hello, While I really do not want to meet up I will put my two cents in, and give a website or two... some are for beginners and some are more technical. if you do not under stand some of the terms I suggest just keep reading, some people can explain some concepts well, while others will explain other concepts well. once you have gone thru these then you can just get out and shoot some pictures. Remember there is no issue with how many pictures you take (except for time looking at them) with digital, if you do not like it then delete it. http://www.gardenguides.com/2128-photograph-flowers-part-1.html http://www.ehow.com/how_18308_photograph-flowers.html http://digital-photography-school.com/photographing-flowers http://www.tabletopstudio.com/documents/bouquet_photography.htm

What I've been told is that the ink jet pictures will fade with time...don't think there is anything you can do about it. And...that the laser jet pics last much longer...most of us have ink jet printers. But..I am going to go ahead and use what pictures I want from my printer...when they are in an album, the light and air doesn't hit them, so they should (I feel) last as long as anyone concerned will want them...a chance we have to take if we are going to use them. I might buy a laser printer the next time...the cartridges are more expensive, but it might be worth the investment....

I started serious running in the 70's and did it for years until I switched to speed walking to save my knees. I walk the dogs three miles a day and go on the treadmill two more miles at 4.3 mph. So I thought I'd try a yoga class early last year when I belonged to a different gym. I went in cold turkey thinking how hard could it be since I do all this other stuff. Well, it was very difficult, and I ended up exhausted. I did find out I wasn't in the beginners class but in an advanced one. I think I'd like to do it at home maybe. My new gym doesn't have lessons. My doctor swears by it.

Do you have a budget in mind? If not, I'd try to figure out what you are comfortable spending and set an upper limit. It's easy to start getting sold on features and nuances that creep that price tag ever higher. Also decide where you will put it and how important appearance is to you. The more you want it to have a furniture or glossy lacquer finish, the more you will pay for it. I was buying for two sons who are musicians, but primarily on other instruments. They both had to pass piano proficiency and would like to learn to play more, so realistic sound and weighted action were important, but only to a point They will never play incredibly fast, complex runs and they are okay with something that sounds like a good upright piano rather than comparing it to a grand or baby grand. We got a Yamaha Arius. Everything I researched and the people I talked to seemed to agree that they and Roland were the ones to look at. Roland has some in a similar price range, but I don't remember seeing them back then. At that time, I could only go see them by appointment and knowing I would be pressed to spend at least 2-3 times more and we just didn't' need that. I would try to find a couple of Yamaha and Roland models and see how they feel/sound to you. You will probably have a preference for one or the other based on sound or action. Hope that helps you get started. I can talk to the guys if you have more detailed questions.