New Lens

 Yeah that is a 70-200mm L series f4 USM Canon lens. Cassandra and I did some end of year financial assessment. I didn't think I needed to go out and spend the cash for IS or f2.8 so I just got the base model which makes for a reasonable buy. I've already taken it out and am really happy with the results. The USM makes focusing so quick and quiet and the pictures are sharp. The lens is also much skinnier and lighter than I thought making it easier to carry around. I also got around to dropping off my 15-85mm lens to the only certified repair guy in the city. Henry's even sends their stuff there not under warranty. There is some grit under the manual focus ring that should be cleaned out. Turns out its a real simple clean for only 45 bucks, that makes me happy. Cassandra also makes me happy, even though she complains that she is in every one of my photos and that I stare at her more with a camera in front of my face than with my own eyes. Hopefully I make up for it with charm.


My Flickr page

Dusting of Snow

In case people were concerned it was only minus one today and last night we only got around 5-10 cm of snow. The roads are clear, we have more snow now than we have ever had in December before but it's accumulated over the last week. Nothing we can't handle. The bad weather never got to us, I feel for the people in Toronto and else where with no power. I hope they manage till everything gets sorted out.

Building Metal Earth Fokker Bi-Plane Model

I also put together a time lapse video of me building another Metal Earth model. This time I managed to make a couple mistakes by not tightening the right ties and closing the fuselage before I attached the tail but that's what makes the model unique. I put this together in iMovie.

Oh Christmas Tree...

Christmas Tree
Originally uploaded by The Tedster

Cassandra spent some time decorating the tree I bought. She was ridiculously happy and surprised when she came home the other day to find a real tree. I picked it up from Home Depot and walked around the store with it under my arm while I got a shovel and tree stand. It's easy to get a tree when you aren't looking for a big one. The tree skirt Cassandra and I picked up from Target. It is a lot nicer in there than I thought it would be. If I ever need something quick I'm going to the target instead of Walmart.

Saying Goodbye

Saying Goodbye
Originally uploaded by The Tedster
Via Flickr:
I dropped the Mazda off at the automotive auction place in Paradise this afternoon. I think I was much more attached to it than I had initially thought. I was really sad to see the guy drive it off into the lot.

After my Dad gifted me the Mazda in Winnipeg for a Graduation gift I drove it to a new job out in Abbotsford BC. I had 1,300 dollars worth of repairs to make before I could safety the car to get ICBC insurance and registration, oh the trials and tribulations of a beater. Little did I know I would only be hanging around BC for 9 months. I never did cancel my Manitoba Registration though. So when I got back I renewed it for a small fee and got the car re-identified as a Winnipeger with the block heater cord hanging out. This lasted another 11 months and then I was off to Newfoundland with Cassandra. Taking the car from coast to coast. The only parts of the trans Canada I haven't driven are from Victoria to Tofino in BC and Port Aux Basque to St. John's in Newfoundland.
It was good fun, lots of repairs the last couple years and boy did the rust start to show. I wanted it to breakdown and say I drove the Mazda to it's last breath but the street parking ban comes into effect soon. We got a much newer (well 2006) Matrix in its place and I'm sure Cassandra and I will make many memories and adventures with it as well.

I am using Donate A Car Canada to give the proceeds of the auction to CancerCare Manitoba. I thought it was fitting.

Goodbye car

Model Making

I made a scale model of the Space shuttle Atlantis and decided to create a gif. I used a Metal Earth Model kit I got for christmas. They are pretty cool to make. More fun then just buying the model to look at.