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>>My suggestion - tackle UML first. I've got about 3 hours into an article on learning design patterns from a beginner to intermediate standpoint, I hope to have it on the wiki to compliment my VFPDesignPatternCatalog topic by the end of the month.
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>>And I'm in the same boat with you on #3 above =D)
>
>Also, I'll see Steven Black this weekend and may not have another chance to get with him one-on-one.

I cant blame for that! =D)
Maybe you would be willing to be my guinea pig here? Go ahead and see how far you get with learning Design Patterns, then let me show you my Learning Design Patterns article before I bring it out the closest for some honest feedback? You'd make the perfect test subject since your digging into this now... and since your gonna get a chance to milk knowledge from the Master himself ;)