Lightning

That's what Keith Rushton has said so far about fourth year. That it will pass by like lightning. I believe it too. I can hardly believe the level of work I have so far and this is my 8th day of classes. Yikes.

I really like my classes so far though. I have Keith (ocad's design guru) for type and thesis. He is one of the best profs I've ever had, but he stretches you so much in the process. I leave most of his classes realizing I know nothing. And then for editorial design, I have George Haroutian. He's the awesome danish guy. He seems extremely talented at design, but he's a lot more laid back. He says that in most of his classes, we'll do most of the talking. I like that. For Graphic design, A lot of what we gain is confidence, and the ability to finally make educated decisions about design. not just move stuff around until it looks "right".

I'm so excited about this coming year. but still rather worried (in a healthy way this time) about the amount of work I am required to put in. next semester: dead man walking.

I've decided to give Jim & Marsha my computer. well my PC anyways. I've been slowly migrating from my PC to my mac the last three years anyways, until this year when my PC was only getting in the way. So I want to get it out of my way, and giving it to someone is a very good use for it. Then they don't need to buy a new computer, or struggle with using his thinkpad to hold all his new digital baby pictures. If I were him I would stick to film for the first few months. In twenty years will computers be able to read .jpg's ?? probably, but film last longer. But that's up to them.
So I've decided to give my PC to them, not even sell it to them like I was originally thinking, but give it to them. Monitor, speakers, mouse, keyboard, software and all. I received it as a gift four years ago, and it would make me happy to give it as a gift to someone else.
He's done so much for me he really deserves it. Plus I was reading on Val's blob yesterday that we should not horde up treasures on earth but give to those in need. It's a model of how the church really should work. If I can meet someone's need and I can, I should. not just should, but am called by God to do just that. Plus it fits with a vision God gave me a few years ago, about how I am not necessarily going to be a missionary, or a huge leader, (phew!) but am called to help those in need and live simply.

Plus I really love to give gifts. I started cleaning the keyboard last night. I unscrewed and cleaned each key separately before putting it back together. It looks new. All the trapped dust and sesame seeds are gone. So, now I only need to clean the stickers I put on the monitor and tower, reinstall windows, and last but not least download the ridiculous amount of updates needed to patch all the holes in windows. :p

I really like receiving gifts too. And simple gifts are the best. Getting an email that someone has taken the time to write down specifically for me can really make my day. Just knowing that someone used the last 15 minutes before class to send me an email really makes me feel special. Or making perogies and delicious turkey sausage for me when I'm busy acting like a geek. In fact, just putting up with me when I'm always talking about computers takes a really really gifted person. Someone who offers to meet up with me just to talk, who daily teaches me to be humble and sensitively see the needs of other people, to put others before themselves and go out of their way to meet their needs. someone who makes washing windows seem fun is a gift. yes, yes you are.