Yes, smile.  Terri got a new camera.  Yeah, another one.  Okay.....let me explain.....

First of all, photography is another one of my creative outlets.  I love it.  Always have.  Love cameras.  Love taking pictures.  Love saving them.  Love looking at them. 

My first "serious" camera was the Canon AE-1.  A 35mm beauty.  And it will always be special to me because of the story that goes with it..........It was 1980, I was in college for the RN program, we had the 3 kids and money was extremely tight.  I had mentioned how I'd love to own that Canon AE-1, knowing FULL well NO way could we afford it!  Christmas arrived and Ray gave me my gift.....a nicely wrapped, brightly colored box.  I opened it and read the wording......a battery?  He was giving me a battery for Christmas?  I proceeded to open the box and yes, you guessed it, there inside was my beloved Canon AE-1.  That was probably one of the few times I've been speechless!  And one of the biggest surprises I've ever gotten, because I knew we couldn't afford it.

However, Ray had been saving all year.  Here and there, putting money aside and he got me the camera I longed for.  I certainly did enjoy that camera.  I even signed up to take a couple photography courses at college.  I had all of the lenses, the tripod, the works and how I loved going out and about "shooting."  All around Salem and Marblehead, the ocean, the historic houses, old cemeteries, etc.

Even after we moved to Florida, I continued to use that camera.  AND then, I got a computer and discovered the world of digital cameras.  WHAT?  No film!  No developing and waiting to get the photos back?  Photos right away?  AND they could be saved on your computer and put on CD's, etc.  Needless to say, my beloved Canon is now tucked safely away and like most everyone else, I plunged into the world of high tech.

The camera that I now use is the Kodak Z710.  I love it!  It has a 10X zoom and does everything I want it to do.  Except.........it's a bit heavy and a little bulky.  It doesn't really fit easily into my handbag, without a lot of rearranging.  So I got to thinking...........

I have a lot of important events coming up this summer.....the big RWA conference in DC in July, my 45th high school reunion in Salem in August........for the evening events at RWA I'll be wearing a cocktail dress and carrying an evening bag.  Not conducive for fitting in my camera.  So I decided to get a small, slim, point and shoot. 

And I got the Kodak C160.  Just perfect for what I want it for......slim, small, will fit into my handbag easily, convenient to travel with, a 3X zoom lens, 9.2 megapixels and it even came in the pretty color of teal blue.  I found it at Walmart for only $89.95 and I'm pretty happy. 

It will be my secondary camera and ideal for me to always keep in my handbag, ready to snap.

So watch out.....you never know when I'll be hovering about, camera in hand, so be sure to smile!

See you here next time..............