~Vitamin Sea~

Brittany's Camera Goes to the Beach

 

Brittany has a new camera and I decided to take it with me on a morning walk down the beach.

It's an Olympus FE 280.  I liked it because it was on sale.  She liked the host of features that came with it, including image stabilization, 21 shooting modes and movie feature with sound.

I'm so used to sticking my eye in the viewfinder on my Canon Rebel that I had trouble getting used to her little point n shoot gizmo. You have no idea how often I started to put the camera up to my face to take a pic. Got a lot of funny looks that way.
I came away impressed...with the size.  And that image stabilization feature.  Boy, I really could use that image stabilization feature.  Especially when using my zoom lens.

On the other hand, nothing beats a point-n-shoot when you want to snap a quick photo and move along.  I find it a time consuming pain in the arse to switch lens when I'm in a hurry.
So I guess there are benefits to having both!

I haven't used a point-n-shoot in several years.  All this time, I've been suffering through  struggling to learn  valiantly learning how to set the aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc. in order to compose a great shot.   It doesn't always work.  I am self taught, an auto idiotic autodidact amateur. We've been through a lot together, this Canon and I.  There are days when I can't stand the thing.  Sometimes I talk to it, coax it,  threaten to drop it off in the Gulf if it doesn't behave.  Once in a while, that works. 
Other times, it will refuse to snap the photo for reasons too numerous to get into here. 
Temperamental little bastard.

I didn't have that problem with the Olympus.  The only problem I did have is that I couldn't see the screen to take the picture.  The sun was so bright, I often had no idea what I was focusing on.  So I'd hold it up, pull back the zoom and hope for the best!  Viola!
Here's where that will screw you up:

In this lovely photo of a bouy, I thought I was focusing on a couple in a kayak.  I centered myself behind the dunes, held the camera up, panned till I thought they were in focus and snapped the photo. 
Do you see the couple?
Well no, they're not in the photo. The sun was so bright, all I could see was a blur on the screen. That little bouy? It stood out, so I thought that was the couple.  OHHHHHHHhhhhh.

So it has it's drawbacks, this little point-n-shoot.

But what ab-so-frookin-lootley amazes me are the 21 available shooting modes.  Ladies and Gentlemen, they have a CUISINE option on this camera.  For photographing FOOD!   Another option for taking photos behind glass.  Another option for photographing documents... you know, for when you're in the tax preparers office, he leaves the room, you lean over and ...
er, never mind. 

Well anyway, here's the photos. I did a little editing afterward.  (I can't help it).
Florida readers, perhaps used to our beaches, will probably not be impressed.  They're just standard photos that look like Every Beach.   And I'm tempted to agree.
As long as we never take a beach like this for granted. 
Clean, white and gorgeous.

50 points if you can tell me what this is for.

If you're from Florida, you only get 10 points, because you should KNOW!  right?

Dive Right In!

Georgia Vacation, North Georgia Mountains

Thought I'd post this after receiving a few emails and comments on our Georgia vacation, after leaving a comment on FC's site.  BTW, it wasn't last year as I thought, but 2006.  (Where did the time go???) 

I still receive emails from the proprietors of the cabin complex where we stayed. I would definitely stay there again.

Anyway, here's a few links to our photos and posts about the trip.  We're overdue for another trip Up North. Wayyy overdue. 

Here ya go:

Georgia Aquarium

Photos of the Cabin

Paradise Cabins official Link   Located in Blairsville, Georgia.   (Would I stay there again? yes!)

Post about Hiking, horseback riding, where to camp:

More hiking (just a rambling post with photos)

The main reason we picked the cabin is that we had Buddy with us.  It's hard to find a place to stay with a 55lb dog!   Buddy travels well and we didn't have any problems whatsoever.  (whew!)

Beauty in the Heat

I don't normally look for photos when I'm outside during the hottest part of the day, as the sun is too bright, and that often makes for "washed out" colors in the photo.  In Florida's heat, I'm usually craving shade if I'm outside when the temps are hitting the upper 90's.

Still, I'm lucky enough to live near one of the most beautiful botanical gardens on the east coast. and it's a great place to unwind after a crazy day.  I couldn't resist shooting these photos around 3 p.m. even with the sun beating down mercilessly. 

Here's where you come in.  Does anyone know what type of vine this is? It would be gorgeous growing along our back fence!

I had planned to ask the staff but got distracted by dozens of other winged beauties and other growing things.  There is usually a marker that identifies the type of plant, but I didn't see one nearby. 
I also looked on their page that lists the plants in bloom, but didn't see it.

It was growing over a bridge that covers a pond on the premises.

By the way, I thought you'd like to know that Monets water lillies are doing very well on the other side of the pond:

I wonder what's lurking under there...

Blame It On Global Warming?

Live in the Southeast? Here's how to Prevent Kidney Stones:

1. Drink More Water.
2. Eat less Meat.
3. Drink a glass of lemonade everyday.
4. Move Up North???

"The US must brace itself for an increase in cases of kidney stones provoked by rising temperatures, scientists this week warned.

Said stones are caused by salts crystallising in the kidneys, something often provoked by dehydration, especially in warmer climes. Accordingly, southeastern US states - the so-called kidney stone "belt" - suffer 50 per cent more cases than northeastern ones."

Here at VitaminSea, we strongly encourage everyone to move Up North!

Save the Kidneys!

Bumper Stickers coming soon...

By the way, here's ol' Buddy on my birthday; always on the lookout for an alternative to Insulin:

STORM CRISIS:

Alrighty, it finally stopped raining a few minutes ago. I don't mind the rain but these lighting storms at night are interrupting my sleep.  While the lightning doesn't bother me at all, it scares Buddy something awful. With every strike and crack and boom, he goes airborne, with a giant landing onto the bed where I'm usually into a deep, legitimate sleep.

Worst of all, it means that the cats opt to stay inside at night so they don't get their little paws wet.  And then they get restless.  Rico especially, having napped inside on the rocking chair all day long, usually finds himself with nothing to do.  So he'll hunt for Zoey.  Or vice versa.  You should hear them in the dead of the night. 

Most of the time, when they get into it, Buddy runs after them and breaks up the fight immediately.  But when the lightning is crackling all around?  Not A CHANCE!

They can die rolling around in a tightly knit ball of fur and claws!  HE will be underneath the covers!  Safe and Sound!

By the time I finally fall asleep again after all of this, Percy wakes me up around 5:30, complaining that breakfast is late yet again.  That's him in the post below, waiting at the dining room table with evil eyes. He never gets involved in the Rico/Zoey crisis, so by 5 a.m. he's up and at it, waiting for his Friskies canned salmon.

You try waking up at 5 to salmon breath and those beady yellow eyes.

Today our cats are taking a field trip to our local Chinese food place! Guess Why!

Let's go outside for a few.  Here's a local assortment:

Little Bugger:

I noticed the cardinal outside the window of the guest bedroom, which I have converted to an exercise room:

I really should actually use the exercise room.  (Which has nothing to do with this photo). Anyone want to buy a treadmill?

And yes, she's in my garden. HMMMM. I was blaming the rabbits for eating the tomatoes. Think she's guilty?

The Chairman of the Board IS Evil. Very Evil.

This one needs a Caption!!

photo by Richard. Who is all proud of himself and stuff.

I thought he didn't even like cats.

How to Forward An Email

Before sending:

1.. Highlight all of the addresses of previous senders.
2.  Hit the delete key.
3.  THEN, for the love of God, ONLY THEN SHOULD YOU CLICK "SEND".

Cut and paste this post, and send it to every person in your address book with love.

Shell Island, John's Pass.

Ok. Lotsa stuff happening on the home front lately, but all is well folks. All is well.

I had a birthday and I'm now officially over 45 and yet, still under 50.  In fact, I'm over 46, too.  I can't bring myself to type out those odd numbered ages.  Something about odd numbers makes you sound older than you are.

Anyway, young or old, today is boat day here on VitaminSea.  On the first of the month, we took my brother, his wife and kids out to Shell Island, south of St. Pete Beach.  It's a great place for exploring marine life.

We frequently see dolphin in these waters when cruising. And every so often, people ask us why we don't jump in the water and swim with them.  That is because we value our lives tremendously.  Check out the size of those guys, will ya?

And also because, a mere two weeks before our boat trip, a 9 and-a-half-foot bull shark was caught just about 10 minutes from this very island, 150 yards off the southern tip of Egmont Key.
So, no, I don't swim in these waters, thanks. 
Also, you can actually be attacked by feeding dolphin, did you know that?  Better to let the wild things be.

Now that you are sore afraid and properly cautioned, let's go out on the boat!

Rounding the corner, we're heading into John's Pass on Treasure Island along the Intracoastal Waterway. Here's a section of it.
There are hotels, shops and great restaurants here. You can go out on a dolphin cruise, rent jet ski's, parasail, or head offshore on the giant casino ships.  I personally like the little basket of corn fritters at the Friendly Fisherman in the morning, with coffee.  yummm.

Here's part of the the new bridge to Treasure Island that is under destruction. Note the state bird of Florida in the background:

What? You can't see the cranes? ;)

The older I get, the worse the puns...

Now we've headed out to the Gulf of Mexico, and pulled up onto a little island. I can tell you how to get there for a mere $19.95 a person.  If you pay for the gas, I'll take you there for free.

This is a great place for snorkeling if you like to pull up little critters and investigate.
Samantha was particularly good about finding living things buried deep in the sand. She is our family marine biologist.  ;)

You can see some of  our photos on FlickR .

But here, I've got a photo of old Fang, who lurks in these here waters.

Check out those beady eyes! He's particularly found of your big toe.

Here, my nephew shows off what I think are lightning whelks (am I right?), beautiful shells, but don't stick your finger inside there or they'll slap ya.  Shell Island is a designated wildlife sanctuary. Everything here is protected!

I hope you had a good tour. Tomorrow, we'll head to the beach for a little evening surf!