The Climbing Fro
Ben took this one for me while we were climbing in Moab a last week. We were trying to figure out the beta to a route we hadn’t tried before. Maybe we’ll make some more practice in the future.
A Sense of Foreboding
It was a little high. We only brought two crashpads. Did that stop us? No way! The fact that we were pretty sure we were going to break the first hold off did get us to stop a little later though. Hopefully someone gets some glue on it before it really does break.
This was at the Ninja cave outside of Moab. If I told you where it was, I’d have to kill you 
.
Baby Madie
Got to do some fun shots of Tabitha’s newest cousin this weekend on a surprise visit from her aunt and uncle. Tabitha took this one.
Canon Camera II
the seventh and final day of Christmas is upon us. hopefully you’re not still shopping, but in case you are, here’s my last suggestion.
if you’re thinking of getting into photography, or if you would just like to get some really nice pictures, but don’t want to invest thousands of dollars in photography equipment, then I have a plan for you.
Canon Digital Rebel cameras are a popular SLR to first jump into for those unfamiliar with complicated cameras, those who aren’t ready to invest in something extremely expensive, or both. the most recent Rebel is the xsi (the update of our beloved xti). it has all the essential functions you would expect on an SLR, as well as a quite large 12 megapixel sensor. if you’ve never used an SLR before, and are just used to the more common point and shoot digital camera, you’re likely to be overwhelmed by shooting with an SLR. you’re able to focus much faster and accurately, and take pictures WAY faster, and one of the most important features, you can change lenses! this means being able to take extremely wide angle shots (think fisheye) to very zoomed in shots (think African safari).
while the previous Rebel, the xti, came coupled with an unimpressive kit lens, the xsi is attached to the updated version of the same lens, which has received many great reviews. if you are considering saving a little bit and going with the xti, I recommend you skip the kit lens and buy the camera body only, then stick a solid lens such as the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II. actually, I recommend this lens to anyone considering a Canon SLR, but I won’t go into that now.
there are plenty of other great features to the Canon Rebel xsi, but there are probably hundreds of reviews out there right now discussing them already. if you’re interested in getting this camera or one like it, my best advice is to spend some quality time with google learning everything you can about it before you buy it, but here’s a good place for you to start. check it out from Amazon!
George Foreman
day of Christmas six already? you betcha.
you don’t have to be an infomercial expert to have seen a few minutes about the George Foreman grill. maybe you’ve asked yourself, can any device be as magical as that grinning boxer tells me it is? the answer is, yes. I have to admit that I don’t own one of the huge Godzilla editions, but our little one packs quite a punch(!). as far as I know, you can pretty much grill anything you can fit on this thing. in fact, you don’t even have to know anything about grilling, as ours came with instructions as to how long to grill everything! these things aren’t very expensive, and if you’re as lazy as I sometimes am, then you’ll appreciate how easy it is to make yourself something decent to eat quickly and easily. if you know someone soon headed to college, this device may just save their life.
Christmas Movies!
allow me to take a few minutes of your time to suggest some of my favorite movies to watch around Christmas. while you may have seen some or all of them before, consider digging out your old VHS player and watching a couple of the classics, or add a couple to your netflix queue for last minute Christmas entertainment.
first off is an obvious pick, Elf. if you haven’t seen this movie, or at least heard of it, I have no further words for you. it’s Will Ferrel, but without that completely random behavior his movies have become known for. I try to watch this movie at least a few times each Christmas season, and it never fails to make me laugh. definitely worth owning.
my second choice has only a little bit more rhyming in it, The Grinch (the Jim Carrey edition, in case I’m being ambiguous). all things Dr. Seuss are pretty much great, and watching Jim Carrey prance about trying to stop the Whos in Whoville from celebrating Christmas is priceless. I’ll try not to spoil anything for you, but even the Grinch gets a happy ending.
choice number three is probably the most classic of all Christmas movies. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. this is just one example of why claymation is totally freaking sweet. there’s not much I can say about this movie, except that it seems like it’s an integral part of everyone’s childhood at some point. if you haven’t seen it at this point, go out and get it immediately so you can fill this gaping hole in the crumbling landscape that is your childhood. my only complaint? what’s that weird noise that seems to emanate from Rudolph’s nose? does he have some kind of generator in there?
my final pick has to be A Christmas Story. if you’ve ever thought anything other than “an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock, and this thing which tells time” is the best present you could receive on Christmas, you’re wrong. if you’ve never been warned about shooting your eye out, then it’s possible your parents don’t love you. if you’ve never had to dress up in a full body, one piece, pink bunny suite, maybe your parents do love you. if you have no idea what I’m talking about, then put watching A Christmas Story on your Christmas day to-do list.
look forward to the two last minute days of Christmas, both packed into one exciting Christmas eve tomorrow!
