Sick, tired and stupid!

I seem to have acquired some kind of flu.  I felt well enough to go outside and attempt some pictures today with the idea of finally getting a post up.  In my brain boiled state, I failed to check my camera settings.  Scott Kelby calls it WHIMS - White balance, Highlight warning (must be a nikon thing), ISO, Mode and Size.  I had white balance and ISO set for the last thing I attempted to shoot - a woodpecker in a tree in late evening - and then forgot to move off manual mode after my first 10 pictures.  As a result I shot 100+ pictures of flowers in the sun that are blown out and grainy.  But at least I was shaky and unsteady so they are mostly blurry too....so I have that going for me.  But it was a good lesson and a cheap one.  You can buy the most expensive camera, best lens and coolest tripod but if you don't check the basics before you shoot, you will not get the results you want.  So from now on, I will start each shoot with some FUN'EM- Function button (ISO, White balance, Flash, Shooting mode) E (erase the memory card) M (Check the mode dial).  And when I am done, I need to remember to reset everything - Program AE, Auto White Balance, High Speed (Continuous shooting - how many times have I left it on 2 second delay and missed a shot!) and regular flash (as opposed to wireless mode).  

The shrinks tell us that it takes 21 days to form a habit.  So I am resolving to do my FUN'EM for the next 21 days.  What is your WHIMS?

Why?

The world is full of Photography blogs.  I doubt anyone is really saying "What we need, besides world peace, is one more Photography Blog."  Anyone who has written a blog will tell you that it can consume your life.  I don't have the luxury of being consumed.  I have a job, a family and a couple of hobbies other than Photography.  So why do this?  I don't have just one reason so in order here they are:

1 - Most Photography blogs are meant for people with plenty - either plenty of money or plenty of time.  I would LOVE to have all the cool gadgets and tools, the f/2 18-300mm zoom and 20MP 1080p HD DSLR/Video camera.  I cant afford most of those.  And I would love to make all the "as good as" DIY stuff but I am short on time and skill.  So I have to pick and choose where to spend carefully, where to make quickly and when to figure out how to do without.  This blog is about Photography On A Budget - time and money.

2 - I think I have some things I could share and some things I could learn from you.  It always kills me when I see someone with some cool setup, technique or DIY solution and I either can't or wont ask them how they did it.

3 - I want to grow as a photographer myself and keeping this current and updated will force me to do that.

4 - I will admit it, I want fame an fortune!  This Blog is my ticket to easy street and free gear!  Come on, doesn't everyone dream about that?  I will have ads on here and paid links.  My goal it for 5 people I don't know to read and like my blog and for my blog revenue to pay for express shipping on one thing from Amazon.  Im reaching for the brass ring!