Sucker for a Better Brand

Well, after much resistance, I've finally broken down and purchased Microsoft Office for Mac.  But hey - at least I didn't break down and buy it before the new 2008 edition came out!  So, I'm now the semi-proud owner of some brand new Word, PowerPoint, and Excel bits.  The Entourage and Messenger that came with the package I won't be using.  I say semi-proud because, in a way, I feel like I've cheated myself out of some nobler cause (using TextEdit, which the MacBook came loaded with).  But having these programs will make life a lot easier when trying to peruse a campus that has been brainwashed by Microsoft.  And, I can't complain.  In my industry (tech writing), appearance is everything - and these programs definitely have the appearance.  Yet I couldn't help thinking of the song "Fad of the Land" by Newsboys, particularly the lyrics that go "all you suckers for a better brand".  Yes, I am now officially a sucker for a better brand.  But mark my words ladies and gentlemen - I will NEVER go back to using Microsoft as my operating system.  Never.  It is beyond my capacity as a human being to do so.  Apple is by no means perfect - I make no qualms about it.  However, they do tend to strive closer towards that perfection line than does Microsoft.

A couple programs I'm particularly happy about though, will be the new additions of Adobe's Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator.  I'm particularly excited about the Photoshop right now, as I just started taking a course over it.  I've wanted to learn Photoshop for years - and now is my chance at last!  And if I'm not mistaken, Adobe is native to Mac to begin with.  So that's very cool.  Now I can Photoshop anywhere and everywhere the lovely MacBook dares to explore.  I'm only sad that the package won't arrive until this coming Wednesday.  But until then, I can just dream about how much fun I'll have.

It's kind of interesting though.  After just one week of classes, I'm already beginning to see how my semester is going to go.  I've critiqued my teachers, my fellow peers, even the desks and chairs I'll be sitting at.  Every classroom save for Anatomy & Physiology is a computer lab.  I already feel like I've been attending this campus for several years, instead of just one semester.  It's a good feeling.  Oh, and I've been able to meet some more fellow tech commies.  Always a happy thought.

Wireless on Campus

Yay!  This is just semi-exciting.  I'm finally able to get on the campus's wireless access.  What good is this?  I'm not really sure yet, but it'll be nice to know that I can get online from my own computer if I need to.  I suppose I could have set it up quite as easily last semester, I just didn't really feel the need to do such.

Unfortunately, most of the classes I'm taking involve programs which I don't yet have on this computer, so how much I'll actually use it for communicating online I have yet to find out.

The first day back is kind of surreal.  I woke up this morning to my phone alarm, but promptly ignored it, and didn't wake up until 9:30 or so.  So much for a shower.  But I didn't miss class, so it's still good.  And I now have every intention of going to the bookstore to collect yet another extraneous bill for books that, I get the feeling, I will once again end up not using.  However, with that said, Michelle informs me that our book for "Writing for the Web" is only about $30, and maybe it will come in handy later in life.  I suppose I might want to pick up my things for Anatomy & Physiology too. 

And, with any luck, maybe this semester will prove fruitful in getting an on-campus job.  I just need to be a little more assertive.  *Nod*

My mom's birthday was yesterday.  They're opening a new Quaker Steak & Lube nearby - my sister (the college grad) is employed there until she can find a teaching job next school year.  They had a family and friends night last night - we all got free food and drinks.  If we'd had to pay the tab, it would have been over $100 with a tip!  The food was very good though, and I'm sure I'll enjoy it the next time (if ever) I go.

Oh and here I go, I've broken out the earbuds, and plugged in my adapter (that's never a good sign!).  Well, maybe I can have some sort of useful online conversation with someone.  We'll see.

Oh, and Happy New Year, two weeks after the fact.  May your's be productive, and full of purpose.  I know I'm rediscovering my purpose to be living for God.  It's hard, because there are so many things around us that would have us convinced otherwise.  I just need to keep my focus on him, and things will be that much better.  For now, and for the rest of my time here.