Taking it to the next level.

Every morning for the past week I've been waking early to check if the caramel fairies might have brought me any photo equipment during the night. But every morning I find the piles of books and blue and yellow file folders and index cards covered with purple post-its and keys, phone, wallet, watch, and winning quick pick lottery ticket (prize one dollar; odds of winning one in ten) all untouched on my dining room table. My bicycle parks in a corner, like always. As it often does, my vacuum cleaner curls on the floor in an opposite corner. In my kitchen I see a box of Cut-Rite Wax Paper and one of Saran Wrap on the counter under the window where I've been leaving them lately.

Lots of things everywhere, but nothing new.

Perhaps the caramel fairies are away for the month. Perhaps they don't have internet access. Perhaps their ranks are down due to the recession, which would help to explain some of the guys I've seen recently working at Trader Joe's.

Whatever the reason, my plea to the caramel fairies unanswered, I decided per usual last Friday to take matters into my own hands. A quick search of "tripod" on Craigslist returned the following: "Manfrotto 3001 Tripod with 3265 Pistol Grip Head." A few hours later and the gear was mine.

Fortunately the turtles -- being turtles -- are slow on their feet. At least no motion is visible even with an exposure of a second or more. But they do manage somehow to get around.

And in case anyone is wondering, I did also try searching "Gabriel Porras" on Craigslist. Nothing.