I've held this post off for long enough, but I guess now is a good chance to do it since I doubt I'll be going out tonight. I am a Penn State graduate. My Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications is proudly hanging in the living room no one ever goes in under a picture of the lion shrine (that is when the picture stays in the frame). This is day 4 of real life and so far I've spent it digging around craigslist and sending in resumes, watching TV, making my player in MLB 2K10 an elite pitcher, finding the bar with the best special that night (minus the $7 shot) and watching possibly the worst movie ever: The Room. I'm hoping that it isn't a horribly long wait before I find some work, whether in media or just something to get money in the bank. Should be a great summer though, settling back into home life and catching many of my favorite bands for the 2nd and 3rd times.

-Mikhail

I'm done with school. I'm waiting on grades, though it doesn't matter since I'm pretty sure I'll pass and therefore the credits. Thanks to Yeasayer I took a trip back home as soon as I was done with finals for what will certainly be one of the most memorable weeks in my life. Tomorrow I'm heading back to State to enjoy a final week with those that I would like to see again in the future, but it might be a while before that happens. I honestly don't think I've ever felt such relief and accomplishment to officially be a college graduate. While this week was meant to be relaxing and fun, I did start the job search. One place I applied to is exactly what I would like to jump into to start my career with a production company. Hopefully I hear back from them, so we'll see what comes out of that, but I'll be looking around a lot more during the day this week inbetween playing MLB 2K10 and catching up on House and How I Met Your Mother.

-Mikhail

As busy as I have been over the past few weeks, it's amazing how I've managed to carefully balance my work load and social life. I feel that while the work is obviously harder, that my time in college has come full circle. This semester (especially since break) has been more like my first in that I hangout most of the time. Not only that, but I feel like I'm back in a clique. The surest sign of that is when you get a laminated VIP card with your profile pic from facebook.

This weekend, my only project as the campus relations chair for Blue & White Society is coming to reality. This semester (with help from an amazing group of people) I have put together what we believe will be an amazing conference. The dinner went well tonight and people are excited about tomorrow's activities. I'm hoping that with this soon to be off my to do list, I can start getting into the search for the rest of my life, especially with the job fair in a couple weeks will really push that off. Still need to update my resume, gotta get on that.

-Mikhail

I really have been quite lucky in my life. I have a family that I see quite regularly, more than most families I hear. Today I lost one of my uncles, that I haven't seen in almost 10 years. My memory of him is great, he drove me and my brother around when we visited him to get ice cream or a sandwich. Took us to the waterpark and the river I almost drowned in. My father always loved to hear from his brother and his other siblings and his nieces and nephews never failed to mention how much they wish he were around. I'm glad that I have those things to remember him by, he's a pretty special person to our family and I'm happy that for even just those 4 weeks in Tenares I got see what my family loved about him.

Rest In Peace Tio Chepe

-Mikhail

This weekend marked a couple of significant last moments of my time at Penn State. First was my last snowboarding class, by the way did I mention I was taking a snowboarding class? It was a pretty rough ride compared to last week when everything came together quite nicely. I got a few nasty bruises and my hip couldn't hurt any more than it did before riding, but of course it then did. I'm definitely pretty glad I got to spend the last six Saturdays doing that and actually learned something.

The other thing was THON. It was definitely the first Penn State tradition that really became a big part of my experience. It did irk me that I wasn't picked to dance (again) and part of that was probably my fault for being a person with commitments to anything and everything (except to another human being). I experienced this a little last year, the randomly seeing everyone I've met over the years and just reinforcing whatever connection I had to them (or catching up as some may call it) and of course whatever connection brought us to THON. I love that part of it because it could be someone who I've known since day 1 or someone I helped out just last week. This year more than the last three, tried so hard to pull the tears out seemingly making every reminder possible that the third weekend in February 2011 may not be the same as it had been since 2007. I'm convinced that I will make an attempt to dance as an alumni in the future, though hopefully sooner rather than later.

I can't believe Spring Break is less than two weeks away and that I'm spending it at home, but I really couldn't picture it any other way.

-Mikhail

I often tout my success with groupwork whenever someone talks of their misfortunes in the situation. Now I've joined the ranks as it seems evident that my class isn't without those that you simply can't work with. Except for one group, we all have someone that has given us a difficult time. One many of us barely could identify her if she were standing in front of us with her name written on her forehead, while being the team leader; the other two (one of which I'm partnered with) are twins that couldn't be any more alike. In the month we've been in class, these two have logged more talk time in class asking the most centralized questions ever to our teacher, none of which pertaining to things the rest of us care about. Unlike other twins I've encountered, they have no indistinguishable traits physically or characteristically. I don't really care anymore, I think it's become clear I won't be working with either of them once the first show is done.

In other news, while I haven't started my job search fully, my summer concert schedule is already awesome! Yeasayer, The National at Radio City, Passion Pit and The National again at Prospect Park. Very excite!

-Mikhail

I think it's absolutely fair to say that I'm well educated in the goings on of late night talk shows. It's true! While Johnny Carson had to compete with my early bedtimes and Nickelodeon during his final years, I know well enough of things before I started moonlighting in while in my tweens. Hell, I've even watched Craig Kilborn on Sportscenter, The Daily Show and The Late Late Show! I watched Jimmy Kimmel in his first week and can recall parts of Andy Milonakis's "Super Bowl is Gay" song. But really this thing going on right now is just nuts. While everyone has been talking about the 2010 NBA free agency and the mega contracts and shuffle that will bring, it can hopefully take a lesson from the situation in television.

The year started with Fox and Time Warner and Scripps and Cablevision. As always "not getting the valued contract for our programming", "costing too much for the customers aka less profits for us", blah, blah, blah and well the former almost spent a day over striking a deal past the deadline without service interruption, while Cablevision customers can rejoice in not having to see Guy Fieri stuff as much food as he can into his greasy, sweaty face, but paying the same rates for two less channels. Now this giant clusterfuck by NBC after the Jay Leno primetime experiment failed miserably. While I switched to Sir Chattiness shortly after the writer's strike, Conan was still always there to provide a hearty laugh and while there was no way I would leave Dave (who of course scumbagged his way back into America's lives) for the very show he once wished to have, I still tuned in for Conan's first week of shows.

The humor of course wasn't the same, but he was definitely growing into it and it's no secret that he embraced having that brand in front of his name. Now to only start getting bamboozled (like we did last week ourselves) by some bad contract writing (back in 1993 when Letterman signed with CBS, putting in the 11:30 slot was a major sticking point to draw him in, didn't hurt to get the ownership of the 12:30 show and $50 million either). It's amazing how easily sides have been taken and overwhelmingly favoring Conan by the public, but even then you just have to make the rounds really. By the way, consider that Jimmy Kimmel and Jay are pretty good friends and he definitely let him have it on his 10 @ 10 segment.

This week of course will certainly go down in history as far as television after the late local news goes, but next week really has the meat and potatoes coming, especially if Conan's last episode is next Friday. Big guests of course will try to be squeezed in to force CBS to put the highlights of the night on YouTube at 7:30, including well known Leno-hater Howard Stern and the following week the alleged possible trip by Coco to 53rd Street to the predecessor that put NBC behind him long, long ago. Meanwhile I'm sure Fox is making sure that contract is nice and specific when he's ready to jump ship.

-Mikhail

One of my all-time favorite kinds of blog posts are the ones that come as I'm about to fall asleep. Sure that may mean breaking my shut down mode and having to turn the computer back on, but it's fresher than when I jot down the thoughts on a post-it (which I don't have any lying around at home) and trying to recollect what the keywords are supposed to mean.

Anyway, I figured out that this year (first post of oh-10 yay!) is the time I become a family man. Not that it means I'm starting a family getting some chick I barely know knocked up, but just being involved in my family or families really. While there's plenty of people I really have yet to meet (including the chick I will eventually be knocking up), the majority of the people in my life at the moment I feel I have known for a considerable amount of time (at least 3 years). My inner circle here at home is rooted from high school friends so thats 7-8 years and the few from middle school at more than 10 years. While recently my college friends are ones that I've met withing the last year or so, there are a few that I've known since pretty much the beginning. Now with graduation coming I'll be back as full-time family member at home and in the tri-state area. Today some of my cousins kids that have been growing while I've been away are learning my name and learning that the fat guy that they love to bother is my brother.

I don't really think of this as something arbitrary to do, but really it's more like a great time to pick up on that. My college friends are the ones I'll be calling up when it's time to go to a big game in Happy Valley or future bowl games, my home friends are probably gonna be a few of the people I'll be renting my first apartment with, my family will be there for me to give support and find support. While the nature of many of my relationships with these people is soon to change, I think that this year will be dedicated to keeping those links despite the changes, no matter if it's been there for 21 weeks or 21 years.

-Mikhail

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