ten.

It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years.

Ten years ago this week, I moved in to what was then Robert Morris College to begin a week of camp with what was then known as the C-Jam Blues Band.

I carried my stuff, with the help of my parents, into my second-floor room in Monroe and barely had time to get settled before scurrying off to meet my new bandmates.

Mike was one of the first people I met. I seem to remember meeting him out in the parking lot near our respective dorms as we were lugging things up the stairs. That might not be accurate though. But, no matter how we met, to this day, Mike is still one of my very best friends.

At rehearsal, I met another soon-to-be friend, Patti, who would turn out to be my roommate for the next three years.

In the next upcoming weeks, I met so many more people that I couldn’t even try to list them all here. I met fellow students, some in the band but most at the Academic Media Center (TV station), who became confidants, career changers, and mentors … and some who were all three.

I had good times and bad times … and some of those times that you simply can’t explain when you’re the producer of a live weekly sports highlight TV show. There were production meetings and brownies and the occasional throwing of things in the control room or the occasional breaking of chairs in the offline editing room.

There were incredibly late Sunday nights / Monday mornings at Kinkos working on the school’s sports newsletter.

There was laughter and tears … and the overflowing of a dishwasher with lots of sudsy bubbles after the other roommate unknowingly poured regular dish soap into the dispenser before running it.

There was learning the hard way that when you wash a red shirt with your favorite jeans, you end up with pink jeans.

There were more late-night pizza calls to Hometown than I care to remember.

There was sledding down the North Athletic Complex hill … and the day we all got stuck in our apartment because the snow slid off the roof and blocked the doorway.

There was September 11. There was a documentary about it. There were countless road trips and hours of footage and days upon days upon days of editing as we all tried to cope with what had just happened.

The college grew up and changed into a university, and we all struggled with how funny it sounded to say RMU instead of RMC.

We grew up. We changed. And we all struggled with what that really meant and what life in the so-called “real world” was all about.

A lot of people would argue that they’d do anything to go back to their high school days. Not me. I’d do anything to go back to my college/university days. It was the best time of my life. It was the worst time of my life.

And I wouldn’t change a thing about it.

Even ten years later.

back.

It’s been quite a journey.

Thousands of pages read. Hundreds of pages written.

But on Saturday, the day finally arrives. I’ll receive my master’s degree. Grad school is officially over.

Which can only mean one thing.

I’m back on the blog.

It feels good to be home. I missed you all.

And yes, the first update will be to eliminate the snow from the header. I promise.

More to come next week …

(Photo courtesy Robert Morris University.)

warm and fuzzy.

Ugh. The pressure’s on. Coach told me that if I didn’t have a post up by later today, he was going to move me from the 15-day DL to IR. And we can’t have that now, can we?

Anyhow, sorry for the lapse in posts. Just been busy that’s all, drinking too many pumpkin spice lattes and watching too much football. So, to ease back into this thing called writing, here’s a dreaded news and notes update, disguised cleverly as a real post via the headline.

baywatch lives!

It was a long night Thursday for Cubs fans at Wrigley Field. (AP/Nam Y. Huh)

So, after our Buccos sailed off into the sunset with nothing more than a miniscule whimper, it’s finally time to get back into baseball.

And what a ride it’s been so far.

Anyone else absolutely loving the fact that the Cubbies are choking? Again? I don’t know why either. I can’t say I dislike the Cubs. I just find it amusing that seemingly the entire media world had already handed Chicago the World Series trophy. That’s why they play the games, kids.

On Wednesday night, my buddy AJ said after listening to Game 1 on a “really crappy AM radio,” he wouldn’t be surprised if the Cubbies got swept right out of the first round. Good call.

Jason Bay's two-run homer in the sixth lifted the Red Sox to a Game 1 win Wednesday. (AP/Chris Carlson)

In the AL, how can you not love the fact that Jason Bay is playing a major role for a team that actually keeps playing after Sept. 30? Welcome to Major League Baseball, Jay Bay. And I can’t help but be happy for the guy, being as he endured so many losing seasons here in the Burgh.

My friend Gary says he’s watching the baseball playoffs strictly to root for Jim Thome. Great player … and I like the concept. I’m watching the baseball playoffs to root for Jason Bay. I’m now officially pulling for the Red Sox.

My World Series prediction? Red Sox and Dodgers. Manny against his old team. Torre against the team he despises. And Jason Bay becomes the difference maker. How fantastic would that be?

drama, drama, drama …

Who needs reality TV when you have the Oakland Raiders?

Gotta feel sorry for Lane Kiffin. Seriously, did you see his interview on ESPN after the Al Davis debacle of a press conference? The kid looked like he’d just been run over by a freight train. And in a way, he kinda had been.

Now Warren Sapp is adding his two cents. Normally, I could care less what Sapp has to say about pretty much anything. But in this case, I think it’s pretty darn interesting.

That is all.

feel-good TV:

I watched that ESPN news magazine E:60 for the first time on Tuesday night. Yes, it was a bit gimmicky. But, despite the pretty lukewarm reviews I’ve read, I really liked it. The stories were legitimate and interesting and about topics that most casual sports fans tend to dismiss.

This week’s show featured an assistant football coach from the University of Hawaii who is wheelchair-bound and unable to speak, a mixed-martial arts competitor who also happens to be an American Gladiator, and a family of drag racers that struggles daily with the life-threatening aspect of the job. Good stories about good people. And well done at that.

It’s storytelling like this that actually makes me miss the business.

black and … blue:

Kendall Simmons is done for the season. So is Rashard Mendenhall. And the offensive line? I won’t even go there right now. It’s not looking great for the Steelers this year. I mean, the black and gold will make the playoffs by default, simply because the division is terrible. But that’s about it.

So, it’s time to get excited about the Pens! Except … it’s a little bit rough there too. Gary Roberts is gone, although I’m told we won’t miss him that much due to the addition of Eric Godard. Marian Hossa’s gone too, not that we’re complaining about that. But losing Sergei Gonchar for four to six months? Ehh. It’s cause for a little itty-bitty bit of concern. Don’t worry. I’m not giving up hope. And for the first time ever, I’m more excited to watch hockey than football this year. I’m just saying. I like our chances better with Gonchar than without him.

gridiron giddy:

Now, for football that doesn’t involve the Steelers? That’s a different story altogether.

Penn State’s in the Top 10. Which is where they should be. I don’t care what the analysts say. It’s going to be a great Big Ten season. Ohio State? Wisconsin? Michigan? Northwestern? All going to be amazing games.

After an abysmal Week 3, I rebounded in Week 4 in the GBAPA Pro Pick’em league, with a big win. Which means, yes, I’m now the first two-week winner in the league. And I’m still sitting pretty in second place, just one game back.

And, while the games might not be all that interesting this season, big props out to my former classmates at Robert Morris, now professors, for putting together a pretty awesome tailgate party before every home game. It almost makes me wish I was back there as an undergraduate student again. Almost.

chill:

It’s October 3. My furnace ran for the first time last night. I sat in my living room, cuddled up under a blanket, flipping between the Pitt game and the Dodgers blowout, trying to read my grad class homework.

I had to wear a heavier jacket to work this morning. I stopped for the mandatory coffee on the way in, opting for yet another pumpkin spice latte.

I’m hoping to get to the farmers’ market on Saturday to pick up my first half-gallon of apple cider of the season.

I’d say it’s officially fall.

news and notes.

Or, in honor of Tina Fey’s appearance on Saturday Night Live (which was hilarious if you didn’t see it), how about a Weekend Update?

football, sorta:

Saw a lot of friends I haven’t seen in a while this weekend. Spent the early part of the afternoon Saturday standing outside in a constant drizzle in the parking lot outside the Robert Morris football game. You know, that lovely thing we call “tailgating.” Never went into the game. Left well before halftime because our steady drizzle became more of a steady downpour. But the food was fantastic, as was the company. Will definitely be back for the next home game. Hopefully next time, though, the Colonials will bring home the win. And it won’t rain.

crushed:

Penn State? Really? 55-13? I like it. A lot. Although I am ready to see them play a real team. Big wins are nice and all, but let’s see what they’re made of already.

My sympathies to The Ohio State and Michigan faithful. OK, not really.

We are …

breaking in the house:

Spent Saturday night with more friends. My lovely former upstairs neighbors had a bunch of people over for a housewarming at their new digs, just across the bridge. The house is lovely, their kitten is now suddenly a full-grown cat, and the food (again!) was fantastic. Sheesh. Now that I look back on it, all I did was eat on Saturday. And catch up with friends. It was a really late night, but it was worth it.

sightseeing:

More food on Sunday. Mom and Dad stopped by on their way home from vacation. (Yes, I was jealous. Still am, actually. But they brought me back cool stuff, so I can’t complain. Too much.)

I love it when they come to town, though. Not just because they’re my parents and I don’t get to see them nearly enough, but because when they come to visit, I get to be a tourist and do those things that you tend to not do when you live here. Sunday’s excursion? A lunch trip to Jerome Bettis’ Grille 36 on the North Shore. It was fantastic. Definitely will go back there again. And they loved it too, which made it even better for me.

Since Sunday was so nice, we took a short little walk after lunch down on the riverwalk. It doesn’t matter how long I live here. I still can’t get enough of that skyline.

golden girl:

Received my final update from Jessica Long’s big Beijing adventure. She finished out of the medals in the 50-meter freestyle on Sunday night. So, her final tally? Four golds, one silver, one bronze. Fantastic stuff.

who’s in first?

That’d be me. *Insert smug grin here.*

Yep, I’ve officially squeaked out a win in Week 2 of the GBAPA Pick’em league. And, since the Man-Formerly-In-First-Place conveniently forgot to make his picks this week, after two weeks, I’m back atop the leaderboard. And yes, Week 2 is officially over. Because we all picked the Cowboys to win tonight, so the point is moot.

The best part? As I was watching the games yesterday afternoon, I thought I was getting killed. Who knew I’d pick the Raiders of all things? I love Monday morning surprises. Next week, though, I’m printing out my picks so I know who I’m supposed to be rooting for.

Armageddon (or close to it):

I went to the South Side to watch the Steelers play last night. Yes, it was windy. But I had NO idea how bad things really were out there … until I tried to drive home. No traffic signals on Route 65. Station Square completely dark. A really strange bright green flash as I drove up the hill into Sewickley. It was definitely an unsettling experience. And I count myself among the lucky ones – my power came back somewhere around 4 a.m. this morning.

But getting into the apartment was a bit of a struggle. It was, umm, dark. I used the glow from my cell phone to see to get in … and then to find my lighter. Thank goodness I have lots of candles. Unfortunately, most of them are scented.

It may have been dark, but man, did my apartment ever smell fruity! 

the irony:

My cell phone beeped at 5:45 a.m. this morning. It was RMU, telling me classes for the day had been cancelled due to the power outage.

My grad class is on Tuesday. Not Monday. Darn it.

and finally …

If you didn’t see the aforementioned SNL skit, watch it here. It’s worth the five minutes.

Now, if you don’t mind, I have to go open all my windows now.

As Colin Quinn would say, that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

remembering.

It was seven years ago today that the world changed.

It was seven years ago tomorrow that a small group of students decided to do what they could to help … and in the process, created history.

Yes, Sept. 11, 2001, was a tragic day. A day I’ll never, ever forget. And for those of you who lost someone that day … words cannot express our sympathy.

But, there was a very small silver lining to that massive dark cloud that day, one that none of us could have ever predicted seven years ago.

The day after – Sept. 12, 2001 – my television production class at Robert Morris University, under the amazing leadership of Dr. James Seguin, decided not to just sit back and let the terrible events unfold. We threw away the class syllabus, and headed out on the streets, armed with our video cameras and our notebooks, and just simply talked to people. After a long writing and editing process, a few months later our interviews became a 42-minute documentary called “America Talks.”

“America Talks” opened up a whole new world to me. It was definitely a life-changing experience, traveling to the Pentagon just a few days after the attack. Then to Shanksville a couple of weeks later. And finally to Ground Zero in the middle of October.

The NYPD escorted our little documentary team past the security gates and into Ground Zero that day. The sights, sounds, and smells still haunt me even now. The rubbish left behind was still smoldering, six weeks after the attack. I get sick to my stomach just thinking about it.

After about 30 minutes inside, it was more than we could handle. So we were escorted out. And, after participating in that ever-mandatory group photo, our police escort gave each of us an American flag pin. I’m wearing it today. The little picture from my cell phone camera doesn’t do it justice. It may have been a cheap purchase, but it’s absolutely priceless to me now.

We talked to several people in Washington D.C. who were stranded hundreds of miles away from home. We talked to a group of firefighters in New York City who lost 11 co-workers in the World Trade Center attacks. We talked to a woman who heard Flight 93 crash not too far away from her Shanksville home. Even now, it’s still very difficult to put into words what I experienced over that two-month period. In fact, other than the journal that I kept through the experience, I think this is the first time I’ve ever really tried to write about it.

“America Talks” landed Robert Morris University in the national spotlight … and landed Dr. Seguin and me on national television. Our group – 25 students in all – has had the opportunity to show it to audiences probably about 100 times since its release in January 2002. It’s amazing though. Every time we show it, I still cry at the end. And the questions from the audience afterward never get any easier to answer.

Yes, Sept. 11, 2001, was a tragic day. But out of that tragedy, there was some good. Hundreds and eventually thousands of students had or will have the opportunity for outstanding learning experiences through RMU’s Center for Documentary Production and Study, which Dr. Seguin now heads … birthed out of the experiences we all had working on “America Talks.”

Seven years later, it still all sort of feels like a dream. Parts of it really bad, parts of it fairly good. But I’m glad I was able to play a small role in making something good out of something truly horrible.