February Recap

Only 87 days left until the journey begins! Couple major updates from February...

I was Charles Darwin. Well, for a day at least. This year was the 200 anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth and the Penn Museum held a celebration with lectures, games, displays, and one undergraduate dressed as Darwin. Intrigued by my get-up? Check out the costume process at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5yn8KKPID0. The event was a great success, as many visitors learned a great deal about evolution.

My exciting events included...Alternate Spring Break's Disney on Ice Skating Event (I dressed as Lumiere), my first opera Turandot, and various meetings with Penn Haven, a new student group devoted to helping the Philadelphia homeless. It has been a great month!

In the biking department, I have geared up and received my Giant bicycle. It is stellar. My plan is to take it out on the roads once all my equipment is available (pedals, shoes, computer being shipped). Until then, I have cruising around Philly in my Barack-cycle at any opportunity. The more I ride, the more I realize how much I love biking. Guess I picked the right summer activity!

Upcoming is the premiere of Watchmen (so pumped) and my spring break trip to the Florida Everglades. This will be my fourth Alternate Spring Break, but this is the first devoted to environmental cleanup. The next post will include a summary of this adventure as well as a list of the medical schools I am choosing between. They all will tell me in a week or two. Kole out.

$4,000 and beyond!

Thank you donors! I have officially past the $4,000 fund raising mark and am excitingly awaiting the order of my trekking bicycle.

The updates: I recently visited Breakaway Bicycles, a Philadelphia bike shop that carries my Giant Defy 2. I was able to test ride it and the feel was amazing. I could lift it with a single finger! With all respect to my 1970's 'Barack-cycle," I have never been on such a quality vehicle. Indoor training is going well as I anxiously await the warmer months. While it isn't Chicago or Rochester cold, any ride longer than 10-15 minutes leaves my face half frozen.

Off the bicycle, I am enjoying my final semester at Penn. The next couple of weeks will have several adventures, including my appearance at 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth. Once again, the Penn Museum has asked me to dress up like this master of observation for their day of festivities. For those on Penn's campus, you will likely see me handing out fliers and hugging supporters of evolution. Hope to see you all at the Penn Museum on February 15th!

That's it for now. Thanks for staying tuned in and feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, or desires for conversation.