Every once in a while I go back and read some of my old posts and this time did not have to go very far to inspire some writing. Since Thanksgiving I was working and working and working. Mentally and physically exhausted often times feeling winter break would never arrive. Winter break did indeed take its time to get here. It is such a relief to not worry about anything right now (except my future of course), but its great. I had an amazing birthday packed with my best friends and amazing food and music (thanks Talib Kweli and the Blacksmith crew), a Christmas that never disappoints with the family and now looking forward to just hanging out with everyone and of course the Animal Collective show at the planetarium! Next semester should be just amazing, lots of free time and going out to the bars, should be wonderful.

-Mikhail

Another Monday and another attempt to get started on a paper due for Thursday. This has been the story for pretty much the last month. Needless to say I'm pretty sick of doing papers. After this Tuesday I've still got two more to go a sexy 8 pager and sexier 15, I think both are due around the same time. I'm really ready for this semester to be over and though in about 10 days I'll be home for Thanksgiving, I just can't wait to be home and not thinking about homework or work or internships for a bit. This semester has just been a steady onslaught of activity, sometimes fun, sometimes just pointless, but really not enough downtime. There have been times like the last few days where I've just been sleeping or not doing anything, but I've still just had my mind on everything I've got coming up to do. I'm hoping winter break isn't gonna take its time getting here.

-Mikhail

Today I had a very interesting revelation in my Sociology of Education class. This week we were talking about school choice and its role in the academic path of a child.* It amazed me how much school choice was a part of my life, in fact it stunned me that I was one of the very few that attended public school and had choices. This is of course because in New York City, parents and their children are allowed to choose whatever school they would like to go to, whether because of how close from home it is, the programs they have, their reputation, etc. In fact the very area in which I went to high school was a catalyst in the way school choice has progressed in the city. Amazing isn't it? Needless to say, the teacher remembers my name now.

-Mikhail

*We watched a video in class about it today and when they talked about the way New York City handled it, one of my brothers friends from elementary school was in a scene.

I think I may have fucked up a little bit. I'm definitely an overthinker and when an overthinker lets other people know what he overthunk, things get messy or at least feel that way. I think I thought a more of the comfortability of our relationship. As you may or may not know I don't express my thoughts a whole lot and for whatever reason this time I did. Its likely that this will pass soon enough, but the immediate aftermath is slightly unsettling. This weekend should definitely prove to loosen that of course or maybe as soon as I get my oversized hat.

-Mikhail

With the exception of my sophomore year I usually don't ever get homesick, but lately I have been a little. Oddly enough it isn't missing my family or friends (I do of course), but I miss food. I miss the home cooking naturally, but also all the great food I've had over the summer. One thing in particular are the quesadillas from Burrito Box. Sure I've grown a fondness for a few places that I wish I had explored last year, but it is nowhere near the level of satisfying as the food from home. Does this mean I'm pregnant?

-Mikhail

Scene: Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 10ish - Finestra Editing Lab

I was delivering a flash drive containing the week's episode of What's That Fact? to our editor Johanna. The flash drive which I hand her is pretty bent out of shape. She inquired about the condition of the flash drive.

Johanna: If this thing doesn't work you can't blame me if there's no show for next week.
Mikhail: Well, if I got it in there we can get it out right?
Johanna: *awkward stare*

/Scene

-Mikhail

I've done this what? SEVEN TIMES? And the one that matters the most is the one that provides the hardest time. I'm talking about registering for classes. Hard to believe for my last semester of my undergraduate career is now somewhat written in stone. The weirdest thing is that, in prior semesters I'd already have my potential schedule on a post-it looking at it for weeks until the clock struck 12:00:00AM on the first eligible day. Things were different this time I literally put together my tentative schedule earlier this afternoon, still debating whether or not to take that Big Ten Network class or just deal with another semester of Baukus (who's driving me nuts already!). On top of that the only other important course I need to take was filled and if no one drops I'm looking at a dreaded Friday class. You know, another day.

On a lighter note, I went to a party on Friday night that was by far one of the nicer parties I've ever been to. It seemed to have been everyone's birthday except mine and I was probably the only person that didn't go to Altoona. I learned that I shouldn't dance with Indian chicks and that its possible that I may still have a thing for redheads.

-Mikhail