this shoe, and will have to go looking for one at a later date.