Mason's Story

Still Job Searching

Mason McKinley — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 15:59:23 +0000

Hey everyone, it has been quite a long time since I have written. I was busy finishing up school, and I finally graduated this summer from Ball State. It was nice not to be taking any classes this fall, but the job market also sucks. For about six weeks or so I worked at the high school helping take care of the grounds work (mowing, picking up trash, and lining and painting sports fields).

Now, I’ve been on the job hunt. I’ve been primarily looking for jobs in Muncie (since Kayla is in her last year of school) and in the Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids area because that is where Kayla and I plan to move once she is done. The good thing is if I find a job in Michigan, I can stay with Kayla’s family for a while, which is super helpful. I unfortunately have not been able to find any jobs right now though. So I’m still trying to get my resume out there. I never thought I would want a job so bad.

One quick note before I sign off here, I have created another blog, which is linked to my blog roll. I plan on discussing movies…new and old! So make sure to check that out.
Here’s the link:
http://mmckinleymovieblog.wordpress.com/

Mason

New Video

Mason McKinley — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:47:40 +0000

So we have two videos to do in Video Production 3. This is the first one we did. The film is missing the credit rule in it’s current form.

Produced By: Mason McKinley
Written & Directed By: Steve Grigdesby
Original Score By: Sean N

Some day I can show you the film with the credit role because it rocks, until then follow this link.

http://vimeo.com/10338717

Mason

“Pick up your crazy heart and give it one more try…”

Mason McKinley — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:10:45 +0000

Another semester has started, and I have made it through the first semester. School still isn’t really much fun, classes are always filled with a bunch of stuff that I really don’t want to do, and I absolutely hate trying to balance everything out and make time for everything…but that’s what school is all about I guess…management…hence the meaning of life!

I’ve got myself a full schedule of 18 credit hours. I have Video Production 3, Intercultural Communications, Screenwriting, Social Responsibilities, Spanish 202, and Independent Film Making Management. Some classes I like more than others, but I know a lot of them will need a lot of effort put into each one of them. I guess I’m taking those final steps into the work force.

Kayla and I are still going strong. We’re basically just trying to make sure we both survive the semester. I honestly couldn’t ask for anyone else. She’s pretty patient with me and is always there. What can I say, she’s that amazing!

Mason

“And we live in a beautiful world…”

Mason McKinley — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:06:36 +0000

It’s been awhile since I have posted, I got really busy towards the end of the semester. I guess we can start there, I got everything finished in time. I wish the semester just would have went a little better. I passed all my classes except for Spanish 202. I now have to take that class again and I am now going to graduate in Summer Session. I just couldn’t get the grade I needed, and I was so very close. I decided not to dwell on it because it would just ruin my break. So now the plan is to take 18 credits in the Spring and then 1 summer class and then graduate.

So Christmas was fun this year, just as it always is. We spent Christmas Eve at Dad’s and then went over to Aunt J’s that evening. We ended up opening Christmas presents with mom on Christmas Eve and then went to Grandma’s on Christmas Day. Then on the day after Christmas Mom, Jordan, and Andrea went shopping. I went to Walmart for an oil change and then I did a little shopping. Then we all met at the house and hung out there.

I came up to Michigan on the 30th to visit Kayla and her family. I’m actually staying up here for the remainder of break. I like it up here and I’m looking forward to spending the rest of break here. I love Kayla and her family.

That’s it for now, so I’ll talk to you all later. Maybe I can stay more up to date this semester, but I wouldn’t count on it.

Mason

“I saw the ending when they turned the page…”

Mason McKinley — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:28:38 +0000

Another week is just around the corner, but I guess we’re down to the last four weeks now. I don’t really want to talk about this week though, because I want to talk a little bit about last week.

So last week was a long, difficult week. I had my Law Analysis Paper due (10 pages or more) and then I had my fifteen minute presentation in Spanish over Spain. I had most of the research done prior to the paper writing, so it was a matter of getting 10 pages out. I actually finished it and it sounded alright. I hope I did well on it, I need the good grade after the last test. That was due on Thursday. I have been having some bad dreams about getting horrible grades on it, so hopefully I really did do well. He is going to have them done before we leave for break or email our grade.

The Spanish presentation was suppose to be on Wednesday, but she canceled class because she was sick. So I had to worry about it for a few more days and then we presented Friday. I think that is the most Spanish I have spoken in my whole two years in the program. Not sure I said very many things right, but my partner and I got it done. I mean giving a presentation in English is hard, but one in Spanish is even harder. We should get our grade sometime soon I hope.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, just needs to come a little quicker! I added a video to this blog. It’s a video by one of my favorite bands, The Killers. The song is called “Dustland Fairytale” and Brandon Flowers, the lead singer, wrote it for his parents. They recorded this version at Abbey Road with a full orchestra behind them, it’s awesome!

Mason

“Who will save us…”

Mason McKinley — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:47:24 +0000

So another new week has begun, which I am not ready for at all. I have got a few things done. I have turned in my schedule request for next semester, my finally semester! I am ready to be done. I still have a lot to look at though for this semester. I need to get cracking on my Law Analysis paper, because I believe it is due on November 12th. I’ve been reading a lot of court documents, but they are very lengthy and can use some funny language. I have a presentation next Wednesday in Spanish as well. My partner and I got together this last weekend to work on it, and I’m having someone help me write out my note cards tomorrow, so I can practice and memorize all the Spanish I have to say. 15 minute presentation just really sucks…especially when it is all in Spanish. I have also been working on my website for Web development and my DVD for DVD design.

I got a little break this last weekend. We had a Halloween party on Saturday. I went as Clark from Smallville when he is the “Blur.” Kayla went as an Angel in the outfield. Jon, Bryana, Derrek, and Brandi came up for it. It turned out to be a good party and I think that everyone had fun. This next weekend should be fun, I have been looking forward to it. Kayla and I are headed to Kokomo. Jordan and Andrea are coming home as well. On Saturday we’re all headed to the lake for Thanksgiving/Christmas with grandma and grandpa before they leave for Florida.

I think that’s about it for now. I just need a quick break from reading Media Law because I was getting very sleepy!

Mason

“I’ve been roaming around, I was looking down at all I see…”

Mason McKinley — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:47:22 +0000

Another week down, and it has been a slow one. It’s Fall Break week! We only get one day off at Ball State, which really sucks. I wish they gave us a whole week off like they do for spring break. I would be ok with them just giving us the whole week of Thanksgiving off! Oh well, I’ll take the day off. Kayla and I are headed to Michigan for break, once I am done with class today at 3:15. We’re off to see her family, since she doesn’t get to go home as much. I know she’s pretty excited to go home, she has been pretty stressed lately…and so have I.

Classes just seem to get really ridiculous and I get so frustrated with them sometimes. I always have a ton of reading for Media Law and we just got our law analysis paper assigned. It’s a ten page paper on the court case he assigned. I got Flynt v. Rumsfeld, this could be an interesting paper. Of course, Spanish is always ridiculous. I hate that class with a burning passion. I’m trying to just survive and pull my way out of the dark hole I’m in. I’m hoping she might start having some pity on me. She expects a lot out of us, and I’ve talked to people who have had her before and they totally agree. She has added more stuff on since they had her and they couldn’t believe it.

So I turned in my application for graduation a couple weeks ago. I’m suppose to be done in May, so let’s see what happens. I’m really ready to be done, it has been a long four years. I still have no idea what I’m going to do when I’m done though. Sometimes I wish I would have stayed with my first major, but things change I guess, and you go with the flow. I think that is it for now!

Mason

“Even Heroes have the right to dream…”

Mason McKinley — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:05:31 +0000

So I have pretty much decided this semester just plain sucks. I am pretty much ready for it to be over, and I’m ready to just be done with school. I feel like I’m running out of gas. I just wish school would get easier, but I know it won’t. Spanish 202 just flat out sucks, it’s so crazy. I don’t know what the heck is going on in there half the time. I can say today that I was able to answer a question today, that made me feel a little better.

I’ve been working my butt off in Media Law too. It is a very difficult, I got a69 on my first test. We have to get a straight C or higher in that class because it is a TCOM class. I got an 88 on the second test, which was much better. We get our Law Analysis paper assigned tomorrow, we get about a month to work on that and then we turn it in the week before Thanksgiving.

I also have been working on trying to put my class schedule together for my final spring semester. It was not be dun at all. I hate trying to figure it all out, I mean I have to make sure no times conflict with other classes and such. It is like a big mind game, not fun at all. I know I have to take Video 3, two other tcom classes, 1 COMM class, and and English scripting writing class. I might have to take spanish 202 again, in case I can’t pass this semester. So I may either have 15 or 18 credit hours.

Some good things going on are everything not school related. Kayla has been good about keeping me relaxed and not stressing over too much stuff. I’m looking forward to a 4 day week next week and then a nice 3 day Fall Break in Michigan.

“Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day…”

Mason McKinley — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:20:58 +0000

Almost another week down in college and things are not getting any easier as the semester goes on. Spanish is very hard and I’m going to have to break down some walls and get help. I don’t know what is about getting help, I don’t know if it is my pride or with spanish that I feel I am helpless after getting all the way up to 202 without it. I really don’t know and I dread even thinking about spanish. I have tons of reading to do all the time for classes, and none of it is interesting at all. Media Law is long amounts of reading with a lot of things going in different directions. So many different laws and rulings in different cases. Creative writing is really pushing my limits as a writer too, it’s kind of fun and difficult all in one.

I’m battling another cold. It was much worse earlier this week, I thought I had a fever and I may have that first night. The fever is gone and now I’m just congested. I really don’t know if it was a touch of the flu, or a touch of the swine variety. Ball States does have to confirmed cases, but what about all the unconfirmed ones? I feel like I’m getting better though, so I’m not worrying about it.

Saturday is Kayla and I’s tour of Wrigley Field. So we’re getting up early and heading to Chicago, a nice four hour drive. I have never driven to Chicago myself, so this could be an interesting experience. I have to do it some time, I mean since I do want to take Kayla to a game next year. The tour is 90 minutes long. I think we get to see the press boxes, dugouts, and I’m not really sure what all else is included in that time frame. I’m sure it will be worth it, it’s places people don’t normally get to go. I’m excited and I’m sure it will be fun!

I really think that’s about it for now. I’ve got some reading I need to get done…big suprise there!

Mason

A weekend of fun

Mason McKinley — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:09:46 +0000

So the long weekend was a very nice break from school and from Muncie. I took Kayla to Kokomo so she could see where I have lived my whole life. It was a fun trip, and I think she had fun with it. On Friday we went out to dinner with my Aunt and little cousin. Then we came back to my mom’s and I showed her Rob Zombie’s remake of Halloween. I think it was a little intense for Kayla, but I don’t think she hated it. We had planned to see his sequel on Sunday.

On Saturday I took my car in to get it looked at. The place wasn’t even open on Saturday, but my mom had talked to the guy and he said he would come in and look at it. He told me it was the alternator and that he would stick around and go ahead and fix it for me. It took about an hour and a half. I was so thankful, it was very nice of him to do it, even though they were closed. After all that Jordan Andrea, Kayla, and myself went to my grandma’s house at the lake, which is my dad’s side of the family. We had fun eating, talking, and taking a boat ride. Saturday night we had dinner with my mom, Jordan, Andrea, Grandma, and one of Jordan’s friends from the seminary.

On Sunday we went to church to watch Jordan preach. Then we all went out to lunch afterwards. we pretty much all packed up after that and headed back. Kayla and I went and saw Halloween 2 Sunday night. It wasn’t a great movie, but I didn’t hate it. I just looked at it like it was Rob Zombie’s film, which is was, and it wasn’t cannon to the series.

Today Kayla and I just kind of chilled and did homework. We’re definitely not ready for the week, but at least it’s only a four day week. It was a good weekend though. Chip and Jordan’s dog Tobi got along great. Chip was really wore out when we got back, he even slept in the car. I’m pretty sure out next long weekend, which is fall break, we’re headed to Michigan to see her family!

Mason