Well another year passing and a damn good one at that. A lot of really cool things happened, a lot of not so cool things happened and honestly I feel like I learned quite a lot about myself. Aside from the crazy endurance test that THON was, I didn't really retain anything from the first four and a half months. Actually there was this: if someone tells you they like you and at the same time you're chasing some chick that doesn't seem to really think much at all, don't be stupid. I went out on two dates with each of them and I seriously didn't figure this out earlier. It was the end of the semester anyway and I was not gonna see either of them again, but really *facepalm*.

The mid-May to August was a lot of very interesting things going on in my life. As well as seeing alot of shows (DeVotchKa, Rogue Wave, Death Cab for Cutie, Yeasayer and The National) and chillin with the jerks, it was a lot of work for me. I got my first retail job at the candy store that shall not be named. Although I already knew that retail was not a field I would ever consider working in, I had a PS3 to buy on June 12th and there was no way around that (of course the only time I'd ever go to a midnight release would be for MGS4). In retrospect the job was really not all that bad, the pay was good, the people were cool, the job fairly easy usually (sometimes I literally walked around the store all day). But really, how could 34-year-old Dylan Lauren picture her business venture as a literal interpretation of a candyland? There had to have been some kind of 6-year-old consult or elves or something for that place to look and sound the way it does. The moment that I truly said it was enough was a Saturday night during which a group of maybe 20 teenage girls were on a spree courtesy of a frugal uncle. This guy seriously paid for more than $800 in overpriced candies, with this birthday insisting on getting more. when I was done on my end a single guy comes up with a single item and I say pretty smugly "Wow, there's only one of you! Thank you, Sir!"

So after those four weeks of fun, I went back to the Door for my 5th and final summer. I made that announcement early and really it seemed that everyone else that had been returning for at least the last 3 years had the same plans in mind. This summer more than ever I felt like I had a project that I really could make my own even though it wasn't even my idea. Though I wasn't new to facilitating a workshop I was definitely new to dedicating all my work to it. My lesson plans were done weekly instead of the night before, I had a project that affected the program year round instead of just the summer AND I had my own desk! I sacrificed hangout time with one of the most important people in my life, but its clear that might have been the right way to do it. Still my old job was to keep him from having a stroke, definitely looked sometimes like he was damn near close to it.

Finally the fall semester. Finally at University Park, where there are never dull moments and always a party going on yet I found myself on many nights (at least until November) not doing anything. There's a lot of reasons for that, but I did get a good run going towards the end of the semester, definitely good thing going into the spring. I started doing things focused on my career, doing the internship with Intercollegiate Athletics capturing the best of Penn State sports and doing the club thing with PSNTV are both very fun and just keeping my skills honed. Again I realize another thing: if you're trying to get with some chick and at the same time finding out one chick that is pretty interested in you is just straight weird, don't be stupid. That case is unfortunate though, I'm stuck running into one, while I won't see the other til next fall. Oh well, I'm sure 2009 will be enjoyable enough that when the summer passes things will only get better.

-Mikhail

I had a pretty awesome birthday. My grandfather came from Massachusetts for the Christmas Eve party a day early, which was great since I hadn't seen him in more than a year. It was a pretty cool thing to think that he's 85 and for has looked basically the same my entire life. Encouraging I'd say. My brother got me Living on the Black which I had been dying to read since the being of the summer and my parents got me a new watch. Then of course had dinner with the jerks and played Apples after some cake. Next year is gonna just be about the same I'm sure, except no one will probably remember it without pictures. Another great Christmas Eve with the family, which of course never fails to end without being twisted mah niggas. I'm never really anxious for time to pass by, but 2009 flew right by until the fall, it'd be pretty alright.

-Mikhail

I think the peak of High Definition Television viewing has been achieved. Bear Grylls cooking and eating a turtle. Thank you Discovery Channel.

-Mikhail

Correction: Bear Grylls jumping in and getting out of a sinkhole, the peak of HDTV.

Is it weird that not even a day home for winter break I'm already thinking spring break? Not for any particularly bad reason, actually it's a really good and humble reason. More to come.

-Mikhail

I've had a very interesting realization over the last week. Ready? Okay here it is: People think I'm good for someone. How did this come to be? Well, I went out with my friend Ricky last week to this party at his friend's place and we're just talking about things (I hadn't seen him a few weeks before that) and since then he started seeing some chick (whom before I eventually meet later that night, swears I met her at the party I last saw Ricky at). The majority of the talk I had with her on the way back to our building was about how she thinks I would be perfect for someone. I seriously talked to her for about an hour going back and forth about this because I just thought it was really funny. Most of this actually came from talks she'd been having Ricky I think. Anyway, then again last night my boy Kevin is trying to get me into looking out for "Ethiopian chicks" since he started dating one a few weeks ago. This really has made me think the last few hours, since the one chick I've been bothering all semester is heading abroad and won't see her til next fall, that its time I become that guy. You know the one you try to set your friends up with. How that'll work out is yet to be determined, but I think I've got a good trial period ahead.

-Mikhail