I distinctly remember my first digital camera. I got it in February of 1999. It was a Sony Mavica FD-91. It was a cumbersome beast but its prowess impressed me. It was at least 1.3 lbs and a 5x5 block of plastic to wrangle - but its ability to take images with a zoom of 14x and the ease of transferring those images onto a computer by using a floppy disk, made the inconveniences seem minimal. Instant pictures of the kids, animals, and even eBay objects satisfied the need for instant gratification.

It was the perfect solution on SO many levels.

But techno-lust has a way of getting the best of people. Here it is, over 6 years later and I've gone through the original Sony, another one, and two Canon's. Each one I used faithfully, until I wanted and needed something better and more powerful. eBay had turned into my best friend. I could sell what I no longer used and buy what I needed.

While my photography hasn't gotten me to the plains of Africa, it has gotten me some very nice mementos of places I have been. I've even managed to supplement my digital lust by selling some of my images.

Today my items consist of a Canon 20D and a variety of lenses.

• Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM
• Canon EF 16-35 f/2.8 L USM
• Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
• Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
• Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

Now with Spring Break just days/hours away, my photo backpack is filled to the brim with my digital goodies. As I impatiently countdown till my last class when I can slip into my car and find time with just me and my camera, I wonder if my husband is slightly jealous of the time and energy I give this hobby ----- or if he's just glad I'm out of his hair for a few hours here and there. But as I steal a longing look at my camera all thoughts and worries of the demand of normal life fade from my mind...

• What's for dinner...?
• Time to pay the bills...?
• The toilet's doing what...?
• The project's due when...?

For me, there is a cure for Spring Fever and a way to maintain some sort of sanity...

Photography