Strange...I just sold my Classroom in a Book series (3) for CS3 on eBay a few weeks ago. LOL And I just finished http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Landscape-Photography-Footsteps-Masters/dp/0240812433/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1309016383&sr=1-2 last week. Before that, http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Black-White-Photography-Techniques/dp/0470597755/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1309016471&sr=1-1 and (LOL) before that, http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Photographic-Composition-Creativity-Personal/dp/1933952229/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1309016518&sr=1-1

I'm reading one called, "Winning Photographs" now. BUT the one I'm looking forward to is the one I just got from Kelby Training, http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Retouching-Techniques-Photographers-Photoshop/dp/0321725549/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1309016597&sr=1-1

(long links...)

I was wondering about that new Vue book that just came out...thought I'd wait and see what might be said about it in here.

Maybe you have a knack for that sort of stuff. wink My best frined was an MP (military police) in the army and decided to change to computers about 30 years ago and he fell into his niche. He's an MVP for MS (Outlook), gets all their software free, is one of the top "helpers" at Experts Exchange, and works in the same organizatioin as I do (except he gets paid more than $100,000 per year). Some people just have a knack for certain things. smile

Well, that's certainly some background !

These days, I tend to buy books (mostly photography books) and read them for learning. And I have a year subscription with NAPP for their group of classes (this year). But other software learning needs (Poser and Vue) take a back seat (because I actually use the photography/Adobe Creative Suite just about daily) in my job and on the side for a little extra money.

But, as I approach retirement, I might find some more time for things...

Haha...I have to tell people something similar all the time. Because I do graphic design work, they think I'm able to draw. Even my stick figures are out of proportion. I have to tell them I can take (and modify) existing images/text/shapes and lay them out in a somewhat reasonable semi-gratifying design but don't ask me to draw ANYTHING!

I'm afraid I can empathize with you--when it comes to crowds, I seem to be the cook in the house. Mostly, we cook together for ourselves but if there are more than 4 eating, I get called in.

LOL @ "explosives"...

Hehe, your long post reveals your impatience. I don't mean, impatience in a bad way but impatience like a child waiting for Christmas. LOL

And, yes, you're not the only person to get sideways looks...hehe.

Well, at least you're an artist without the materials at the moment instead of an artist who lost their vision. smile

I have a lot of "texture" photos myself. Hi-Res stuff that looks like it would be useful for texturing. Tree bark, various bricks, stones, rust, cracks...well, you get the idea. LOL. Of course, like most things with me...they "collect dust".

I'm always down for the pics...it always helps put a "kind of a face" on the members here. Besides, I dabble in photography and photographs of the area would be interesting for that reason alone.

Then, there's the new PC wink ! LOL

Nearly everytime I got something from Dell, it arrived more quickly than stated. Not sure if that holds true for AW but...cross those fingers.

And congrats on the hubby instead of the "hubby" (grin).

Wow, some big changes in your life this year !

Well, personally, I think the shader skin work looks pretty darn good. While it tends to favor the Photoshopping ("airbrushing") that one finds of the cover photos of many magazines, let's remember those ARE photographs have have be retouched and that kind of retouching is standard on model photos. Therefore, the skin shaders do a good job of representing industry standard photos that have been retouched. IMO, of course.

PS: I finally broke down and got rid of my 3-year-old Sony Erik. phone and bought an iPhone 4. I LOVE that phone !!

You ARE in for some happy days ahead. wink

Interesting. Thanks for the info.  When I worked for the Army Security Agency (and later, INSCOM... Intelligence Command), I was stationed at a tiny little-known army post (field station) in Faquier (sp?) County (near Warrenton). On the way to Skyline Drive. Faquier County was horse country...LOTS of rich horse owners. And I drove out to Luray Caverns one day. I like those mountains.

I actually, though, grew up in the mountains of North Carolina. About 20-25 minutes from Grandfather Mountain, Short-Off, Mile-High Swinging Bridge, Linville Gorge, Boone (etc.). In fact, about 10 minutes away from where a lot of "Last of the Mohicans" was shot (Lake James and near Morganton).

A lot of people refer to the Appalachain chain as not really being mountains but I've never felt that way...especially when you start hiking them. LOL

I like the mountain laurel in those mountains.

Anyway, just had to ask.  :)

BTW, what beloved mountains...

Your enthusiasm is frightening ! LOL. (I'd be excited, too).

The biggest (most expensive single) item in my system is the monitor--the only Dell item I got, their 27-incher.

Interesting read. And hope the new "machine" is all that you hope it will be. :-)

I used to be a died-in-the-wool Dell person (havd extremely good luck with durability and average to good performance from them). But my last venture to buy a new PC (after having my latest Dell for about 5 years) went sour when I got irritated over the narrow selections for options they had.

That's when I decided to build my own machine which outperformed any option I could get from their Dimension series for a cost of over $1,200 less. At the time, for example, you couldn't even configure a PC with an SSD drive. I've had mine over a year now and very happy with it. I had always appreciated Dell cases for their ease in working in but my Lian Li case is pure genius compared to theirs.

I also joined PC MECH forums for assistance.

So, to bring the comment somewhat on topic, I initially configured my PC with 8 GB of 1666 RAM (at a somewhat expensive price). During Christmas, at either Newegg or Tiger Direct (can't remember), stumbled on a huge sale and got the second matching 8 GB at just over $100. So, what you were told about memory is spot on, I would guess.

You'll have to post a pic of it when she's finally "providing the white noise" at your house (wink).

Shouldn't act surprised. It was a complicated topic. Well done !

Nice answer, forester!