Finished my First semester at Columbia College Chicago!

Now, I loved MECA. And I still do. But I do feel that I learned a whole lot more in one semester of columbia than I learned from a year of MECA. The classes have alot more structure, and allow you to have freedom of choice without leaving you floating in a place where you fall back on old comfort rather than forging ahead with a new experience.

I myself default more to the traditional medias, but I found out with my classes that sometimes digital is the better way to go. I've forged ahead into that fairly unknown territory with nervous feelings and basically zero knowledge of illustrator, and not enough knowledge of Indesign. I'm going to have to take a digital imaging class. My MECA one really only helped me sharpen my proficiency in photoshop.

Finals were a snap. And I'm glad to be through them. History was alot easier than I thought it would be. That course wasn't as intense as the one in Maine, so one semester of art history from meca basically taught me everything I needed to know for Columbia, and even then, more than I really needed for that course's intensity. I'm sure I've passed with flying colours and because columbia only requires two semesters of it, I'm done!

As for next semseter, here is my lineup:

Foundations of Photography I
Darkroom Workshop I
Beginning Typography
Design Lab
Fiction Writing I

I'm so set :3 Though I have a feeling that all of the film and paper I'm going to be needing for photo is going to cost me more money than I'm bargaining for. Thank god for my job!

Expect some photography updates from next semester!
Be good kids, and have a Merry Christmas!

Between work must come play, otherwise, Keelay is a very dull girl.

Anymoose.

Heading back East in acouple of weeks, though not as far east as I would like to be. Instead of stretching all the way out to Portland, Maine I'll be making my stop in Baltimore, Maryland for my Cousin Matthew's wedding. Bound to be a good time I think, and hark, I'll be wearing a dress. Funny how two years ago I fought, tooth, nail, spit and venom not to wear one. But now I have one that I like. ONE that I like. end of story.

Also, Thanksgiving next week! May be out of town, may not. we shall see. Yes, we shall see.

Art is being updated at a better pace now, seeing as my studio space is almost completely set up. The scanner is back in business and photographing things has become simpler. photos of 3D work to come. cell phone images, my apologies, but its better than nothing.

Working at the Deli poses no threat or distraction, and believe it or not, it's quite fun to slice various meats and cheeses all day! Work there is pretty concentrated, so it's easy to stay busy and not get bored.

All in all, work and play, well balanced.
Good times are afoot my loves. good times indeed.

Been sick for About a week and a half now.
It's almost finally out the door though. Two more days of antibiotic and my lungs should finally clear out.

Also, a couple of days ago I yawned real big and my jaw clicked pretty hard. It smarted but was still in tact so I didn't think about it. Lately though it's just been sore and gets stiff at night. Hoping that'll go away as well.

In working at the Deli, there are afew things one must be careful of. Spinning blades on meat slicers, juice spills on floors, hot rotisserie ovens, etc. What I DIDN'T watch out for was a small bladed hook that we use to open vacuum sealed meat and cheese. The darn thing snapped forward on me and bit out a small corner of my thumb. But that's almost completely regrown as well.

Human body is an amazing thing really. ya get the snot beat out of ya, sometimes by others sometimes yourself, and it finds a way to put itself back together again.

Pretty Amazing.

Today, at 8:20am, I turned 20! ~streamers, confetti, etc.~

I've entered a new set of tens and can no longer claim teenage awkwardness as an excuse for my shortcomings! Huzzah! :3

Got to see the movie 9 for my birthday, which I celebrated yesterday. They put it in theater 6.
[link]
good times

Also had dinner at steak and shake, and then went walking at a nearby forest preserve!
And since I was there 10 minutes after sundown, the cops even gave me a birthday gift! A shiny ticket for being parked in the lot after sundown. It's not too much, so I don't horrendously mind, but it's still ridiculous. ah well. cest la vie.

Much love to my MECA kids for the group chorus currently in my voicemail! I love it to pieces and I'm going to save it for as long as I can.

20. It's crazy to think I survived this long. Time do do aliitle livin' I guess.
Next year I'll be able to start living on the terms of maybe not remembering the night before XD

Be good my loves.
Celebrations for all!
Come have a slice of virtual cake with me!

Got my butt out of the Produce department at the grocery store and over into the deli! I finally have things to do at work!

I'm digging the Deli hardcore. Soon I get to learn how to work the fryer.

Columbia is treating me quite well. I still miss Portland, but Chicago is feeling better and better. Living at home is an on and off experience, but I shall survive.

To all of my friends in Portland who are on my letter sending list, I'll be putting out the first batch by the end of the month. And anyone I know in Portland who isn't on the list, note me your address and you will receive mail from me about my weirdo life.

In other news, Birthday in 6 days :3