Happy State Patty's!

Penn State smashed last year's THON record by raising $7,490,133.87 to support Pediatric Cancer. Now THAT is pretty amazing. Heres a good picture of what happens at THON:



I've been trying to study as much as possible so that I can have a relatively enjoyable Spring break that doesn't involve cramming for the two exams I have to take when I return to Penn State. This is why my blogging has been sucking. But I finished an entire Physio chapter today, so I will take a break and go gamble at the HUB in a few minutes.

Yesterday, I learned how to do the West Coast Swing at the White Building. I should attend more of the late night dance events. West Coast Swing is another partner dance (like the ones we learn in Ballroom class) and this is one that you can do practically to any type of 4/4 music. Unfortunately, neither Shivam nor Jon like doing it so I'm considering learning how to do the guy's part so I can practice with my female friends. Doing the West Coast Swing is so much fun...it's almost like moonwalking the entire time.

Speaking of dance, we are learning how to do the Quick Step in Ballroom class and that is also loads of fun. It involves linking up with a guy and traversing the entire room with great steps. If I ever get to take a video of us dancing, I will put it up here.

On Wednesday, I ran three miles. My quads were sore for three days. This shows how out of shape I am. I think I'll stick to ballroom dance.

I'm going to the HUB now to play pool or poker or something. And Happy State Patty's Day! State Patty's is the Penn State students' desperate attempt to move St. Patrick's day to a day before Spring Break, so they can have another excuse to drink and party before everyone's gone.

THON is here

It's THON weekend! How exciting!

What is THON?

"The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, affectionately referred to as THON, is a yearlong effort to raise funds and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer. Since 1977, THON has raised more than $52 million for The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Children's Hospital."

So, THON is the world's largest student run philanthropy. I'm not dancing this year (though I hope to next year). Essentially, as a THON participator, you dance for 48 hours nonstop. Very exciting stuff. Yeah, yeah...you're saying I'd never be up for it...but let me remind you! I once swam in Walden Pond in the middle of the winter! When there was snow on the beach! And I did it for the global warming protest! As well as extra credit points! Chyeaaa.

Remember this?

So anyway, I'm going to the BJC later today after dance practice to support the peeps and donate money.

I can play songs on the flute now, as many people who have been forced to listen will confirm. They're not very good, but I can manage it since I am experienced in playing by ear.

Since invitations are already out, I can finally give you the scoop about Prog Formal. It's going to be held on March 21st at the Ramada. Malinda took up the task of organizing it, so naturally we also have to help out. We have a Casino theme for the party (possibly influenced by our addiction to gambling...? Who knows) and preparations are underway.

So...sleepy...

Hey

I tweaked the layout a bit. Hope you like it. 

I am pleased to announce that the first round of exams finished successfully and I am now entering a period of false security where I will be doing pretty much nothing. This will be succeeded by a panicked frenzy right before the second round of exams. I have, however, decided to stop playing poker for now, since it's incredibly improbable that I'll ever again get a Royal Flush (and Poker has now lost all meaning).

I just got back from the Spring Career Fair, which is much less impressive than the one last fall. Even though I brought a backpack, it remained pathetically light when I got back home. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better and I will have some goodies to show off.  

I am currently very sleepy because my sleep schedule is messed up, thanks to the partying that occurred this weekend. I am currently depriving myself of sleep so I can reset my schedule and use this time to do some Physio. Unfortunately, trying to read about muscle contractions is getting really difficult. I may have to steal a nap...

PSU Natya (our dance club) is doing very well and we now have 6 or 7 performers for the upcoming show. The choreography (done by Moksha and me) looks nice because it's basically a fusion of Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam. We've already got 2 out of the 7 and a 1/2 minutes of the song down. The song is gorgeous (I stole it off Ruckus back when it was still functioning) and I would share it with you, but I think we're supposed to keep it a secret until we perform. 

Ciao for now.

Oh my god.

Yeah. I got a Royal Flush. With Spades.

Who wants to gamble?

I have become a poker bum.

Hi friends!

And...as if you didn't already know, here you can read about India

I actually DO have a valid excuse for not blogging within the past week, thanks to the boatload of work I was responsible for. On Wednesday was my first physics exam. On Thursday was: a lab report due, a presentation on the clotting mechanisms of the Cardiovascular System, and my first physiology test. The lab we did was on stimulating the sciatic nerve of a frog to observe how action potentials behave. I forgot to mention that I was the one who performed the necropsy on the frog for my group and extracted the sciatic nerve most skillfully, what with all of my mouse-killing experience :)

Right after the physio exam, we had another meeting for Natya and then Ramya and I went running at rec hall. After that, we went to listen to a speech by Madeleine Albright at the Eisenhower auditorium. Albright was the first female Secretary of State of the United States and served during Clinton's term. She was very intelligent and witty and I like her a lot. Also, she is apparently friends with Hillary Clinton, which is great. 

Thursday was Bhishma Ekadasi (the day Bhishma chose to die). Bhishma is a character from the Mahabharat, a Hindu epic poem, so some of us from HSC got together and watched a few episodes of the 1980s Mahabharat series. 

Anyway, thankfully, everything from that week is over and I was permitted to relax this weekend. By relax, I mean play poker with Ramya, Malinda, Shivam, Jon, and Trent until 4:00 AM and then watch Slumdog Millionaire until 7:00 AM. Somehow, I still managed to wake up by 11:30 on Saturday and we later went over to Karthik's apartment to hang out and partake in some awesome Indian cooking (palak paneer + methi paratha) and more poker. I think I may have become a gambling addict.

Yesterday, I woke up very tired (my sleep debt still hadn't been paid from the night before) and basically microslept the entire day while trying to study for my OChem exam on Wednesday and finishing a near-impossible lecture problem that was due this morning. 

I feel better today, so instead of studying, I played the flute some more, learned how to sing Vande Mataram, watched some documentaries on Asian architecture, and ate ice cream. That's about it for now! In other pleasant news, the weather is being rather nice by staying in the 40s. I hope this continues for some time. 

Ciao!