Portfolio Guide

Welcome to my portfolio! Here I will compile a few Storytelling tales that I have recreated. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them!

Story 1: The story of Ahalya told by Indra.
Story 2: The bedtime story: Monkey Kong
Story 3: Sita Captured by Ravana
Story 4: Dhritarashtra Gets Revenge
Story 5: Milk to Salt

Online Education Review

This was my very first online class! I was always nervous that it was too much of me learning on my own with no direction from the professor. However, I think this class is set up awesomely! Professor Gibbs has directions for everything! Maybe even too many directions. However, when I didn't understand something all the information was so beneficial. I am a pretty social person so I do not want to lose the concept of the traditional learning style, lecture. This generation is in grave danger of being totally isolated and hidden behind our computers or phones. There is nothing better than human connection. Hands on teacher to student interaction is still my favorite way to learn. It is much more beneficial to met classmates in person rather then just commenting on each other's walls. However, that is just my personal opinion. This online class was a great experience for me!

(My man: Droseph taken by me)

Gen Ed Review

As for general education in achieving my degree, I was not too sure I would ever enjoy anything other then Science. I am slightly a fanatic of the study of the body. However, I have been pleasantly surprised! I really enjoy learning about different cultures rather than the typical American culture. It has made me feel like I could have intelligent conversations on a wide range of conversations! It has also taught me that different topics are fun. Not intimidating. It's okay if you have no idea what is going on in some of these classes. That is the point, broaden your horizons. 

(The grand kitty: Tiger, taken by my dad)

College Writing Review

As my major is Health and Exercise Science, I haven't taken a lot of writing intensive courses such as this one. I generally take a lot about Science and Health of a body. I think that my writing skills have greatly improved with this courses as frustrating as it was at times. It will help to be able to write well in my field because there is a lot of research which in turn brings a lot of reports to describe one's writing. However, it was very different to spend so much of my time writing this semester. I am used to science courses taking up most of my time, but this semester wasn't that way for me. It was a good variation. 

(My pride and joy taken by me)

Famous Last Words for Week 12

Well week was so hectic, but it looks like it is going to wind down until finals. Oh joy! This week I submitted my final story for my portfolio. In order to get an A all I have to do this week are the reviews. Yay! I know that by finishing this class earlier it will help me to stay focused on all my other classes this semester. Finish strong guys!

So, this week I wrote about the churning of the ocean. I think that it is one of my best stories yet. If you get a chance, take a look at it. You won't be disappointed! It's ironic that towards the end I seemed to be getting the hang of this story telling process and my stories began to improve as time went on. That's what I think I can really thank this class for is improving my writing skills greatly! 

This week, both of my parents came to town. I went to the spring game with my dad to scout out how our football team is going to be next year. I think our offense looks like we have some more gunners this year, and I trust coach Mike to make the defense what it needs to be. In the Big 12 it more important to not let the other team make big plays on you and to ot course get the team off the field so our offense can score. Of course, our offense needs to be able to put the points on the board in order to keep up with these dynamic Big 12 offenses. I can't wait for fall football! But first, summer!

Then, I went to a wine and palette with my mom. Us girls really enjoyed ourselves! My mom was even talking about making that her hobby like I have golf. It was pretty cute and special for me.

Good luck this week guys! And I hope you all are as close to finishing this class as I am! GET As!

(Carmi the first week I got her! Taken by me)

Storytelling for Week 12: Savitri saves Satyavan

Savitri went into the forest in search of a man to become her husband because the one's she was being presented were unworthy. As she was wondering in the forest she came across Satyavan. He was the son of a blind man in exile.

As Savitri was approaching Satyavan, Yama, the Death god, came to her and told her that Satyavan only had one more year to live. He questioned if she still wanted to go through with this, but Savitri didn't care. Savitri was love struck. It was love at first sight!

Savitri walked up to Satyavan and said, "Hi I am Savitri. I was sent here to become your wife. Do you accept."

Taken off guard, Satyavan told her that he would have to contemplate the idea first as he had just met her. See, Satyavan wasn't sure if she was an illusion sent by demons or a real woman.

Finally, Satyavan was able to see Savitri's real colors, and the two married.

After one year, Satyavan's time was up, and Yama came to take him away. Savitri was completely devastated about losing her soul mate and decided to follow Yama.

As no one was ever brave enough to follow the Death god to where ever it is he goes with everyone's souls, Yama decided to grant Savitri wishes except she was not allowed to ask for Satyavan back. So, Savitri asked for several things for her beloved blind father in law until, finally, Yama told Savitri to ask for something for herself. However, all she wanted was kids from her husband to that Satyavan's legacy could live on forever. To the surprise of Savitri, Yama said he would grant her Satyavan if she would share her days with him. Therefore, without hesitation Savitri gave them to Satyavan and the couple returned home.

At last, Satvayan woke up after Yama returned his soul to his body, and he felt like the whole thing was a dream. He ran to Savitri and began telling her what happened.

Satyavan said that he was visited by Yama, and he knew immediately it was his time to go. Then, all he saw was the brightest white light and a grand staircase. So, he traveled up the stairs and saw all of his deceased friends and relatives. They all sat around a grand table and drank wine while reminiscing. Satyavan then realized how much he had missed these people, but on earth he had found the sweetest wife, Savitri. He wished he was back with her. That is when he awoke from the sleep and was relieved to see Savitri in the distance. He had no idea what had really happened. 

(Image Source: Savitri and Satyavan by Raja Ravi Varma and A.K. Joshi & co.Bombay) 

Author's Note: I wrote this story about Savitri sacrificing her time on earth for her husband because I found it to be very admirable. Savitri struggled her whole life to find a husband, and when she finally did the man didn't have much longer to live. However, she valued his remaining time and married him anyways. I think this shows the precious act of true love. However, I imagined Satyavan's experience to be much different as Yama had already taken his soul away. Satyavan was already in heaven. He was seeing people that already deceased without being aware of the sacrifice his wife was making on his behalf.  I also found it very peculiar that Yama was so generous with Savitri. Savitri must have been a very courageous woman. She didn't even accept all of the men that wanted to make her their wife in her town. She went out into the forest in hopes of finding exactly what she was looking for. What a brave woman! This picture is a perfect depiction of Savitri protecting her husband from the Death god. This shows the value of a good woman. She provides protection and purpose to Satyavan's life, and he knows it as seen in my creation of his dream.

Bibliography:

• Buck, William (1973). Mahabharata.

Reading Diary B: 12 years in the forest

Arjuna rejects Urvashi because she looks like his mother, Kunti

• Urvashi curses Arjuna to a life as a eunuch for one year
• Indra, his father, orders that Arjuna learn music and dance
• Indra also tells Arjuna that his year as a eunuch is his disguise for his 13th year in exile
• Indra also teaches Arjuna how to use his divine weapon

(Image Source: Urvashi curses Arjuna by Ramanarayanadatta astri)

Yudhistira has a dream about ruining a deer

• Bhima tells the story of Mankanaka [dangers of eating grass instead of deer]
• Mankanaka only ate grass, cut himseld, and bled grass juice
• Mankanaka was so happy about it he started a dance party throughout the whole world
• The gods worried the dancing would ruin the world, Shiva comes to stop it

Rishyashringa was born

• Vibhandaka saw Urvashi and ejaculated in the lake and a deer drank it
• Rishyashringa was the son of that deer and Vibhandaka
• Rishyashringa had never seen another human except his dad, Vibhandaka
• He was the only person left with a pure heart to save the country of Agna from a drought
• Shanta persuaded Rishyashringa to come to Agna with her charm and good looks
• Vibhandaka thought the creature was a rakshasa (demon)
• Rikyashringa went with Shanta to Agna
• It rained at last!
• Rikyashringa married Shanta

The Pandavas leave the forest and come to Mount Kailasa

• Yudhistira falls and disturbs the silence of Rishava's mountain and the mountain attacks
• Draupadi ask Bhima to build her a house made of white lotus
• Bhima sets out to find them for his lady when he runs into a monkey blocking his path, HANUMAN
• Bhima cannot move Hanuman's tail and Hanuman tells Bhima that the white lotuses are at the lotus lake
• Manibhadra , lord of yakshas, tells Lord of Treasure, Vaishravana that Bhima is outside their palace
• Bhima blows Vaishravana's armor away easily. Vaishravana allows Bhima to take the lotuses

Matali returns Arjuna to his brothers

• Arjuna brings heavenly weapons along with ornaments and jewels for Draupadi

In the 12th year the Pandavas live near Dhritarashtra

• Duryodhana tries to build a pleasure house near the Pandavas but the Gandharvas don't let him
• Duryodhana is caught in the Gandharvas iron net 
• Arjuna and Bhima rescue Duryodhana 
• Duryodhana is embarrassed and decides to starve to death  
• Kali encourages him to continue to the fight against the Pandavas where he will be honored

Jayadratha, Duryodhana's brother in law, tries to steal Draupadi

• Arjuna and Bhima chase down Jayadratha but Yudhistira tells them to spare his life at Draupadi's request

Savitri

• Krishna and Vyasa visit the Pandavas
• Draupadi asks Vyasa to tell a love story
• Savitri set out to find the man she wanted to be her husband because the others were lames
• Savitri found Satyavan, son to a blind man in exile 
• Savitri decides to marry him even though she knows he only has one year to live
• When Yama, The Death god, came to get Satyavan, Savitri asked if she could follow him
• Savitri got a gift from Yama for her courage but she could not wish for Satyavan's live back
• Savitri asked for him to cure her blind father in law
• Yama feels generous and offers another gift, Savitri asks him to restore her father in laws's kingdom
• Savitri then asks if her fathe in law could have 100 sons 
• Finally Yama told her to ask for something that was actually for her
• Savitri asks to be given 100 sons from her husband, Satyavan
• Savitri had to sacrifice half of her days in order to get her husband back and she willingly accepted
• Satyavan was restored

Reading Diary A: Yudhistira gets the Pandavas Exiled

Yudhistira accepts Duryodhana's challenge to play dice

• When the Pandavas arrive Duryodhana tells Yudhistira that he is going to be playing Shakuni instead
• Yudhistira loses all his material things and begins losing his brothers and himself
• He last bets off his wife, Draupadi, and loses her too
• Duryodhana summons her to begin work as a kitchen maid
• Duhshahana begins by stripping her clothing but Krishna protects her by always placing a new robe where the last one was stripped
• Dhritarashtra learns of this and crushes the dice
• Dhritarashtra gives Draupadi wishes in return for her treatment
• Draupadi gets her husbands and all of their things back
• Shakuni challenges Yudhistira to one last challenge and Yudhistira loses again 
• The Pandavas and Draupadi are exiled

Arjuna goes off in the forest away from the Pandavas to learn more

• Arjuna runs into Indra, his dad 
• He shoots the same deer as Shiva 
• Then, he is taken to Indra's palace in the heavens
• Indrani 
• Indra sends for Urvashi who has been madly in love with Arjuna since before this life

Vyasa begins telling Yudhistira about Nala who has had more misfortune than Yudhistira

• Nala, a king, wanted Damayanti, a princess, as his wife
• Nala caught a swan and told it to tell Damayanti about Nala
• The swan did and Damayanti fell in love with Nala before seeing him
• Damayanti was having a swayamvara and Indra, Agni, Varuna, and Yama were coming to try to win the princess too
• The gods told Nala to go to Damayanti and tell her to pick a god as her husband
• The gods disguised themselves as Nala but Damayanti figured out which one was Nala and still chose him
• Kali wanted her and became jealous and wanted to destroy their happiness
• Pushkara challenged Nala to a game of dice under Kali's request
• Kali possessed Nala and Nala lost everything
• Damayanti and Nala left the kingdom with just one robe
• Nala tried to catch some birds and lost his robe
• Nala wanted Damayanti to return to her father's kingdom so he left her in his sleep taking half of her robe to cover himself
• However, Damayanti looked for Nala instead of returning home
• The ascetics told her to go home to her father but she followed a caravan to Chedi
• The kingdom of Chedi made fun of her for her half robe and Sudeva covered her 
• Sudeva then finally convinced her to return home to wait for Nala 

Karkotoka helps Nala

• Nala rescued Karkotoka from a forest fire
• Karkotoka bit him putting poison into his blood turning him into an ugly man, named Vahuka
• He became Rituparna's charioteer because he could make his horses fast
• Parnada realized Vahuka was the king, Nala
• Pranada goes to tell Damayanti that he found Nala
• Sudeva goes to Rituparna to invite him to her "swayamvara"
• Damayanti knew Rituparna would make Vahuka drive him so Nala would come to her too
•  Vahuka asks Rituparna how to successfully gamble and Vahuka teaches Rituparna how to drive his horses so fast
•  Nala's new knowledge of gambling drove Kali out 
• Rituparna arrived to Damayanti to learn that the swayamvara was a hoax
• Damayanti sends her maidservant, Keshini, to speak to the charioteer, Vahuka
• Keshini realizes Vahuka is Nala and tells him to go to Damayanti
• Nala turns back into his original form and goes to Damayanti
• Nala and Damayanti return home and Pushkara challenges Nala to another dice game
• This time Damayanti was Pushkara's prize
• Nala wins and wins his kingdom back

Vyasa then teaches Yudhistira the knowledge of gambling dice

(Image Source: Nala and Damayanti by Ramanarayanadatta astri)

Famous Last Words for Week 11

Happy Easter y'all! 

(Personal picture at my aunts house of her Easter flowers)

I hope everyone has had a great day with their families celebrating the true meaning of this day! Even death couldn't conquer our Lord! :) I know I have been really enjoying it, and it isn't even over yet! 

Anyways, this week has been crazy ad I am so glad it is over and I lived! This week I just have two tests on the same day, and then, I can start preparing for finals. Yippee skipee. Not. 

I really enjoyed writing my story this week so if you get a chance to read it then please do! If not it will be in my portfolio soon anyways.

So, this weekend, a few friends and I went to see Furious 7. It was great. However, I kept waiting to see how they got rid of Paul Walker and they never did. I'm not bummed about it though. It did make the movie more suspenseful though! I felt retarded once it ended and that didn't happen.

Another thing that happened this weekend was Wisconsin beating Kentucky. I watched that too and it was insane. I loved watching my bracket blow up. Not. 

Something I really enjoyed about this week was the weather. I was able to go outside and play with my precious Carmi several times. I went on several runs, and even had time to go out to the lake where my friend lives and ride fourwheelers. It was a really great week. It is crazy how much stuff you can get done when you are being productive and not sitting on your booty. I had a lot of stress this week, but I did a really great job balancing that out with some time to relax and have some fun. I am ready for summer because this semester is on crack all the way until the end for me now. Just gotta take it one week at a time. That's what I keep telling myself or I would pull my hair out.

Anyways, I hope everyone is having a less stressful time then I am! Have a great week! I almost have an A in this class and I hope everyone else is getting to that point as well. Good luck!

Storytelling for Week 11: Milk to Salt

Before the ocean was made of salt, it provided the earth with the creamiest, most refreshing potion known as milk. This potion was worthy of drinking, and so, people would come from all over the land to see and taste this magnificent beverage. It smelled sweet, and looked like a soft blanket of snow like you would see at the top of the mountains where no one has ever walked before. The people had never tasted anything like it! The desire for more made them come back day after day. 

One day, Narayana, an incarnated version of Vishnu, came to the milk sea and shouted to the gods, "Churn the ocean! Unearth the nectar of immorality for me!"

And so, the gods began. They placed the mountain Mandara in the middle. Mandara is the snow mountain, and it is far taller then the sea's depths. Therefore, the milk and snow on the part of the mountain that was visible blended together seamlessly. It was hard to tell the two landscapes apart from one another. However, no one nearby saw this spectacle as the sound of the commotion had pierced their ears, and everyone was hunched over with their fingers in their ears for protection. 

Then abruptly, the great serpent, Sesha, wrapped himself around the mountain and stretched the length of the mountain so that he could be used to churn the ocean. At this moment, Sesha looked like an octopus stretched out to be used in a grand tug-a-war match, good versus evil! Holding onto Sesha's tail were the Asuras which are the unusual-looking, immoral gods. Grabbing onto Sesha's neck were the devas who are the mortal gods including Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu. Each side took turns pulling back and forth causing the mountain to spin in opposite directions, and of course, messing up the perfect snow on the mountain and throwing boulders into the, now, bubbling milk.

(Image Source: Churning the Milk Sea)

At this, glorious creatures began emerging from the frothing ocean. First, the crescent Moon appeared. Then, to list some of the most notable creatures, Indra's white elephant, Airavata, Surabhi, the white cow who grants wishes, and finally Dhanwantari, the physician robed in white carrying a cup full of amrita, which was the essence of life. 

Narayana screeched with excitement, "At last! I will live forever! This treasure is mine." He had now begun doing his happy dance like a little school girl. Narayana, or Vishnu, was so excited! He proclaimed again, "Thank you, gods. Thank you!"

In the meantime, with all the commotion in the sea from the churning, the sea shot poison up into the air turning the milk into salt water. Milk is a drink that sustains life, and salt water is a drink that destroys it. This was devastating to the people watching.

While the gods were busy elsewhere, the poison shot up into the sky and was going to land all over the worlds. This would instantaneously kill anything that came in contact with it. Miraculously, out of nowhere, Shiva, The Lord of the Mountains and Songs, came flying in to gather all the poison into his mouth in order to swallow it. With this, Shiva saved the worlds. He was a hero!

Unfortunately, the poison was lodged in his airways and his face turned blue. He grabbed the crescent moon that had just emerged from the milk sea and placed it in his hair. With this, Narayana became a woman named Mohini. The cresent moon became a hair jewel for her, and Mohini seduced and confused the asuras who were trying to steal the cup full of amrita. Thankfully though, Mohini succeeded at bringing the devas the armita before the asuras could took it for themselves.       

Author's note: I wrote this tale because I like the significance of the churning of the ocean in Hindu mythology. Also, while writing, I felt like I was able to better understand the events that were happening which helped me to realize why this tale would hold that kind of importance. The beauty of the white milky sea was important in this tale because it is sacrificed in order to bring Vishnu amrita, the essence of life. It is interesting to me that the "dark" gods are pulling against the "mortal" gods like tug-a-war in order to bring Vishnu what he wants. This is very symbolic about the meaning of asking for amrita. When the milk sea began to bring out the glorious creatures, I only named the white creatures that appeared to emphasize the significance of the color white in the story such as, the milk, the elephant, the cow, and the robe. White symbolizes purity so I thought it held a lot of meaning in this tale as the sea was once pure, but now it has been used as a sacrifice and turned into salt water. However, salt is still white. How ironic! I chose this picture because it helps to vividly visualize the event of churning the ocean along with the creatures that surfaced from the ocean during the scene as well. 

Bibliography:  

• Buck, William (1973). Mahabharata          

Reading Diary B: The Pandavas are sent away from Hastinapura

Dhritarashtra sends the Pandavas and their mother Kunti away

• Duryodhana, of course, makes a plan to build them a house that will be easy to burn down
• Vidura warns the Pandavas of the plan
• The Pandavas build a tunnel under the house to escape
• They leave 6 corpse to burn in their place so that Duryodhana believes they are dead
• The Pandavas flee to a village
• The village has to send yearly sacrifices to the demon Vaka
• Kunti sends Bhima to destroy him even though he is weak from hunger
• Vyasa arrives and takes the Pandavas to win the daughter of Drupada 
• Arjuna wins her by showing his strength with Shiva's bow 
• Krishna is present and congratulates Arjuna
• Krishna remembers Arjuna from another life
• Dhrishtadyumna brings the Pandavas to marry his daughter, Draupadi
• Dhritarashtra is glad to learn the Pandavas are still alive--> gives them Khandava to rule
• Arjuna goes to visit Krishna and falls in love with his sister, Subhadra
• The fire god, Agni, comes to Krishna and Arjuna and tells him he is hungry and he needs to burn the forest to regain strength
• Agni needs Arjuna's and Krishna's help to defend Indra while he "eats"
• Agni gives Arjuna the bowl Gandiva and Krishna his iron chakra (discus)
• The gods watch Arjuna and Krishna take on Indra
• Arjuna comes to the rescue of the asura, Maya, the heaven's architecture
• Maya builds the Pandavas' an unbelievable palace as a thanks
• Duryodhana visits the palace
• He is fooled by one of the illusions and someone laughs and he thinks they are mocking him
• Duryodhana goes to Yudhisthira and demands an apology but he denies this request
• So Duryodhana challenges Yudhisthira to a game of dice
• Vyasa goes to his mother and takes her, Ambika, Ambalika, and Vidura's mother to safety from the events that he forsees

 

(Image Source: Arjuna wins Draupadi by Ramanarayanadatta astri)

Reading Diary A: The beginning

The book starts out being told by Pandu's grandson

Then the poet Vyasa tells the story of Mahabharata while Ganesha, the scribe, writes it down

Before the sea turned to salt water it was milk

Takshaka disguises himself as a beetle on the last day of the king's, Parikshit, death curse time limit

Parikshit tries to show that he is no longer living in fear by putting the beetle on his neck whenever Takshaka turns into a snake and bites him

Parikshit's son takes over the kingdom and plans to hold a sacrifice to kill Takshaka

(Image Source: Satyavati, the girl born out of a fish by Tropenmuseum) 

Mahabharata finally begins

• Ganga falls in love with the king
• has 7 kids and drowns the first 6
• Bhishma is spared because the king finally says stop
• semen in a fish--> fish smelling man (Vyasa) 
• Chedi renounces his kingship and gives it to Santanu
• Santanu and Satyavati have a son named Vichtravirya 
• Vichtraviyra is given 3 wives by Bhishma
• One of them is sent away because she already gave her heart away (Amba)
• Vichtraviyra dies before he has kids
• Satyavati summons her son Vyasa to have kids with the two wives
• Dhritarashtra (blind), Pandu(pale), and Vidura (normal)
• Pandu marries Kunti and Madri
• Kunti has a mantra that she can make love with gods
• Kunti tried it first with the sun god, Surya
• Kunti sent the baby up stream --> Karna
• Dhritarashtra marries Ghandhri and becomes king
• Ghandhri is pregnant for 2 years and has 100 babies
• They have to incubate for 2 more years in jars full of butter
• Pandu is cursed and can't make love 
• Kunti uses her mantra and has 2 kids when Madri wants to have kids and she uses the mantra to have 1 more child and twins
• Pandu can no longer resist and makes love to Madri and dies and Madri does too
• Drona marries Kripi and is so poor he can't even afford milk for their child
• Drona asks Drupada for help but Drupada denies Drona's friendship and calls him his enemy
• Bhishma makes Drona the trainer for all the Pandava and Kaurava princes
• Kripa became archery teacher
• Arjuna is the best bow person until Karna arrives and shows his skills and is named king (everyone wonders who exactly he is--> son of gods?)
• But he is the son of a chariottor--> found him when Kunti sent her baby up stream and raised the boy

Famous Last Words for Week 10

Well, here we are again. I have so much to do this week. I hope I make it though it alive. No, I'm sure I will, but it is going to be absolutely crazy. I am ready for summer. Actually, I can't stand presentations. So, if I didn't have a presentation this week, I don't think I would be so nervous about it. I just hate all of the eyeballs, but get this over with and I don't have to do that anymore this year. Woohoo!!

This weekend, I took my puppies and we went to the midevil fair! It was a blast. My little corgi thinks she is hot stuff, and tries to show her guns. However, she has none to back her up. It is hilarious! My boyfriend has a pitbull, so I think my corgi thinks oh I've got this and if I don't he's got you. Funnily enough though, my little pitbull is a fat baby. He is the one that would bark really loud and be scared by his voice and run behind me. It's hilarious. I love him!

(Droseph at my house taken by me)

The Mahabharata was a crazy book. There was so much going on! It was hard to keep track. I really had to use the reading guides in order to keep track of every single event that happened. It was all over the place, but those guides were extremely helpful. I hope that you guys like my story this week. I struggled when choosing what to write about. 

My mood has just been so much better now that I think we may have finally survived winter, but of course with that means it is tornado season. I get so scared that I am going to die because I live on the second floor in an apartment, and if a storm blows over my place I am for sure a goner. That's a scary thought! However, I guess because I am from Oklahoma this is what makes the spring sort of exciting.

Have a good week!

Storytelling for Week 10: Dhritarashtra Gets Revenge

Once the war was over, the Pandavas decided to return to the city of Hastinapura to inform king Dhritarashtra and his queen of their loss. Yudhistira was the one strong enough to tell Dhritarashtra of the dreadful news. Unlike their cousins, the Pandavas were upset about having to kill their own family members in order to receive justice. Yudhistira tried to tell his uncle of the events of the war as sympathetically as he could. Finally, he concluded with the news about the story of the death of Duryodhana, Dhritarashtra's eldest son. However, he didn't mention the part where Bhima stomped on his body while he was lying on the ground about to die. Unfortunately, Dhritarashtra didn't need to be told about the events because Sanjaya narrated the war as it happened so Dhritarashtra already knew what Bhima had done to Duryodhana. Furthermore, he wanted revenge on Bhima for what he had done to his son! 

Once Yudhistira was done speaking, Dhritarashtra spoke. "I see! And where is Bhima now? I should apologize to him on my son's behalf."

Yudhistira immediately muttered without suspicion, "Well, he is righ...."

Krishna figured out Dhritarashtra's deceitful plan and interrupted Yudhistira. He then presented a statue that he had quickly created that exactly resembled Bhima. 

Dhritarashtra, being that he is blind, embraced the Bhima figure without hesitation and exclaimed, "Alas, I shall kill Bhima once and for all! You fools!" 

With this, Dhritarashtra squeezed Bhima with all his might and left the figure crumbled into millions of tiny pieces on the floor. Moreover, Duryodhana's mother, Gandhari, and Dhritarashtra rejoiced in the thought of revenge for their son's death!

The other Pandava brothers were unaware of the illusion Krishna had presented. They began to weep for all they had experienced had finally been too much for them to bear! The Pandavas grieving only furthered Dhritarashtra's and Ghandri's sweet revenge celebration.   

However, as Bhima watched the spectacle at a distance in the shadows, he was shocked by the actions of his uncle. He couldn't believe his uncle wanted him dead. It broke Bhima's heart as Dhritarashtra celebrated what he had thought was the end of Bhima. With this feeling festering inside him, Bhima abruptly emerged to Dhritarashtra wiping his revenge smirk off his face.

Bhima shouted, "How dare you praise my death, uncle! You traitor."

Bhima attempted to attack Dhritarashtra, but his brothers stopped him. As Bhima was so strong, it took several brothers to actually prevent Bhima from hurting Dhritarashtra. 

While attempting to stop Bhima, Arjuna whispered in Bhima's ear, "Don't waste your time on him. We have already won, brother!"

Bhima grinned and told Dhritarashtra, "Your actions have betrayed us, and therefore, your karma has caught up to you. You failed, and now.... now your kingdom is ours! You have failed once and for all!"

Finally, the Pandavas cheered! They shared hugs and smiles. Dhritarashtra had betrayed them and he deserved to be stripped of his crown. Once Dhritarashtra had failed at his last attempt at killing a Pandava, there was a ceremony for Yudhistra's coronation. Hastinapura's people were actually relieved to have the Pandavas as their new rulers as they were more just.  At last, the Pandavas ruled the kingdom for many years to come without any problems from Dhritarashtra.

(Image Source: Bhima and Duryodhana)

Author's Note: I wrote this story because when Bhima finally defeats Duryodhana it is my favorite part in the book. However, it is ironic how Dhritarashtra wants revenge on him when the entire audience is happy that the evil cousin is finally dead. Furthermore, Krishna plays such an important role in the war between the cousins. However, when choosing between Krishna or one million troops, Duryodhana thought that Yudhistira was silly for choosing him over the numbers. This tale illustrates yet again another moment that Krishna was an asset to the success of the Pandavas. Krishna uses his wise judgment on Dhritarashtra and protects Bhima one more time! Throughout the book the Pandavas are always stunned at the way their cousins and uncles treat them. I used this to display how I thought Bhima would respond to seeing his uncle think he crushed him to death. Furthermore, Bhima is utterly shocked. However, the Pandavas have better characters than their cousins, so they finally rejoice in their victory instead of killing Dhritarashtra as well. I chose this picture because I think this is the main reason why Dhritarashtra wants to crush Bhima, and he doesn't try it with the rest of the Pandavas.  

Bibliography: 

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

Reading Diary B: The Pandavas win!

(Image Source: Arjuna slays Jayadratha by Ramanarayanadatta astri)

The Pandavas attempt one last peace offering with the Kauravas

• Krishna is sure of his abilities to escape the Kauravas so he goes to them as the messenger--> shows that he is actually a God
• However, the Kauravas do not accept
• The Pandavas prepare for war

The war between Pandava and the Kauravas begins

• The Pandavas slaughter all 100 of their cousins
• Arjuna and Bhima do most of the killing
• Arjuna kills Bhishma and Karna--> which he later learns was his brother
• They win their kingdom back

Yudhistira has a pitty party about all the slaughtering of his family

• But he comes around and has his coronation for king

Epilogue

• Yudhisitra's physical body goes to the heavens while the other brothers closely follow him in spirit.
• Krishna dies the way he thought he would by the river.
• Dhistira lives out his life in the kingdom for 36 years after and then takes Kunthi and an adopted son into the forest to be left alone for the remainder of his life

Reading Diary A: Pandava's exile is over

(Image Source: Cattle Reid by Ramanarayanadatta astri)

The Pandavas finally make it to the end of the first 12 years

• They are dying of thirst and the youngest finds a lake and rushes to it
• However, there is a voice that tells him to answer his questions before drinking his water
• Nakalu disobeys and drinks the water because he is so thirsty
• Arjuna and Bhima behave similarly
• Yudishitra arrives at the lake and see his dead brothers and listens to the voice and does as he is asked to do
• He answers so well that the other brothers are revived
• It was a test by Yama, and Yama now promises to keep them incognito for their following year

The Pandavas hide in plain sight in the town of Maysa

• While in Maysa, the 5 brothers have disguise jobs along with their wive Draupadi
• The entire year almost goes smoothly when finally the Prince discovers Draupadi's beauty
• The prince tries to make a move at Draupadi and Bhima had to resort to killing him while creating a cover story for the king
• The Kauvas hear of this and find the cover story peculiar.
• They "attack" Maysa in hopes of discovering the Pandavas to place them in exile for another 13 years
• Arjuna secretly attacks with the help of Maysa's lazy "hero" (claims tremendous fighting skills)

The Kauvuas plan does not work

• The Pandavas are freed from their exile (they make it to the end of the 1 years without being noticed)
• They want their share of their kingdom from Duryodhura
• Peace is negotiated, but war is likely inevitable 

Famous Last Words for Week 9

Wow! So this week did not start as planned. That video presenting itself, unfortunately, did not surprise me. This is not to say that I think all frat or sorority people are racist. I just have been to a couple of these houses and have heard things I did not want to hear.

I am a firm believer of equality, but most importantly I believe in Christ. Now take a step back and think about what it really means to say that. To me that means to treat everyone as Jesus did, and to call on God in every aspect of your life. Well it actually encompasses so much more, but this is what I want to talk about right now. How can you call yourself a christian and then say or do things such as this? I really struggle with this question. Not that I am saying that if you make a mistake you aren't a christian. NO! NOT AT ALL. However, claiming to be a christian, a person needs to remember to love thy neighbors and to act like christ. Okay I am done ranting. This video has just hit me harder then I expected them too.

This week has also been hectic in school. I had so many quizzes and assignments due. Geesh, these teachers don't care about letting up, do they? :D But I did! And now it is time to celebrate!!!!

Finally! Spring break has arrived! I have been so busy this week trying to complete all of my work so that I can just relax the rest of the week. Well guess what! The time has finally come. I AM DONE! Yay!!!!! I hope every one has a great week, just relax and have some fun, but most importantly be safe! Happy vacationing yal!

(A photo of Oklahoma skies I took one year!)

Storytelling for Week 9: Arjuna the Hero

One training exercise Drona made the boys do was disrupting their vision and forcing them to try to bow down a bird soaring in the sky. Four of the brothers attempted the exercise but failed miserably at their first attempt. However, Arjuna only took one shot at the narrow image of the bird, and the bird came tumbling out of the sky. This was when Arjuna was named the weapon master of the 5 brothers.

After several months, Drona had finally completed training the Pandava brothers. Drona decided to take a relaxing break by a river when all of a sudden a crocodile attacked him. The crocodile was fierce. It attacked Drona so quickly, Drona didn't even have time to react. The crocodile dragged Drona into the water. It twisted and turned in an attempt to break Drona's neck. 

Drona screamed in terror, "Arjuna! Help me! Save me!" 

Immediately, Arjuna, being just named the weapons master, sprung into action eager to practice what he had just been taught. Arjuna quickly located his bow and ran to Drona's aid! 

Arjuna replied to Drona, "Don't fear! I am on my way! I had to grab my bow first."

Meanwhile, the crocodile had nearly managed to rip Drona's arm off when Arjuna pierced the crocodile in the back. Unfortunately, Arjuna didn't know the shield a crocodile possessed on his back. To kill a crocodile there is one spot that must be hit in order to kill them. There is no other way.This spot is considered the sweet spot. 

Arjuna wasted 3 extra bows until finally Drona shouted at him, "Arjuna he has a sheild. The crocodile is hard as stone everywhere except his head. That's why I can't wrestle myself out of this. Hurry! He is going to kill me!" 

Finally, Arjuna placed an arrow right between the crocodiles eyes. The crocodile realized his monstrous grip on Drona. Drona swam to shore and hugged Arjuna. He had saved his life!

Drona chanted, "Arjuna you are the god of weapons. I will forever be in debt to you for this favor! I am not sure how I will ever be able to repay you for this wonderful thing you have done."

Arjuna responded with, "Drona, you are my teacher. You will forever have my protection. There is no need for you to repay. I will always save you and others out of gratitude for the lessons you have taught me. These skills with help me and my brothers throughout our entire lives. We are eternally grateful. It is the least I can do." 

And the pair walked away together while embracing each other, appreciating the presence of the new friendship that had been made. 

(Image Source: Arjuna by Kangra)

Author's Note: I wrote this story to describe the events that were happening during Drona's attack by a crocodile. I imaged that once Drona was done training the five brothers, he would need a little time to be alone. This is when I envisioned the crocodile attack to occur. Since Drona was alone. it took Arjuna some time to come to his aid. Since I know that crocodile's have a protective shell all over their body except for around their head, I assumed that Arjuna would try to kill him around the heart. While trying to get away Drona learns where to kill the crocodile, and shouts out to Arjuna the key to defeat him. I chose this image because I feel like it shows how powerful of a being Arjuna becomes in his lifetime. This event was just the beginning to great things to come while Arjuna exist. I think this would be a great story to add to my portfolio to give variety from a new source other then The Ramayana. Also, it shows the relationship between the teacher and his trainees. The trainee feels great gratitude to the people that teach them valuable skills that help them to succeed throughout their entire lives.

Bibliography: 

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

Reading Diary B: Yudhistira plays dice

(Image Source: Disrobing of Draupadi by Evelyn Paul)

• Dhritarashtra finds out that the Pandavas are still alive
• His sons, Duryodhana and Karna are mad and urge war against them
• Vidura invites the Pandavas to Hastinapura where Dhritarashtra gives them some of their kingdom
• Draupadi is all 5 brothers' wive, this is dangerous because it is hard to share
• Arjuna breaks the rules with Draupadi and gets exiled where he marries 2 more women
• Yudhistira is crowned king of Indraprastha (Pandavas' kingdom
• Duryodhana goes to visit and is jealous of the magnificent town and assembly hall
• Duryodhana is fooled by illusions in the assembly hall where all the Pandavas laugh at him including Draupadi --> not good
• Duryodhana's dad, Dhritarashtra, agrees to build a grander assembly hall
• Duryodhana plans a game of dice to fool Yudhistira into gambling away all of his money since he is no good
• Yudhistira plays into his trap even gambling away Draupadi
• Bhima promises revenge
• Dhritarashtra gives Draupadi a wish and she sets Yudhistira free then with the second wish sets the rest of the brother free
• Dhritarashtra gives back all of their possessions and sends them home
• Duryodhana urges them to come back 
• Yudhistira gambles again and loses winning him and his brothers 13 years and exile and 1 in diguise
• Yudhistira and his follows feed off of a copper bowl he gets from the Sun God
• Duryodhana urges to go seek war on the Pandavas
• The Pandavas are warned by Vyasa and Yudhistira is given a mantra
• Yudhistira teaches Arjuna the mantra
• Arjuna uses the mantra to visits the gods and get weapons to prepare for the battle
• Arjuna gets a great weapon from Indra and spends time in his city
• Once denying a women in the heaven city, the woman curses Arjuna and he is turned into a eunich
• Arjuna returns to the Pandavas after 5 years and show them the weapons he has collected

Reading Diary A: Pandava

• Shantanu meets Hestinapura
• Before marriage Hestinapura makes Shantanu promise to allow her to do whatever she wants (beautiful to let her do what she does to his kids)
• She has 8 child and drowns them all except the last one
• Hestinapura explains to Shantanu her behavior (The God Vasus)
• The last one is taken with Ganga to heaven and later returned, Davavratha 
• Davavratha is Bhishma
• Bhishma swears to celibacy and renounces his throne so his father, Shantanu can remarry
• Shantanu has 2 more sons and dies quickly
• Bhishma is king until the 2 young sons are old enough to rule
• Bhishma wins 3 wives for Vichitravirya
• Only 2 stays
• But the 3rd is rejected by her king
• Vichitravirya died without kids
• Bhishma can't break his celibacy
• The 2 wives have kids with Vyasa
• But he is so hideous they close their eyes and turn colors causing their kids to come out in the same condition
• Their maid likes him and she and Vyasa have a normal child

(Image Source: Yudhistia  by Tropenmuseum)

Famous Last Words for Week 8

I found it fun to review all the work I had already accomplished thus far. It was a great reminder of all that I had learned. I also had fun seeing what others thought about the course and what they have learned so far. 

This weekend my dad came to town, and we went to the OU vs Kansas basketball game. The game was very intense. The second half was literally back and forth with OU coming out on top with a buzzer beater tip in bucket. My dad and I had a blast. We are very obsessed with all the OU teams. It was a lot of fun to visit with him since he is my best friend. My puppy, Carmi, really enjoyed the time as well.

I read a couple new stories in the project commenting project. It was interesting to see how the storybook projects are coming since I chose to do the Portfolio style. I still think I made the best decision for me because I am so indecisive I would have hated to be forced to focus on one theme the entire semester. I also hate doing my own research. Someone else can do that for me. 

This past week was a little stressful with test, but I cannot wait to get to spring break. I know that this week is going to go by so slow. I hope everyone has fun plans to relax and get away from the crappy weather. I am going to enjoy my time on the golf course and go see my best friend who lives out of town. Just as this week will pass by slowly while we eagerly anticipate next week, I am sure that next week by pass by way too fast. However, every day is one step closer to summer! My favorite time of the year. I can't wait.

Hope everyone has a happy week!  

( It's almost spring meaning here come all the pretty flowers. A picture of my granny's garden from last year!)

Commenting Review Week

Formatting comments have been the most helpful types of comments. I don't really pay attention to paragraph breaks because I think I'm really picky on what a paragraph should be. Also, academic paragraphs are meant to be a lot longer then the ones found on a blog.

When I am leaving a long comment on a post I try to focus on formatting and spelling errors. However, when I leave short comments I tend to be a little bit more encouraging telling the writing what I really enjoyed about their writing. I think that we all need both, some encouragement and some criticism.

I do tend to find myself commenting and conversing more with some particular people in the class. I really enjoy some people's creativity or others format of their blog. I feel like it gives me motivation or ideas on what I should improve on my own blog.

(Call me lame, but she is my entertainment photo by me)

Writing Review Week

When writing the storytelling posts I just tried to start getting my thoughts down so that I wouldn't get writers block or forget an idea that I had created in my head before it could hit the paper. I do think that the reading material is a bit time consuming, but I enjoy the story writing prompts. They are so helpful!

My most successful stories so far are the one about Ahalya and Hanuman's birth that I have put in my portfolio. I think that the professors comments are so helpful. I feel like they give me a good insight to different writing skills. I feel like since everyone writes differently there are always new things to learn from people reviewing your work.

(Image Source: Hanuman's heart by Palagiri)

I choose this image because I love Hanuman and he is so loyal to Rama and Sita. Loyalty is the greatest quality a person can possess. Although, I may be biased. This visual of Rama and Sita in the protection of Hanuman's heart is priceless and gives a visual to the emotions of Hanuman toward the two.

Reading Review Week

I generally used the Reading Diary in order to do the storytelling assignment. I like the bullet points and headings so that I can stay on track with the pages that certain events happened on so that I can use this as a reference when trying to locate the topic I am trying to retell. I found that it was easier to summarize and add my opinion to each event that happened in the pages I read than to summarize on just the one story that I found interesting on that day. Later in the week, I had become uninterested in the topic I summarized and I had forgotten a good deal of the material from other events.

In the end, summarizing is more helpful at reinforcing the events that I had just read, and it makes it easier to remember at a later date.

Unfortunately, I didn't read anything in the UnTextbook, but I enjoyed some of the stories I read from them. I was really interested in the fuller version of The Ramayana that Buck provides.

(Image Source: Dasaratha with Rama by Keshava)

I choose this image because I love the connection with Dasaratha and Rama. Their bond reminds me a lot of the connection my father and I share. I love the joy the image shows. Also, I think I have really improved on my image information skills. It's been a good learning experience on plagiarism from web sources.