Snowboards and Cameras

Two things of note happened this last week.

I got that DSLR I wanted, and I went snowboarding for the first time.

In the December of 2008, I recall picking up a couple of photography magazines at an airport newsstand on the way to Taiwan. Prominently featured in both magazines was the then-new Nikon D90. It was my single greatest desire to own one of these cameras for the next six months or so, until gradually it was replaced in my mind with the new Canon T1i. As I had been using a Canon point-and-shoot at the time (see post : So I went to the beach and killed my camera), I figured it would be nice to have a DSLR set up to match.

As time went on, and my camera lust stayed bottled up inside, the T2i was released, and two of my friends, SuburbanDweller(who still has my tripod) and Phamtom purchased those, I thought I might get one myself to match.

Now, several months later, I finally scrape up enough money to get a camera. I head over to Costco, and see there, on the racks, the D90. Two years after it's release, it's still competitive with the newer Canon T2i(unless you're shooting video, cause then, the T2i excels). At 1279USD, it comes with a standard 18-55 kit lens, and a 70-300 telephoto. At 1409USD out the door, and 1500USD still burning a hole in my pocket, I cast my dice and made my contribution to the improvement of the economy this year.

Snowboarding yesterday, for the first time, was remarkable. I've never been so cold, yet so warm.

I've come to several conclusions:

1: Snow is cold. Snow pants are a worthy investment.

2: Wrist sprains are bad, and wrist guards are a worthy investment. I had Dakine Nova Protector glove/guard combos. Best $50 bucks I spent for this event.

3: It is cheaper to rent a board than it is to buy one, unless you plan on going snowboarding 20+ times within the usable life of that board.

4: Many short runs are easier on the legs than a few long runs, and using your feet to move a snowboard along the line to the lift is more tiring than actually going down a run.

5: The morning after, my legs feel fine, but my arms are sore. The complete opposite of when I went to sleep last night.

That's all for now.

Thankgiving and Brotherhood

Had Thanksgiving dinner with my friends again. Not nearly as memorable as last year, but still worth going.

Shuffled between two separate parties, and the 5-0 did show up to one of them.

Finished Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, which was a bit short. Ending is a mind****.

Planning on getting a DSLR. Perhaps a T2i(550d).

It's either that or a new set of tires, and I'm sure I'll have more fun with the camera.

Still looking to get out of the house.

Work is as usual. No school next week, but I'll barely notice.

Not much, just life

Got and played Black-ops, did not like. Will likely sell it back. Assassin's Creed Brotherhood comes out tonight. Yay.

Ate at Sushi Koyo, excellent as usual.

Tried Honda-ya in City of Industry. Tasty, Costly, Would Do Again.

Finished "The Pacific." Excellent. Even better, I was warm that night/morning.
 Best night in quite some time. Morning even more fun.

Makes me want to move out even more now.

Painted the fence I've been putting off for the last two weeks.

Met a neighbor/friend that I hadn't seen for a while. Updated mental fact sheet.

Work is as usual. 

Need to catch up on my homework.

Need to do Christmas shopping, even if I won't be around for Christmas.

What I did this week

The one thing I did not do this week, that I said I would, is go to the titty bar.

And I can't decide whether or not I regret it.

David/Constantin had a party last night.

Jeremiah plays the bongos.

And if mead was viking beer, the vikings had a hell of a good time in their party halls.

Gave a looted surfboard to Frank at DK Cabinets.

Visited the last Irish holdout in Diamond Bar, Happy's Bar and Grill.

Nerf gun war at Tiffy's apartment on Wednesday, where their "ambush" on unsuspecting innocent was countered by said innocent prepared for an assault. Had Icewine.

Assuming nothing great happened on Monday or Tuesday, because I can't remember either.

Oh, wait. I voted. And pretty much everything/one I voted for did not pass or get elected except for Cali assemblyman and House representative.