The object of my affection

After much research and an obscene amount of fondling different dSLR camera models, I finally decided that the camera that best fit my needs and our budget was a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi.  I made my case to John, as I have almost weekly for the last year, about why I simply NEED a dSLR (this week's argument included such things as our upcoming trips to Boston and San Diego, pretty spring flowers and of course Alex) and surprisingly, his response this time was "Why don't you take a ride to the camera shop and get one?" So I did.

Even after exhaustive comparison shopping, when all was said and done, I still ended up spending more than I wanted.  I should have just bought it on line.  There's no one pressuring me into buying stuff I don't really need.  I did OK though, along with the camera body and basic 18-55 lens, I bought a 2GB memory card and a lens filter.  I survived the hard core sales pitch on the dangers of not buying the service plan (including but not limited to; running over my camera with the car, having my dog chew on it - I don't have a dog, having it snatched by wild animals and buried in the woods only to find it days later after worms and insects have infiltrated the camera body and lens), but they got me on the frequent shopper membership.  I did walk away with free photography classes that I'm starting next week which I'm very excited about.

Even though this purchase was well researched and in no way could be considered an impulse buy, I still suffered a bit of buyer's remorse.  I called John from the parking lot of Inkley's in a panic, absolutely certain that I'd sent our family into financial ruin with my purchase.  John assured me that we wouldn't go broke or loose the house because I'd bought a camera and to think of it as my 2006 year end bonus (we like to joke about my being employed by John now that I'm home full time.  Complete with monthly reviews, quality checks and year end bonuses).  All the anxiety went away once I took my first few pictures with the new camera.

 

I fell instantly, madly, wildly in love with my new camera.  So much so I would have slept with it resting next to me on a velvet pillow last night if it weren't for Mr. BoogerBeak still feeling sick and needing to be cuddled by Mommy all night. 

Now I can stop training Alex to smear boogers all over Grandma Jen's Nikon D80 so that I can innocently offer to wipe them off, only to steal away it.  Jen, your camera is now safe.