I'm leaving work early 2day, cause it's CLEAR as a BELL (though it's also colder than a well-digger's [censored]!), and with any luck I'll get a good view of the comet right after the sun goes down!

-ol' 2long

So. . . how was everyone's weekend?

Anyone snowed in?

slh

Thanks for fixing that snow maker Gray! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I had a great weekend SLH. Just DD, me and a couple of her little friends. It sounds like you and Ti are doing so well lately. I'm glad.

Has anyone ever seen the movie "Iris" about a novelist who gets Alzheimer's? It was pretty good (kind of sad though). We also watched "Lavender Ladies" about these two old ladies who rescue a violinist that happens to wash up on their beach, which I absolutely loved! They are not new releases, but we have been trying to pick from the 2/$1.00 racks.

Got home late Monday evening.

We didn't get snowed in. It snowed on the way up, but quit about the time we got there.

Temp was like where you live Weaver - Well, maybe not quite that cold.

8 below the first night
7 below the next two nights.

I know Weaver, Binder and Gray are used to it, but I'm not. I can't believe I lived in Canada for two years.

I had to wear a COAT. Imagine that - (grin)

Oh well, we pay for nice winters in the summer.

Had fun though, we had lots of fun. I read three books, went sledding, walked with my W, and kept out of any really bad snowball fights. (Just minor ones, with no deaths.)

Went to church in a really old small church building, in a very small town. That may have been the best part. Down to earth people, who seem to care about each other.

SLH, is it cold in Texas?
We are having a cold snap here this week. The high is only supposed to be 40 today in town. Usually it's mid 50's.

Yes, how did the weekend go for everyone else. I want to hear that J continues the engagement high. I hope.

Hi Faithful......... I also want to hear that things continue to improve for you. I know there are bound to be bad days, but on the whole?

I don't see a lot of movies Weaver. I did see "CARS" and really liked it. "Lavender Ladies" sounds like it's about my speed. I don't know if I could handle the sad one.

Sounds like your weekend was good. I'm glad.

And Graycloud............ I hope your weekend was really good too.

SS

It's not exactly an engagement high right now, SS. It's...

Hmm.

Okay, let me give you an example. Friday night, HoFS drove down from his house to mine. Usually he flies, but he'd thought that with a three day weekend, it would make a little more sense to drive. It turned out he could only stay two days, but that's a side story.

He arrived about 9:30. One of the really good things about him driving is that I don't have to spend the 2 1/2 hours it takes to get to the airport, pick him up, and bring him home again. Instead I got to spend that time working -- which is good because I have a major project to do.

More importantly, though, I also took some of that time to make my house more like the welcoming home that I want it to be. I polished some more of the silver, finished the last of the candlesticks, replaced the candles, and got the house as clean as I could in the time available. (Which wasn't all that clean -- some things, like taking out the Christmas tree, are really two-person jobs.)

I made us a simple supper, too. Sopa de lima I'd frozen the last time I made it, fresh bread from the breadmaker, and a fruit compote. Better, though, I got out the silver and the good china and the crystal glasses and set us a nice table.

All of that was good. I even got about four minutes to take a quick shower, refresh my makeup, and change from grubby cleaning clothes to romantic evening clothes.

HoFS' reaction when he came in and found candlelight, the smell of fresh bread, and a relaxed and sexy me? Very much on the wonderful side of things.

But even better than all of that was later. He was in sweats and a t-shirt, me in kung fu pants and one of his t-shirts. We were sleepy and relaxed, happy with the world. I looked at the set of his shoulders and the language of his body and it said, through what means I do not know, "This is where I belong."

It also said, "And I am happy here."

Something has certainly changed for us. I can't put a finger on what it is. But it's really good to finally be able to talk about things that we couldn't talk about before.

And Saturday night there was a different conversation, one where he supported and considered something that I really want to do, gave it his attention and thoughtful input even though it's of concern to him and not necessarily what he wants to do. That's very different from my ex. My ex would never have ... well, she just didn't care that much about what I wanted to do. She wasn't really ever interested, and I never felt that level of support from her. It's one of those things that I never knew was missing... but I'm awfully glad it's there now.

Weaver, I'll have to check it out. I don't get to see a lot of movies, but I generally like just about everything. Even Army of Darkness, LOL.

SS, you sound like you're having a blast in the snow, even if it IS cold. And I know Gray and Weaver have it plenty worse, but here in TX, we are pathetic, simple souls. There's a little ice on the roads? Close the schools! A few flurries? Close the government! And it's only 30 degrees . . .


:: insert blue chattering smiley face here ::


Here's a few pics to make y'all smile.


[color:"blue"] [img] http://www.barilleaux-photography.com/zOnline%20Photos/NinaRemoteCOMP.jpg [/img]

[img] http://a607.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/36/l_56feaaad86f1dd3d26b9d8fc263fc186.jpg [/img][/color]


slh

Mmmmmm, JJ, I feel all warm and toasty hearing about your weekend. I love your updates.

We had relatives over last weekend, so Ti and I could spend very little alone time, but what there was, was great.

He'll be back from Nebraska (-4 degrees, poor litle southern boy!) on Friday. . .

yee-haw!


slh

SLH, I'm glad it makes you all warm and toasty. That's good, given how cold it's gotten! (I grew up in Wisconsin, so really, the fact that it was 25 degrees here this morning makes it feel like an autumn or spring day. Nonetheless, it's the coldest so far this year.)

SLH, here's what NIH says when I try to click on your second link:

"You have attempted to access an Internet site that the web-filtering program used by the NIH has identified as inappropriate for government use. This determination is in accordance with NIH policy entitled "Limited Authorized Personal Use of NIH Information Technology (IT) Resources Policy."

There's more, but it's all like that. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Coldest so far this year, or this winter? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Grrrrr. Crazy computer. The darn things work for me! They're just 2 pics that I had taken and I thought were a laugh. If you have the time, cut and paste them into your address bar and see if that works. (FF, I think you might have seen these already).

http://a607.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/36/l_56feaaad86f1dd3d26b9d8fc263fc186.jpg


If THAT doesn't work, than I am throwing up my mittened hands!

Stay warm, everybody!

Is everybody safe and warm? I know this arctic air has cut off power, made roads treacherous, and caused over 50 fatalities in 9 states. That's a huge swathe!

We're pretty safe where I am in TX; sending prayers for warmth and safety for y'all, too.

Did you set them all off at once, or one at a time?
It made me laugh, just don't let any of my sons see the photos. They usually go for all at once.

Safe here, it's colder than normal, but clear and sunny.

SS

Support is good J.
"Want to do," is different than "can do" though. I admit I worry about what needs to be worked out, and how to do it.

I have been praying for the best possible outcome for you guys.

SS

SS, can you recommend a good but not too expensive camera ($250./300.) as a B present for GB? I know you posted what you had, but I don't know if that is what we need, might be too sophisticated. He lost his and he loves photography, and I would like to get some pic's of us and our travel's to post here sometime too.

My D just got a little Kodak EasyShare digital from her dad, and it seems pretty good to me, but maybe not sophisticated enough for him?

SLH - I love you too.

And JJ...I know EXACTLY what you mean about not knowing what you'd missed till now. I feel exactly that way about Nio vs. my ex. EXACTLY!

Well Weaver.........
That's a tough one.
What camera a person likes can depend on what they had before, and on lots of other things.

I have a big Pentax DSLR that was expensive, and has interchangeable lenses, and I have a little pentax optio point and shoot that I use when the big one is too much, or when I don't want to, or can't carry the big one.

Our High School used Pentax cameras for the yearbook staff, way back in the dark ages. Having liked them then, I bought one when we got married, and then another when that first one developed a light leak while on a backpacking trip.

I don't know if being dropped onto a big rock had a role to play in the light leak or not, but my W says it did, and that it was my fault. (grin)

So, now I am on my third large Pentax camera, and I love it. The small Optio is fun, because it is so small it will fit into a Altoid's tin. I can't believe how good the pic's look from the small one, and it does movies too, which can be fun sometimes when you want sound, or to capture more than just a static scene.

Because the Pentax Optio worked so well, all my married children have one now (that's five couples), and also my youngest son (not married) who lives in CA has one. Various models purchased over the last two years or so - they change quite often. Were I getting a small one right now, I would probably get the Optio waterproof version, because I spend so much time outdoors and in bad weather. I think it's right about $299. they have various models, with different powers of zoom, and also other differences which I won't take the tiem to go into right now.

Now, you know my brand preference, and why, but there are many good cameras out there these days. It's hard to get a bad one among the major brands.

One other reason I like Pentax, is that they make their own lenses. Most of the cameras you see get the lenses from another company. There are only a few that make the glass, and they are the ones that have been making cameras for a long time.

The feature set can change a lot from camera to camera even in the same price range. Most people ask "how many megapixels?" but the quality of the camera, the lenses, and the software used to process and store the photos inside the camera can make a lot more of a quality difference than the resolution (measured in megapixels.) Reviews can help you know what to get, but the review is often a measure of the bias of the reviewer, not how good the camera actually is. I frankly admit I have a bias - but most of the reviewers won't admit it. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

If all you usually shoot are people - you won't need the zoom range that a person might need who was also shooting wildlife, scenery, and so on. Optical zoom makes a difference, but digital zoom isn't a help. All digital zoom does is cut out most of the photo, and magnify what is left using software - so it doesn't result in a good photo at all. If zoom range is important to you, take that into account before you buy. Look at the optical zoom numbers, but ignore the digital zoom - it's a marketing trick.


I can't tell you a lot about individual models from all the companies. They change one or two times a year, and it's almost impossible to keep up.

One fairly new thing in Point and Shoot (PS) cameras is shake reduction - which can help take a better picture in low light. It is usually found on cameras that cost more, but you may see it in cameras now around the $300.00 price point.

Here are a couple of links to some I would consider if I were buying right now.

http://www.pentaximaging.com/products/pr...bsection--optio

http://www.pentaximaging.com/products/pr...bsection--optio

http://www.pentaximaging.com/products/pr...bsection--optio

I hope this helps. If you have questions, I would be glad to assist, but I admit I don't know everything. Probably there are others out there that have had good success with what they are using also.

It's good to remember you will need to get memory card to go with the camera, and if it uses rechargeable batteries, an extra battery is a good idea. These models (links above) vary widely as to battery type. AA's are easy to find, but make the camera much bigger. The rechargeable ones are more expensive up front, but last a long time (I am using my two from three years ago, and they still use the same one on the newer rechargeable's so I can get more if I ever need to.)

This was probably more info than you wanted, but I hate to just say "buy this one, it's the best."
What is best always depends on they way you will use the camera.

SS

No that wasn't too much, that was perfect, just perfect. I'm printing it out right now.

I've been hoping all day you would come on here and respond as I need to start looking.

...and wha-la, right before I have to leave work, you did!

Thank you SS!

SLH, I loved your pics!

My little brother took the cutest picture with his wife, his son, and himself... each holding one of their dogs, and made it into Christmas cards. It is just so darn cute and I am giong to make cute cards with pictures like that!

PS My bro's wife has been battling ovarian cancer for the last nine years. He had filed bankruptcy at one point after using every dime he could come up with to fund an experimental treatment not yet approved by the FDA which put her into a remission lasting a few years. Well it came back a while ago... and after exhausting the million dollar ceiling on his insurance, being told she could not endure anymore surgeries or treatments and basically that her life was over...

Her doctor (who came out of retirement to take her case) volunteered to fund this latest experimental treatment which has sent the cancer back into remission....

Yeah! She is doing really good right now! She is such a sweetheart (even though she is a Texan, born and bred).

Anyway, after the first time she was told to go home and get ready to die my bro took her to Italy to see Andrea Bocelli in concert and to a few other places in Europe.

They have been married about 15 years, I guess. She is 15 years his senior, but I have never seen a couple more in love, even to this day. My bro was 30 when all this started with her cancer, and at the same time had to deal with my parents deaths and a very demanding job.

He is a winner, and so is she. I just wanted to share the happy news, and the message that it isn't over necessarily when the doctor's say it is.

weaver:

There's a great website with all kinds of reviews on digital cameras, called "Steve's Digicams". If you google it, you'll find it pretty fast.

I was going 2 suggest the SBIG ST11000, because it's 35mm format and thermoelectrically cooled... but you need 2 connect it 2 a computer and telescope, and without those it's several thousand dollars! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

Besides, it's strictly for faint fuzzies.

-ol' 2long

I've had a Canon Powershot S45 for a few years and it's very nice. I especially like that it can do automatic vs fully manual and everything in between including aperture priority which is my default. Downside to all those features: bulk.

If I were shopping for a digital camera today it would be all about the lens. I think the lens is everything.

GC

Now this is why we don't ask you for camera advice, 2long. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I went with the little Pentax no shake camera with candle light function <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />. Got a good deal on Amazon ($255.).

Gray,

Please turn the snow maker down a little bit. Don't turn it completely off, just adjust it so we are not getting five inches every hour, okay? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'm still around some, SS. Very busy at work though. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />