New Year

Today is the first day of the new year according to the Hindu calendar. I wasn't able to go home for Diwali because of the amount of studying I need to do, but I am still able to celebrate it while I'm at school by keeping the spirit alive in my heart. I know it sounds corny but I don't know how to describe it without sounding like a Hallmark card..

So some good news--I honored the Intro module! Top 10% Babyyyyy! I was very excited when I found out and I got that boost I needed to sustain my motivation. All the effort is not going to waste! Well not that it would be going to waste considering I will be needing all of this information pretty much forever. But yeah, the gratification is cool haha!


Yesterday I went to see Where the Wild Things Are. It was a really good movie. It was a lot more serious than I thought it would be, definitely above the heads of all the cutie-pies in the theater. There was a lot of symbolism and metaphorical content that really made me appreciate the movie. I thought it was beautifully done. I especially liked the handling of the camera--some of the camera angles during certain scenes really set a mood or atmosphere for the movie. It was deep and thought-provoking. I really liked it and now I wanna reread the book haha..

I did a lot of reflecting and thinking yesterday. I think because it's Diwali and an opportunity to turn over a new leaf I had to be my normal self and overthink things haha. I did some writing to get some clarity and clarity was attained. I feel like I am refreshed mentally and emotionally and I am ready to face whatever challenges come my way this year. You hear that world? BRING IT!

I'm Good at Frisbee Starting Yesterday!

I went to the park with the family yesterday. We packed our dinner and drove 15 mins to a waterfront park in a neighboring town. It was a lot of fun! We played spud and we ate and then after dinner we threw around frisbees. AND I WAS GOOD!!! (I have NEVER been good at frisbee tossing and all of a sudden I was!) Ah, good times!

I drove to the library so many times today..it's kinda weird. I had to return some stuff that was due yesterday so I had to get there before they opened. Therefore, trip # 1 at 8 am. THEN I had to go back to take out the exact books I returned because me and my sister hadn't finished reading them. Hence, trip # 2 sometime later. Then I had to go to the park to pick up my brother and since the park is right across the street from the library, I stopped by to return the movie that was watched just before I left. That's a grand total of 3 trips to the library!

Speaking of reading, I am still working on Corelli's Mandolin. I really need to get some more reading in or I'll never finish! It is taking me forever because I keep doing other things around the house. And it doesn't help that my sister spends her days with her door locked so nobody even bothers to ask her for anything anymore. Everyone automatically comes to me with any question, complaint, or observation. Really, it gets quite annoying.


I just watched About a Boy with my siblings. They haven't seen it and I love it so it makes for a perfect night! That movie is really incredible though. I don't think a better part can be conceived for Hugh Grant. He plays the role extremely well and I find that watching it again and still believing the character underscores how naturally he fits the role. Simply amazing (and irresistible)! I think the story is such a beautiful one. No matter how many times it has been recreated, it is touching and heartwarming and really makes me think. I may get annoyed of the family but it's still a blessing to have company. I should really appreciate the positive more than I accentuate the negative.

Alright well that's about it for now! Time for bed =)

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 =)

Some Beautiful Days

Greetings! I have had some good times since I last posted. I'm gonna stick to the list format by days so here goes:

Wednesday: Went to the Franklin Institute for their Target Community night (aka FREE!) It was a lot of fun...I saw the new Star Trek exhibit and it's pretty cool. Definitely makes me wish I cultivated my nerdy side a little bit more. Afterwards, I continued to bask in the beautiful glow of freeness and went to a screening of The Hangover. It was hilarious! I really liked it. Some of the humor was kinda crude for my taste but there were enough 'innocent' jokes to make it worth the while! Definitely recommend it! Bradley Cooper is quite the hunk =) Oh and after the screening, I rewatched Ever After. Ahh what a cute movie! It's so corny and sweet and cute and ohh I love it =D

Thursday: SIX FLAGS! It was a GREAT time! The only bad thing was Nitro and Kingda Ka were closed and the new coaster Bizarro also ended up closing down, after we had already been in line for a good 40 minutes! But after running out of line for Bizarro, which was to be fixed "anywhere between 3 minutes and 3 hours" (what kinda estimate is that?!), we went to El Toro which singlehandedly made the whole trip worth it! Also, it was so hot out (somewhere in the 80's) and every water fountain was like a beautiful oasis. I think I saw a couple of mirages of swimming pools too and it took every bit of squinting I could manage to stop myself from jumping in. After coming back from a tiring but fulfilling day, I watched The International with (get ready to sigh) CLIVE OWEN! Ahh he's so masculine! But even apart from that, it was a great movie. I really liked the premise and the message it relayed. It was well-scripted and well-acted and of course beautiful to look at haha! Definitely see it!

Today was a pretty low-key day, probably necessary after some fun-filled ones! I did some work and did some reading and now I'll probably settle down with a movie, book, or work haha. But first a crossword! I'll leave you with something to gaze at...

I guess the crazy hair is in their genes?!

Ahh so many days have passed...I guess I have been too busy doing things to remember to post about them. I'll mention the major points of the last few days and ahh I'll try harder to post more regularly instead of in lists when I finally get around to it!

1. Thursday: nothing significant (more like too long ago to care haha)

2. Friday: Went to New Harmony with a group of friends...always a pleasure! I LOVE New Harmony! I had the general tso's chicken (fake of course) and orange chicken and moo shu pork and veg spring rolls. Everything was SO yummy!

3. Saturday: Went to my friend's sister's wedding (the one I had to do a dance at). It was a fun reception and I had a great time eating yummy food and dancing the whole time! We performed our dance and it went well so that was good...my friend's parents were reallly cute! They were the type that quietly hold hands as if nobody else was in the room. Her dad gave a great speech about how his daughter has always been there and he knows she will always be there and it was just really touching. It was a nice party and a welcomed study break!

4. Sunday: STUDIED. I had a neuro exam monday that I was less than adequately prepared for but the little preparation I did do was all concentrated on Sunday. I did go to Chili's for dinner though so that was another nice (undeserved) study break.

5. Monday: AHH NEURO EXAM! It was tough but I survived. Didn't do as badly as I expected (and should have) so that was a nice plus. Afterwards, went to Maggianos for post-exam Italian-food-induced-coma. It was great--I had eggplant parm which is a dish I haven't had there before. Except the waiter sucked and didn't bring out my side of fettucine alfredo until more than halfway through my meal. Ah whatever, it did make a nice mid-afternoon snack =)

Also went to Belgium Cafe with a group of friends on Monday. It's a pretty cool place with some interesting (and by interesting I mean naked) pictures. I had a vegetarian rueben sandwich that was a little on the greasy side but still good. One of my friends had vegetarian bbq wings that were awesome so I'll have to get that next time! Afterwards, went to one of my friend's place and watched Enemy of the State (not to be confused with Enemy at the Gates which I did haha) I like that movie a lot and it's been a while since I've seen it so it wasn't nearly as predictable as you would think..

6. Tuesday (today, finally!): Today was another nice day. I went to Palace at the Ben for the lunch buffet with a couple friends. It was a splendid time =D

Then I went bowling (hooray for $2 games plus a free game because of the delay) and then had an Oreo McFlurry from McDonalds (it was good but man it could've been so much better if there were more oreos!) And then I made stuffed shells (spinach, ricotta, jalapenos and onions) and garlic bread for dinner. It was YUMMY! And just now I did two lectures. So I've had a pretty packed day and it's been awesome...gonna go watch a movie now but I'll find something imagey to leave off with..

Goku as a baby:

Catchup

Greetings! It has been a few days so I have to catch you up with what I've been up to...I promise, I have excellent reasons for not having posted in the past 3 days:

1. I saw Star Trek in IMAX!!! It was SO good and definitely worth every penny. I never really watched the show but they made the movie accessible to all audiences. It was a great experience, definitely worth seeing!


2. I saw The Holiday with Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, and Jude Law. (Which one of those doesn't belong haha) No but seriously, I was just squinting at the screen wondering if that is actually Jack Black! He seemed kind of out of place in terms of the story and even his character. Not to say he did badly, it just wasn't what you would expect from him. Beyond that, there is nothing remarkable about the movie. It's entertaining enough but definitely not a big deal if you don't see it. One thing I found strange was that anyone could just switch homes with someone on a whim like that. It's kind of crazy and intimidating I think. Ah well, I guess if I had to switch into anyone's home might as well be Kate Winslet's or Cameron Diaz's, right?

3. I went to Italian Bistro for lunch. It was a fun time. I've found that I am particular about fettucine alfredo. I like the dish but I don't think many restaurants make it the way I crave it. Maybe I prefer a more Americanized version of the pasta but whatever it is, Maggiano's does it right! (plus they add broccoli!)

4. I have been studying a good amount. I have an exam coming up on Monday and with a wedding to attend this weekend, I am in a crunch for time. Not to worry though, with proper planning I will be able to do well =) Ahh, I love neuro!


5. I am reading The namesake. I went to my library hoping to walk out with Interpreter of Maladies but unfortunately it wasn't there. So instead I got the namesake. It's interesting to read a book after already knowing the story. It has a thrill of it's own--reading how a certain memorable scene is written and replaying it in your head. Fun stuff =)

6. Reminiscing/Being Emotional. I am down to a little over 2 weeks in Philly. While the end of the school year is something that will never fail to bring excitement, it is definitely overwhelming to think about how this chapter is about to end. It really is bittersweet and I am just trying to make the most of the time that is left. It is hard to keep my mind off that countdown calendar in my head but I am trying really hard to not focus on that..

So those are all the things I've been busy with and now I'll share some random thoughts I've had that I want to share. I'm gonna stick with a numbered list because well, why mess with what works?

1. I think it's amazing how far we've come in terms of technology. Just the other day I was noticing how one of my friends has downloaded the newest version of Windows. I think it's remarkable how some people still haven't gotten (used to) Windows Vista and now there's a new version for them to struggle with. We live in a society where we are constantly outdoing ourselves. Every step we take seems to carry us a mile away from the previous step. In such a vibrant and dynamic system, it is easy to forget the value of the previous step. Sometimes I just stop and think about how amazing it is that somebody invented something as commonplace as a pen. It's remarkable how rich our lives are and how little we realize that.


2. Oreo milkshakes are just about the best thing there ever was. (See, simple inventions can really bring magic to a hot, dry afternoon!) I LOVE oreo milkshakes. I had an Oreo Frosty from Wendy's today and it was just amazing. Absolutely amazing!

3. Coke Zero. Good stuff, right? The only thing that could make it better is---oh I don't know, how about getting 11 cans for free!! On my way to Wendy's I passed a coke zero truck that was giving away sample cans for free. Definitely made it a point to get one--11 times! I am stocked up for the rest of the month now =D

Alright well that's about all I can gather for now. I'm gonna start studying because I have practice later..

Weekend reflections

I've had a beautiful weekend at home! I came home Friday evening on the train. Spent the entire train ride home reading through Neuro notes but don't worry--I made up for it by not doing any work the rest of the weekend! Friday night my brother and sister and I played outside on the driveway because the weather was absolutely gorgeous. We played volleyball for a bit and then we played 'bowling' where we set up empty milk gallons and soda bottles as pins. It was a lot of fun! I was the best at it but my brother won cuz of a sneak spare attack at the end..

Yesterday I just sort of roamed around all day. I can't recall doing anything particularly noteworthy during the day but then we went out to Mother's Day dinner (since I have to go back to philly and everything would be crowded right now). We went to Bertucci's which is my FAVORITE pizza (yes, even better than Pietros). It was a great time. We had a pie with cherry peppers + onions and a second pie with spinach, ricotta, and roasted garlic. I was a huge fan of the latter pie because I love spinach! After dinner we came back and watched Heyy Baby, an Indian movie about 3 men that end up having to deal with a baby. It's a pretty funny/cute movie so I'm glad we watched it.

Just woke up and now I'm gonna figure out what to do with the morning hours. Maybe some studying? Ahh we'll see haha..Happy Mother's day =)

Cozy Rainy Day

Good morning! It's a dark, rainy day out but it's not the kind that makes me depressed. In fact, it's kind of cozy. It's a perfect day for some tomato soup and grilled cheese and snuggling in bed with a book! Maybe I'll do that--except instead of tomato soup & grilled cheese it'll be leftovers from last night and instead of a book it'll be my neuro lab manual. I'm just glad I like neuro!

Last night was one of the first nights in a long time that I had completely to myself. So what did I do with it? Visited a huge Greek family, of course! My big fat greek wedding was one of those movies that I never got around to. I decided to watch it last night and it was a nice time! It's a heartfelt movie and it's a lot of fun. I really loved the characters and I felt the actors really gave them a sense of reality.

I have had a pretty productive morning so far...vacuumed the apartment and looked up ideas for dinner tonight (taco pie and spinach quesadillas) and then did a quick pilates workout. I'm waiting for a friend to come over so we can have a lovely lunch (leftovers haha) and dance practice! Our dance is going pretty well--it's almost done! We're at the 4th song of 5 right now and once we finish this it will be smooooth sailing. The wedding that we're performing at is on May 16th so that gives us exactly 2 weeks to get this thing done. I'm not too worried though..it'll happen!


OHHH so something EXTREMELY exciting that I discovered last night! (I'm sure it's old news but whatever...I just found out!) THEY'RE MAKING A RAMONA QUIMBY MOVIE!!! I could not believe it when I read that! I am SOO excited! One teensy flaw--Selena Gomez is playing Beezus. Uhhh since when is Beezus Latina?!?? (if that's not the PC term, oops!) I cannot believe they casted her as Beezus! They don't need to rely on star power to promote this movie. Every girl in our generation knows Beverly Cleary's stories. There is no need to sell out like this and it makes me kinda mad! But whatever, I'll still watch it haha. It comes out in March 2010 I believe, so that's something to look forward to. Can I just say, 2010 is gonna be an amazing year because of all the movies I am looking forward to!

Oooh I think I hear some thunder. I love thunderstorms so this is very exciting to my ears! Okay well I'm gonna go get lunch ready so we can get the ball rolling on practice...more later =D

Ah, Philadelphia!

Last night I had the chance to hang out with some of my friends from undergrad that I haven't seen in a while...it was a really great time. We went to Maoz for falafel and then to Phileo for frozen yogurt (I had cheesecake flavored yogurt with graham cracker crumbles and strawberries on top). Then we went to a screening of Ghosts of Girlfriend's Past. I was thrilled to see that Matthew McConaughey had hair that was tolerable; to the dismay of my friends, I must've commented on it at least a dozen times!) There was a shirtless scene (of course!) but there wasn't any rugged sports-type scene (surprised!). The movie was okay--there were a few laughs here and there (mostly from Michael Douglas's lines) but the story was just alright. It's entertaining enough but definitely not worth going to the theaters for.

I have been keeping up with my work pretty diligently..it's not that hard with only one class but still haha! I am planning on spending my days very productively and very balanced. I don't think I have enough work to do to last all day anyway and now that the weather is blossoming I really want to take advantage of the last month in Philly. I want to go places and do the things I've always thought about but never got around to and even the things I've done so many times already but could always do 'just one last time'. It's weird to know that I'll be leaving this place where I spent four significant years. Philly has brought me lots of laughs and tears and everything else corny you can add to such a sentence. No but seriously, I have learned a lot here and I have definitely changed since I got here. This place will always have that special connection to my life and it's weird thinking I won't be roaming these streets again for a while. I guess I just want to take this last month and explore every aspect of Philly, just to take it all in before leaving.


I really believe a city has a personality and while I probably can't describe the vibe Philly gives off the way some tourist book would, I can definitely characterize what it says to me. Philly is a place of change and opportunity for me. I have had many opportunities that I fully recognize wouldn't have been possible anywhere else. I have learned a lot and changed in the process. I know a lot of people wouldn't consider Philly a city when comparing it to the likes of NYC, LA, and Miami but for me, it has represented a way of life I didn't know coming out of the suburbs. It was city enough for me!

Okay enough nostalgia about a place I am still in. It's a beautiful day out and I think I'm going to take a walk down to the gym..Enjoy!

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 =)

You can make your own sunshine!

I haven't posted in about 2 days because I've been busy catching up with work. Yesterday and this morning I woke up early to go to the gym and then started studying for pretty much the whole day until dinner. At night, I watched a movie before bed so I'll comment on those.


I watched Yes Man and it was like meeting the prettier cousin of Liar Liar. Yes Man was more entertaining and less dependent on Jim Carrey's facial expressions /grunts to produce laughs. But there were enough of those 'funny' moments to make you absolutely certain the two are related. But still I liked it and it's worth watching!


The second movie I watched was Bedtime Stories. It was a nice movie despite Adam Sandler. I am not really a big fan of Adam Sandler but I do like the movies where he keeps his annoyingness down. The critics didn't really like Bedtime Stories but I think they were looking for the wrong things. This isn't a movie with a lot of deeper, underlying meaning or with comedic brilliance. But it wasn't supposed to be. It's a movie for kids to laugh at and enjoy. It excels at that (I consulted my forever young heart for this one) and I really liked it =)

Today I'm going to a screening of Seventeen Again and what I'm even more excited about is the Maoz I am going to have before the screening (Sorry Zac Efron, Maoz is just that good). With that I should probably get to work because I have a lot on my agenda and I have to finish before the screening..

What's cuter than a Maltese puppy!

I'm back at home for the weekend now! My sister's visit to Philly is officially over. It was a fun week with practically no studying. I will have to compensate this upcoming week but it's okay...it was all worth it! We went to the Liberty Bell and US Mint and Congress Hall on Wednesday. Then we strolled down South Street and went into a few quirky shops. We ended the day with a visit to Barnes and Noble and then dinner at Pietro's (best pizza in Philly in my opinion!). Then on Thursday we went to the park and tossed around a football for hours--I can't think of anything that would make me happier on a beautiful spring afternoon. Then we went to Pattaya Grill for dinner and laser tag in the quad afterwards! This morning, we went to Marathon Grill/Qdoba for brunch and then came home. All in all, a relaxing week in Philly!

This weekend I'm just planning on doing a lot of work and then going to my aunt's baby shower on Sunday morning. Then back to Philly!

So late last week President Papadakis (Drexel), passed away. It's so weird and sad at the same time. He has done a lot for the school and I think the saddest thing is how students as little as 2 years from now won't recognize his contributions. This pertains to society in general--it's crazy how short-lived people's lives really are. I guess we just have to touch the lives of the people around us and that's what a real legacy is.

I watched Marley & Me with my sister a few days ago. It was a pretty good movie! Not because of the acting or anything like that but the story itself was funny/touching. I have always wanted to have a dog--a Maltese puppy to be exact. They are perfect for me...small and friendly and playful! I really want to get one and so this movie was perfect for a dog-lover like me!

Okay enough procrastinating! I'm gonna start doing some work now...let's see if I remember how to study. It HAS been 3 weeks since I've memorized anything ;)

Good day

I've had a pretty good day today! My lower back pain is improving..I just did a yoga workout and that really helped. My room still reeks of Bengay but whatever...I think my nose has adjusted to it now! I finished the 3D carousel puzzle I started 2 days ago so thats pretty exciting. And there's a way to put all the pieces together to make the traditional rectangle so I did that too. Even though it's for 7 years and up, it was definitely a challenge. I warmed up by doing a Beauty and the Beast puzzle from back in the day haha! I love puzzles and if they weren't so expensive I'd buy a new one right now.

So last night before going to bed I watched The Other Boleyn Girl. I can understand why it got the bad reviews it did but the movie was pretty good overall. Natalie Portman's acting was pretty good but I think that may be because her character was beautifully complex. But overall, pretty good movie. Trying to figure out something to watch tonight hmmm....

Well I think I should probably get at least a lecture in before dinner tonight so I can watch guiltlessly! Hopefully my back will improve and the Washington DC plans for Saturday will work out for me. I am going to try really hard to convince my family to go anyway even if I can't make it. They're usually resistant about things like that but I don't want them to not go. Saturday is the cherry blossom festival so the timing couldn't have been more perfect. Let's see what happens. Okay time for Neuro. Later days (Weekenders) =D

Ghost Town

It's a beautiful day outside today! It's nice and sunny. The wind's a bit cold but overall the weather is nice. I went for a run today to soak in some of the nice weather. It was nice to be outside and breathing in the fresh air. This morning, I woke up and did pooja and then I wrote a short story. I have posted it on the Paraspar Devo Bhava blog so you can check it out there if you'd like =)

It sucks because with the start of this week, for me it's like the countdown to going back to Philly begins. I am past the halfway mark of my spring break and so now I have to start getting back into the studying frame of mind again. The first week back should be pretty good since that's when my sister is coming to visit!

I just finished watching a movie called Ghost Town. I really liked it a lot. The movie was about a man who can see ghosts and one of the ghosts bothers this man about some unfinished business he needs help with. The story is one of connecting with others and appreciating the people in your life. It reminded me of About a Boy in a lot of ways (minus Hugh Grant's stammering apology..what a cutie!). I don't think anyone can truly exist as an island. People are naturally interconnected and appreciating and valuing these connections is something people should learn to do. From personal experience I have learned that people who are incapable of forging emotional connections hurt the people around them...the people that really care about them. An interesting point in the movie was when Ricky Gervais' character said something about how ghosts have unfinished business not because they themselves feel incomplete or 'unfinished', rather because their loved ones that survived them feel incomplete. Ricky Gervais tells a widow to let go of her husband because until she does that, neither she or her husband will be at peace. It's an interesting concept--that the ones who are still living are the ones that are keeping business 'unfinished'. I don't know if I fully believe in ghosts but I do believe that the soul leaves the body and remains 'alive'. I guess even if you don't believe in ghosts, you still have to live on after the death of a loved one. You have to get closure and let go to the point that the memories don't stifle you. Anyway, I could probably go on a while but overall, the movie was a good one. I really liked it because it was funny and well-acted and definitely emotionally engaging!

Enough for tonight..it's bedtime for me =)

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 =)

Clive is EASILY my favorite Owen

Just saw Inside Man with Clive Owen. I LOVE Clive Owen. Seriously..he's my favorite hot guy haha! He really should've been the new James Bond instead of Daniel Craig. Inside Man was a good movie. Denzel was strong as always. The only downside was that Clive Owen wears a mask for the first half. It was a fun movie though. I can't wait for Taking Pelham (or whatever the Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe movie is) to come out. That looks like it's gonna be good and it reminds me of Inside Man.

Today I decided to reread Harry Potter books 5-7. It's been a while and so much happens in those books that I need to refresh my memory before the movies start coming out (not like they're coming out soon enough but whatever!).

Not much on my mind other than sleep right now....Good night!

Sunflowery Goodness

There's this beautiful website that I came across a while ago that has really lifted my spirits when I am down. It's called helpothers.org and it's a compilation of people's experiences with random acts of kindness. It's a beautiful idea and with so many readers and contributors, there is always something on that site that alleviates my disappointment with the world. I definitely have moments when I wonder where all the good is and I doubt its existence. In those moments, I do some soul searching and ever since I found this site, I read some stories to feel positive again. Witnessing the kindness of strangers like this reminds me that sometimes when things look down, we have to look up at the stars and remember that we're not alone. As Oscar Wilde put it: We are all in the gutters but some of us are looking up at the stars. I really like that quote because it reminds me that I have full control of my attitude, regardless of the situation I am in. It is a message of hope and optimism.

Last night I watched Catch Me If You Can. It was a pretty good movie. I really like how Leonardo DiCaprio blossomed (I know, I know, couldn't I have picked a less girly word to describe it!) into a respectable actor. It's not just his good looks and charm anymore but his merit as an actor. Speaking of good looks, I may go see Duplicity with my sister in a bit. Sigh, gotta love that Clive Owen. More later! Meanwhile, just enjoy the sunflowers!

Love Reign O'er Me

Hello! I'm a little late tonight so I guess it's actually tomorrow. I just finished watching Reign Over Me. It's a nice, touching movie. It reminds me of the different forms grief takes as it creeps into people's lives. Everyone deals with loss and grief differently and I guess it's important to recognize that. This really hits home because my ba is still coping with the loss of my dada. There are still times, unsurprisingly, when she gets down because she feels the effects of the drastic changes in her life. Most of the time she is able to live out her days fully but there are definitely some moments that can be tough for her. I guess she especially gets lonely whenever there is a holiday or a birthday..times that are the triggers that remind her of time spent with him. Sometimes when my ba is down my mom will try to push her to a better mood. I wonder sometimes about how good that is for her. I do think there should be a limit to how depressed someone gets about things like this but I don't know if enforcing a limit is the right way to go about it. As long as they aren't hurting themselves too badly or hurting others they should be given their freedom. People heal at their own pace and that should be respected.

I was just thinking earlier about education. I really don't like how people take education for granted. It's tempting to complain and feel bad for yourself when you have an endless amount of work to do. It's even understandable, especially when everyone you know isn't in the same situation you are. I think in those moments it is essential to think about how blessed we are to even have the opportunity to obtain an education. We can choose our interests and pursue them at advanced levels of education. That is something that some kids don't even have the means to dream about. It's a shame that so many people either let it go to waste or fail to recognize it as one of the greatest blessings. We have complete access to what it takes to achieve our dreams. When you have chosen a path for yourself--a walk of life on which to make your mark, you have nothing to complain about because you are better off than more than half of the children in this world. When you are in school studying to become what you have dreamt of, you are better off than probably 80% of the children of the world. They don't have the voice to complain and we can't seem to shut up. We hold the key to our future in our hand and yet we are complaining because we don't want to walk over to the door and unlock it. It's pathetic really, when you think about the way we react to having a decade or so of hard work that eventually leads to a six figure salary. What about the people who struggle their entire lives to no good end? Education is something I really feel strongly about as you can probably tell from all of this ranting...I don't know, just something to think about..

Okay this was a serious enough end to a pretty light day! I spent most of the day helping my mom with some paperwork she had to do for work. Literally...I was at the kitchen table for over 7 hours. Ah well, all in the name of family! I'm gonna get to bed now so I can wake up in like 6 hours to watch Saved by the Bell!

A little bit of sentiment to welcome spring

Happy spring! Just warning you--I'm sort of sentimental right now. I just watched Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and it really touched me. I guess it addressed a lot of my thoughts and concerns as of late. I have been wondering about love and who I'm going to marry. Don't get me wrong--I'm not trying to get married anytime soon. But I guess I just want to be in a stable relationship before marrying the person and I feel like time is running out. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi reminded me of something that's easy to overlook when your mind is consumed with worry and fear--God has someone just for every single one of us. We all have a soul mate out there who is perfect for our specific needs. I guess I just have to work on myself to get to a point where I am ready to meet 'the one' and leave the rest up to God.

Today was the first day of spring and coincidentally, I came home for spring break today. I took the train home and I guess not having company made my hearing and thinking skills that much sharper. I was standing next to these two girls on the platform as I was waiting for my train and their conversation really made me think. They were both Indian girls and they were discussing how much they don't like to be a part of the Indian group which is constantly filled with drama. It's so funny how many people (ahem, girls) have that attitude and yet they are itching to be at the center of their social spheres. Some people gravitate towards drama and while doing so, claim to want no part in it. I don't mind the drama because I think drama is something people create; I don't think it is an entity that exists apart from people's perspectives. Everyone is living and everyone has things going on in their life. A thing that happens in your life can become the sole focus of your life (and everyone else's conversations) or it can remain just a part of your life--which is what it rightfully should be. I don't understand the obsession with blowing things out of proportion to make what you feel the most extreme version of that feeling to ever exist. Truth be told, none of the emotions anyone feels are new to people. There have been love and heartbreaks and jealousy and anger and whatever other emotions that some people claim 'nobody understands'. It all boils down to your reaction to these events in your life. You can make them more dramatic than they are and become the drama you 'hate' or you can realize that they're just single threads in the tapestry of your life and treat them as is warranted by their insignificance. Take that you dramatic platform girls!

Okay so all of that aside, the Island Fusion ice at Rita's is so good! I had it today as I welcomed spring! Here's to a season full of a vibrant energy that is so desperately needed right now!

I love you man but not the government

Last night I went to a free screening for the movie coming out on Friday--I love you, man. It was a good movie! I really liked it. I like Paul Rudd. I feel like he's not self-conscious and he's not afraid to take on roles that involve him acting gay or stupid. In I love you man, Rudd's acting made me think of Steve Carrell. Overall, it's a funny movie and I liked it!

In other news, the whole AIG bonuses thing has really got everybody angry. The general public is mad at the executives that are taking home these hefty bonuses. What I don't understand is how the government failed to have the foresight to prevent this from happening. I don't understand how the government basically gave a handout without putting any conditions that cap the bonuses. Why didn't anybody in Washington do something about this huge loophole?

When I was at the gym yesterday, they were playing CNN Newsroom on the TV and they had this interesting interview. This guy was out of a job (no surprise there) and to advertise himself, he bought a billboard ad. Apparently he received a lot of offers for interviews from CEOs that saw the billboard. I thought that was such a creative idea and I'm glad it worked or his financial situation would probably be worse off cuz of the expense of advertising!

Soo I wanna share my thoughts on politics. I realized my view last night and I think it's important that I write it down so I can refer to it later when I'm interviewed on the Colbert Report (one can dream!). So up until now I considered myself a Democrat. I didn't exactly change to a Republican philosophy but I can definitely understand it. There's problems with both philosophies and I guess I don't know yet which is the lesser evil. See, in the Democratic standpoint, a shift of wealth to the lower income class is purported. Democrats want to help out the people at the bottom that 'need a hand' to get up. Whereas the Republicans have a self-righteous attitude about the money that they 'worked hard' to earn and they don't think people at the bottom, who haven't worked as hard, deserve the help. I think there are fundamental problems with both mindsets. The Democratic philosophy is too forgiving of the people at the bottom that are lazy and just waiting for the government handouts. I don't think that's right because there are people out there who work two jobs and work overtime. It's interesting because some of these people may actually jump into a higher socioeconomic class because of the amount they work and what do they get rewarded with? HIGHER TAXES! So that family is working like crazy to make a better future for themselves and all of a sudden they're expected to give even more to the lazy people at the bottom! Why does their hard-earned money go to the families that aren't even trying? I know there are lots of worthy people at the bottom that really need the aid and it's unfortunate that their actual needs get twisted up with the lazy people who just aren't trying. Now the problem with the Republican philosophy in my eyes is that it operates on the premise that the people who are at the top making a lot of money all worked hard to get there. There are undoubtedly people who really did climb the ladder and got where they are with their own sweat. But certainly there are those who had the right connections and just got there without lifting a finger. Even now, after having gotten to the top, there are some executives that actually work hard and care about things and others that are only looking at the money. So what you end up with overall is a Democratic philosophy that helps the undeserving lazy people and a Republican philosophy that helps the undeserving greedy people. Which is the lesser of the two evils?

Okay so I have a neuro practical exam tomorrow that I'm not really prepared for. Considering I just woke up, I should probably get moving. Happy Thursday!