Spring Break 2010

This is the first Spring Break where I didn't head home. I decided to stay in MD in case I had an interview or something(yay positive thinking!). While I did get to meet up with friends from high school and middle school, there was kind of something missing. That feeling went away when my mom called me and told me that she was flying up for my thesis presentation. While it is something that I would never ask for, having my mom at what I consider one of the defining moments of my college career is one of the greatest things that could happen. My mom is more or less my role model.

I am psyched for the rest of break. Hopefully, I end up seeing more movies(The Crazies was intense). I also would like to figure out what I am doing with my life. That would be nice.


Lyric of the Day:
"If I could do just one near perfect thing I’d be happy.
They’d write it on my grave, or when they scattered my ashes.
On second thoughts, I’d rather hang around and be there with my best friend,
If she wants me."
-Belle and Sebastian:"If She Wants Me"

Random Story of The Day:
Today I realized that I was auditioned for the role of boyfriend by one of the friends of a girl I thought was cute. In this performance I proceeded to comment on how much my "date" was eating and said she wasn't good looking by omission.

As my little brother says, "...and that is why you don't get laid."

Note to Future Self: The Unknown is Fear.

Better than Expected

This week has turned out much better than expected. Besides the loss of sleep, I've been absurdly productive. I CAD-ed a robot, helped build a great prototype, passed a 440 test, and was able to productively review 443.

I really am looking forward to break. Visiting people, working on my side projects, and watching movies should provide a suitable foil for the rush that has been these past weeks. I need to see The Hurt Locker to understand why Avatar did not win the Oscar. And Up in the Air is supposed to be cool. Shutter Island I keep hearing mixed reviews for. And Alice in Wonderland is in 3-D. All I need now is a hot date.

Update: By passed I mean aced. Hellz yeah.

Lyric of the Day:
"Oh no it happened again.
She's cool, she's hot, she's my friend.
I tried for hours if so,
You leave me no where to go."
-Blink-182:"Please Take Me Home"

Random Story of The Day:
My engineering group and I were working on our prototype from 10pm to around 1am. We had to let some Gorilla Glue set.

Two guys went to the computer labs.

I pulled out my laptop and watched the Office.

Two guys decided to take naps on the tables in the Engineering Lab.

When I was halfway through my episode, the door to the lab swung open. I think its my teammates. "Hola!", I yell to the confused graduate student who walks in without looking up. He looks at the guys sleeping on the tables, our misshapen prototype, and the gluey mess that was our workspace. "Undergrads...", he mutters as he closes the door and leaves.

Note to Future Self: Fear leads to being frozen, paralyzed, and being confused. It is basically the grand-daddy of status ailments in Pokemon.

Changing Times

I've reached the point in my academic career where I over think my Business exams and actually understand everything that is happening in my Engineering classes. While it's kind of exciting, the fact that this could ruing my business GPA is a little sad.

It looks like its guaranteed that I will end up with very few of my college friends around(since I probably will end up in the DC area). Kind of makes me regret not being friends with less ambitious people.

At least I get to build a robot this semester.

Lyric of the Day:
"I only wanna be your one life stand.
Tell me do you stand by your whole man"
-Hot Chip:"One Life Stand"

Random Story of The Day:
A couple of my friends live together. Two of them started going to Starbucks to work because their roommate took over the common room when she was studying. She would spread over the couch, and have stuff on the dining table as well.

They kept having their outings for a couple weeks until their roommate confronted them because she "felt left out". Irony?

Note to Future Self: You talk too much.

The Balance

Two weeks ago I had a great weekend. This weekend, not so much.

It started off pretty great, with my first trip to a bar. That was fun, though it made me realize how much I had missed in college. My friend likes to point out how many of our friendships are caused by location and timing, and not similar interests. This really shows itself when you realize that you really can't get your friends to join you in the adventures you want to go on.

Yesterday I tried to organize a movie outing, and by trying to include people it backfired. I essentially ended up compromising all the way from seeing Scorsese to eating dinner across the street from the movie theater. And apparently even that ended up kinda being a double-edged outing.

Today I spent 7 hours CADing up a robot for a class that I still have homework due for. I did Finance homework for a class that I still have a test to study for. My capstone group is procrastinating even though I made most of our presentation. Tomorrow I have a meeting where the one supervisor I want to see will not be there. At least I have a 4 hour time period between meetings and work to study for my test on Monday...

Lyric of the Day:
"I hold the whole world accused
I've only got myself to blame
I wonder why, I never wonder why
The easiest things are so hard

I just want, I just want love
I just want, I just want love
I just want, I just want love"
-The Bravery:"Unconditional"

Random Story of The Day:
This week I was invited to a University open house. I went, and met all the other prospective PhD students. They gave us a tour of several of the larger labs, told us about professors looking for graduate students, and fed us a ton of free food.

Only thing is that I have not received an acceptance letter from them...

Note to Future Self: Write in your free time. That shit needs to make it to Hollywood.

F*ck Duke, Wear a condom

Last night was the best way to end my tenure as a student fan of Terp basketball. Maryland beats Duke, something they haven't done since my freshman year. While the game was a display of poor shot selection, as long as General Grievous gets it in all is well. Eric Hayes showed up and Adrian Bowie was 4/4 with 9 points and no turnovers.

Of course there was a mini-riot, but I stayed in seeing as I already had put on pajama pants. And I didn't want to get maced. Such is life.

Lyric of the Day:
"A Mastermind - Sees it coming before it comes
A Mastermind - Before he go to war he counts his one
A Mastermind - Everything planned out perfect, in case y'all niggaz got to get murdered
A Mastermind - Sleeps at night, real easy
A Mastermind - Cause everything he does is by the book
A Mastermind - Never do a thing irrational, lives forever, these tales are classical"
-Nas:"Mastermind"

Random Story of The Day:
My friends are training to be EMTs. They wanted me to help them practive being on they phone so they pretended I was a caller to the Fire House.

Apparently first responders will just start laughing if you tell them that your emergency is "My anus is bleeding!"

Note to Future Self: Super Mario Brothers incorporates elements of Alice in Wonderland.

You're the best definition of good intentions

So here it is. That weekend where it goes down. Getting ready for what is, hopefully, my last interview. Working on the thesis that will be seen by our discussants. Coming up with the real design for my Capstone project.

All after making the editorial cartoon for the university newspaper :D

Lyric of the Day:
"I'm a drama abolitionist
Damn no opposition to my proposition
Half of a man, half magician
Half a politician holding the mic
Like ammunition
And my vision is as simple as light"
-Jason Mraz:"The Dynamo of Volition"

Random Story of The Day:
My voice became sore from yelling during the Maryland-Duke game. The scary part?

This happened while I was in my apartment watching it on ESPN. And that was less than 9 minutes into the game.

Note to Future Self: Are you odd or normal?

Aha Shake Heartbreak

Realized that I didn't get a call back from my #1 school. Ah well, these things work themselves out.

Lyric of the Day:
"She sings a siren's song.
I am the damage done."
-The Static Age:"Cherry Red"

Random Story of The Day:
Today I raised my hand in class and stated that "Equity is not a liability".

My teacher told my entire class that what I had just said was crucial to success in her class.

I am king of Obviousland.

Note to Future Self: You can do Math

Keeping the Blade

So I've been super busy in the past couple of weeks. Well, not super busy, more like moderately busy with a lot of procrastination. Whether its my Capstone team, Gems, classes that keep putting me to sleep, or trying to avoid unemployment, there is always something to do.

This past weekend we had back to back birthday parties for my friends and my roommate. Pretty fun, but that much celebration takes its toll on you.

Staying motivated is kind of an issue, but not nearly as much as keeping those around me motivated. The fact that Cs still means that we graduate is something that it seems everyone has learned by now. And graduate schools or employers can't un-accept and un-hire you.

The Olympics are sick. Shaun White is sick, Apolo Ohno is a little overrated, Men's figure skating is amazing, and the two-man luge is something else. As my roommate watches, he keeps bringing up how little we have actually accomplished. Yeah, he's kind of a downer. Though I guess something is valid when the little brothers of our HS friends are getting married. Yeah, its kind of like that.

Lyric of the Day:
"We're gonna fuel the fire, gonna stoke it up
We're gonna sip this wine and pass the cup
Who needs avenues, who needs reservoirs
Gonna show this town how to kiss these stars

I say, I say"
-Kings of Leon:"Manhattan"

Random Story of The Day:
A friend of mine was making reservations for dinner:

Her: "I'd like to make a reservation"
Restaurant Staff: "For what time? And how many people?
Her: "I need it for six-thirty and there will be ten people"
Restaurant Staff: "Looks like we can only do six"
Her: "What will I do with the other four people?!"
Restaurant Staff: "...Ma'm..."
Her: "Oh. That's fine."

Note to Future Self: Checking the forums before you sleep is stressful.

Snowed in(still)

This is officially madness. We just missed a week of school because of snow. While is kind of fantastic, I feel kind of out of it. Having all this free time is surreal.

On the plus side: I finished Tuck and I think I may get back to the backlog of books that I have to return to people before we graduate. My roomie and I finished our second season of Madden 10. I think we're seeing Valentine's day today.

Too bad about that Gemstone. I'll get it done. Soon-ish.

Lyric of the Day:
"Big city,
White lights,
Sleep all day,
Up all night.

Hey baby,
Im a rockstar.
Hey baby,
Im a rockstar."
-Rihanna ft. Slash:"Rockstar 101"

Random Story of The Day:
Last night my friend's GF was calling him out after he asked our female friend if she really watched football.

I called her out on the fact that five minutes earlier she asked me if I actually knew who Alexander McQueen was.

I am responsible for all kinds of trouble.

Note to Future Self: DP Dough needs to win something.

Snowed in

So, this winter continues to be absurdly snow filled. At least it means I get to hang out, dick around, and play in the snow.

Plus I get to write more Gemstone.

Lyric of the Day:
"I won't ask for much this Christmas
I won't even wish for snow
I'm just gonna keep on waiting
Underneath the mistletoe"
-Mariah Carey:"All I Want for Christmas is You"

Random Story of The Day:
Last night it was snowing, so we decided to make show angels. We ran out, jumped backwards and swung our arms. Only when we got up and looked did we realized that my angel did not have a head. I refused to lean backwards, so i never made an impression in the ground since I didn't want to have my head get cold :P

Note to Future Self: Get-you-laid cookies will not get you a long-term relationship with love and respect.

In the cold cold night

This last semester has been different that I would have expected. Gone are the midnight debates. Gone is the Diner and the gym, located a short walk from my dorm. Gone are the people who you once thought would change everything.

And yet here I am. I've done many of the things I set out to accomplish. Both my majors? Check. Was it satisfying? Not as much as I thought. Gemstone team that I can be proud of? Yep. Reasonable love life? Heh, maybe in grad school. Stayed with Robotics? Mhm. Getting my research to a place that I can feel accomplished? Maybe by the end of the year.

Hopefully in my memory this will exist as a time that I accomplished as much as I could have, and not the period where I made shitty decision after shitty decision. Too bad there are some things you can't get a do-over for.

Lyric of the Day:
"Stranded in this spooky town
Stoplights are swaying and the phone lines are down
This floor is crackling cold
She took my heart, I think she took my soul
With the moon I run
Far from the carnage of the fiery sun"
-Kings of Leon:"Closer"

Random Story of The Day:
We were supposed to have a party this past Saturday, but it was cancelled since we had a couple inches of snow. We rescheduled it to this Friday. The weather report for today is calling for snow on Friday. The weather refuses to co-operate.

Note to Future Self: You are a huge liability. Thankfully that means you have a huge asset.

So Pretty Burning

So I'm in class. Learning about what the Fed did at the last meeting it had. This is so exciting.

Lyric of the Day:
"Burn the sun
Burn the light
Take take take take take take it away
Take my hand
Take my life
Take take take take take take it away"
-The Used:"Take it Away"

Random Story of The Day:
Yesterday I was having post-work dinner with my co-workers. Apparently one of my co-workers heard from my roommate's ex that he is an idiot, and was in danger of failing his classes. The kid is either going to Caltech or MIT. She heard wrong.

Note to Future Self: If you go to GTech or UVA, laugh about it.

My Last First Day

Today marks a milestone in my life. This is the last first day of a new semester(Grad school doesn't count since you just keep doing your research during breaks). College, which is supposed to be the time of your life, is coming to and end. And I have no idea what the hell I'm doing.

Applying to five graduate schools was probably a bad idea. But I guess when you get down to it and realize that there are only so many places that you want to move to thats what happens. I'm going to start working on contingency plans and applying to companies that might hire me.

Today is the first time I've ever had an all business schedule for a day, and it feels nice. Not that I don't have to take notes, but Finance is a lot more reproduce-able for me than Engineering.

My 3-hour breaks will be unproductive I fear, but at least sometimes it woks out and you get to have lunch with cute girls. Maybe I'll just use this as reading time...

Lyric of the Day:
"(Keep on feeling)
I only wanna be your one life stand
(Keep on feeling)
Tell me do you stand by your whole man"
-Hot Chip:"One Life Stand"

Random Story of The Day:
My roommate and I have been betting on playoff games, with the loser having to shotgun a beer for each touchdown(rounded up) that their team loses by.

The results(me v. him)

Ravens(3)-Colts(20): I drink three
Chargers(14)-Jets(17): I drink one
Jets(17)-Colts(30): I drink two
Vikings(28)-Saints(31): I drink one

Looks like this weekend is going to be a great weekend. Thank goodness we don't give a shit about the NFC.

Note to Future Self: Write the book about the dreamer. That will have a great screenplay.

A day in the life

So I'm sick. And I have a test in 2 days. This is how I roll.
Lyric of the Day:
"It may not mean nothing to y’all,
but understand nothing was done for me,
so i don’t plan on stopping at all,
I want this sh-t forever man, ever man, ever man"
-Drake:"Forever"

Random Story of The Day:
Today my friend was prepping for her interview. We were talking about how you are supposed to respond when they ask you questions.

Her: So, if they say m "What was the last book you read?"
Me: Eclipse
Her: Yeah, I don't know if you should tell them that, or the last intellectual book you read
Me: Like Three Cups of Tea in Tehran
Her: You realize that "Three Cups of Tea" and "Reading Lolita in Tehran" are two different books, right?
Me: That's why I just go with Eclipse

Note to Future Self: At least you don't Facebook stalk people :D

Making a responsible choice for my future

Business Law kinda sucks. I hate reading. I hate taking notes. I hate words. At least this just means next semester will be better(14 credits!).

Lyric of the Day:
"I wish I could save you
I wish I could say to you
I'm not going nowhere
I wish I could say to you
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna be alright "
-Kelly Clarkson:"Save You"

Random Story of The Day:
I was hanging out with on of my friends and her high school friends from Hopkins. Things were going pretty well, and I started chatting up one of her cute single friends. I was spitting my hot fire when my roommate flipped one of the meat pieces on the grill, which caused an avalanche on the grill(we were at a Korean BBQ).

"And that is why Bioengineers are not real engineers", I say laughing.

The cute girl I was talking to gives a sigh.

"What?"

"You don't think I'm a real engineer?", she asks slightly irritated.

Damn. There goes that.

Note to Future Self: He who hesitates is lost. And that is you.

I'm getting to old for this shit

So I'm one year older today. I kind of feel it. Or maybe that's just the feeling of knowing that a phase of your life is changing. The transition to college was one thing, but going into the real world is another. I will be constantly angry at how easy past me had it.

Back to learning about torts.
Lyric of the Day:
"I've seen love
And I follow the speed in the starlight
I've seen love
And I follow the speed in the starswept night"
-Interpol:"Pace Is The Trick"

Random Story of The Day:
Someone texted my friend on his birthday, "Hope you get some of that Jeremiah".
His girlfriend saw it and got angry.
Jerimiah sings a song called "Birthday Sex" XD

Note to Future Self: Watching Food Network while tipsy and playing Magic are the simple stuff you have to enjoy.

Faith

Before I left for home this winter, I had an interesting discussion with my roommates. Well, I guess not a discussion, more of a "try to explain what you mean" session. Even though I have kind of a mixed up religious background, I still have faith that there is something greater than us. To me, this serves as a more powerful driving force than how others perceive me, which in comparison (in my head) is a shallower existence. But I guess this may just be the result of going to church for Christmas and to temple for New Years.
Lyric of the Day:
"They can say whatever
I'ma do whatever
No pain is forever
Yup, you know this"
-Rihanna:"Hard"

Random Story of The Day:
I went to lunch with a couple of my friends to a local sushi place. At the end of our meal, the hostess approached one of my friends, and asked him if he could fix their TV. Three minutes later our entire party was at the TV and had gotten it to work.

Note to Future Self: You are old enough for people to do aarti for you.

The consequences

Just lost my business 4.0. In a class that I had a fairly solid A in. And the only business class that I was not worried about this semester. Did I mention the difference between my grade and an A were the group projects?

Hopefully things get better as this winter progress.

Lyric of the Day:
"You could be a sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare
Either way I don't wanna wake up from you
(Turn the lights on)"
-Beyonce:"Sweet Dreams"

Random Story of The Day:
As I read New Moon on the plane, a 14 year old behind me started looking over my shoulder. I had to shush her so she did not spoil it for me.

Note to Future Self: Back to the drawing board. Just remember when you had an eraser and absurd amounts of choice.

The End Complete

Went to my last Gems Formal. It was pretty fun, especially with satellite events happening.

The semester has been exciting. Met a whole new set of people through group projects and got to know some people a little better.

Lyric of the Day:
"Lonely Mr. Kholi from Los Angeles
Came to Punjab on one bent knee
He had a green card, new house, big cash
So made a wish with every fallen lash
For you to do the journey with him
To smile when he got home ask how his day had been
He wants you by his side in joy and strife
Poor Mr. Kholi he has no life without wife. "
-Bride and Prejudice:"No Life without Wife"

Random Story of The Day:
One of my friends lost her phone and keys after deciding at the bar that she just needed to walk home alone. Crazy college kids.

Note to Future Self: You can convince people that you are on a beer pong scholarship.

Racey Days, once again

Applying for grants and grad schools is actually taxing. I've been rolling through this semester carefree for the most part, but these applications are kind of important. Doesn't help that my procrastination has led to a two-test week when NSF is due. At least next semester will be awesome.

Lyric of the Day:
"Control yourself,
Take only what you need from it"
-MGMT:"Kids"

Random Story of The Day:
Today in my controls class we have an exam(actually in 15 mins). I'm in the room early looking over my notes, so I decide to put on my headphones and listen to music. Only problem was that I didn't plug in my headphones. And I didn't realize that they were unplugged. I just blasted MGMT in a class of studying engineers for like 10 minutes.

Note to Future Self: Sometimes you just need to see different people.