I wrote a long, rambling piece but alas IE crashed & I lost the whole thing. So instead of dredging up the words that have already been wiped from my brain I'll share some pictures of Angel Oak. 

Thought to be over 1500 years old it has become quite a tourist attraction.  Sad to hear there are plans to build around it but read more Save the Angel Oak's Facebook page for updates on that.  Get an overview of Angel Oak at About.

Here is a quick collage from my first, but hopefully not last, trip to the area.

I'm still trying to get more familiar with shooting manual.  I'll post more pictures later but here are a few... they show that I still need a lot of practice but it was a really fun drive and I got to chat with a harley riding, German speaking writer.  How cool!

I got an email today from Snapsort sharing their new gadgets on their site and offering a Nikon D3100 as well as other freebies.  I only heard about Snapsort recently, after I found LensHero on Facebook so while I find the new features exciting the whole site is still has that fresh, new car smell to me.

What is new?

• Videos
  Who doesn't need a video review or how-to for their next camera purchase?  Last week while in Costco I was unabashedly drooling over the Canon Rebel T2i, a jump up from my XSi so I watched one of the videos (the second Review at the Races) on Snapsort's info page and felt an almost uncontrollable urge to go back to Costco. 
   
• User Voting
  I was a bit stumped where to find this new feature for a moment but then my brain kicked in and went to Compare, either the tab in the navi bar or through the camera's detailed page.  According to other voters, XSi and T2i are pretty well matched, the XSi even getting a few more votes.  I think this is will be a cool, useful feature once people really start using it (though other comparisons have much more votes).
  
• More Detailed Information
  Before I got all gung ho, found my credit card and "borrowed" my sister's Costco card I read on for more detailed information on the T2i and decided to simmer down a bit.  Here's the list straight from Snapsort's blog post:
  
  • HDR – in camera high dynamic range capabilities
  • Panorama mode
  • 3D
  • Weather sealed
  • Autofocus type (contrast-detect, phase-detect, # of focus points, # of cross-focus points, lag)
  • Movie autofocus type (see above)
  • Sensor cleaning
  • External mic
  • Shutter lag
  • Battery life (# of shots per battery charge using CIPA standards)

Once I saw that HDR was available in manual only & there was on image stablization, that gave my shaky paws a pause.

What could be improved?

The only thing that nibbles at my brain about the whole site is the Facebook like at the top.  Is liking it for the whole site, will you become their fan on Facebook?  Out of the new features I really like the extra information, because I easily could be swayed by a video or poll but the facts spelled out are concrete to me.  Maybe that is why I dream of submitting my taxes in a pictorial medium... with fat crayons.

Here are a few... the rest are on the usb that is still hiding from me!

I planned a long walk with my camera at the Peabody Essex Museum yesterday but plans have a way of changing without warning.

Eventually met up with family and a cousin haven't seen in a rather long time... at the place where a kid can be a kid.  We were there a very long time so I snuck out to the used book store where an older kid could be a kid and came back with a bag full of goodies.

Here are a few pictures.  

Weather:  Snowing, big fluffy snowflakes!

I took so many pictures while visiting family that I'm just overwhelmed!  So I'll be working on them by day instead of any theme like I usually do.  By the time I finish going through them... I'll be on my way back :)  Playing Wii is important and dogs are great spectators!  Too bad we haven't been able to play Wii Mario Kart WFC with family since got home.  Curses!

We took a road trip... I'm drawing a blank right now where we went because we took so many and really got around which was great!  Plus, I just realized that I'm missing one of my usb's that has another 1000 pictures and feel like I'm missing a part of this day.  But enjoy my grainy drive by pictures (one of my favorite ways to photograph).  The results are always a mixed bag, mostly out of focus or window reflections, but so exhilarating... especially if you're driving!

Sadly, I can't upload anymore... my firewall is fighting with me so I'll post the rest on flickr!

Finally I'm making some more progress on my bucket list.  Like the other goals I've made it's come up spur of the moment.  Originally, I thought of singing at the train (feel free to snicker with/at me) but karaoke in front of a crowd of people who don't expect too much from you worked out way better.  Plus, I really couldn't have used my liquid courage at the train station, at least I don't think so.

Finally I'm making some more progress on my bucket list.  Like the other goals I've made it's come up spur of the moment.  Originally, I thought of singing at the train (feel free to snicker with/at me) but karaoke in front of a crowd of people who don't expect too much from you worked out way better.  Plus, I really couldn't have used my liquid courage at the train station, at least I don't think so.

Revisiting coloring a lot this past week or two and stumbled upon an old Precious Moments coloring book.  This was not my work of art. You'd laugh if you saw mine.  Really.