photography

Damn.

Finally, after Sky’s year-end incentive payout, I had enough money to get the camera I’ve been wanting: the Nikon D70. The best part? I’d found an ad in Popular Photography magazine, in the back half where all the camera stores have their catalog/ads, that A&M Photo World had the Nikon D70 kit (kit = camera body + lens) for—get this—$649.00.

!!!

Retail on those is usually upward of a grand! I was so stoked.

So, tonight, I transferred some money from my savings over to my checking, put the much-desired electronic into my shopping cart, entered my debit card info, and almost pushed the Checkout button. But first… a coupon code field? Hmm. That’s my cue to Google the name of the place and “coupon code” and see what I come up with.

And what did I come up with? Shitty reviews of A&M’s service and business practices.

*sigh*

I had noticed that their accessories were a touch overpriced—I’ll need a CompactFlash card to use the camera, after all—but it seems that your prized item suddenly becomes backordered when you opt not to purchase said overpriced accessories.

It wasn’t hard to make a decision. Highly disappointed as I am, I’m going to put my money back into savings and wait until I’ve saved enough to buy my new toy from a reputable dealer, like B&H or Adorama or even find one on eBay.

It’s just… damn. That was disappointing.

site-related

More Linky Love!

I’m not much for Googling myself to see who has links to me, and the Technorati thing was pretty much just depressing, so I took the link off my sidebar. (‘search for dianaschnuth.net: no results found.)

So, when I check out my stats, and find a website I regularly check out as a referrer, I’m always pretty stoked. Number Two on my Thanks For Giving Me A Linkback list goes to Chepooka. I’m a ways down on her page, but I’m happy to be on it at all. Anything that gets me traffic, and anyone who notices that I link to them (and, in this case, trackback to them as well), any of that deserves ‘props’ in my book.

So, thanks, Chepooka! I appreciate the love.

health & fitness 4 Comments

On A Roll

This morning when I woke up, my thighs were sore. It wasn’t one of those ?OMG this sucks? kinds of sore, though—more like a feeling of strength, a good kind of sore. I still don?t think I overdid it. It felt good. It still does.

I was pretty much chained to my desk today, since today was my day to help answer the phones, so I couldn’t get up and wander aboot and stretch my legs as much as I wanted. I think my hamstrings would be less sore right now if I could have taken a few extra bathroom breaks today and walked around. Ah, well. I can stretch now, anyway.

This evening, before dinner but after Aaron had left for work, I worked my upper body with 5lb weights. Afterward, I wrote down what exercises I’d done today and yesterday—not for public consumption, just for my own personal edification, so I can remember what kicked my ass and what works what muscles more and what I need to do more of.

Oh, but first things first. Before I even started my workout this evening, I got out the digital camera and took a front and side Before Picture. Again, these are not for public consumption. Not yet, anyway; not until there’s a sufficient After Picture to go with them. 🙂 I wish I’d taken a Way Before Picture, back in 2003 when Aaron and I first started Atkins. I mean, I can look at my face in pictures and go ‘eek!’ but I can’t really see the rest of me in all its OMFG glory. Heh… maybe that’s a good thing.

Three days o’ working out in a row. How many days does it take to make a habit, do they say? Ten? Thirty? Either way, I’ve got a good start.