Our little school doesn’t have a track, so we use a big parking lot.  The surface is not flat, there are a few potholes and lots of loose gravel and sand.  Thank God none of the kids have wiped out….yet.

Not once have I heard any of the kids complain about the conditions in which they have to practice.  Mostly, because they’re just such sweet kids but also, because they don’t know any better.

Which is exactly why they don’t question why I’m the coach.  They are too sweet and they don’t know any better.  Our first track meet is this week….I feel like vomiting and crying, that’s how nervous I am.  But, don’t tell the kids, they think I know what I’m doing and they also think I know how to get to the meet.  Ugh.

This is why I need a new camera.  I’ve been reading about the life of digital cameras and I think my Kodak Easyshare c.2004, has finally been beaten.  I can’t take an even remotely bad photo of anything indoors.  The photo above was taken with a flash in a well lit room and if you can fix it you’ll see that American Idol contestant Phil Stacey is sitting at a table signing autographs.  Or not.  It might just be a photo of a black room.

I know I’m going to get a lot of opinions but I am so terrible at picking out electronic gadgetry and Clay doesn’t have the time to search for good deals or decent cameras, so I need help.

Here’s what I’m hoping for in a camera;

1. Fully automatic features that a person with no skills can use, but is able to learn slowly over the course of five years how to use the other features.

2. Has great to excellent video capabilities.

3. The battery lasts for DAYS!!!  Not hours.

4. Durable so if say my kids swing it around and drop it…it won’t shatter.

5. It cost no more than $250…..is that possible?

6. What am I missing?  I think I need a decent zoom lens too.

I want a really nice camera, but I don’t have much to spend.  Help!!!