Mike,
I can second/third the Canon 50mm 1.8 too, got mine last year for AU$130.00 and have since used it for portrait, wedding, landscape, lightning & Star field shots and have not had any woes, it is a GREAT lense for the amount of $$$ spent.
Im currently in decision mode about purchasing either a Canon 20mm 1.8 & 35mm f2 or the Canon 17-40mm L as I already have a 28-105mm 3.5-4.5 & 100-300mm 4.5-5 to cover my zooms which are two handy, well made lenses that are not tooo expensive.
Mike, it's alot like
aperture fever, ....... trust me. 
Mike. B.