My Watch Died...

As a Geographer, knowing where you are is paramount. So, before I embarked for the Isle of Spice (Grenada) several years ago, I purchased a behemoth of a watch—the ultimate watch for a Geographer: the Casio Tri-sensor Titanium solar-powered watch. It was top of the line Casio at the time. It had an altimeter (measure altitude), barometer (measure air pressure), thermometer, and a digital compass! I spent more for this watch than I did for my first and second cars combined!

It was a great watch. All the sensors worked wonderful. I took it snorkeling, sea- and river-kayaking, swimming, hiking, camping, and through several countries—including a trek higher than 5150 meters in the Andes! And I never had a problem with it.

Then, a couple weeks ago, all of the sudden, it died. The little “charging” sign keeps flashing. You’d think, living in Arizona with all the sun we have (it’s still in the 90s!), this SOLAR-POWERED watch would stay “charged”. I’ve had it “charging” for days. But still the silly “charging” sign is all that it displays.

Very frustrating. Especially with all the outdoor stuff I do. *sigh*

So, I went out looking for a watch last week. I was going to just get a decent Timex or a nice Seiko. But I couldn’t find one that really caught my eye. I found a Timex I liked, and I almost bought it, but then something else caught my eye: a lightweight, multi-functional watch by LaCrosse Technology. I’d never really heard about this company—although I should have, since, as I found out when I got home and checked their website, they make weather stations!

So now I have a tres sexy watch that does everything my Casio did—altimeter, barometer, thermometer, and digital compass. Plus, it has a countdown timer, dual alarms and dual time zones, and a chronograph—all things my Casio lacked. It also forecasts the weather! Really. And weighs a fraction of the Casio, even though it works on batteries instead of the sun.

So far, so good. I’m excited to take it into the field this week…really see what it can handle. Perhaps once I finish my dissertation, I can dive into the 45-page owner’s manual…

And if you’re wondering about my first two cars? They were a 1979 Ford Pinto (light-powder blue) and a 1983 4-door Mazda GLC (replete with manually-cranked moon roof…it was, and still remains, my favorite car I’ve ever owned). More on them later…

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