I love My Bucky

What I'm Listening To: Teach Me How to Bucky-Zooniversity

DISCLAIMER: This will be a very short but biased blog post.

Amidst the mass parade of midterms and midterm papers that I have to write, I felt as though I needed to take a moment and digress from all of the Homecoming pride from this weekend (which I did not partake of because I wouldn't have seen my family from now until kingdom come). Basically, I love my college mascot. Bucky. He just reeks awesomeness, so much so that there is an entire documentary dedicated to how much effort and pride goes into being a Bucky. I've almost been at UW-Madison for three years and had been dying to get a picture with him, but our paths never crossed. Until this year.

There are multiple pictures of this love fest, but I decided to spare you from my obsession. This year, our Bucky showed his stuff in not one, but two music videos in which he dances. Very well in the short one may I add. I was also surprised at the video quality of the full length music video, but it turned out to be very good. Some people commented about the lack of diversity in the video, but technically the original version (Teach Me How to Dougie) is one sided as well so I say just enjoy it for what it is. It wasn't meant to be representative, just funny.Click here for the short version and here for the longer version, which are completely different from each other. Seriously watch at least one.

All right now that you've been bedazzled by our Bucky badger, you have to give him some brownie points. If not, well I did tell you that this was going to be a biased post. He has completely bewitched me and I am completely all right with that because it only fuels the notion that I will always have that Badger pride. On Wisconsin!

And now hopefully some of that Badger pride/energy will spill over into my midterm line-up through this week/next week...

Lions, Pythons, & Raccoons

What I'm Listening To: Vienna-Billy Joel

The title is exactly what it sounds like outside. This storm is ridiculous with all of the raging lightening and thunder. Finals are almost over for me and I am relieved to be almost over with another year. It's confusing when people ask me what my rank is in school. Technically I'll be a junior but credit-wise I'm a senior. That is the reason why I keep getting notifications in my student center from administration asking WHY AREN'T YOU GRADUATING? and a lot of times it allows me, or prevents me from getting into the classes that I want. People have been asking me about next year as well. "Where are you living next year?" and "What classes are you taking?" and "Are you going to continue your work with Prime Magazine?" are a lot of the questions that I've been getting. It's been frustrating and exciting to answer that I'll be in Spain and I don't know what I'll be doing next year or where I'll be living. I do know that I'll be going to La Tomatina on August 25th and I am both excited and scared for my life.

La Tomatina is the largest food fight in the world. Weapon of choice: tomatoes. Lots of them. Approximately 90,000 lbs to be precise. And they are thrown all over the little village of Bunol for about an hour until a whistle blows. It's absolutely insane and I'm going to be right in the middle of it. La Tomatina has been going on for years in Bunol, a village about 3 miles over from Valencia, where I'll be heading to at first. Now all  need to do is book a plane ticket and find a good hostel. After the festival, I'm arriving in Madrid earlier than most of my study abroad companions from Madison to just take in the city and familiarize myself with Madrid. They'll come on the 31st (which is the same day as the orientation so they will be jet lagged out of their minds) but I plan on leaving Valencia on the 28 and arriving in Madrid the same day.

Also, my co-workers and I went to Sushi Fest at Takara Restaurant on State Street. I love sushi. It's amazing. Before, I didn't understand why people ate it and now I'm a borderline fanatic. I've managed to convert my dad, but the rest of my family doesn't understand my obsession. However, I do joke that I eat fake sushi because I will only eat a few things raw and they have to be in the maki rolls. Salmon, tuna (occasionally), eel, crab, shrimp. My favorite roll is the Philadelphia (I tend to gravitate toward rolls that have avocado and/or cream cheese in them) and after that the Hawaiian. Do you enjoy sushi? Why or why not and if so, which rolls are your favorite? If not, have you tried it and simply don't like it?

The Loss of an Icon

What I'm Listening To: Stormy Weather-Lena Horne

Hello beautiful people. I am exhausted, which is why this will be short. I just got through beasting 3 exams in 48 hours and I need my mind to recharge by Thursday for my last exam. I just wanted to take a quick break and see how you all are holding up. If you're going through it, hang in there and relax and get a massage (I gave one to a friend today and she said it was just what she needed). If you're done, good for you and try not to rub it in your friends' faces when you call them. Yesterday was Mother's Day and I hope you all thanked the woman who brought you into this world (not because she can take you out) because of the fact that you have a deep love and respect for her. Even though I had two finals and was about to go crazy, I called my mother in the morning yesterday as well as my aunt. Luckily I had already given my mother her present because I couldn't go home. 

However, another event also happened yesterday. Lena Horne passed away at the age of 92. It is a sad day for Hollywood, the music business, and for African Americans in general. She paved the way for so many African American actresses today and is a real queen in doing what she did for so long. 92 is a long time to be on this earth, and I'm sure she shined her elegance and poise on everyone that she met. I am sad to never have met her, but I know that her legacy will truly live on and that everyone today owes her a thank you for what she did to combat racism and change the image of African American women in show business. I also found the hilarious episode of her on YouTube from when she was on the Sanford and Son show. Enjoy ;)

"It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it." -Lena Horne

R.I.P Ms. Horne, you WILL be missed.

Almost Gone

What I'm Listening To: You are Loved- Josh Groban

So naturally, I'm supposed to be studying and just slept for six hours. I have a plan, I have a plan (if I keep telling that to myself and studying, maybe these finals won't kill me). But I just wanted to pop in really quick amid the stress of finals week and share a few things. I got an internship with the ICM Corporation in Milwaukee this summer as a copy editor and I am really excited about it. I haven't spent a summer at home in six years, so it will be nice to catch up with my family before I jet off to Spain. Another thing is that I am one of the few people that hasn't read the Harry Potter series, something that I plan to remedy this summer. I also plan to read a lot. I think I'm going to read some of the books on the ALA's list of banned books What are some books that you would suggest reading?

I also saw Ironman 2 and thought it was FABULOUS! I was reading a review for the movie and someone put it this way "Tony Stark is a jerk, but Robert Downey Jr. makes him a narcissistic jerk that you just want to hug at the end of the day." I heartily agree.

One last thing that I want to leave you with is something that Tyrese tweeted a couple of days ago and blogged about (I didn't know that Tyrese blogged, but I guess that I see that he has many talents now). It really touched me and gives me a whole new perspective on him, life, and going for success. You should definitely take a look at it here

Someone please wish me luck on finals...and hopefully you all are staying sane as school everywhere is wrapping up.

Surival Kit for Exams

What I'm Listening To: Fly away-Newsboys

Mifflin was this weekend, which was nice because I saw some friends I don't usually see. It's basically like Taste of Chicago only it's only beer and college students. I attended, but didn't partake of anything as I had to study a lot for this week. It's finals week as I sit here writing this in my Spanish class (which is 25% empty) and I have a rigorous study schedule. Here is my finals schedule:

Friday 4/7/10 (OPTIONAL)
Com Dis 240 1:00-3:00 pm

Sunday 4/10/10 (Mother's Day)
Spanish 223 10:05-12:05 am
Com Dis 5:05-7:05 pm

Monday 4/10/10
Philosophy 210 7:45-9:45 am

Thursday 4/13/10
AOS 100 7:30-9:30 pm

Needless to say it's probably a good thing I gave my mom her Mother's Day present already. This year will be interesting because usually I've had a day between all of my finals and never two on the same day. I'm bad at studying for multiple finals, hence the rigorous study schedule. I've decided to post some tips on how to make it through exams in one piece. Some are obvious, but some may surprise you. Here are five traditional tips and here are some of my own:

1) You should study the amount of days that your class is worth. So if you have a four credit class, you should study for days before your exam, three credit, three days and so on.
    a. if you can't do that because you have multiples, alternate the number of hours that your class credit is with another class in the same day to stay prepared and focused (i.e. for mine I'm studying two for philosophy, three for Com Dis, and then one for Spanish and then Com Dis will increase or decrease accordingly and then the next day Spanish will increase with Philosophy until I'm only studying Philosophy for a day)

2) Cramming only makes use of  your short term memory, so if you must, use flashcards or make up memory games to help retain it better

3) Be careful about using energy drinks. Make sure you're drinking enough water and eating all well if you do and be careful about the amount of caffeine you consume (like you shouldn't need pills, Red Bull, coffee, and another stimulant). My personal fave energy drink is Amp because it doesn't taste really horrible and I tend to make sure I'm stocked with coffee.

4) Make sure you get some sleep in. I'm bad at this because I tend to never sleep. My days usually start at 7:45am and end at 2:00am during the school year.  Try to taper yourself off and get a little more sleep in or you will crash from your caffeine and your exam times could be really awkward, like mine this year.

5) Have some snacks ready. They will keep you awake.  Try to have ones that will give you energy, like nuts or something sour and sweet. I tend to alternate between milk and dark chocolate, nuts, chex mix, and oranges. The citrus will help you

6) Remember to take breaks. Short ones. If you're having problems staying awake, go run down the hall or some stairs or get down and do some push-ups. The oxygen will go to your brain and wake you  up and you'll feel much better afterward because you got working out AND studying in.

Those are the main tips that I have, but how well we do depends on us. Which is why I should probably stop and pay attention to the music video we're watching in class. What are some of your tips?

Shoe Mania

What I'm Listening To: You Reign-Mercy Me

 Lately I've been getting random down time to sit in Ingraham. Why haven't I been blogging you ask? The answer: exam season has hit and is in full swing. It's actually doesn't officially start until next week, but with all of the projects and exams that they give you up until the week of the test, I've been extending the period. I have a five page paper due in Spanish tomorrow that I have the introduction and all of my quotes done (which is why I really shouldn't be blogging), but  needed to get something off of my chest.

I have decided to up my shoe game. Yes, it needs upping since I recently upgraded my closet and bought some fabulous essentials, including this funky denim dress with multi-colored ruffles on the bottom of it that I'm going to wear to a banquet on Friday. I started looking about two weeks ago, and decided that I was going to buy comfortable shoes. I am tired of buying shoes and they feel fine in the store, but then try walking or standing in them for about four hours and then you'll really see what your definition of comfort is. The problem is, I want style AND comfort. but apparently that is too much to ask. The top brands that promise exclusive comfort and style are Stuart Weitzman or Cole Haan, but they run upwards of $200. Some women also swear that their Jimmy Choos or other designer shoes are comfortable, but being a college student, I can't really up and buy a pair of Jimmy Choos every couple of months, especially if I'm trying to megaboost my shoe game. So I hunted around, and came across Aldo, DSW, and Bakers. I found at least ten pairs of shoes that I like that are $60 or less AND they are stylish and promise comfort as well. So from going to finding no shoes, now I just have to make sure that I have enough money to buy all of them ;)


I ran across two quotes this week that every single woman should have/remember to keep her grounded:
"A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man should have to search God just to find her." and also "If you want to find your spouse just run as hard and as fast as you can after God, and then look over and see who’s running next to you." 

Both of these were suggested to me by two good friends of mine in indirect ways, and I realized that many women need to be more self-reliant, spiritually and emotionally so that they can better impact the people in their lives and the global community. Also, another thing that I have been doing is watching Heroes in my free time and to be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about the show yet. I should probably get back to writing this paper, as I have a Council meeting, hopefully the last one I'll be expected to go to forever. Until my next probably belated post.