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

I've been trying to write this paper for a few days and just can't seem to concentrate and oddly enough I should be much more engaged than I am. It's about Konami, the people that make the only thing I genuinely obsess over, Metal Gear Solid. My first attempt led to me listening through the entire MGS4 soundtrack. The second try led to me playing MGS1. It's due Thursday, so hopefully I can make it.

I know it is a kind of strange thing to update with but really I don't know what to articulate to you my sexy viewers. I'm really, really busy with the readings for class, working football and soccer games, the internship with WPSU-TV, the socializing, What's That Fact? and possibly more things to come. The fall is typically much more action packed, but in a way sometimes it feels like more than I bargained for. Though I feel a bit overwhelmed, I don't feel like I'm going to break. At least pretty soon I'll have my Fridays back for the most part, so I'll have a good portion of 20 something hours to recover from the week's madness. As much as I'd like to slow down and enjoy senior year, I really just can't wait for the fall to be done, then enjoy my birthday and the rest of winter break. Smooth ride to May afterwards, hopefully.

-Mikhail

In about 30 hours I'll be heading over to the happiest of valleys. The strangest thing about it is that this time next year there's not gonna be that build up anticipating going back to school. This is the last year of my formal education cycle. Those 5 elementary years, the 3 middle school, 4 high school and 4 undergraduate. Its been like that for 15 years of my life mid-August comes and school is just a couple weeks away. Amazing. Well needless to say the upcoming year has a lot of truly great things ahead. Full-time directing for What's That Fact?, adding football to my sports videography reel, another year of crazy times with the friends I've made in the past three years and who knows making more hopefully.

-Mikhail

Tragic moment ladies and gentlemen, I think my BlackBerry's keyboard is fried. It hasn't been unusual for it act up during the heat and therefore humidity in the pocket of my pants, but at the moment the motherfucker is dead. Not single button functioning, which is tragic to say the least. Hopefully overnight in an air conditioned room it'll be working again in the morning, but right now it may be time to think repair, replacement or an early upgrade to the Tour. Oh well guess we'll find out soon. Class starts in a week, yay?

-Mikhail

Hey world, I've been busy figuring things out. Then I got some wonderful advice and stopped to enjoy myself. Obviously since last post, my internship at CBS2 ended. It was mostly awesome, I got to work with some incredibly talented people and learned so much more about working in television and as I've stated before about life in general. On the last day, Scags almost sent me out to Yankee Stadium against the Red Sox, which would have been EPIC, but he needed me to hang around and watch golf, plus he would've been all by himself. I didn't mind much because I got to bid farewell to everyone, which was a little more important to me. Scags left me with the thought to just enjoy senior year, especially since for him he had an amazing time and that I shouldn't worry about getting a job next year as long as long as I keep open to what is out there. Plus after this year work's gonna be a part of the rest of my life. As a result I've had an amazing concert filled week. Monday: The Roots at the Highline Ballroom, Tuesday: TV on the Radio at Prospect Park (both openers Chin Chin and Gang Gang Dance were awesome), Thursday: Yeasayer at Pier 54 (their opener was blah), Friday: Animal Collective at Prospect Park (DJ Dam Funk was cool and he does his own echoes! Black Dice was crap) then Sunday: Dinosaur Jr. and The Walkmen at Central Park. This time next week back at dear Old State, very excite!

-Mikhail

Much happier news to report this time around. Today we did all of our in studio shooting for the newscast. For about the first 30 minutes everything was just getting all the talent mic'd up and getting out of the way to let Maurice DuBois do news flash. It went by incredibly smooth, many times the anchors got their reads on the first try and when they didn't, it wasn't much longer until it was perfect. We ended up finishing a half hour early even. What really sucks is that it was really only the third time that all the interns spent as much an hour around each other, which is unfortunate since we all were pretty comfortable as a group. Later in the day I had a phone interview with Jimmie Johnson, which is ridiculous since I know absolutely nothing about NASCAR, but went well. Pretty hard to believe these are the last two weeks, just when it started to get fun.

-Mikhail

Today I figured out my absolute flaw. I am unable to close. Amazingly on my way home from doing some preparations for the newscast I was thinking today how I'm really relaxed about pretty much every situation except for talking to pretty girls. Definitely not true, within 10 minutes of standing around in Webster Hall anticipating a great show by Atmosphere I started chatting with an incredibly cute girl from Minnesota (die hard fan, since that's where they're from) that just moved to the city. At this point definitely hitting it off, but then her friend arrived so there wasn't much talking after that, but the occasional glance was met. At the end of the show friend takes off for the bathroom and I tap her on the shoulder to let her know I'm leaving and that it was really nice to meet her and a nice handshake and hug, but of course I forget to ask for her number. Closing is my flaw. I had an 0-2 count with the bases loaded and wound up walking in the tying run, so now I can only hope that the team can come back to win in the bottom of the 9th or better make sure it doesn't happen again.

-Mikhail

I meant to write about this earlier, but I've kept putting it off and well its better that I did because it kinda came together today really. Two of the producers in the sports departments had kids within the last couple weeks. Really cool right? Internships are definitely not all about doing bitchwork, or "learning the industry" you also learn that people do indeed live lives outside of a room with computers on tables and videotapes on shelves. Ranging from people adding to their families, starting them or still dealing with roommates. I've heard a lot of cool stories come from my superiors. A lot of these guys have been working together for years and years and know each others tales and of course are always learning more too. Seeing my supervisor come in after his paternity leave with more words than just the "everyones doing well" that we've been getting as our updates was great to hear. It's nice to hear the stories that come straight from the people that are usually delivering it.

-Mikhail

Needless to say I've neglected you blog of mine. Last summer I had a lot of love for you. Every Monday I'd let you know the nothingness of my life. Oddly though compared to last year I'm unsure about almost everything. In a way that feels good, I'm more open to my possibilities. The summer is more than halfway done and soon it'll be back to school. I really don't know whether I want to be back in school or for this summer to just slow down. It's been going at a good pace and much to look forward to in both the immediate future and beyond. See what I mean?

-Mikhail

PS: oh yeah, I cut my hair.

CELEBRITY IS SOMETHING I'VE NEVER REALLY PAYED A LOT OF ATTENTION TO. PEOPLE THAT ARE FAMOUS THAT WE ADMIRE LIVE THE SAME WAY THAT WE DO FOR THE MOST PART. THEY EAT, SLEEP, WORK, HAVE FAMILIES, GO AND HANGOUT WITH THEIR FRIENDS, ALBEIT THE VARIABLES WITHIN THOSE ACTIVITIES MAY MUCH DIFFERENT FROM THE AVERAGE PERSON. BUT TODAY I LEAVE MY BILLY MAYS KEY ON BECAUSE HE'S ONE OF THESE PEOPLE THAT 10 YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS JUST STARTING TO CATCH ON WITH OXICLEAN, WAS LIKE MANY OF US. THE SAME WAS PROBABLY TRUE OF ED MCMAHON, FARRAH FAWCETT, AND MICHAEL JACKSON (NOT AS TRUE SINCE HE'S BEEN AROUND SINCE HE WAS A KID), BUT BILLY MAYS WAS PITCHING ON THE BOARDWALK. FROM SEEING HIM SKYROCKET TO THE SPOTLIGHT IN THE LAST YEAR, IT IS EASY TO SEE WHY HE GOT TO THE LEVEL HE ACHIEVED. HE'S A GUY THAT STANDS FOR WHAT HE BELIEVES IN, TELLS THE TRUTH AND FOR ME BROUGHT SOME JOY WHENEVER HE APPEARED ON THE SCREEN. BELIEVE ME, I CAN'T STAND PEOPLE THAT SEEK ATTENTION, BUT BILLY MAYS WAS UNIQUE IN THAT ATTENTION CAME TO HIM, BUT NOT FOR HIMSELF BUT FOR THE THINGS HE WAS PUTTING HIS FAITH IN. TODAY WE LOST A GUY THAT WAS LIVING THE DREAM, A MAN THAT GOT THERE BY TAKING THE INDIVIDUAL STEPS UP THE LADDER AND THEN CONVINCED YOU TO BUY THE LADDER.

-MIKHAIL

I've been really type lazy lately. Last night I managed to get my first two entries done and realized that out of the 67 hours my 1 credit requires me to do, I did 66 in the first two weeks. Given I signed up for 10 weeks, its amazing how much I've already done in just what is now my third week. Today went to Giants mini camp which was cool, since its the first pro "event" outside of baseball I've ever attended. If there's one thing that was immediately clear, pro football players are massive. I got to see reporting during the off-season at its best, although now that the NBA just wrapped up we'll hopefully jump into that next week with the Draft.

All else is well I suppose.

-Mikhail

Man Bob Martin is gonna enjoy reading my 1st week journal thats for sure. Today I went in at 1 instead of 4 after Scags asked me to come in and log the Yankees game. So I'm sitting around watching the game and they decide to let me go out and do post-game. I rode off with 27 year veteran Vince to Yankee Stadium and first pick up my one day press pass (note the correct spelling of my name).



After that we headed down through the press elevator, that I pointed out to my brother during our visit last month, to the press room where crews from NBC4, NY1, YES Network and SNY were already hanging out. The game still wasn't over and we watched the last inning and a half on one of the many HDTVs lining the concourse of the stadium, while we waited for Girardi to come down. Yankees down 4 in the 9th and they cut the lead in half, but couldn't pull off the comeback this time.

Girardi came in maybe within five minutes of the last out and in between that time some 20 other reporters swarmed in (about six of them being Japanese media in a game where Matsui only pinch-hit, I suppose this has been regular since he's come over to the states though). Not a lot of questions for Girardi, since the obvious focus in a game like this is his trust of Mo, so we headed to the clubhouse. I got handed the CBS2 microphone and stuck it in front of the monstrous CC Sabathia (for as big a guy as he is, he's pretty soft spoken), Johnny Damon (and his extra spiky hair) and Mariano Rivera (who a security guard said would've liked to seen him pitch to Longoria because he's "Mo" and reciprocated that statement).

After the interviews we headed out to this Little League game where A-Rod and Richard Gere were coaching the two teams facing each other. A-Rod was not nearly as excited as Gere was in his managerial role, but did go to the mound congratulated the pitcher for a fine outing before taking him out and walking back to the bench with him. A very awesome day indeed!

-Mikhail

Today, I met a couple of anchors. First was Maurice DuBois early in the day while I was eating a bagel, and he nodded and I nodded back. He said "Hey how's it going?" and I couldn't say anything, since I had a mouth full of bagel. Shortly before I left I met Sam Ryan who does sports and she let me have some trail mix. Good times. Anyway, today I just logged a couple matches from the French Open, some sound bytes from the Yankees post-game and shots of the seagulls and midges from during the game.

-Mikhail

Day One at CBS, pretty good. I got a nice tour of the massive CBS Broadcasting Center, which takes up the entire city block of 56th and 57th between 10th and 11th Avenues. I'm sure a lot more shoot there, but so far I've seen the news studio (and its ballin ass control room), the 106 and Park set (which I didn't know they still aired), Guiding Light (which won't be airing much longer soon), the CBS Sports desk where they do NFL Today and March Madness coverage (those studios were locked though). Otherwise it was a lot of just familiarizing with the system and some of the equipment, but not a lot. Considering I'm gonna have to write a journal on this once a week for my credit, it wouldn't be a bad idea to just write for my memory's sake later. So far I've really only talked to three of the other five interns there today and they seem pretty chill, including one from Penn State, go figure.

-Mikhail

Week 3 of 3, time has really flown by and yet it really hasn't. After all it IS still May and I've already been home for 24 days. The fact I've spent between 14 and 18 days in my room, proves how really interesting my vacation has been thus far. Not really, last week I hung out with the jerks and went to the Yankees game. Tuesday I got really messed up playing Wizards and while a fun time, I haven't had a desire to go outside since. I'm a weekend away from starting my internship at CBS2 which will add an element of activity for the next 10 weeks to fill the hours I've spent playing my Marlins franchise on MLB 2K9. But later today I get to party with a friend from school in which I'm 98% sure will have the highest concentration of people wearing adidas track jackets in Manhattan. Heating up? Hope so.

-Mikhail

Week 2 of 3 of do-nothings definitely much better. All the jerks are back in the city so I've gotten to hangout with them the last 3 days and possibly later tonight and more this weekend. Definitely lots of things left to do before the intern orientation June 1st, so yeah.

-Mikhail

Week 1 of 3 do-nothings is almost complete. I've gone outside for no more than 30 minutes total since Sunday when I spent about an hour and half going to the Ed Sullivan Theater to request tickets for the Late Show and getting Jamba Juice. So really the last time I was out for a considerable time was last Friday. It might be a result of the absolute shit sleep schedule I always have during breaks, which leads to it being 2:30 and I still haven't even rolled out of bed to brush my teeth. I'm hoping I can stop that tomorrow since I'll make a valiant effort to go to the Door and then see one of my favorite people in the world, Katie!

Aside from that all this time breathing my own air, while watching Bob Ross (damn shame they only give him once a week now, also the difficulty of finding clips of him online), I've thought of just about everything:

- When am I gonna take driving lessons?
- I've met fans of other AL East teams except the Blue Jays, need to meet some Canadians.
- How am I possibly gonna work and make no money this summer?
- Am I ever gonna get around to reading Living on the Black?
- How long is it really gonna take for me to get the Big Boss Emblem in MGS4?
- Is it weird that I've been a pretty apathetic about how things kinda left off with Cat?
- Will I actually make time to go re-register as a voter in New York?
- How is it that I care so much about a girl I've at most talked to for 15 minutes?
- I really need to get new shoooooooooooooeeess.
- Who could I possibly get to go see The Price is Right with for Spring Break next year?
- I really should have done those extra credits for 387 and 405 (would've have a sweet GPA)

Hopefully a more exciting week awaits.

-Mikhail

Well intertubers, I got the internship with WCBS-TV! I got interviewed by the head of the sports department today with my hair quite crazy (because there was no hot water in the morning so I skipped the shower) and dressed in my extra-wrinkled suit. Had a good half-hour chat about sports (naturally), the layoffs at the station, union jobs, and briefly possible tasks and availability. I'm pretty excited about this especially since its likely that I'd get to work at a few games. If you couldn't tell already, I am home.

-Mikhail

The very dirty ads for the Quiznos Toasty Torpedo sandwiches suddenly all make sense. I had one for the first time today and the first observation upon my first bite is that its the most phallic sandwich you'll ever have. That's why the oven really wants some torpedo in it, because the thing is a friggin foot and a half long! Add in the fact that its on ciabatta, which is typically a pretty hard bread (although theirs isn't really), and you've got some sexed up metaphors.

-Mikhail

I'm not sure if it has ever been mentioned on this blog, but I along with my brother have a genuine obsession for a man name Paul Lukas and his column on ESPN's Page 2 (and now blog as well), Uni Watch: The Obsessive Study of Athletics Aesthetics. I was just reading an absolutely hilarious article about NYY Steak, in Yankee Stadium.

-Mikhail

I meant to post this earlier today shortly after it happened, but my BlackBerry was being incompetent. Anywho, I was waiting for the bus looking around bored as shit and saw this ant dragging around a leaf. So I'm just watching it going across the sidewalk, when this chick walks by and steps right on the poor guy. It didn't get crushed, but it was so distraught and lost the leaf it was carrying it around and just scrambled back to its hill presumably. That's all really.

-Mikhail

Hey party people, so I've got 3 of the most intense classwork days ever. Tomorrow I've got my presentation for 381 on universal service. We decided to make a replica of your typical Zach Morris cell phone, which this guy in my group made look absolutely badass. I'll have a pic of that hopefully soon. After that I'm directing my project 4 for 283, which might be the thing I'm most worried about. Wednesday I got a test for 387, which shouldn't be too bad. Thursday is really just busy for 283 again working on the other two groups projects. Still working on getting the internship secured, so more words on that soon I'm sure. I'm going home May 5th, so I have a nice 5 day weekend to enjoy, not worrying about work and stuff and of course looking for a party to crash.

-Mikhail

Man, I really wish I had gone to that British Sea Power concert I got a ticket to last year. I listen to them nonstop now. Oh well, catch them around next time.

Edit: This led to me looking at some of my other favorite bands websites and I found a very interesting movie about Rogue Wave's drummer Pat Spurgeon. He is apparently looking for a kidney donation and in the meantime is still performing! I haven't gotten a chance to watch it myself, but I'm sure it is an awesome flick (featuring live performances from Ben Gibbard, Nada Surf, and of course Rogue Wave among others I'm sure). You can read more on that at dtourmovie.com as well as make a donation and download an exclusive Rogue Wave song.


That was from last summer, look how awesome he is! I wish him the best.

BRING ON THE WAVE!

-Mikhail

So, Letterman came back from break today, but guess what? The friggin CBS affiliate here sucks dick and has a blacked out picture! This feels like the brief time that Letterman was simulcast on CBS radio many years back.

Minus: I don't know when commercials are and can't mute it.
Plus: Don't have to see Zach Efron's creepy looking face!
Push: Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic of ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike in the Morning are gonna be on. This is particularly peculiar because I don't listen to the show, but whenever they get a perspective from the duo during Sportscenter there's a picture. Of course since they're making a television appearance I won't be seeing it, just listening.

Personal life is being very interesting, but once again saving that for another post. Looking forward to the weekend though, New York on Friday, Relay for Life most of Saturday and last parties of the semester! Woooooo!

-Mikhail

As of this moment I only have 3 weeks of classes left in the semester. Time has flown right by since spring break and overall things are working quite well. Just taped my project three for my production class, where I made my directing debut. The practice really got me into a good flow, but overall it was quite sloppy. The second take was much much better, things worked out really well and I did some more creative shot selections than the group before, which made me happy. I think a third take may have made it perfect, but I didn't want to have our guest bored. By the way, my job was made really easier when the host/guest combo was absolutely gorgeous. I can't wait to see how it actually came out on tape though. Campus is definitely gonna be a little empty since many went home for Easter, but most of my primary comrades are hanging around so I'm sure we'll find something to do.

-Mikhail

So it appears that next weekend I won't have any plans! Sure Jim may end up finding us a party to go to, but aside from that no work since the baseball team will be on the road and I don't think I have anything due next week (probably do, but I don't know it yet). I have something in mind that I could be doing, but more on that for another day. Anyway this weekend was just fine. Registered for the fall, partied a bit Saturday night, ran into many people that I was not expecting to see, which is always welcome. It is safe to say that I'm doing pretty okay...well except for losing to the Angels in MLB 2K9, but I'll recover.

-Mikhail

I'm supposed to be writing on the relationship between citizenship and consumerism right now. If the deadline wasn't changed to 5PM as opposed the noon, like it was before Wednesday, writing this right now would an issue I'd say. But the great thing is that I intend on getting this done before I go to sleep. Why? you may ask, well let's say I have 3 other cans of Red Bull waiting in case I do start thinking about sleep. Anyway, baseball has been in my thoughts all week. Started working the baseball games last week and have two more this weekend, me and my brother ordered Yankees tickets on Tuesday and baseball is starting back up in 9 days. I'm hoping any plans for Friday night won't be bothered by my having to register on Saturday, but that might be the case unfortunately. Maybe I'll try something I'm not so used to doing instead or maybe I'll catch up on all those movies I downloaded, but haven't seen. Well, back to the citizen-consumer, joy!

-Mikhail

Back to the old grind it is. First day of the second half of the semester is through. Nice and quick as is always the special on a Monday, it kinda sets up the rest of the week especially once I'm back home from Innovation Park on Tuesdays it really means I have to do the same thing I just did for Wednesday and Thursday. Again, although I hate the idleness, not having classes on Friday is the shit.

A quick note Spring Break: good, but boring many days.
Highlights: uncarded boozing, inconvenient raving and trials of being a lifeguard with Franco and Lopez; a visit to The Door, briefly saw everyone I wanted to see though lacking the nice sit-down chat; Red Mango > pinkberry (yeah, I said it); usual Katz's Delicatessen family trip, never fails.

The phone interview Friday, went well one could say. I think producer Lisa Ammerman, may have been slightly impressed with my knowledge of the show, though it felt more like a viewer feedback survey than me trying to get an internship. Unfortunately they were filled up for the summer and of course asked if I could take the fall or spring next year to do it instead, but this is another of the Harrisburg groin pulls, that maybe I'd be able to do if I were here for all four (should've changed majors sooner). Oh well at least that saves me going Hollywood and turning out like this (yes, it's still funny!).

Finally, I just finished working out my schedule for the fall, since registration is next Saturday. At the end of it I'll have 2 credits left for the major, 3 credits left for the minor, which obviously means Ballroom Dancing and/or Dinosaur Extinction for Spring 2010. Here's the catch: 1 class on Mondays and Wednesdays, 4 classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:45AM-3:45PM (almost high school-like hours). I'll see what the advisor thinks of it, considering he told me not to take 381 and 387 together this semester and I did anyway.

-Mikhail

Well tubers, I'd like to let you know that for the first time in few months (definitely the first time this year), that my major stresses have gone in decline. Got papers, presentations, projects out of the way. Applications for internships, cover letters and the simplest resume ever done. I'm going into Spring Break, just finishing the awesome home basketball season for Penn State (most for home wins in a season by the way). Still got a little work ahead during the break, like securing an internship. I have a phone interview with a producer from The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson next Friday, so I'm gonna be figuring out what a summer in Los Angeles may cause me. I'm hoping this week will entail a good bit of relaxing, especially since I'll be home the entire spring break for once.

-Mikhail

I have a really great weekend story to tell, but I am absolutely too lazy to write it. I feel you should all know this intertubers. My efforts should really be on writing a paper on the makers of BlackBerry and soon enough they will be. You know me, I'll always save it for another time.

-Mikhail

Last week at this time I was writing maybe the worst paper I've written since probably any of my middle school book reports. You know how I know it was the worst paper? I got my grade with critique back later that night and I got a 30/60 on it. Fortunately I can redo it since, my group arranged to have the paper moved back (and apparently I got this confused with a nonexistent paper). Thing is I have no motivation to rewrite it, especially when I've got internship stuff to take care of, another paper due next Friday that I haven't even thought about and getting ready to go home next Friday. By the way, my spring break starts in a week. Had I not signed up to work the basketball game next Thursday, this time next week I'd be home in front my big ass TV. Have I ever mentioned how much I enjoy that TV? Well it needs some honorable mention. I'm not sure how I plan to pull this off considering that my Friday and Saturday this week include snowtubing, a men's basketball game and State Patty's Day madness. You know bad things are going to happen, but hopefully not enough that I won't be able to get my shit together on Sunday.

-Mikhail

THON 09 has finally passed and it definitely was my favorite of three I've been at so far for many reasons.
1. I was already here at the Park, no need to drive 2 hours from Middletown and get a hotel we wouldn't spend much time at anyway.
2. I got to work the webcast which initially I was fine with only doing one shift, but something about looking for good shots of the crowd is always fun for me. What I usually look for is people with interesting hats, there sure were a lot of them.
3. I knew many more people dancing and just straight up involved than I did in previous years. Until this year my network was limited to the dancers from my campus. This year it was them, my Blue & White people, people I work with during basketball that were working the webcast or something related and just the various people I see pretty much everyday.
4. The people that I knew dancing were people I have varying amounts of closeness with. First there's Tim one of the B&W dancers, until last week I didn't think he even knew my name, yet when I get on the floor and find him he's glad to see me down there. I'm gonna have to talk to him some more at meetings, cool guy. Next is my friend/audio and video production partner Jackie, I've known her for about 6 weeks and we've bonded well through our love for chocolate and our Korean teacher. She's one of the few people I interact with pretty regularly this semester so being able to cheer her on was a delight. Finally my #1 brother Micah. It was a plan that we came up with after our crazy night during last year's THON, he'd dance and I was going to be his moraler. Well only one of us managed to live up to that, but I was there with him during the final stretch. What was interesting about the floor pass situation was that though there had been a somewhat laid out shift schedule, Micah always asked that I come down. It was definitely a result of our adventure last year, since he was sure I was going to be around (except from 6-7AM when I felt like I needed to shower), which I was and takes me to my last point.
5. I realized the absolute need for me to be dancing next year. I've said it a lot recently since I wasn't chosen to dance this year and that is it would be a great way to go out as a senior dancing. All the time I've put into THON and it culminates that way? There's no doubt it would be fantastic. Watching how Micah was up for pretty much the entire time until the end when things were slowing down and Tim being able to show signs delusion, though not really showing any major fatigue, set up a real challenge for me to match. On the other hand, when I saw Jackie during the final hour, she was crying from the pain in her knees pretty much keeping her glued to the spot she was in. The fight was still in her and that was what I expected from her as well as Micah and Tim, and I know it'll be there if I'm going for 46.

I want to make my presence felt early and known that I'm going to dance in THON 2010, by any means. Its the perfect ending to my involvement with the event as an undergrad, as well as the potential scenario of dancing with three of my favorite people in the world Katie, Amanda and the Little One.

-Mikhail

Looks like things eased up a little. I went into today thinking this is only the beginning of an absolutely miserable week. Not so much anymore fortunately. First off I got a test on Wednesday and in class we looked at review questions which were ridiculously easy. Then almost had a heart attack when in the beginning of 405 teachers all like "Team 2 presentation on Wednesday" someone in the back (an alleged group member) asked why it wasn't moved back, and said that only the paper was pushed back not the presentation. We were only doing a workshop on our papers so the only person I knew in our group called over the other two that were in class and we hammered shit out. Then we talks to teacher and she's cool with pushing it to Monday. Fantastic! Quiz tomorrow and yeah, I feel much better.

-Mikhail

Strange Realization Time: Miki Deez fries and Pepsi negate each others taste. (try it)

I'm hitting a busy time you could say. I'm supposed to be reading 44 pages of McChesney and his beef with the media. This reading was for Monday by the way, but she mentioned that its a big part of the test. frig. In two weeks I got a paper, a presentation, a quiz and an exam, also it'll be THON weekend. If I make it out alive, I'll let you know.

-Mikhail

I've been thinking about the summer a lot lately. Obviously not in a "I'M FUCKIN SICK OF WINTER ALREADY" way, you know winter is my happy time, but in a "what am I going to do this summer" way. It's weird, for 5 years my summer plans have been easily laid out. I mean last year was a little different (at least the beginning of it), but this year everything will be different. The only for sure thing is that I will be interning somewhere. That somewhere though is a huge question, its a matter of whether my gateway to transportation will be a MetroCard or a passport. Even with the passport I'd end up either on the West Coast or across the pond. Well at least part of the decision will be made this weekend. Speaking of this weekend, I'm excited for some much needed boozing during this luau thing on Friday and hopefully during the Super Bowl.

-Mikhail

Things are good in the world, not just mine, but really everyone else it's probably safe to say. Great weekend, got twisted mah niggas, made out with some random bitch, and had french toast at 2:30 in the morning. Also convinced our waiter to drive us home since the taxi companies in the are were being dicks. Penn State beat Michigan in basketball and not only was it a good game to watch, our production was flawless. The camerawork was good, the replays were fantastic *boasts* and just straight up error-free...except for Kiss Cam, but thats never easy to do. Only three days of class this week, yay!!

-Mikhail

Today I made an observation that I'm surprised I didn't catch earlier. I was watching The Price is Right (now a Monday and Wednesday treat for this semester) and they show one of the many life insurance ads (in between the diabetes testing supplies and diaper ads) and the dude mentions how he was watching a commercial for (insert life insurance provider) and how he was going to call and apply for it. Why is it that aside from the spots Alex Trebek does, that insurance ads usually refer to another ad that may have never been actually shown on television? This may be the only product/service that uses this tactic, if it isn't I'd like to see and example.

In other news, first day of class and you know it is what it is. Reading syllabi and finding the best route to class. For some reason campus seems really empty and considering how many people I met last year that went to study abroad this semester. So, I'm going to use that as reasoning for now. Two classes today, first being my Intro to Telecommunications Management at 4:15 with my major advisor teaching, which should be coo. Then a stunning revelation in my Political Economy of Communications class, I have never had hot teacher. Damn. Mondays and Wednesdays are going to pass.

-Mikhail

Well, winter break is drawing to a close and I'm of course excited to be headed back to dear old State. My fucked up sleep schedule has peaked in the last week, which has led to me watching a lot of the Food Network in the afternoon. I got to see Bobby Flay fuck up his grilled red snapper. Just yesterday I had been wondering if they ever messed up the dish on these "in the kitchen" shows and low and behold I get to see it happen.

Well this time next week I'll be back to the Price is Right and 3 hours of the CNN Newsroom. This time around I'll also have a remote again!

-Mikhail

So I just spent the last hour reading through all of my old posts. I'm really impressed with how much things have changed and stayed the same with both my writing style and my development as a person. Great strides on both sides, if one had an hour to spend reading a bunch of nothing I'd imagine they would notice it too. This started as a blog for my freshman English class in Fall 2006 and now it's a collection of the times I've been willing and able to reflect on things going on. It is good that I've gone from "w00t!!s" to "yay!!s", even better that I capitalize the beginnings of my sentences, that I always have some slip of mind where a word is missing and possibly altering what I'm trying to say. Hopefully this lasts another two years, maybe even longer, definitely so now that my readership may be at its all-time high. Good for me, I say, good for you too.

On that note, I caught my January 3rd, 2008 post, which had a pretty solid layout of things to look forward to in 2008. I did every single thing on there except for two (the notebook of thoughts from myself and others and going to new area outside the Northeast).
Here are things for 2009:
- stick to the workout plan I started at the end of the semester, add more to it as well
- do the alternative Spring Break thing with Habitat for Humanity (I alluded to this earlier)
- get another internship (seriously this time with Letterman)
- go to several Yankees games) making up for last year
- figure out a way to go outside the country between now and the summer 2010
- get my driver's license
- arrange hangout time with people I actually want to see, especially if I don't hangout with them very often.

This definitely isn't as great as last year's list, but it'll be something to stick to...even if I pretty much forget that I'm doing them.

-Mikhail

edit: Nevermind the new area portion, I did go to Long Island twice in two months. A bit of a stretch, but I've never been there before that.