Partying At “The Dome”

the weekend was interesting.  i saw a lot of people i was use to seeing every saturday night at college.  i also saw a few people i wanted to avoid, but failed miserably at.  i tried to just sit there and ignore certain creepers, but apparently i had an inviting look on my face that said “come closer, and put your arm around me.”

the best thing about alumni weekend was experiencing “the dome.”  what a fitting name for an off-campus house, because as dane cook says, ”if you come there you know what the fuck’s up.”  the named dome room is actually the dj booth, the real magical room is the one behind that.  it was like being at a rave: fog machine on overload, lasers, black lights, and loud music.  but the dance floor didn’t really pick up till “i’m on a boat” came on…

shortly after a guy approaches mia madison, “will you dance with my friend he has down syndrome?”  that’s when she got scared, because he was actually something worse: a blacked out lacrosse player.  why weren’t all college parties like this?

I Feel The Adrenaline Moving Through My Veins

in one month it’s just me, mia madison, and britney.  mia once said she could talk in britney lyrics in everyday speech, so for the concert how could we not do it?  and i guess we started practicing early because with alumni weekend looming, it got me and mia madison reminiscing…

 

miamadison: wat about george?

avav: remember how him and my ex roommate kept hooking up even after they found out they were related?

miamadison: hahaha yes. gross.

 

a guy like you should wear a warning…it’s dangerous

 

miamadison: did we ever have a crush on drunk joe?  thats wat betty sue told me. she said we had the “biggest crush on him”

miamadison: i dont believe it.

avav: yeah we did, we thought he was so cute. you don’t remember? we use to get nervous when he would walk into a room

miamadison: hahaha…gross.

 

i get the tingle i wanna mingle, that’s what i want

 

avav: we need to pick out our outfits too.  we have to look good so we don’t have to “dream about all the things that never were.”

miamadison: we should do manicures too. u gotta look good, head to toe

avav: i want to paint mine black or dark purple

miamadison: “french fingertips…something red lips…BITCH IS DANGEROUS”

 

should be a fun weekend. 

 

references were made to britney’s “circus,” “toxic,” “radar,” ”out from under,” and “lace and leather.”

Confessions Of A Blogger

i’m not sure how it works, but my old diaries still shock me. as i’m reading it now i can’t help but be baffled. i remember the big things, but the small details aren’t a part of the memory. these things shouldn’t be coming out of left field, but they do.

9-28-05 Wednesday
apparently last night friend 1 told boy 1 that i like him to which boy 1 replied “yeah me too.” and he didn’t give an opion either way. i still feel the horror from hearing this for the first time. i only tell people i like them if i already know their response. in related news, never ask a question you don’t know the answer to.

10-1-05 Saturday
at the end of the night i ended up walking back with this kid. i strategically gave him my number so boy 1 would get jealous (boy 1 and this kid are good friends), so this should be good. we’ll have to see how this plays out. little did i know that i would end up dating this “kid” and would like him a lot more than boy 1. but the amount of time i put into talking to or gawking over boy 1 is scary, did i really do that? and why? *shivers*

Losing One’s Direction?

Last night i had a very interesting conversation with a friend from school who reminded me of myself at this time last year.  I was very comfortable with the way my life was, and didn’t want it to change.  I didn’t want to leave college and enter the real world.  And like my friend, not only did I have no idea what i wanted to do in this new life, but i had no way to figure it out.  I knew that i liked to cook, and knew that i loved my family and friends but i still had no answer.

Instead my cousin approached me when she found out she was heading to nebraska for grad school, she asked me if i wanted to join her.  I figured “hey, why not?”  It’s the one time in life where you have no responsibilites and can do whatever you want.  But this didn’t mean that i gave up on my dreams of cooking, like my friend probably figured it did.  So he asked me, what happened to my passion for cooking?

In addition to watching food network, going to farmers markets, and reading food blogs, I wrote my first cookbook over the summer.  This is when i realized i never shared the final draft with you.  Here’s some of the recipes:

Dips

Hummous

Babagnoush

Spinach Dip

Crab Dip

Not Your Average Joe’s Bread Dip

 

Breads

Banana Bread

Monkey Bread

Crusty Italian Bread

Blueberry-Lemon Loaf

 

Sides

Brussel Sprout Hash with Caramelized Shallots

Caramelized Butternut Squash

Succotash

Loobee (Lebanese green beans with tomato sauce)

Ginger Rice

Green Bean Casserole

 

Main Courses

Pecan Crusted Chicken                   Chicken Cacciatore                           Rosemary Chicken

Chicken Tenders                               Company Chicken                            Honey Chicken

Turkey Meatballs                              Turkey Burgers                                  Turkey Meatloaf

Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin                Mac and Cheese with Chicken and Broccoli

Spicy Baked Macaroni                     Pasta with Shrimp, Asparagus, and Tomatoes

 

Desserts

Monster Cookies

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Reeses Mini Cup Cookies

White Chocolate Cherry Chunkies

Coconut Macaroons

Chocolate White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

I’d love to publish it, but this book was many a compliation of recipes i’ve loved from other cookbooks.  So now I’m working on my second one tentatively titled “Restaurant Worthy.”  They’re all dishes that i’ve had at different eateries, but since i don’t have the recipes, i’m writing my own. 

So although i couldn’t tell my friend what to do with his life, i found a direction for myself.  Food is great, and i will always want to share it with anyone who will listen.

Living Out the College Dream

When Sophia and i decided to move to Omaha we figured on campus housing would be the easiest and best option.  It’s closest to campus, and comes furnishes.  By just searching for apartments online you never know what you’re going to get, all you see is the rent; which in omaha is less half the price of a similar place in Boston.  However, with an on campus apartment comes RAs.  I mean at 22 it’s not like i’m going to listen to them.  If you get a noise complaint: first time it’s a warning, second time you’re written up, and the third time is a $10 punishment…oh no $10?? 

With all the papers we got when we moved in we also got a list of activities for welcome week.  At first i didn’t want to go, i thought i would feel foolish being a lot older than everyone else there.  But then Sophia said to me, “Everyone wants to go back to college, and we can.”  It was then when i got inspired by DC Hero’s love for college bars.  Everyone wants to stay young and live out the college dream long after they’ve left, so i guess i should take advantage of this opportunity as long as i can.

One Person’s Effect

It amazing me how much of an effect one person can have on another’s life. 

Last night I was talking to my dad, my parents have had discussions before about if they would remarry if either past away at a young age.  Realistically, neither would remarry, but the question was if the other spouse would be ok if they decided to.  My dad didn’t see anything wrong with it, but my mom wants my dad to mourn her for the rest of life.  When I first heard that I assumed she was kidding, but she was serious.  I think she feels this way because her father remarried after her parents got a divorce.

My cousin’s father left him and his mother at the age of ten, and only has called him once since that day to complain about the cost of college.  It’s clear this man has no soul.  It’s understandable not to talk to your ex-wife, but it has nothing to do with your children.  As unfortunate this was, I think it made my cousin into a better father himself.  He understands what it’s like to grow up without a father and doesn’t want the same for his children.

Most often you tell the people that effected you, that they did nothing to change who you are, but the truth is they did. 

Santa Fe Yard Sale

I’m really starting to like being a woman who lunches.  Today I had lunch at a cute little shop called Partners.  I had a santa fe wrap; it had turkey, black beans, avocado, lettuce, tomato, sprouts, salsa, with a chipotle mayo.  The portions were rather large, but it was a bit pricey.  The peach tea was delicious and complimented it well.  After lunch my cousin and I went for a run at an area college.  The weather was perfect for it.

After I got home I starting going through my belongings because in two weeks my mom along with some of her friends are having a yard sale.  I have tons of stuff to get rid of, but my problem is pricing.  I have no idea what is a good price for a used coach purse or old jewelry.  My goal is to make enough money so I can buy a plane ticket to Charleston for the end of the summer.  Let’s hope we draw a good crowd at the yard sale otherwise I might turn desperate.  And we all know being desperate is the second worst human emotion (second to only jealousy).  I can’t let that happen.

College Review: The Poorest Showing

My poorest showing (head shaking moment) while at college was definitely the time when my all girl intramural team played the women’s soccer team in basketball. 

First let’s understand my team.  Only one player on our team had any real basketball experience and the rest of us were there with little basketball knowledge.  Not to mention that most of us were shorter. 

The women’s soccer team was just so intimidating.  They were fast, had great ball skills, and knew how to work together.  They knew how to exploit mismatches and could actually shoot (our team’s biggest scoring game was 12 points).

Needless to say, we didn’t have much of a chance, but the worst part was that it got physical.  They were pushing on us and we did out best to push back, but I don’t think I really affected anyone’s game.  Our team had enough and we were showing it, but one of our players went a bit further…she threw a fit. 

She threw the ball as hard as she could, yelled, and ran off.  I’ve never been more embarrassed in my life.  I was so embarrassed that I actually started laughing.  I tried to apologize for her behavior but in a way I’m glad someone did something because this game was completely unfair.  Looking back at it now, it still makes me laugh, but I also know that I’d rather not relive that moment.

College Review

College is coming to end, and I’ve decided to relive the best moments of all four years right here at TMP.  Of course all times cannot be remembered in a week, so there are some that will not make the cut.  But after thinking about this for a while I can gladly say there is nothing I regret.  There are moments I’d rather not relive, but nothing I regret.  One of those being dating two guys at time.

Ah yes, sophomore year…I didn’t do it on purpose, it was never a goal like it seems to be for most men between 18-25…it just sort of happened.  It ended cause it was just way to stressful for me to handle by myself.  How do people do that all the time?  Plus I felt horrible for both of them even one was doing a similar thing to me.  Luckily neither ever found out about each other, and I still talk to them now.  Kinda weird how stuff pans out.  Oh well anyway, the college review starts next week just in time for finals. So grab your notebooks, pens, and graphing calculators this could get complicated.

PC Fashion Icons

As my time at college is winding down, I think it’s appropriate that I think the people that got me to where I am today.  For me, fashion is one of the biggest components of who I am, so it’s only right that I thank those fashion icons across campus (so why not make a list?  I love lists).

1. Amish looking girl

She wears long skirts and sweaters that are possibly home-made.  I use to look at her confused and wonder where she came from (how far can you really travel with a horse and buggy?), but now I really want to thank her.  She has poise and confidence to dress unlike anyone else on this campus.  I really admire people that do what they want to do (calling audibles), and she does just that (this is when I wish I had pictures for you).

2. Boy who wears short shorts in the gym

I see you when I’m there working out and I’m just a tad perplexed.  You are extremely pale, but that doesn’t stop you from showing some skin.  You wear shorts that are yes short for men, but are also shorter than what most girls wear.  But again, I admire you, because you do what you want when you want.  Plus those shorts just look amazing with the lifting gloves you wear (I guess you didn’t read VKs post?)

3. “Fashionistas”

This ode is to all of those girls out there who are gutsy enough to take a step out on a limb and try something different.  Today it was the girl who wore sparkly silver pumps to class (yes it was too late for a walk of shame).  Or its those girls that started the leggin movement. 

4. Me

Lastly, I want to acknowledge myself.  Yes I push the fashion envelope myself.  I wear my sunglasses at night (because the sun never sets on a bad ass), and I go all out for my dance costume that calls for “80s workout wear” (I’ll wearing leggins with orange shorts over it, with a razorback top with a large tshirt that has an exaggerated neck; not to mention the colorful scuncii and purple sweatbands.  Shameless plug: go to my dance show this Sunday and Monday night 7pm).

In the end, do what you want, and think nothing else.  Don’t waste any of your time contemplating what others will think of you.  We don’t need more cookie cutters in this world, we want INDIVIDUALS.