Saturday (05/02) we went to ABT to look at binoculars. I had my sights on the Nikon Prostaff P3 10×42 ($160 retail) which were ok. When I asked to try the 8×42 version, the employee mistakenly handed me the Nikon Monarch M5 8×42 ($340 retail) instead and I fell in love with them.
Not one to buy something on a whim, I took his business card so I could go home and do more research. That’s when I learned about a term called called eye relief and how this affects whether you can see through a pair of binoculars with glasses on. I always have to take mine off for all the binoculars we own, but the pair I’m thinking of getting don’t require that which is a real plus. Not only that, but the hinge bends close enough to accommodate my close-set eyes. The glass is a higher quality too so everything was brighter and crisper even though the magnification was less. That makes them heavier, though, which is a trade-off. I’m still thinking about whether I want to buy them or look at more binoculars first, but it’s hard finding places that have them on display to try. ABT only had a few and they were all Nikon.
(Update: a month later they are selling for $40 less).
After ABT we walked around the nearby River Trail Nature Center before making a stop at McDonald’s to pick up some chocolate chip cookies for our friend, K, who we were visiting for the afternoon.
Joe replaced her patio door screen and helped her mount a new outdoor camera. We had lunch from a Thai place.
Sunday (05/03) I bought three new hand soaps from Woodman’s. I don’t want to use Bath & Body Works soaps anymore so I’m phasing them out. Not only are they expensive, but their bottles tip over too easily.
The Softsoap ones were inspired by K; she had both scents in her house and I really liked them both. Mrs. Meyers is a brand I’ve seen a lot of people say they like. They had multiple scents and the honeysuckle smelled the best. They have an apple one I liked too but I will save that for the fall.