It’s Thursday Thirteen time, and I want y’all to be the first to know:

1. Well, not really a baby. In fact, it’s only a camera. A Canon Rebel XLI. I had to have it finally. And, I have the same problem with it that I have with new babies: I’m afraid to hold it!
2. You won’t see any pictures from it for a few days, because I have to read the instruction manual (I have too much testosterone; I don’t read instruction manuals). I also have to figure out the software that came with it.
3. I’m kicking myself! For a whole year, I could have used a decent camera, as I snapped pictures of the lovely afghan squares and afghans for Share A Square. When we delivered the afghans, it would have been magnificent to have the equipment to capture the moments. My husband snapped the pictures, and did a fine job with the camera we had, but it has its limitations. If you want to see more pictures of that afghan delivery, leave a comment or “friend” me on Flickr. We have to keep them “private” to protect the children. I can’t show you faces on a public blog.
4. Comparing my pictures of camp to Sherry’s made me have terrible camera envy (heck all of Sherry’s pictures make me envious). If you want to see the pictures she took at camp, contact her. Hers are private, too.
5. I visit SusieJ and marvel at the pictures she has taken. I drool over what Janeywan does (of course, she has Colorado to photograph…I bet even my old camera could take something decent). Robin’s pictures are amazing (but she has adorable children to “shoot”). Leanne always turns me green with envy. So, I had to get me a camera.
6. Now, that doesn’t mean I will instantly be a good photographer. In fact, I’ll be anything but! The women above actually have skill. I’m going to try, though. My husband has a good eye for composition, and I’m hoping he can help!
7. Robin suggested an on-line photography course that is going on right now at Confessions from the Rubber Room. I’m going to give it a whirl.
8. I already see a tiny problem: I went into the field behind our house last night hoping to snap a picture of Coyote (he never comes around if I have a camera). I realized I can’t see through the lens or see the dials on the camera without my glasses. But, with my glasses on, I can’t see that I am standing on a mound of fire ants! Ouch! Photography can be dangerous!
9. We are going on a vacation next week to visit family in South Carolina and will go over to Charleston and down to Savannah. It should be a good opportunity to get familiar with that camera and how it works.
10. While we are in Savannah, we plan to take a ghost tour, so maybe I can snap pictures of “orbs!”
11. Definitely, I want pictures in Bonaventure Cemetery! It played a featured role in the movie “Midnight In The Garden of Good And Evil.”
12. I also plan to chronicle our attempts at de-cluttering the house. Did I mention that two pack rats are trying to downsize? I’m blogging the adventure at another space called “Out Of Chaos.” It tells you that I am “Clawing my way to a simple life, dragging my husband kicking and screaming every inch of the way!” I am indeed, and it may not be a pretty picture! Ignore the post that is up. I’m trying to claim the blog on Technorati. As usual, Technorati is cantankerous, and has very little tech support.
13. That camera may come in handy someday if we ever have grand babies. In the meantime, I can use it to take pictures of my cats! I can snap pictures one after the other with it. It’s difficult to capture cats on camera, because mine won’t sit still. They don’t pose. What? You don’t want to see picture of my cats?

Well, anyway, you can tell I’m excited. I hope I don’t make a fool of myself.

Wait…I’ve already done that, haven’t I?!

You can visit other folks who have joined the Thursday Thirteen meme this week. Go out and have a good day!