Getting Used to it

I put a lot of thought into it, and I eventually gave in. I need to splurge on a new lens for my camera. This is mainly because I'm trying to get involved on certain projects that may require a better lens in comparison to the lens kit my Rebel XTi came with. I was able to buy the 28-135mm lens from the internet at a decent price. Many call this lens "an excellent walk-around" lens. I'm still playing around with it, so I don't know if I would agree to such label yet. Judge for yourself. Here are untouched photos taken with the lens. What do you think? I'm loving the image stabilizer feature! I'm no professional photographer. In all honesty, I qualify as beginner when it comes to it. I'm very much interested in taking a few photography classes and lately, I find myself filling my search tool bar with words such as "photography in a nut shell." I think I'm starting a new "phase." An expensive phase that is... aaarrggh!