People often ask me for advice on buying high-end camera equipment, and my advice is always the same: “Heck if I know. Ask my husband.” I’m useful, that way.

Fortunately, when it comes to Photography For Dummies, I’m your girl. I’m all about the point-n-click, not the least of which because it’s a lot cheaper. But there are varying levels of equipment even at the lower end, so there are still choices to be made, obviously.

This morning I see that the Canon PowerShot A570IS is down to $153.76 at Amazon. This price includes a credit towards a memory card and a code for a free photo calendar at Shutterfly. In terms of point-n-click, this is an excellent choice, because it has decent zoom for a small camera and image stabilization. And the reviews are awesome.

Of course, what I really recommend is marrying a photographer. (It worked for me!) But this is probably a lot less work.

Happy Veteran’s Day! Tomorrow is Veteran’s Day Observed, which has the difference of being on a Monday, and also involving a lot of retail sales.

If you’re active or retired military, you can eat dinner for free tomorrow night at Golden Corral. It seems like a very small token of appreciation, and I suppose it is, but I’m passing along the information in case it’s of use to you or someone you love. (Thanks, Ann!)

(I still can’t believe everything is back. I should’ve posted before now, but I was just reluctant to knock “DUDE! I’m back!” off the top of the page. It’s possible I need to start looking into a hobby or two.)

Buying big at Overstock this weekend? You can take $60 off your purchase of $500+ through that there link, or if you’re not buying that much, get 7% off of any size order, instead. Coupons do not apply to media items, by the way.

Speaking of media items, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! Yes. It is. For this is the time of year when Deep Discount DVD has one of its rare coupons. (I know! As if the lowest prices around and free shipping weren’t enough!) Use code DDAF through november 25th, 2007 for 20% off your entire order. Now is the time to stock up on anything you might need, like if maybe Santa often tucks a movie or two into the stockings, you, ah, might want to let him know about the sale.

Got lighting? There’s a huge selection of deeply discounted fixtures over at Amazon right now, most with free shipping and a code for a free photo calendar over at Shutterfly. Many of them cost less than just the calendar would be.

Over at Linens and Things they’re having a Veteran’s Day sale, plus you can take 20% off your entire purchase there with coupon code SHOP07 through November 12th, 2007.

Gosh, it’s good to be back.

Soon I shall tell you a tale of great importance, and it involves the deep love I feel right now for my new hosting provider. But in the meantime, I can’t leave you all jonesing for the Amazon Friday Sale, now can I?

This Garmin StreetPilot is pretty much the only reason I didn’t give up after one week in Georgia and storm back to where I knew where all the streets were. We call ours Audrey, and she has a British accent. She has yet to lead me astray. I sort of love her. (And yes, that’s a fabulous price.)

I’m also sort of in love with these Skechers flats, not the least of which because they are just begging for a pricematch deal. They’re currently $34.90 at Amazon, but because they’re $72.95 at Zappos, go order them at Zappos and then call in for your pricematch. Your total at Zappos will be $31. (Yeah, it’s only a few more dollars, but every little bit counts. Plus, Zappos has free shipping and free returns—did you know that if you get free shipping on something at Amazon and then return it, you not only pay for return shipping, but they bill you the original shipping? Craziness.)

I’m saying this in my best Beavis voice: Heheheheh… they said butthead. Twice!

This is a really nice tent, especially at half price.

Check out this great little saucepan if you’re forever needing a teeny pot for things like melting butter. (Mmmmm… butter.) Plus, it matches this and this.

Okay, when I read Magic Bullet I really had something else in mind entirely, but, um, this is good, too. Ahem.

I love my stick blender set almost as much as I love my GPS. $19.99 is a phenomenal price for it, and I promise you that once you have one you will wonder how you lived without it. It also makes a can’t-go-wrong wedding gift.

The best SAD light in the world, the end. So little and compact, yet so life-changing. I not only whisper sweet nothings to it all winter long, it’s pretty much the only reason I haven’t had to dip my daughter in ketchup and eat her. (Yes, kids can have SAD. Consult your doctor, of course, but light therapy works for children, too. Amen.)

If you use Cetaphil lotion this is a so-so deal, except for the fact that there’s a spend $59, get $25 back dealie going on for assorted products, which means you could end up saving big if there are more products you need. (And as this promo includes assorted items from about twenty different brands, I guarantee you can find something.)

Happy Friday, everyone!

Is it just too complicated and tiresome to walk inside your house in order to turn the lights on? Does finding the light switch on the wall tax your delicate sensibilities?

If this sounds like you, please seek professional help.

But also consider purchasing the Black and Decker freewire starter kit, which is currently marked down to $14.99. (No free shipping, so it’ll run you about $21 total.) The next lowest price I saw on this was around $70, and really, can you even put a price on turning the lights on from the comfort of your car/driveway/hyperbaric chamber? No, you cannot.

Now someone go peel me a grape.

Folks, sit tight please. Looks like my old provider is up and running, but my nameservers have been redirected so as far as I know, this is sort of impossible. Not sure what’s going on. But everybody hush up while I grab a backup and I’ll see if we can’t get restored for real in a jiffy.

UPDATE: Okay, the good news is that I have RETRIEVED ALL MY DATA. The bad news is that you’re gonna be on the rocky server-changing seas for a few more days yet. Hold on tight.