Animating starts today... and other news

Tried my mac this morning and it works ... YAAAAAY!!! so very very happy :)
Although there's a few keys that are a bit sticky.. the J and the space bar in particular. random?!
So off into college I went to set up my lights, tripod, camera.... oh shite.. camera? way to go and forget the camera Jodie?!
So I'm now sat waiting for my housemate to come into uni in the next hour and bring my camera in for me, (thank you Dawn!).... then bumped into Paul who came in the seminar room to check how it was going, gave me a few ideas on the lighting - but admittedly it's a little hard to work out how it looks when you don't have a damn camera to look through.... Paul asked if I'd got my software sorted as well. Software? what software? I was just thinking I was going to go ahead and take a load of photos, check back on the camera - didn't really think about how other animations I've done - which have all been in the AV room, I've used FrameThief, which uses live camera shots, and everything appears on screen - then you can use onion skinning to check your movements are timed ok and saves you making a lot of mistakes.
So. Now I've spent the last half hour scanning around for some free animation stop motion software so that I can at least have a safety net with the photo taking... came across Apple's free FrameByFrame software, downloaded and looking hopeful!O

Ohhhhh dear... everything was all so well planned and going ok. Now I'm not too sure?! :(
I'm just hoping once the camera arrives (and is probably now low on battery knowing my luck today...) I can start with a few tests and get stuck in and off off and away.
Fingers are crossed....

(and a few notes have been made for next time I make an animation so I don't forget anything again.... arghhh all part of the learning process right?...)