Break: The Final Chapter

Break is almost over! These days of sleeping in and relaxing all day are coming to an end. I know I didn't appreciate them enough and I'm gonna realize how lucky I was sometime next week, when I'm back to the studying routine and completely not used to it!

Surprisingly being home with the whole family wasn't as frustrating as I was afraid it would be. I'll admit I did spend most of my time with the people I prefer and was pretty good at avoiding the people that would annoy me. But I'm gonna justify that with the potential consequences that were averted!


I'm almost caught up with my friends in Dexter viewing...only 4 episodes left and then I'm done with the biggest task of my break! It's a great show and I'm really glad I started watching. It's an interesting concept and the dialogue is sharp. Also character development is incredible. I mean, REALLY incredible. What's amazing is not only how fully developed and life-like the characters are, but how well their growth is documented. You can watch a character unfold and then once you've gotten to know them, you can track their progress as they change. Relationships between characters evolve as they change and all of it happens so naturally..it really is something that amazes me!

Yesterday was my birthday. I just don't feel it anymore though. I guess after you reach a certain age it's not something that excites you anymore. Not that I'm really old or anything haha..I guess it's lost its appeal because different things excite me these days. It's not a bad thing I think. The one thing I do appreciate is talking to the people that made a difference in my life. It's great because I get to talk to people from all different parts of my life, so it's like reliving all of the positive memories all in a single day.

Tonight I'm spending NYE with the family. This is the first NYE the India family will be here for and I really want to spend time with them. I haven't really done much with them since I've been home so I want to make sure I spend some quality time with them before I go back to school. I've always spent new years with my family...I don't know. It just always seems like the best way to ring in the new year. I guess they're the people I'm the closest to and it seems so impersonal to hang out with anyone else.


I've been reading Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult. I haven't read anything by her yet so this is my first impression of her. It's a good one! I really like the story and how she captivates her audience. There some witchcraft and stuff like that in here...not things I'm usually into. But the way she's written the book, it's really a page-turner. I have a lot of pages left though and only like 2 days to read it all in! Ahhh! Plus I got the ultimate hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy. I read the first book sometime last year but I need to read more. I figure I could probably get in one other book before the break is up. Man that's a lot to do: Salem Falls + Hitchhiker's + Dexter + 4 movies that I got with the siblings.

And with that I'm off! Happy NYE! =)

Post-exam relief!

Good morning! It really is...I got to sleep in today. Yesterday was my exam, I think it went well! And then last night I went out with some friends and had a nice time getting to know people. And then I came back to my place where there were a bunch of people over, dancing and playing beer pong. Didn't get to sleep until around 2:30 but that's not a problem when I don't have class until 1 =)

Yesterday we had our white coat ceremony in the afternoon. SO boring! I can't believe I had to sit through that. And what made is worse was the fiasco with trying to find my car in the parking lot afterwards. I walked around the entire campus trying to see where my car was! It was RIDICULOUS. I was so tired by then end of that. My feet still hurt today!

I went shopping yesterday after the exam and finally bought a belt! (yay weight loss haha) It was long overdue and I'm so glad that I don't have to worry about pulling my pants up all the time now. Ah relief comes in so many forms!

So I read an interesting article on NYTimes. It was an insight on T.R. Reid's book about his stiff shoulder injury and seeing how it would be treated in 10 different countries of the world. It seems especially interesting because he is well-versed in health policy, so his comments and opinions would be educated and well-supported. He used to be a foreign correspondent for the Washington Post so he's had plenty of overseas exposure. If I had more time to read leisurely right now I would definitely want to pick that up. It seems like my kind of book! Oh well, that's what Thanksgiving break is for =)

So the kids from India started school last week. They like it so far, but I'm wondering how much they really understand. They say they understand when the teacher talks and everything. Hopefully that's true. Either way, I gave my brother a nice long lecture about being a big brother. Since he was always the youngest he never really had to watch over anyone or teach anyone anything so it's interesting to see that develop in him.


US OPEN! Ah! I actually didn't get to watch the finals because I had the stupid white coat ceremony but I did watch the Federer-Djokovic semi-finals. If the finals was anything like that it'll be an intense match to watch! I was so sad that Federer lost. I really respect Federer's game. I think he has so much talent and from his interviews and on-court behavior, he really seems like a nice guy. I don't sense too much of an ego, and for someone at that level to remain humble and modest, that's really something. And just from the way he plays---you can tell he LOVES the game. I think it's a beautiful thing, watching him play. It sucks that he lost yesterday but I still love him =)

And finally! STEPHEN COLBERT IS BACK =D Alright now it's time to get ready for school (I love that I'm typing this at 11 am hahaha)

Refreshed!

Things are getting better at home. I am getting used to having all of these people here and I am able to tolerate them a lot better now. It's still loud and sometimes it can get frustrating. I don't think anything external has changed, but I have made a lot of internal improvements. I don't actively get mad at them anymore and I don't get annoyed by the little things anymore. It's a lot better now that I don't concern myself with every thing that goes on in the house. I only butt into things that affect me and the rest of it...I couldn't care less (hate when that phrase is used wrong haha)

Not much going on in life in terms of interesting stories. I go to prayer in the morning, go to work, come home, go to prayer in the evening, eat dinner, and then come home and hang out for an hour or so before I can't keep my eyes open any longer. It's a pretty straightforward routine with barely any curveballs. I have figured out that I can hang out with my brother and sister at night before I go to bed. That's pretty much the only time I have to spend with them since I'm not home during the day. And the best part about that time is that it's just us, not the other gazillion kids too. I really am glad I have that opportunity.


Also, I started reading Corelli's Mandolin. I REALLY like it so far. I forget how far in I am (it's been a hectic weekend) but the book is so interesting. I don't know how he does it but the author is able to include some of his more philosophical thoughts within the context of a fiction book. It's also very funny. The man is brilliant! More when I read more =)


Oh and I'm listening to Blink. I decided to try out the audiobook medium since I've never really done that and I have a long ride to work. It was kinda hard to keep paying attention at first. A whole track would go by and I'd realize I wasn't REALLY listening so I'd have to replay it. But I got the hang of it. I think it's a better alternative to the radio which, after a few days, REALLY gets redundant. Plus it doesn't help that I'm not a fan of that Pitbull song that every radio station has the urge to play, every 20 MINUTES!! Blink is an interesting book though. It's about the snap judgments we are able to make without our conscious processes even being aware of them. It's interesting because the 'sources' he uses are a marriage counselor who within a minute or so of witnessing interactions between a couple can predict the fate of their relationship, a car dealer who has met immense success in his line of work, paleontologists (that's probably not the right word but whatever) that can tell when an artifact is a fake in just a glance, and the like. It's an interesting concept and the different mediums presented are varied enough to keep it interesting.
Alright I'm really getting tired now. I'll write some more whenever I next get the chance!

Hecticity

Ah a lot happened in the past few days..It's been a hectic week for my family. Two days ago (Thursday) I got into a car accident..nothing too serious but my car needs some major repairs. I was slowing down with traffic and the car behind me wanted to switch lanes but she wasn't keeping an eye on what I was doing, just on the lane to the right. So she rammed into the back of my car. I was driving an SUV and she had a small Volkswagon so her car pretty much went under the back of mine. My exhaust pipe is bent and smushed up and the rear passenger side light doesn't work. And the tire may be misaligned. So that car is pretty much not safe to drive right now.

Oh and the first thing the tow truck guy says to me...."Are you a fan of Michael Jackson? He just died." Uhhh, WHAT?! I think I may have been more shocked to hear that than I was when I heard the sound of the car smashing into mine. It's kinda weird to think that he's dead. Like, I'm no huge fan or anything but who doesn't like him, you know! And regardless of any individual opinion, he is definitely an icon, a legend. It is weird when people that represent a certain time or era pass away.

Ah so that was Thursday. And then Friday, my sister had an allergy attack because she may have eaten something with peanuts (the allergy, allegedly). She was having difficulty breathing and so we ended up at the emergency room for a few hours. It wasn't anything too serious but it definitely scared all of us! She is fine now, just exhausted and resting up.

My guru has arrived and I have been going to morning and evening prayers everyday. It makes my day longer and a little more tiring, but it's definitely the most welcome part of my summer. The big program for our religious group is on July 4th, which is next Saturday. So there's a lot to do in the upcoming week!


Yesterday we had a palkhi, which is a parade of sorts. A palkhi is a platform on which an idol is placed. There are a few wooden stick type things jutting out that are carried on the shoulders of a group of men. (See picture above) We had a bunch of people playing the drums and we were all singing and dancing down the street. It was a lot of fun. I love when we have those because it makes me feel like I'm in India. There is colored powder being thrown and bells jingling and people clapping and dancing and singing. The only clue that we're not in India are the onlookers from the neighboring streets that want to see the festivity. It was a really great time!


Oh and one thing I've neglected to mention..I read Better by Atul Gawande. I really liked this book and recommend it to anyone who wants to be a doctor, or really, just anyone (but especially if you wanna be a doctor!). It addressed performance in a field where lives are on the line and every decision carries a considerable weight. The topics discussed are very interesting and well put together. Every chapter has a sort of general setting in which medicine is practiced and a different aspect of performance analysis is brought to light in each. It was thought-provoking but nothing too scientific, making it accessible for all audiences. I just really enjoyed reading it and I'm hoping to read his other book, Complications, sometime soon!

Now I have to get started on the dance for next Saturday..

I'm Vicariously REALLY lucky!

So I have finished Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy!! And I want more! I am going to get the next book in the series from the library so I can continue the story. It's a really quick and easy read and very amusing. There are some parts that actually made me not just smile, but laugh out loud! I just wish I didn't wait so long to pick it up!


In other news...as always I went on Colbert Nation this morning and clicked on the tickets tab. I know it's kinda impossible to get tickets, but I still have hope. THERE WERE TICKETS AVAILABLE TODAY! For two different days!!! Except those days are during the first week of medical school!! I was so disappointed! I was SO close to being able to see the taping of the colbert report! I guess the good news is that I was able to get one of my close friends to get on the site before they were taken and he got the tickets! So at least I get to go vicariously =D

Speaking of Colbert, I LOVED the episodes in Iraq! I thought the haircut was a nice touch and it really showed his support for the troops. It's so great that he went there to entertain them and make them laugh. They need it and deserve it! I love that he was able to show his feelings on the war and yet still support the troops wholeheartedly. Man, what an awesome guy! And when he showed that picture of himself wrapped in the American flag...mmmmm ;)

There is A LOT going on in life right now. That's mainly the reason I haven't been able to post as consistently as I keep promising to! Remember the family from India that I was talking about? Well, they're coming on Wednesday!!! That leaves 3 days to cram in whatever other preparations there are left to do! We spent the day cleaning out the basement and the garage today. It was a LONG task but it definitely feels good to be done with it! Tomorrow's project: the attic (eek!).

Yesterday I had to drive down to Rutgers Camden with my sister to take her there for her placement exams. It took up most of the day, especially cuz we hit traffic on the way back. I parked in this lot but I didn't know if it was allowed without a permit. And I didn't want to get my car towed (at my expense of course) so I decided to sit in the car for the 3 hours. Um yeah, okay so much for that! I had to go to the bathroom an hour in and I gave up and just left the car. Luckily, parking was allowed during weekends without a permit and the day didn't turn into an entry on FML =)

Work has been going pretty well. There's not too much to do so it's not all that hectic. But there is something to do everyday since it's a hospital-affiliated practice. It gets boring sometimes, but that's why I bring a book! One of the people I work with is very amusing too. She can talk A LOT about nearly any topic so whenever I'm bored, I just say a word to get her started. It works out really nicely!

I am also busy preparing for Dada's visit this year. (For those who don't know, I have a Guru who lives in India and comes to visit every summer for about 3 weeks. He will be arriving at the end of June and leaving in July.) I am doing a dance with my sister as well as helping out the aunties with their dance. Also, there's a bunch of one-act plays that I am helping narrate. It's fun with all these people coming over for practice. This busy schedule of practices has defined my summers for as long as I can remember and it's so comforting to be home for it all again. It's always a great time and definitely filled with lots of laughs! We are completely done with the aunty dance so that's exciting. Next up: the little girls' dance! Following that: me and my sister! It's gonna be a busy month =D

Well I think that just about sums it up..OH I started a new book. What They Didn't Teach You About the 60s. It's interesting and I'm not far enough into it to write any more haha!

Thoughts of a Working Girl

Oh man so it's been a really busy couple of days..I started work on Monday!! I work in a molecular oncopathology lab which basically means we test patients' urine samples and heme and look at other tissues for any abnormalities, aka cancer. So far I've been training to sort of learn everything that is done in the lab, basically so I can do anyone's (more like everyone's) work. I learned how to run the urine samples for FISH and I learned how to type up diagnostic reports for patients whose results have already come in. It's kinda interesting in the abstract but actually doing it = repetitiveness. The good thing is I have a couple of coworkers and they are pretty entertaining. So the days don't seem interminable. I just wish I wasn't the inferior haha..

Also, I've gone to play tennis yesterday evening after work and just before I sat down to finally post. My game is really improving and I'm SO happy with my progress! It's really frustrating not being good at something I'm "supposed" to be good at so it's refreshing to have my talent back again, even if only partially (and even if it took 4 years -_-).


In other news, I've been reading Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and it is definitely amusing. There's a lot of humor in the way it's written and so that always gives me something to smile about! I'm about 8 chapters in and I have about half an hour to read everyday so it shouldn't be long before I'm done reading it =)

Okay serious realization: I have been coming home grouchy/grumpy (Think Oscar the Grouch^Grumpy the dwarf..that's right, raise it to that power!)..I give a lot of credit to people who can drive an hour to work, sit around at work for 8 hours and then drive an hour back and still be cheerful. I'm thinking it's because it's all new to me, this routine business..but once I get used to it, hopefully I'll be less drained by the end of the day. All I know is I fall asleep willingly at 10:30 every night. It's a beautiful(?) thing.

Alright, I'm pooped. I'm gonna watch a Colbert episode and then get some sleep. More later (tomorrow hopefully!)

More of the Usual

Ahh it's been a few busy days so I haven't had much time to post. I've just been busy doing the usual house preparation stuff and landscaping stuff. One exciting thing though---yesterday was my sister's prom! I did her hair and makeup and she really looked beautiful! I was especially glad because it was my first time doing anyone's hair in a formal updo. I guess I'm a natural..but I was seriously just relieved it looked good haha!

We got two BIG rugs for the living room and formal dining room so we set those up today and also moved a bunch of furniture around. It was a hectic day but we accomplished a lot so it feels nice to be tired in a productive way. I start work on Monday so that's really gonna change up my schedule. Today I did a practice drive up with my mom cuz I'm not used to driving her SUV and also I've never been there so I wanted to see how to go since I'll be going for work on Monday. It's gonna be a smooth ride (and not just cuz of the lexus..though that does help hehe)

I've read over half of A Brief History of Time at this point and I'm really enjoying it. I love thinking about black holes and antimatter and so this book is really stimulating. I know a lot of the facts but I know through time I'll probably reread this book to the point that I have them memorized (yesss! with every day and every page I'm one step closer to being a wise old person!) I am speeding along nicely at my rate of 1.3 chapters a day! I think after this I'll switch gears and reach for a different field since I've been gravitating (haha appropriate word!) towards physics lately. I've been meaning to pick up an Atul Gawande book from the library so that may be next!

Alright well not much else to share today..time is just creeping along as I struggle to squeeze as much work and fun and responsibilities into the days. But man, I am loving summer weather right now! I hope I get to go play tennis or at least toss a football around tomorrow. Well, tata for now!

Haha this is kinda cute:

On to Hawking!

The rain just won't let up...I keep waking up to the same shade of gray, unsure of when it will downpour and when the clouds will contain themselves. Today's tennis plans are once again up in the air! I did end up playing yesterday surprisingly, so maybe today will be another one of those surprisingly pleasant days. It's really all about the timing =) After tennis last night, I made ravioli with spinach and corn for dinner along with some homemade garlic bread. It was yummy!! And I was definitely hungry after my workout! After dinner I threw around a football with my brother. It was a gorgeous night and I had a lot of fun. I love spending evenings outside!


So since I finished the Feynman book in the morning yesterday, I started The Illustrated A Brief History of Time & The Universe in a Nutshell last night. I am LOVING it. I read the first two chapters, so roughly 50 pages last night. Not much that I've read so far is news to me but every time I consider all of these ideas about space-time and the expanding universe, I get really excited. A part of me really wishes I was a physics major. I LOVE theoretical physics! I am planning on finishing this book quickly haha (Feynman only took a couple of days so hopefully this will too, it's much shorter!). I am tempted to take notes as I read; I guess you can't get the student out of me! (Good thing too, considering I am going to med school).

Today's plans are more of the usual..TV, reading, eating, playing tennis, helping out with dinner, and some more reading haha! Oh and can't forget the daily crossword! So tomorrow is my sister's prom and I am in charge of getting her ready! I'm going to curl her hair and do her makeup. I'm really excited for it! I've even figured out what purse and jewelry she should wear. Reminds me of when I went to prom..doesn't seem like it was so long ago. Man, I am getting old!

I am really enjoying this week off. I am ridiculously glad that I wasn't able to start work yet. I really needed this down time after all the studying I did and things just worked out well. I honestly don't even care about working..it's just a source of money. That's how I'm seeing it. I don't even know what I'll be doing yet but whatever...just want to save up some money, that's all!

Okay my stomach is grumbling and I need to get some food in me. More later =)

Up and Feynman

You know when it rains and it's just warm and soothing...it's one of those rains outside. It's calming and gentle and unless you look really hard you can't even tell it's raining...The only bad thing is that my tennis plans for today are interrupted. But it's okay, at least it's for a nice rain and not a mean one!


So I ended up seeing Up with my brother and sister yesterday. It was really good! It was a little more serious than what I would've expected but I think that added to it. There were some sad parts in the movie and I felt...sad. But there were definitely enough funny moments to compensate. The animation was really good and the plot was nice. There were points that I thought would be a little too scary for kids but I was able to make it through those by watching through the slits between my fingers as I covered my eyes hehe! But yeah so DEFINITELY worth seeing!! And it really made me want a balloon hahaha!

After the movie I ended up going to play tennis...it was so odd! When I walked into the theater it was pouring outside. And when I walked out, it was bright and sunny and you couldn't even tell it had rained! So weird. But I definitely took advantage of the dry weather and played tennis. It was a perfect night for it too...the air was cool and there was just the slightest breeze. There were a bunch of people at the courts so we had to wait for about half an hour for a court but it was definitely worth the wait! My game is improving with every time I go..I can't wait to play at my high school level! =)

This morning I woke up and finished the Feynman book I was reading. It was sad to finish it. But I really enjoyed it. He made my list of favorite men. (Top contenders on that list are Stephen Colbert, Thomas Friedman, Jim Henson, Paul Krugman, Bill Clinton, Jack Sparrow, Clive Owen, Bill Cosby and now Richard Feynman). But yeah so that book was entertaining and amusing and I felt so privileged to know the thoughts of someone who really 'lived'. I was just thinking of how maybe I knew more about him than some of the students he had taught and how weird that is. Definitely read it!

I spent some time doing a crossword and watching TV. Now I'm off to play tennis. More later =)

Welcome, Summer! Won't you stay a while?

Ah I know it's been almost a week since I last posted...I got so busy trying to enjoy my last week in Philly while also not failing my neuro exam. It was a juggling act that went on all week and in some ways, I'm glad it's over..

I came home last night from Philly after my last exam (woohoo is an understatement) and ended up getting stuck in the train for 4 HOURS! Mind you I live an hour and half from Philly! It was such a long and tiring journey but I am SO glad I had a book with me. I really don't know what I would've done if I didn't have a book..


So since I mentioned it..the book I'm reading now was given to me as a parting gift from one of my close friends. It's called "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" and it's really interesting. It's written by this really brilliant physicist who has definitely made his mark in the field of physics. It is anecdotal in style and there are definitely some funny blurbs in it! I have read a third of it already and I wouldn't be surprised if I finished it by the end of the week!


OH I tricked the library! Soo what happened was, I lost my library card freshman year of college and I never bothered getting a new one since I was in Philly the last 4 years. But now I'm home for the summer and I definitely need some books to keep my brain occupied while it's not studying so I need a card. There's this new online thing where you can request a card to be mailed to you. So I did that a few weeks ago. Then I had to go in to get the card activated. I figured this is where I would get caught and be forced to surrender a $3 fine for losing a card...NOPE!! They just activated my card and off I went! I am so excited about this! I saved $3! =D

Other than tricking the library, I spent my day playing tennis in the morning and then cleaning for the afternoon. I vacuumed the whole house and swept the floors and cleaned the counters and the cabinets. One of the things I realized this morning was that I really missed being home. A lot of the things I took for granted before, like sitting outside with my grandmother while eating breakfast, really mean a lot to me. This morning me, my mom, and my ba sat outside and ate our breakfast together. Last night before going to bed, me, my sister, and my mom sat and talked for a while. (I'm tempted to make a Venn diagram of the people involved in sitting around haha) But yeah...those moments where we're just relaxing with each other are so meaningful and I never realized before. I'm just glad I have this for a while.


I don't know if I mentioned it before but my house is going to become a zoo very soon. My mom's family from India is moving here, like permanently..that's a dozen people added on to the 6 that are currently in my house. It is going to be a mad house! I think the biggest lesson I am going to learn this summer is patience. Of the 12 people coming, 6 are kids...all younger than my brother (16). And all of which absolutely ADORE me. It's going to be interesting...I just want to enjoy these moments of peace with my immediate family before we are constantly surrounded by relatives.

Bittersweet Symphony

Today was a nice day. I slept in and when I woke up, I laid in bed reading The Namesake. This reminds me of when I was younger and I'd wake up early on the weekends and lay in bed reading. After I finally got out of bed, I made some blueberry pancakes, yummy yummy! I also cleaned the apartment and did a pilates workout. I got some studying done and I made stuffed shells for dinner. Pretty good day!

Just now I finished reading The Namesake. I really liked this book. The characters are so deep and so real. I was amazed at how beautifully the story was written. The story itself is good but I guess I overlooked that since I already know it and I mainly concentrated on the character development and the writing style. I really recommend this book to everyone, even after seeing the movie. What's interesting is how an immigrant's struggle in moving to America is documented. I think Lahiri dealt with the topic well (not that I know firsthand what it's like) but I mean, it didn't seem too unrealistic from what my parents have told me. Lahiri smoothly changed the focus of narration from Ashima's thoughts and internal conflicts in the initial stages of her marriage to Gogol's point of view. And again later in the book, from Gogol's perspective to Moushumi's. I think it takes real talent to change the narration that drastically and she definitely mastered it.

I can't believe how brave my parents were in coming to this country. They left everything they knew behind them and came to a foreign land that only held the promise of a better future. Whether that promise would be fulfilled was nothing they were confident about. Yet they took a HUGE risk that changed their lives. I can only imagine their feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment when they look at our home and see what they have built, literally from the ground up. I don't think I will ever face such a huge, trying task. I don't know if I am strong enough or courageous enough but I definitely admire my parents for what they did.


Last night before going to bed I watched Anastasia. I like that movie a lot, not as much as the original Disney princess movies, but still, it's a nice movie! I'm thinking of watching a movie tonight but we'll see how that goes!

This is my last week in Philly. The days are slowly creeping by and I am definitely feeling the bitter lows and sweet highs of it all. I have my moments where I get sad and nostalgic, longing to stay put in a place I have grown very comfortable. But there's a part of me that is getting cramped, knowing that I have outgrown the struggles and challenges Philly posed for me. I guess I need to move on to greater challenges, advance to the next level. I need to start packing up my stuff soon but I guess the moment I start doing that, I will definitely feel like I am moving out. I am hoping to delay that moment for as long as I can manage, maybe another day or two? Ahh this is getting too sad..

Much Needed Alone Time

Last night was one of the most relaxing nights I can remember. I was alone in my apartment and so I thought I would get lonely or sad or something but surprisingly, I woke up this morning, unscathed! I was doing work last night and catching up on episodes of the Colbert Report. I am embarrassed by how infrequently I watch the show I love the most and I decided to rectify that. I got through almost 3 weeks of episodes and I will continue working backwards whenever I have time! It was such a nice, relaxing evening and I really felt like myself again.


I know that last statement is a little heavy but really, I have been feeling a little off lately. Nothing significant, just in the slightest way. You know when you are constantly in the company of others and you never have the chance to just appreciate some alone time? I think the past month has been so busy and active with other people that I haven't had enough time to just sit down and be by myself. Part of it may be because I don't like to be alone anymore. It's funny because I would've never said that before but I guess since college started I have always been surrounded by people so now I'm used to that. I used to enjoy my own company and now it's like I run from it at every opportunity. It will be nice to go home for the summer and reset my social clock. Especially considering at med school I will have my own room and the only company I will enjoy (?) is that of my books. I just realized that since my last few posts have been catch ups on the previous week or whatever I haven't really shared any thoughts. I am going to try to make some more alone time for myself to post on here and share some of my thoughts.

I have been reading the Namesake and I'm like three quarters of the way through. I am really liking it. The characters are better developed than in the movie (and even the movie was deep!) and I am really enjoying reading it. Lahiri has a way of making every feeling Gogol has completely accessible and I have felt that I can relate to Gogol countless times. The writing is beautiful but beyond that, it is human. And that is what makes it such a well-written book. It's also interesting to be reading a book that I already know the story of. It's not often that I read a book that I have already seen the movie for and I'm finding that it isn't as bad as I thought it would be. It's like there's a secret thrill in knowing what is going to happen next, before the characters do. I don't know how many more books I will read post-movie, but it's definitely not a bad thing!

Alright well now that I've enjoyed a great morning to myself, I think it's time to start studying. More later =)

Rain rain go away

TGIF! Except not really, since I've been living all of my days as if it's the weekend. In the past week, my life has become a Weekenders marathon (minus Tish's mom). I have had a really light schedule in terms of classes. There's still work to be done but the hours I save from having only one class really helps me alleviate my workload. I still get this strange feeling from relaxing so much--like I'm not supposed to be doing this. But I guess all of that will change soon enough so I might as well enjoy!

The past few days have all sort of been a blur to me. I played tennis one of the mornings. It was great to play and the weather was so crisp, accounting for my endurance to play an hour and half. I also made baked ziti with broccoli one of the days. Turned out great! I actually had to use fresh ricotta, shredded from a block. I have never done that before so it was interesting. I also did a few crossword puzzles online. It's my new thing--I wanna get smart, like in terms of general knowledge. I feel like doing these crossword puzzles is a nice way to gain knowledge while also having fun. I may even do one after I finish posting!

I have been reading my new E.M. Forster book, Howard's End. I think I'm about 60 pages in. I definitely like it so far. It reminds me of Jane Austen, with the same busy body characters and dialogue throughout the story. There are some dry funny moments as well. I do miss Mr. Bennett though; there's no equivalent in here! But overall, I'm definitely liking this book.

Funny story--so remember how I was reading Unaccustomed Earth. Yeah, I quit that book with only 80 pages to go. I just couldn't finish it. The overall tone of the book is empty and sad and I was feeling depressed by it. I kept seeing myself in the characters and wondering if that's the course my life will take. I couldn't stand my thoughts after reading it so I just stopped. I returned it to the library two days ago. Yesterday, I had dance practice for one of my close friend's sister's wedding and she gave me a ride to practice. On the way there, I look down and I see Unaccustomed earth! It's like in those scary movies when the thing you try to throw away keeps appearing! I was like OMG did you get that from the library? When did you get that?! It was a pretty amusing coincidence!

Alright time to get to that crossword puzzle...nothing better to do on a rainy day =D

My House on Unaccustomed Earth

I'm home and it's wonderful! I helped my ba make chapati for dinner tonight and did half a lecture so far. I'm gonna finish the lecture and then maybe do another one, maybe not. We'll have to play by ear for this one.

I have gotten about halfway through Unaccustomed Earth. It's pretty deep stuff. At first I wasn't sure if I liked the short story format because when the story ends, I feel like I get jipped. A story is just long enough to make me forget about the characters from the previous story and right when I'm getting really interested and familiar with these characters, the story is over! A lot of times the endings are abrupt and leave me wondering what happens afterward. Things don't end neatly and the loose ends are anything but tied together. All of that being said, the stories have a haunting presence that really affect me in a sort of negative way. The themes that are present all have a negative aura that make me question and doubt people. The book as a whole seems to be a study of interactions between people: father and daughter, husband and wife, brother and sister. Lahiri is a gifted writer and the way she describes things, I feel as though I have either experienced them in my own family or I can imagine them happening. I do like the book but it's definitely not uplifting or encouraging. It's beautifully written and it really does haunt me and make me think. Well I have half a book to go, will probably finish it before the end of the week!

The weather has been beautiful today, in the 70s. The weekend weather will echo today's so I have a lot to look forward to. Definitely gonna try to get some tennis in! I watched the first episode of this season's House today. I'm gonna start catching up now that my schedule is a bit more manageable. I can't wait to catch up and knowing me, it won't be a long wait. I am so glad to have the free time I do now and I am taking advantage of it, doing the things that make me happy! Like I often do, I find 24 hours to be insufficient but for the first time in a while, I want more hours to squeeze in more fun, not more work.

Ah but back to the first episode of House...having this long absence from the show, I think I have become sensitized to how much of a jerk House really is. It's nuts! I really like the show but as far as his character, I'm gonna go ahead and take a leap away from the teenie-bopper House fanclub (not to be confused with the Mrs. Efrons alliance). House is extremely insecure and the way he projects his resentment onto his only friend Wilson is disheartening. I mean I really didn't like Amber but the way House was acting was completely out of line. Anyway, apart from all this House criticism, there was an idea in the episode that I liked. Thirteen was talking to a female patient that she felt she could relate to and the girl said "I would rather spend my time with the birds than spend it wishing I could have wings." I may have butchered the quote (all due apologies to House fanatics that have memorized the transcript) but I think the meaning is accessible. I thought it was interesting and maybe one of the best counterarguments for ambition I have heard, mainly because it doesn't imply laziness. I don't know..just something to think about!

Okay well now that I've procrastinated my lecture for quite some time, I am going to get to it so I can watch an episode of House AND read more Lahiri. A funny picture to leave off with..

Magical Days!

The past two days have been absolutely magical for me. I spent my days in the bookstore, reading Eat Pray Love. I have finished the book and I really loved it! (I even managed to do the Eat part, courtesy of Pizza Rustica). The book is filled with beauty and honesty and inquisitiveness that really strikes me. It's refreshing to see someone write your exact thoughts with clarity and cohesiveness. And even humor--the book had some funny moments that I couldn't help but share with whoever was around. There were a lot of passages that I wished I could memorize and use as tokens of comfort later on. It was just a beautiful, moving account of someone trying to find their way and I think it really touched my heart because I can relate to the author in many ways. I definitely recommend it!

In the spirit of heart touching...I watched The Soloist last night at a screening and man, what a beautiful movie! It reminded me of Reign Over Me (which you can see I thoroughly enjoyed, in a previous post) but it was a more touching version. There was something irresistibly likeable about Robert Downey Jr's character and Jamie Foxx's character was mind-boggling. He really made me work to get past my uncomfortableness regarding homeless people. Underlying the story about true friendship and the beauty inside of someone's heart was the music theme that made the movie seem almost majestic. There were times that I literally closed my eyes to just listen to the music and try to imagine how much that music meant to Jamie Foxx. I thought it was a beautiful depiction of a heartfelt friendship. I haven't read the book but I may have to add it to my to-read bookshelf..

Last night before returning to the apartment, I stopped by the library to pick up a book since I raced through Eat Love Pray. I got Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri. I haven't read any of her work (What?!? You didn't read the namesake?! I know, I know..it's on my to-read bookshelf.) so I'm pretty excited about this. I eventually wanna read Interpreter of Maladies and the Namesake but I thought I'd try with the newest since my library at home would probably have those but not this one. I'm gonna start it as soon as I finish posting =)

Today is a beautiful day and I am so excited for it! I'm hopefully gonna get a bike from Drexel Bikeshare--it's been SO long since I've done that and I know it's gonna be awesome biking around with my new helmet (yayy franklin institute!). I'm going to see a play tonight at the Walnut St Theater. It's called Born Yesterday and I think it'll be funny. I love theater and I don't think I've gone more than like two months without going to a play or musical ever since I've been in Philly. It's always a lot of fun and I really respect the art.

Okay my book is staring at me longingly just waiting to be picked up so I'm gonna go indulge myself =)

Beautiful Weather!

It's been a few days since I've posted...I don't really know why. I've just been sort of sitting around the house, planning the chores and housework around my TV schedule. It's really a great feeling--making TV the priority of my day. I love spring break. I get to do things I wouldn't normally do while at school. I sleep late and wake up relatively late, watch many hours of TVs and movies a day, read for fun for hours! It's nice to be able to pick up a book that has less academic value than even business textbooks (oh snap!). Also, I've been able to do pooja every morning since I've been home--definitely the best perk of all!

I watched Tropic Thunder last night. I must say, I was disappointed. It's not that the movie wasn't entertaining. I guess it just didn't match the hype that surrounded it. I have had several people tell me that it's hilarious and while it did have its moments, there were some hefty lulls thrown in there. Trust me, I felt the weight of those lulls!

I started my Harry Potter rereads and I decided to skip over Book 5. Umbridge is just about the most annoying character in the whole series and the second I realized book 5 was the one with her, I moved on to Book 6. I'm about 180 pages in and my admiration for J.K. Rowling doubles with every page. Seriously...I don't understand how someone can come up with such an intricate plot. I've written short stories before and the thought of writing an entire novel that doesn't take the form of a memoir is so daunting to me. I don't know how these writers come up with a story that can span so many pages. It's remarkable. I remember when I was in my prime, reading Babysitters Club, I started to write a novel. It was centered on Stacy's character (obviously..she was the most exciting!). I don't remember how long it got to be before I moved on to reading Nancy Drew and left the novel project.

I've been finding some really interesting people on blogger. I usually check out the blogs of note and then expand from there. Some people have such a unique blogging style and it's fun to read other people's perspectives on life. Sometimes, as creepy as it seems, I feel like I really know that person so well from having read just a few posts from her blog. I don't know...I just know that I really like connecting with strangers and fully appreciating how universal some thoughts and feelings are.

Alright time to go outside and soak in some of this beautiful weather =)