More About Me
"Beavis, I have seen the top of the mountain, and it is good"
This page is designed to provide the inquiring mind with a description of such a wondrous being that is me. Here are some of the key
dates and episodes of my existence on this Earth, with witty and insightful commentary:
For pictures of me, visit my Picture Gallery
Disclaimer: due to cruel fate, I come out looking like a total FOOL on 99% of photos. The other 1% are
those
photographs where I was not aware of them being taken. Visit the gallery at your own risk!!!
Unauthorized
Autobiography
- December 2, 1978. Moscow, Russia
� � In the Year of Our Lord 1978 AD, a new human being came into existence. Named for great-grandfather
Mihail, who perished in
the Finnish War, he was greeted by general bliss and various dignitaries who immediately anointed him to be "the one who will lead us
to glory". I am still working on that part...
- December 3, 1978. Earliest memory
� � While looking at me, my father shouts: What in the hell is THAT?
- Circa 1983-84. Omsk, Russia
� � I have surgery to remove tonsils from my throat. My
parents did not
tell
me, of course, that I was going to the nice large building to have surgery. The memory of blood-soaked clothes and scalpels will always
be with me. After crying my lungs out, I am wheeled back from surgery. The nurse asks, "Did you cry?" To which I reply: "Of course
not".
- September 1, 1985. Moscow, Russia.
� � I go to school for the first time. Upon entering, my supernatural powers are discovered, and I am placed
into an
advanced
calculus class, elementary astrophysics, and marxism-leninism.
- 1985-1992
� � My happy school years. Well, actually, they were not
too
happy. I perfect various cheating techniques
and
prove to be an
absolute dumbass when it comes to chemistry. Some time in 1990, I first get lost in the woods while skiing with my gym class, then am
accused of stealing the class journal where all the grades were recorded. I also play a lot of soccer, and prove to be a prolific
goalscorer. Am invited to the national team, but family decides to emigrate. Grudgingly, I tag along.
- May-December 1992
� � Family emigrates to Harrisburg, PA (the capital of the state). We live in the "projects". I attend a
yeshiva (a Jewish religious
school), where I mumble something during prayer and then learn that football and soccer are, in fact, two different sports. I give
myself a vow not to ever attend a yeshiva. I get promptly admitted to Harrisburg Academy, (9th grade), mainly because I was the first
Russian in
their history. In the summer of 1992, I attend a Jewish summer camp, where I learn a lot of English. In the fall, I begin studies and
join the school soccer team. Playing time is limited: during one game, I am the side referee, and have to retrieve soccer balls from the
thorny bushes surrounding the field. My dad can't get any work in Harrisburg, and lands a job in Boston, where we move just prior to New
Year.
- 1993-1996
� � My years in Brookline High
School.
My first day in the school was "interesting". I was given an
incomprehensible schedule printout and told to get to class. I get lost, then finally find my first class, where I am immediately
recognized as a Russian by fellow immigrants. For sophomore year, I transfer to SWS, (School Within a School), a cool alternative
program in the high school. It is NOT, I repeat, NOT for "problem students". Damn it! Anyway... I also join the Russian theater, and
meet most of my present friends. Also start hanging out with them on Cape Cod, their traditional vacation spot.
I
graduate with honors in 1996, and begin Tufts University in the fall.
- 1996-2000
� � I attend Tufts University, majoring in economics and minoring in communications and media studies. Our
theater falls apart (the director refuses to work with us), so I join the Boston University KVN team
(sort of like sketch comedy
competetion) with my good friend Val. I play in the national KVN finals in Harvard, and we place third.
Meanwhile, I work in Telefund (a
telemarketing company raising money for Tufts), and play soccer and football (suffering some catastrophic injuries in the process).
Sometime in 1997-98, me, Fedya and Alex form the Starik Pohabych Collective,
and then in June on Cape Cod Starik Pohabych himself visits
and inspires us.
Then, I am named "the sexiest being alive" by Playboy. (just checking if
you are paying attention). The advent of my 21st birthday and the
year 2000 did not bring about significant changes in my life, except
perhaps the end of my glorious and promising telemarketing career. One
year older, one year wiser... I don't think so!
- 2000-2001
� � Immediately after graduating from Tufts (without official honors since I forget to fill out the right form), I embark upon a trip to the mother country. I renew old friendships by showing up at people's doors and also dispel rumors about my former teacher's alcoholism. Upon return, and an exhaustive job search (no interviews, no companies visited), I gain a full-time position at AH&H.
- 2001-present
Well, the economy got to Misha, too. After surviving for 2 years, I was laid off in the summer of 2002. At the meeting, I fought the urge to yell "what took you so long??". Spent the next month or so chilling at the Cape and other beach locales, infrequently venturing back to Boston for assorted interviews. Then, to take advantage of my free time and free money (unemployment is a wonderful thing), I go to Spain and Portugal for about a month. Upon getting back, much to my surprise, I land a job(!). And it doesn't involve a mop and bucket (!!). And that's where I stand now, taking everything as always, one Coke six-pack at a time.
Misha on the Web
Because of a wonderful new tool called Googlism, you can now find out some very interesting things about Misha:
Who is Misha?
Absolut Misha
Finally, my penchant for shameless self-promotion led me to design
the following banner, combining my love of Coca-Cola and dedication to
sobriety. Please feel free to give in to the urge of placing this banner
prominently on your homepages.
� Michael Denisenko All rights reserved, all wrongs reversed
