Famous Last Words - Week 13

I am writing this post on monday because the rest of my week is going to be pretty hectic. My grandmother unexpectedly passed away yesterday. I will be leaving tomorrow after class because I don't have class on Wednesdays. The funeral is set for Thursday morning. Friday morning I leave to go to Austin for my cousin's wedding, which is friday night.
This may get a little sentimental.
It is so scary to think about how quickly things can change. One day - everything is fine. The next day - everything you knew has changed. It really puts things in perspective. We need to make the most out of each day we're given. We need to think of each day as a gift versus a privilege.

I am feeling a little stressed out because I have to get all my school work done before I go.
I have more school work in this class right now than my other's so that's what I have been focusing on today. However, I do have a test tomorrow so after I write this post I am going to switch subjects.

My parents came down for the Baylor game this past weekend and that was a lot of fun. I love when my parents come down. They love Norman, they think the little town feel is so cute. It is a little town compared to where I live.

Since this technically isn't the end of my week, that's really all I can say for now.
Till next time....

In honor of my favorite season and my favorite holiday coming up.

RSS Widget Tech Tip

This week I added a RSS Widget to the sidebar on my blog. This is one of those things that I never thought about having until I got it. It allows people to subscribe to my blog and keep updated with my posts. They could see my posts as easily as emails. This is actually a pretty cool idea. If you find someone's blog that really interests you, you can easily see all their posts. Aside from that, you can subscribe to as many blogs as you want. I hope more people in our class do this tech tip.

Storytelling: Matsya Kingdom - Week 13

The final casting list was about to come out. Students lined up outside the theater with high hopes of scoring the part of their dreams. The teacher came out with the list and walked up to the bulletin board; the students crowded closer and closer and tension grew. She pinned the list to the board and quickly moved out of the way.

Final Casting List

Matsya Kingdom

In order of appearance:

Brahmin .......... Yudhishthira

Virata's cook .......... Bhima 

Sudeshna's personal maid .......... Draupadi

Cattle supervisor .......... Sahadeva

Horse supervisor .......... Nakula

Eunuch .......... Arjuna

Synopsis of Scenes:

The acts take place in the Matsya Kingdom where King Virata rules. This is where the Pandavas choose to spend their thirteenth year of exile. They take on these parts to aid in their disguise. 

Everyone was content with their parts, it had been just what they auditioned for. Except for Arjuna. Arjuna read his part and stormed down the hallway. How dare the theater teacher force him to succumb to the part of the eunuch. The eunuch lives with the women of the court as a music and dance teacher. This seemed like the result of some curse. 

Yudhishthira was exceptionally happy with his part. In his real life, he had never been very good at dice and chess. The brahmin was an expert at dice and chess. Yudhishthira got to be whoever he wanted in the alternative reality that was the theater. That is why Yudhishthira loved the theater so much. He had always been the star, everyone looked up to him. 

Draupadi was excited to be the token woman in this act. She knew Yudhishthira, Bhima, Sahadeva, Nakula, and Arjuna all liked her and she milked it in every way that she could. 

Sahadeva was the youngest of the group and therefore felt the need to prove himself.

Nakula was Sahadeva's close friend. Nakula only joined theater because Sahadeva did. 

Lastly, Bhima proved to have unmatchable talent in everything he does. He was very confident in his part of the play and everyone else was confident in him.

All of the actors will come together Saturday night to create a one of a kind play that would portray an important aspect of Indian Culture.

Google Images

Author's note:

I decided to base my story off of The Pandavas move into the Matsya kingdom. My story takes place in a theater setting. The Pandava brothers and Draupadi are the actors and the parts they play are the parts they take to disguise themselves while in exile. I tried to describe each character in my story parallel to who they are in the original story. 

Buck, William (1973). Mahabharata

Reading Diary B - Week 13

-Vyasa sees many bad omens about the upcoming battle
-Bhishma becomes the commander of Duryodhana's army
-Karna refuses to fight


-Drupada had been praying to Shiva for a child
-He wanted a son but got a daughter named Skihandini
-Sikhandini asked a yaksha to make her into a man

-Sanjaya tells the story of the battle to Dhritarashtra
-Bhishma is killed with arrows but is able to choose his time of death

-Duryodhana makes Drona in charge
-Arjuna's friend, prince Uttara is killed and Arjuna is distraught
-Arjuna kills Jayadratha by beheading him

-Drona kills Druapda
-Dhristadyumna kills Drona in the forest

-Karna challenges Arjuna to a battle
-Arjuna kills Karna
-Shalya is killed by Yudhishtira

-Duryodhana is badly wounded
-The Pandavas come to the lake to end it with Duryodhana

Reading Diary A - Week 13

-Yudhishthira sends his brothers on by one into the forest to fetch water
-When they didn't return, he went into the forest and found their bodies
-The brothers are revived by Yama when Yudhishthira answers questions proposed as a test

-The Pandavas decide to spend their 13th year of exile in the Matsya kingdom
-Yudhishthira becomes a brahmin with expertise in dice and chess
-Bhima becomes a cook
-Draupadi becomes a maid
-Sahadeva tends to cattle
-Arjuna becomes a eunuch
-Nakula tends to horses

-Indra wants to armor and earring that Karna has worn since birth
-Indra comes to Karna in disguise but he sees through it
-Indra ends up giving Karna an infallible dart

-Kichaka is killed by Bhima when he tries to attack Draupadi

-Susharman and Duryodhana plan a cattle raid
-Arjuna defeats them all by using a weapon to make them all fall asleep

-Sanjaya comes to see the Pandavas

-Karna says he can defeat the Pandavas single-handedly

-Duryodhana and Yudhishthira go to see Krishna
-"When Krishna awakes, he sees Arjuna first and offers him a choice: he can take Krishna as his ally, or he can have all the soldiers of Krishna's army. Arjuna chooses Krishna as his ally, giving the soldiers to Duryodhana"

-Krishna pleads with Karna to join the Pandavas but Karna refuses

Famous Last Words - Week 12

This week is finally coming to a close and I couldn't be happier. Although this week hasn't been that busy, it seemed long. I had a presentation over gangs and a test on tuesday. However, after that I was finished for the week so I can't really complain.
I register for next semester this week so that's weird. I can't believe I'm registering for my last senior year semester. Time flies so fast.

This class is still going pretty good. I found myself in a tight spot getting my storybook revisions done last week. This week I need to write a story. I hope to have it finished before the weekend. I find it hard sometimes to completely start from scratch with stories; to have to use my own creativity versus a book. Although I do like it better.

My family is coming down to norman this weekend so I'm excited for that. They always come down for the Baylor game. Bentley fractured his tail this past week so we've been dealing with that. I have no idea how it happened. His little tail is shaved and he won't leave it alone. Poor little guy has to wear a cone on his head.

That's all I can think of for this week!
Till next time....

This week I am constantly listening to the song 'Drinking Class' by Lee Brice. I'm obsessed. 

Google Images

Announcements Tech Tip

This week I figured out that you can subscribe to emails for class announcements. This is king to be EXTREMELY helpful. I did not know you could do this. Too often, I miss announcements because I figure all the important information would be sent in a email. Then I check the announcement page and I've missed something important. Now, I only have to worry about checking my email. I wish I had known about this freshman year.

Reading Diary B - Week 12

-Arjuna turns down Urvashi so she curses him

-Indra teaches Arjuna the use of divine weapons

-Bhima tells the story of Mankanak

-Yudhishthira tells the story of Rishyashringa

-The Pandavas go to Mount Kailasa

-Manibhadra- lord of yaks has

-Vaishravana- treasure lord

-Arjuna rejoins his brothers on earth

-12th year of exile - the Pandavas go to Dhritarashtra's kingdom

-Chitraratha traps Duryodhana but the Pandavas rescue him

-Jayadratha- husband of Duhsala and brother-in-law of Duryodhana

-Jayadratha tries to kidnap Draupadi but the Pandavas catch him. They end up releasing him.

-Krishna and Vyasa go to visit the Pandavas in the woods

-Vyasa tells the story of Savitri at Draupadi's request

Reading Diary A - Week 12

-Pandavas arrive to the poker match
-Yudhishthira stakes himself, his brothers, and Draupadi
-Duryodhana tries to publicly humiliate Draupadi
-Draupadi makes a wish that all the brother's and herself are freed and it's granted
-The panadvas lose again and have to move into exile

-Arjuna meets his father Indra in the forest

-Nala- king of Nishada
-Damayanti- daughter of Vidarbha
-Damayanti chose to marry Nala, but the eveil spirit Kali vowed to ruin their happiness

-Pushkara- Nala's brother
-Kali made Pushkara challenge Nala to a game of dice
-Nala lost everything to Pushkara
-Nala decided to leave Damayanti
-Damayanti kept looking for Nala
-She finally went to her father and he promised to search for Nala

-Karkotaka bit Nala, turning him into an ugly person
-Nala became King Rituparna's charioteer

-Parnada found Nala and went to tell Damayanti
-Damayanti sent her maid to find Nala and Nala returned to Damayanti

Famous Last Words - Week 11

I cannot believe this weekend is already Halloween. Next thing we know, it'll be Christmas and then Spring Break and then we'll be done. This school year is flying by. And this year is scarier than all the past years because I have to enter to real world after this. I'm too young to be a grown-up, right?

This class is going pretty good. Nothing new really...i've been doing okay keeping up and my storybook is going in the right direction.
I added a little more to my plate when I signed up for an 8-week online class: Conflict Resolution. I think I mentioned that in my previous Famous Last Words post. It doesn't seem like it's going to be too much more work though, which is nice. Plus I like online classes. It gives you more freedom to run on your own schedule. However, you are more accountable for getting your stuff done. You aren't going to class every week and there is no one reminding you you have something due at a certain time.
The rest of my classes are going good. I had a test and a quiz yesterday. I think they went okay. Knock on wood.

I went home last weekend and thank God I did. My parents surprised me with a new car! It's an early graduation present because my old car wasn't running so well anymore. I'm absolutely obsessed with it. I try and think of errands to run just as an excuse to drive it.

I am still not sure what I am going to do this weekend for Halloween. Honestly, I am not the biggest fan of Halloween. I don't understand it. I like Christmas and Thanksgiving. However, I usually do something anyway.
One thing I know I want to do this weekend is see Gone Girl. I have been begging my boyfriend to go with me and this weekend i'm going with or without him.

That's all that I can think of for now
Till next time.....

Google Images

Weather Widget Tech Tip

This week I put a weather gadget in my blog! I like it there, it makes it a little different. Slash I am always looking at the weather forecast on my phone (I am dying for a storm) and now I can look at the weather and do my Indian Epics homework at the same time!
Very neat little trick.
Everyone else should get one.

Storytelling: A Bedtime Story - Week 11

"Time for bed little one."
She defiantly shook her head. She was at that age where bedtime and eating her vegetables were the worst things in her small world.
"Come on. I will tell you a bedtime story."
After much consideration she grabbed her pink stuffed bunny and sleepily walked towards her bed. Success.
She climbed into bed and I pulled the sheets up to her little chin. I sat on the edge of her bed and stroked her forehead. He eyes were heavy but he she was trying so hard to stay awake.

She had heard this story plenty times before but it never ceased to amaze her.

"Okay here we go. Once upon a time there was a king who lived in a far away land. He loved his wife very much and he would often dream about her when he wasn't with her. He knew his wife always wanted a little girl of her own. He loved her so much that he decided to give her her wish."

"Like me?"

" Like you. So one day, he asked the stork to bring his wife a baby girl. The stork said yes because delivering babies was his job. He picked out the sweetest little baby he could find."

"Did a stork carry me to you daddy?"

"Yes Emma. The stork wrapped the baby up in a blanket and started on his way. As he was crossing the ocean, he got distracted by a fish jumping in the water and he dropped the baby!"

"Then what daddy?!"

"Close your eyes Emma. Good. The baby fell from the air and dropped right into the mouth of a big fish! The baby was so small that she slipped right to his tummy. She lived there until one day a fisherman caught the fish. He found the little girl and decided to raise her as his own. He named her Satyavati."

Her little head fell to the side. She was finally asleep.

I kissed her on the forehead and quietly made my way to the door.

"Do they live happily ever after daddy?" She whispered.

"Yes Emma. They live happily ever after."

Google Images

Authors Note:
I did my story based on the story of the king of Chedi and his attempt at sending his semen to his wife. I thought it would be fun to tell this story as a bedtime story. Therefore, I had to make it very kid friendly. I changed the hawk to a stork and the semen to a baby. I was using the old wise tale that storks carried babies wrapped in blankets.

Reading Diary B: In Disguise - Week 11

Duryodhana and Duhshasana plan a fire trap to kill the Pandavas. However, they get word of it and escape - leaving 6 corpses behind making everyone think they have died.

They move to a new village.
Vyasa arrives and says he is going to take the brothers to Draupadi (the daughter of king Drupada)
Arjuna is the only one able to win king Drupada's test. Therefore, he gets to marry the daughter. The brothers always share so they all end up marrying Draupadi.

The Pandavas build the city of Indraprastha
Arjuna falls in love with Subhadra and they marry

Agni- fire god
Arjuna and Krishna hold off Indra while Agni burns the forest to eat. He rewards them.
Arjuna protects Maya, architect of the gods, from the fire. In return, he builds the Pandavas a palace.

Duryodhana challenges Yudhishthira to a game of dice and he accepts.

Reading Diary A: Bucks' Mahabharata - Week 11

This week we started Buck's Mahabharata.

The story begins with an Invocation to Narayana (Vishnu.)

Vyasa- composer
Ganesha- scribe
Saraswati- goddess of words and writing

Sauti says Vyasa composed the Mahabharata in his mind and then asked the elephant-headed god Ganesha to wrote down what Vyasa said.

Vishnu proposed that the gods churn the ocean to obtain amrita (nectar of immortality)
Many things came up:
Lakshmi the goddess of good fortune and Vishnu's heavenly consort; Rambha (the first apsara) Airavata (Indra's vehicle), and the wish-giving cow.

Parikshit- had a curse put on him when he killed a serpent 
He went into hiding to avoid getting killed but the naga prince found a killed him.

Parikshit's son planned to avenge his father's death. Therefore, the prince went to heaven to seek refuge. 

Vyasa asks Vaishampayana to recite the story of the Mahabharata.

Ganga and Shantanu (reincarnated king) fall in love.
Thye have children and Ganga throws each child into the Ganges river and Shantanu never questioned until the eighth child. He begs her to let the eighth child lives, he is named Bhishma.

Vyasa- child of Satyavati and Parashara's child
King Shantanu marries Satuavati later on
Vichitravirya- son of Shantanu and Satyavati
Bhishma obtains three wives for Vichitravirya: Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika
Dhirtarashtra - son of Ambika and Vyasa 
Pandu - son of Ambalika and Vyasa
Vidura - son of a maidservant and Vyasa.

Kunti obtained the gift to summon a god and have a son with them whenever she pleases.
Pandu is cursed so the next time he makes loves, he dies so he goes away.
Therefore, Dhritarashtra becomes king.
Duryodhana- son of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari.

Yudhishthira- son of Kunti and Yama 
Bhima- son of Vayu and Kunti
Arjuna- son of Indra and Kunti 
Makula and Sahadeva- sons of Madri and Ashwins (twin gods)

Pandu dies when he makes love to Kunti.
They have five sons: the Pandavas.

Ashwatthaman- son of Kripi and Drona
Drona became the Pandava's teacher
Arjuna (Pandava) is the only one able to pass Drona's test
Arjuna goes and captures King Drapudi at Dona's request
Karna matches Marjuna's skills but is not from a royal family.

Famous Last Words - Week 10

I cannot believe we are more than half way through the semester. Time is just flying by. The second half of the semester is hard cause you're on the dow hill. You know you're heading towards summer and the closer you get, the harder it is to focus.
Can we just talk about the fact that next weekend is Halloween? I can't wrap my head around that. October felt like a lifetime away and now we're sailing through it. Pretty soon we're going to wake up and it's going to be spring break.

Midterm grades came out recently and they all looked pretty decent so that's good.
I just started another online class: Conflict Resolution; it's an 8-week class. It doesn't seem like it'll be too hard so that's good. I'm doing whatever I can to get all my hours done. Annoyingly enough, I only have electives left. Looking back, I should have spread them out a little more.

This class is going good. I like writing my storybook, it's been fun. I also enjoy reading others. I like that it is one of our weekly assignments to read other's storybooks. It has been helpful in giving me good ideas for my own storybook! There are some really really good storybooks being written in this class!

I'm going to go home this weekend. My boyfriend is playing in a golf tournament in Texas so i'm going to go to that. I love watching him do what he loves so i'm excited.
I'm trying to think of something to say about my dog (partly because I talk about him in all of my posts/ partly because i'm looking for another excuse to post a picture of him) but i'm running out of things! Go figure. He's good, as always. He had a tummy ache last week so we spent some time at the vet but all is good now. Dogs sure are expensive though.

That's all I can think of for this week.
Till next time.....

Personal Photo 2014

Twitter List Tech Tip

This week I learned how to make lists on Twitter. I have had a Twitter since high school and never kew about this. It's a very cool way to keep track of certain people of groups. There are certain people I follow on Twitter whose tweets I am more interested in seeing than others. Now I can keep them separately and see those tweets without having to scroll through my entire time line. This is very cool and I am definitely going to make a list that includes my closest friends, boyfriend, and family.

Also - I think I might add OU Parking to a list because they tell you where all the available spots are on campus. Now I don't have to search their profile every time I need to see.

Storytelling: The Fight - Week 10

The fight was about to begin. The rumble of voices filled the arena. Since this was not an official World Wrestling Council fight, the safety measures were low. The competition was being held to decipher who: between the Peterson brothers and the Johnson family - was going to be able to continue in the world of WWC. They had been enemies for a long time and they had finally come head to head. They had agreed that the winner would continue to climb the ladder while the loser would quite wrestling forever.

Aron Peterson and his four brothers: Yale, Brad, Nate, and Sam knew that if they did not win this fight it was the going to be the end of their career all together. They would do whatever it took to win.

Yale was against it all. He believed that an out of ring was not the way to solve the bigger problem. Yale advocated peace and understanding. He unsuccessfully tried to persuade the others that there was room for everyone in the ring.

The Petersons had one secret weapon on their side - Krishna. Krishna is a world-wide worshiped wrestler. He was almighty in the ring. He could not participate in the fight but he was there to give instruction.

The mother of the Peterson brothers walked into the area filled with worry. She didn't support this unofficial fight but she had to be their for her sons. She had never agreed with the violence that took place in the ring. Her sons were her whole life and she was constantly concerned for their safety. She decided to make one last effort at stopping the - what she believed was immorality. She went to an old family friend, Kyle, who happened who be part of the Johnson family. After much persuasion, Kyle agreed to only fight one of the five sons: Aron. That was the best he could do.

She went back to her seat to watch the madness unfold.

With an hour left until he fight, the Petersons practiced their technique vigorously. On the other side of the area, the Johnsons did the same. Deception was the Johnsons biggest weapon. They did not know the meaning of fairness. Nor were they interested in giving into favor to the Peterson brothers. The Petersons, holding a greater moral conscience, had a more fair approach. However, both were willing to go to whatever extent to win.

There were no rules, no regulations - anything goes.

With that, the fight began.

Wrestling ring: Google Images

Authors Note:
I wrote my story based on the battle that takes place between the Pandavas and Duryodhana with his entourage. I made the story take place in a modern time wrestling match. I replaced the characters names to go along with the time (except for Krishna -  because that would be a cool wrestling name.) I tried to portray the characters thoughts and feelings as they were portrayed in the actual reading.

• Narayan, R. K. (1978). The Mahabharata.

Reading Diary B: The Battle - Week 10

Yudhishthira makes one last plea for peace.

Krishna- a deity (greatly worshipped) in Hindu tradition.

Duryodhana plans to take Krishna captive.
He rejects Krishna's plea for peace.
He soon realizes it would be impossible to take Krishna prisoner.

Karna makes a promise to Kunti that he will only attack Arjuna in the battle, instead of all her sons.

The war begins.

Dhrishtadyumna is the supreme commander of Yudhishthira's troops.
Bhishma is the supreme commander of Duryodhnana's troops.

Krishna begins to attack Bhishma after he wounded him. But Arjuna stops him.
Arjuna shoots Bhishma from behind, killing him.

Drona is killed by Dhrishtadyumna.
Bhima kills Duryodhnana's brother, Duhshasana.
Arjuna kills Karna in a moment of weakness.
Sahadeva kills Duryodhnana's uncle, Shakuni.
Bhima kills Duryodhana.

The battle is now over.

The Pandavas go to Hastinapura. Everyone is stricken with grief from their loses.
They perform rituals for the dead.
Yudhishthira agrees to become king after much convincing.

Gandhari and Kunti die in a forest fire.
Krishna is mistakenly killed by a hunter.

The Pandavas all end up dying except for Yudhishthira who eventually departs for heaven in his bodily form.

Arjuna's grandson grows up to be king and continue the Pandava legacy.

Reading Diary A : In Disguise- Week 10

Duryodhana decides to make a royal camp near the Pandavas.
They send a gandharva. The gandharvas take Duryodhana captive but the Pandavas let him go.

Nakula drinks from a lake and dies because he ignores the lake's request.
Sahadeva, Arjuna, and Bhima meet the same fate.
Yudhishthira, however, meets the lake's request.
The other brothers come alive again.

After 12 years of exile, the bothers spend 13 years in disguise.
Yudhishthira is the king's companion
Bhima is a cook
Nakula is a stable boy
Sahadeva is a cowherd 
Arjuna becomes Brihannala and lives as a eunuch in the women's quarters
Draupadi is Sairandhri (the hairdresser of Virata's queen.)

Draupadi is raped by one of the king's generals.

Duryodhana and his entourage plan to attack the king and steal his cattle.
The king's son finds out and take Arjuna to drive the chariot.
He panics and Arjuna ends up fighting alone. 

With thanks, the king gives his daughter (Uttara) to Arjuna's son (Abhimanyu) for marriage.

Satyaki - Krishna's charioter
Satyaki proposes war against Duryodhana.

The Pandavas try for peace. 
Vidura tries to convince Dhritarashtra to make Yudhishthria his heir. 
However, he cannot resist Duryodhana's will.

Vyasa tries to tell Dhritarashtra that this war will be their end. 

LOLCAT Tech Tip

This week I learned about the LOLCAT website. I think this is the best Tech Tip yet. I'm obsessed. I probably won't have a need for it but I am going to make them and send them to my mom. This is the one I just made:

http://cheezburger.com

Storytelling: Game of Dice - Week 9

I was not one to turn down a challenge. Backing down from a challenge is a sign of weakness, that of which I am not.
After all, I am the king of this great kingdom. What kind of king would I be if I did not step forward in the face of confrontation. I am a kshatriya. I do not cower; I am elite.
Sure, I am not be en expert in the game of dice but that is no reason to retreat. Expertise is overrated. I will win this challenge due to my relentless bravery and power.

Vyasa came to warn me of bad omens he foresees. I believe these are merely dreams. I will have to show him there is no reason for concern.

Here we go.

*Hours later*

How is this possible?
I have lost everything I own.
Could Vyasa have been right? Were my bad omens foreordained?
What am I to gamble next? Myself? My dear bothers? My wife?
I cannot stop now, that would be a sign of weakness. I have to continue. Surely my brothers will understand why I must put them on the line. Surely they would be willing to be at risk for the sake of dignity.

*Hours later*

This cannot be happening.
I have lost not only my freedom, but my families'...and now my wife's.
How dare Duryodhana treat her that way. He sees her as merely an object.
I will not let him know of my disfavor. I must stay calm. Stay calm.
It is not too late to turn this around. If he challenges me to another game, I will accept. I can win all of our freedom back. I will win all of our freedom back.

Oh there is a light! Draupadi has wished for our freedom and Duryodhana has granted it. I will return to my kingdom and prepare for the next challenge.

The stakes are higher this time. We face exile. Still, I will not back down. I do not back down! This time I will win. The omens are wrong this time.

Bhima is very angry. He is declaring revenge on Duryodhana. Stay assured my dear brother. I am a kshatriya. I will hold power over all. All will be well in the end....I just need some time.

Dice: Google Images

Authors Note:

I did my story based off of Yudhishthira and the dice challenge. I wrote what I thought would be going through his head before and during the game. I thought that he would very confident in his status and wary of showing fear. However, I added a little bit of concern throughout the dialogue because it gave him a little more personality.

Narayan, R. K. (1978). The Mahabharata.

Reading Diary B: The Game of Dice - Week 9

Duryodhana finds out the Pandavas are still alive.
Bhishma and Vidura urge him to make peace.
He ends up inviting the Pandavas back and gives them part of his kingdom.

They build a city called - Indraprastha.

Arjuna is sent into exile for interrupting Yudhishthira and Draupadi and ends up marrying Ulupi and Subhadra.

Yudhishthira is crowned king of Indraprastha.

Duryodhana challenges the Pandavas to a game of dice in his palace.
Yudhishthira gambles away himself, his brothers, and Draupadi.
Duryodhana ends up setting the brothers free, on account of Draupadi's wishes.

A second game begins.
The stake is thirteen years of exile: twelve years in poverty, followed by one year in disguise.
The Pandavas lose.

They gather weapons as time goes on.

Reading Diary A - Week 9

This week we begin Narayan's Mahabharata. (pg:1-39)

Shantanu- king who rules from Hastinapura
He marries a women with the promise to not question her actions.

She drowns each of their children.
He finds out that she is the river Ganga reincarnated.
She takes the eight child into the river and returns when he is grown.

His is known as Bhishma.

The king then falls in love with Satyavati (fisherman's daughter)

Bhishma renounces his claim to the throne and his right to have children of his own.

Chitrangada and Vichitravirya- Satyavati and Shantanu's sons

Chitrangada dies after ruling for a brief time.
Bhishma finds women for Vichitravirya to marry. 

Ambika and Ambalika- wives of Vichitravirya - daughters of neighboring king
Amba- other daughter who is sent away to marry another king. However, he rejects her.
Ambra declares revenge on Bhishma.

Vichitravirya dies without any sons.

Vyasa- Satyavati's son

Dhritarashtra- Ambika and Vyasa's son
Pandu- Ambalika and Vyasa's son
Vidura- Ambalika's maid and Vyasa's son

Dhritarashtra marries Gandhari
Pandu marries Kunti and Madri

Karna- son of Kunti and Surya (sun God) 

Pandu's 5 children:
Yudhishthira- son of Kunti and Yama (God of Death) 
Bhima- son of Kunti and Vayu (God of wind)
Arjuna- son of Kunti and Indra (storm-God)
Sahadeva and Nakula- sons of Madri and Ashwins (twin-Gods)

Kauravas- Dhritarasthtra's one-hundred sons

Pandu dies making love to Madri, who goes with him.
Kunti is left alone to raise the 5 children.

Kunti and the sons move to Hastinapura to live with the Kauravas and Dhritarasthtra. 

Drona- Royal guru for all the children; he trains them.

The Pandava's (Pandu's sons) move to live in the House of Joy built by Purochana (agent of Duryodhana)

They set the house of fine and leave, making everyone think they've died.
They retreat to the forest with Kunti.

Ghatotkacha- son of Bhima and Hidimbi (sister of the rakshasa)

King Drupada holds a contest for his daughters (Draupadi) hand in marriage.
Arjuna wins.

She ends up marrying all 5 brothers because they always share what they have.

Google Presence Tech Tip

If i just search my first name on Google, the first thing that ALWAYS comes up is a photo of the scary girl covered in blood in that horror movie "Carrie".....

Google Images: Carrie

So i'm sure you can understand why I don't google myself often.

This week I learned about Google presence

I had never really googled my first and last name. When I did, it was mostly profile links to random people's web pages. My own blog pages popped up but I think that's because my laptop knows i'm the one searching. 

I had never given much thought to Internet Presence but I can understand why it would be useful. If you're applying for a job and your perspective employer is trying to find info about you - it would be good if you and some solid background information on the Internet. 

I will definitely take this topic into consideration from now on!

Famous Last Words - Week 8

This week was a whirlwind. I didn't have any tests this week, which is nice, but I did have a lot going on. I did get a little overwhelmed with school work. I seem to have a hard time keeping up with this class sometimes. However, it is nice that we have a chance to be behind - without really being behind.
I wrote my first story for my Storybook this week and it turned out pretty good! I'm excited about my Storybook, it's fun to give our own personalities to characters that we've about in books. That is not something, we as students, have the chance to do often. I enjoyed having a different schedule this week, I thought it was kind of a break from our normal work.

I just got advised for next semester. I can't believe i'm signing up for my last semester (hopefully) of college classes...it's crazy how fast time goes. I feel like it was yesterday that I was signing up for my FIRST semester of classes freshman year. It's very bitter-sweet. We're like grown-ups now...go figure.

Every year since freshman year, my mom comes up to Norman to stay for a week. We shop, go out to eat, and hang out. My mom is absolutely my best friend so I love it. This was the week she stayed, so that was fun. Yesterday we went to the Outlet Shops in Oklahoma City. I had never been there before, they were very cool.
Tonight I am leaving to drive to Fort Worth so I can go to Dallas on Saturday! As every person on this campus, I am very excited. I was home last weekend too for the TCU game! These last two weeks have been very busy and they've gone by very fast!
I'm ready to get back to normal schedule now though.

That's all I can think of for now.
Till next time...

and BEAT TEXAS

Beat Texas slogan in honor of OU/Texas

Google Images

Reading Diary Assessment - Week 8

Overall, I found the Reading Diaries to be very beneficial in understanding the information. I am sure I am not alone when I say too often I read through the assigned chapters for a class and forget everything a day later. The Reading Diaries proved to be a great way to really retain everything I was reading.
I noticed that the Diary instructions did not include a word requirement. I liked this because it allowed me to just write everything that I found to be important in the chapter. If there had been a word requirement, one would most likely write things that are not important for the sake of meeting the word count.
I pretty much used the same strategies in all of my Reading Diaries. I would write down the specific points from the story and then write my feelings about that point underneath. When I look back at them, I not only get a brief summary of the chapter, but can also recall how I felt about it. This became very helpful in remembering the information. Aside from that, I found it to be helpful to look back at the previous Reading Diary before I write the next one.
The Reading Diaries were very open to interpretation. I have looked at other students' Diaries and found various strategies used. Everyone was able to used the strategy which best worked for them, which I think is good. I also noticed that the Diaries varied in length. Some students wrote very long posts and some did not. My varied in length, depending on the amount of information I found to be important. Some of my posts were around one hundred words and some were closer to three hundred words.
I thought the study guides were extremely useful when writing my Reading Diaries. I could look back at them when I was having trouble remembering or understanding anything.
When reading through the book, I have to read and reread. The first time is to obtain the information and the second time is to remember it. I even read out loud sometimes.

Storytelling: Inside Sita's Head - Week 7

I shook visibly as we neared the assembly. This is not what I had imagined my fate to be.
How could he doubt my loyalty? Ive had nothing loyalty for him since the beginning. I know nothing else.

I put his ring on my finger, but it gave me little comfort.

It was not log ago that he was going to great lengths to rescue me, to bring me back to him. Now he is going to great lengths to inquire my better judgment.
Was this even about me? Maybe he is doing all of this because he is trying to prove his dignity. Maybe this is all a show.

There I stood, dressed in my finest garnets, wearing my finest jewelry. Yet, I felt as though I was merely a hermit being looked down upon by the king.
Except the king was someone I love, someone who I thought loved me.

Surely he does not love me anymore. How could be put me through this if he did love me?

I shook the thought from my head.

Vibhishana lead me towards the center of the assembly, lightly grasping my arm.
My heart sunk as I neared Rama. I looked to him and he gave gave no sign of assurance. His face was cold and he only looked at me for a brief second.

I began to feel something for him that I never thought I would before: doubt.
Is this someone I want to spend the rest of my life with? I was seeing a side of him that I had never seen before. I was undoubtedly disappointed.
How could I forgive him for putting me through this? How could I forgive him for doubting for innocence? How could I forgive him for thinking I would give something so sacred to Ravana?

No Sita, you must stop. This is not the time to doubt my dedication to Rama. If I start to believe that then the public will surely sense it.

The public looked so unforgiving, so judgmental. I shook at the thought of facing them.

I knew that I had maintained my innocence, but would the public believe so?

My thoughts began to race back to when Rama and I first saw each other. Our eyes met and fate was sealed. He won not only my father's competition, but my heart as well.
I knew at that moment he would hold my heart forever. Without fail, he does to this day.

Rama announced the start of the assembly and everyone in the crowd turned my way.
I took a deep breath.

Here we go.

Picture: Week 7 Reading Guide A

Authors note:
I did my story based on what I think would be going through Sita's head as she was heading to the assembly with Vibhishana.

Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way. 

Reading Diary B: Rama's Return - Week 7

Rama, riding the chariot, flies to Kishkindha and then to Bharadwaja's hermitage.
Hanuman tells Bharata that Rama is returning.

After much gift giving, Sugriva and Vibhishana return back to where they came from.

Sita becomes pregnant. Rama begins to hear others talking about how he took Sita back after she had been with Ravana.
Eventually, Rama decides that Sita must be abandoned to the Ganges.

Narada- Hindu's most traveled sage

The book briefly discusses Sumantra
This gave good insight into his past and even noted on Dasharatha.
Sumantra believes Sita's fate is a result of karma.

Sita gives birth to Kusha and Lava in Valmiki's hermitage.

Rama puts on a festival in the Naimisha forest.

Kusha and Lava are learning the Ramayana song.
I found this to be interesting because they do not yet know that Rama is their father.

Sita wants to prove her innocence to Rama. She does so by asking her mother the Earth for help.

Kala- time
Durvasa- hermit

Lakshmana dies after interrupting Kala and Rama.

The ending really stood out to me in this story.
Rama jumps into the Sarayu river to meet his end, along with his followers.

Reading Diary A: Ravana's Defeat - Week 7

Malyavan met Shiva, who had rescued Malyavan's father as a baby.
Sukesa- Malyavan's father

Lightening Tuunge and Thunder Tooth (demon magicians) are killed by Hanuman and Sugriva.
Ravana's experiences continuous failed attempts are defeating Rama from afar. It is finally time for Ravana to face Rama in person.

Ravana tries to disguise himself as Indra - which I found to be cowardly. Rama eventually kills Ravana.
Hanuman tells Sita that Rama defeated Ravana.

Vibhishana is made king of Lanka.
I liked this part of the story, I thought Vibhishana deserved the throne. Especially after he proved his loyalty to Rama.

Agni - the fire god

Sita's innocence is tested when she is asked to step into the fire.
I do not like how Rama felt the need to test Sita's loyalty after she has proved it to him throughout his exile.

It is now time for Rama's exile to come to an end. He is preparing to head back.
Vibhishana gives Rama Pushpaka (a chariot.)

Vibhishana, Hanuman, and Jambavan attend Rama's coronation.

Famous Last Words - Week 6

So far this week is going to pretty good, it went by fast. I had a test on Tuesday, I haven't gotten my grade back yet but I feel good about it. I got all the stress out of the way at the beginning of the week so that's nice.
My friend from home is coming to visit me this weekend and i'm excited about that. Next weekend i'm going home for the first time since school began so that's exciting too!

Yesterday I went to the dog park. I have to say, it;s a little more for me than my dog. I get to sit back and relax on a bench while he burns all his energy off all in about 45 minutes. I'm pretty sure the dog park is his favorite thing in the world. I could probably leave him there and he wouldn't even notice. He loves to swim. It was hot yesterday so it was a good day for it. He swam for over an hour. Needless to say, he slept good last night; which is good for his mom.

This is Bentley (left) at the dog park yesterday along with the link to the park's website incase anyone wants to go!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/norman-community-dog-park-norman

This class is going good, i'm excited about my storybook. I am a week off but it gives me more time so that's okay. I have been thinking a lot about my storybook; it's been fun to do. I really like this assignment because we get to base to story off a topic but get to add out own ideas to the story liens and our own personalities to the characters. I also really enjoy reading everyone else's. I liked reading Taylor's storybook the most. She wrote about Rama and Sits. Her story was very creative ad intriguing.
Iv'e said it before but this class has been very different from I expected. Its given us way more room for creativity and self-expression than any class I've taken before. I've gotten the chance to experiment with my writing and I definitely think it's improved since I've started the class.

That's all for this week!
Till next time....

OU Email Tech Tip

This week I learned how to create a new folder in my OU email. This is really going to come in handy as far as keeping my emails organized. There have been too many times when I have to go back and search for a single email in the thousands of emails in my inbox. It's like finding a needle in a haystack.
It's easy to skip over an email when you have a lot to read at once. That has happened one too many times.
I could create a folder for each class. Therefore, I would be able to see emails from each class separately. If I put each email in a folder as I received them, it would ensure that I never skip over or lose one!
I will definitely be using this tech tip in the future!

Storytelling: The Theater Club - Week 6

We had been good friends since birth; and I thought we would be forever. Even going into high school, we were close as ever. We hung out with the same group of friends and played on the same sports team.
However, as we got older, things began to change.
He began hanging around with a rough crowd. At first, I hung out with them often but I couldn't say I liked them. They spent their free time drinking and making fun of people who weren't in their group.

Our friendship faded with time. Although we still saw each other, we were not as close as we had once been.

After awhile, I began hanging out with people I had met in the theater club I joined.

The theater group...they were not the coolest people in the school but they were kind, and they were good friends to me.

He always gave me a hard time for hanging out with them. I chose to ignore it. It was my life and I was going to do what I wanted with it. His opinion didn't matter like it used to.
Don't get me wrong, I did still care for him. We had been friends for so long and the memories still stood where the friendship didn't.

One afternoon, I went to his house. Unexpectedly, all his free-loading friends were there. I sat quietly in the corner listening to them talk about the next party they're going to and who they picked on that day.
They then began talking about the theater club, as if I weren't in the room.
They went on and on about a prank they were planning to play on those "losers." They were all going to show up at the upcoming play and throw eggs at the actors during the performance. How creative of them....I know.

I don't know if he thought my loyalty was only with him, or if he genuinely forgot I was in the room, but he made no acknowledgment towards the fact that I was IN the theater club.

I thought long and hard before deciding that the right thing to do was to warn my true friends. I left, basically without anyone noticing, and drove quickly over to the theater. I warned them all of the upcoming prank and they came up with a plan of their own.

They would beat the bullies to the punch.

The night of the play came and everyone was ready. The bullies sat in the front row, eggs in hand.

Mid-show came and right when they were about to throw the eggs, the theater club runs around on stage, pounding the front row with eggs!

The person who was once my best friend, then become my enemy. I had betrayed him and there was no going back; but I was okay with that.
I had made the right choice.

Photo: Google Images

Authors Note:

I decide to do my story based on Vibhishana's betrayal of Indrajit. However I decided to change it to modern time and make it about kids in high school. This would be from the point of view of Vibhishana and he is talking about Indrajit. 

Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way. 

Reading Diary B: Attacking Lanka - Week 6

Once Rama learns of Sita's safety and loyalty, he and he allies head towards Lanka.

Samudra- water king

They cross the ocean using floating rocks.

Vibhishana, Ravana's brother, tries to convince Ravana to return Suta. However, Ravana refuses.
Vibhishana decides to retreat with Rama. Rama accepts him. Vibhishana agrees to help but says he will not fight.

Shuka- Ravana's minister- a hawk
Angada- Sugriva's nephew

Shuka spies on Rama and goes to tell Ravana what is happening. Ravana sends two demons to spy on Rama and his allies.
I am surprised that Rama and his allies let Ravana know what is going to happen, it seems like they would have the upper-hand if they didn't.

Vibhishana captues the spies and brings them to Rama.

Lightening-Tounge and Thunder-Tooth - Ravana's magician
Ravan tries to fool Sita by showing her Rama's head on a stake.She falls for it.
That is, until Prahasta comes in and announces Rama's arrival.

Trijata, the nice rakshasi, agrees to keep Sita in the know.

Phahasta is killed trying to fight Rama and his army at night.

Ravana decides to bring his brother Kumbhakarna in who tries to convince Ravana to give Sita back.
Again, he refuses.

Kumbhakarna is defeated when he agrees to fight Rama. Rama cuts his head off.

Now Indrajit goes to fight Rama's army. He kills Sugriva, Angada, Nala, Rama, and Lakshmana.
This was surprising.

Luckily, medicinal herbs are able to bring back Rama and everyone else.

I found it very honorable that everyone had a chance to leave at this point, yet everyone stayed by Rama's side.

Trijata, aware of the news of Rama's death, does not believe it and assures Sita it cannot be true.
Sita acknowledges that it is Hanuman's love for Rama that keeps them going.

Dharma- behaviors associated with what is right.

Indrajit agrees to help his father again. He tries to trick them by killing an illusion of Sita in front of Hanuman.

Indrajit challenges Lakshmana and eventually Indrajit is defeated.

Ravana learns of his son's death and (finally) decides it is his turn to fight.

I found it interesting that Ravana sent everyone before him whereas Rama was always there with his army ready to fight.

Reading Diary A: Hanuman goes to Lanka - Week 6

Sampati- Jatayu's brother
Sampati is sad about his brother's death and reveals he saw Ravana with Sita flying to Lanka.

It is decided that Hanuman must be the one to step over the sea to Lanka.
Hanuman rests on the mountain Mainaka.

I like this part because everyone is stepping up to help Rama find Sita.

Hanuman nears Lanka and is swallowed by the rakshasi - which is a female rakshasa - Sinhika.
However Hanuman defeats her.

He reaches Lanka in the form of a cat. He searches for Sita but cannot find her until Vayu (his father - the god of wind) leads him in the right direction.

Meanwhile, Ravana tries to seduce Sita but fails.
I thought back to when Sita is told that Ravana cannot rape her because he is cursed, his head will explode if he rapes another women.

Hanuman finds Sita, who at first thinks he is an allusion.
He gives her Rama's ring and tells her about the alliance between the bears and the monkeys.

Before leaving Lanka, Hanuman creates chaos in Lanka.

Prahasta- Ravana's general
Jambumali- Prahasta's son
Indrajit- Ravana's son
Vibhishana- Ravana's brother

Hanuman is caught by Indrajit but he breaks free and sets Lanka on fire.
Sita knows at this point that Rama is coming to save her.

The monkeys and the bears pass through the Honey Park with the news of Sita's safety, they are drunk on honey wine.
Hanuman tells Rama that he found Sita and that she remind faithful to him, he encourages him to go defeat Ravana and save Sita.

Famous Last Words - Week 5

This week has gone very fast, and it has been very busy to say the least. I had my first test this week. It was hard but it was not as bad as I expected; I have yet to get my grade back. I have a test next week and the week after that also so I assume the next few weeks are going to be a little hectic, but I wouldn't want it any other way. I enjoy being busy. I am that kind of person who always has to be doing something, I don't relax well.

This class has bee  going retry well, I got some good comments back on my last storytelling post so that was pleasing. My storybook is coming together and I think I have narrowed it down to exactly what I want to do with it.
This class has been more work than my other classes, which I did not expect. However, I do like how the schedule is exact the same every week, it make it easy to keep up and avoid confusion. Plus, you can work ahead which is always good.

I am making my boyfriend take me to the state fair this weekend, so I am excited about that. The main reason I want to go is for the food - I mean come on.
Aside from that, who doesn't love a little people watching.
I might go stay with my friend in OKC also, so that would be fun. My best friend just moved to nursing school and I haven't seen her since school began. I used to live with her so it's been weird to go from seeing her everyday to never seeing her at all. However, we do talk a lot.

That's all for this week!
Till next time....

Personal photo: 2014

This is me (left) and my best friend Katy (right) who I talked about above.

Collage Tech Tip

PicMonkey

Photos: Google Images- four women of history (from left to right): Kaikeyi, Kunti, Sita, Draupadi 

This week I learned how to make a collage on PicMonkey. It's actually a very cool website, I had never heard of it before. Above is the collage I made for my Storybook coverage. I used Sepia to edit the photo colors so they all matched, then I rounded the photo edges. The site is so easy to use. I will definitely be using it again in the future!

Storytelling: The Soccer Game - Week 5

Eric and Brad used to be best friend, they had grown up together and always hung out with the same group of friends. Both of the boys played soccer and Brad was the team captain. Eric always wished he was the team captain but wouldn't dare stand up to his best friend.

It was junior year when Eric and Brad had a falling out. Brad found out that Eric had made a select team that he didn't make. Brad was so jealous and upset that he kicked Eric off of the soccer team in revenge. Not only that, but Brad said Eric was never even aloud to come near the soccer field again!
With nowhere to go, Eric decided to accept his defeat and focus on his studies. He began tutoring a girl named Lacey. However, he never got over being cut from the soccer team.

One day Ryan, the captain of the football team, the class president, and also the most popular guy in school, came to Eric and said,

"I heard you are tutoring Lacey, I want you to convince her to go out with me."

After discussion, Eric agreed to help Ryan if Ryan agreed to help him get back on the soccer team first.
He agreed and the plan was set in motion.

Ryan advised that Eric challenge Brad to a soccer match- the winner gets to be on the soccer team.

Brad was not one to turn down a challenge and was very confident he was better than Eric.
They picked their teams and the gam began.

Brad had a quick lead but Eric had a secret weapon - Ryan used to play soccer.

It was the last twenty minutes of the game and Ryan came in. Eric passed him the ball and Ryan maneuvered it around Brad. He shoots, he scores!

Eric and Ryan had won the match. Brad was off the team and Eric was made team captain. Eric was overjoyed. Brad was devastated but accepted his fate.

Now it was Ryan's turn.

Photo: Google Images

(Since they are monkeys in the actual book. And they play soccer in my story.)

Authors note:
I decided to do my story based on Vali and Sugriva and their final battle that ends with Vali's death and Sugriva getting the crown.
Eric is Sugriva, Brad is Vali, and Ryan is Rama.

Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way.

Reading Diary B: The Search for Sita - Week 5

Ravana has decide he wants Sita.
Against Maricha's advise, Ravana devises a plan. He convinces Maricha to help him. Maricha appears as a golden deer and gets Rama to chase him. Rama kills the deer and Maricha calls out in Rama's voice before he dies. Lakshmana goes to find Rama, leaving Sita alone.
Once they are both gone, Ravana appears to capture Sita.
This is the part of the story that I enjoyed the most.

Jatayu ( the bird) tries to stop Ravana but is killed in doing so.
Sita drops her jewelry on the ground in the hope someone will find it.

Sita is taken to Lanka.

Indra- leader of the demigods

Indra explains that Ravana cannot rape Sita because he has a curse on him that would make his heads explode.
It was interesting to read more about Ravana and his past in this version of the story (than the other version.) It gives a different perspective.

Rama and Lakshmana learn of Sita's abduction. They arrive at Matanga's hermitage and find Savari who saw Ravana taking Sita away. She tells them where to find Sugriva (monkey.)

Riksharaja- the first monkey
Vali and Sugriva- Riksharaja's children
Vali's father- Indra
Sugriva's father- Surya (the sun god)
Vayu- wind god
Hanuman- Vayu's son
Hanuman has eternal life

Vali killed the buffalo demon, Dundhuvi, whose son (Mayavi) then wanted revenge for his death.
Vali chased Mayavi into a cave and Sugriva assumed Vali was dead and sealed the cave.

Vali was furious and exiled Sugriva.

Rama and Lakshmana visit Sugriva. With their help, Sugriva challenges Vali to a battle. Rama ends up killing Vali.

Sugriva, now king, promises to help Rama find Sita.

Angada, Hanuman, and Jambavan head out to look for Sita.
A month passes and they do not find her.