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Backyard Shark @ The Planet

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:03:18 -0500

What are you doing this Friday? How about coming to see great local bands at the coolest place around?

This Friday, August 15th, Champaign rock outfit Backyard Shark will be joined by Springfield punks The Nephrons and The Wide Awakes. The music will be playing late into the night, so come on over and rock out in the capital city!

[Video] David Byrne: Playing the Building

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:30:40 -0500

If you’ll be in New York City anytime between now and 10 Aug 08, be sure to check out David Byrne’s latest project. He has rigged the old Battery Maritime Building into a giant musical instrument.

From Boing-Boing:
“Byrne sees music as deeply embedded within the natural sounds that surround us every day, and
believes anyone can be a writer, artist, or musician if they want to.”

Cage would be proud.

For more information:
DavidByrne.com

P.S. If you haven’t seen True Stories, you’re missing out.

(Post)Rock’s Not Dead

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:22:39 -0500

We gotta...we gotta do something about this.
When do you think you could make it over here? How long?
-I could try and get...25 minutes maybe.
Right.
-I'll try.
OK.
But we got to sort this out.
-OK. I'm just gonna go. I'm going to head off just now and just try to speak to some people about this.
Well you got to do something.
-Yeah.
Cause if we don't take care of this then...I don't even want to think about it.

Hello.
-Hi Colin.
Hiya.
-It's Martin.
Hi Martin.
-I'm sorry to bother you.
It's alright.
-But we've got a bit of a sketch going on here.
What? What?
-Well, it's pretty hard to explain.
So tell us. What?
-Right. We were down at Vic’s and Stuart and Dominic got into a bit of a row.
-Hmm hmm
And Stuart was getting a bit stroppy with Dominic and it ended up with Dominic punching Stuart and walking out.
-Hmm hmm
Saying he's not coming back. Stuart's saying that he's out and stuff like that.
-Right.
Stuart's away as well.
-Where's Stuart away to?
He just phoned his dad and left.
-And is John still there?
No he went away with Stuart for some reason. To try and calm him down or something. It was a full bloody sketch man. I don't know what to do. We've this thing on Tuesday.
-Right. Kind of limited to what I can do...

(Words from “Tracy”; another song by Mogwai off of their 1997 release Young Team)

Tornado

Wed, 4 Jun 2008 23:52:32 -0500

While driving back to Champaign, I was caught in a tornado. The radar was clear when I left, however a massive cell popped up about an hour into my trip. Not only was the rain and dark clouds making it hard to see, but the sun was also sinking below the horizon.

I turned to a local radio station and heard, “If you are between mile markers 4 to 15, take cover immediately a tornado is headed your way!” I was at mile marker 12.

Luckily I was near an exit, so I got off the highway and and pulled into the nearest driveway I could find. The driveway belonged to a McDonald’s, so I ran up to the door to try and get inside. The girl working inside just shook her head and turned off all the lights. I felt like Pee-Wee when none of the old townies would let him in during the storm. By now the sirens were going off. I made it back to my car and grabbed my purse and Minerva. I wasn’t sure if they were going to let me in anywhere with my cat, but I had to try. The closest building was a Hardee’s. Inside were 3 young girls who immediately ushered me into the cooler in the back of the restaurant. They were extremely nice and didn’t mind that I had my cat with me. Their only concern at that point was making sure everyone was okay and away from the storm. We huddled in the cooler with a small radio listening to the announcer. Eventually we learned that the tornado was going to move south of us, missing our cooler by about 7 miles. We all emerged from the cooler, and Minerva and I took a seat in the dining room. One of the girls went to check if anyone else was trying to get inside. She let in about 10 more people who, like me, were refused help from McDonald’s.

As Minerva and I waited for the storm south of us to move through, we were given free drinks and asked lots of questions. A few little kids wanted to see Minerva and were really excited when she meowed for them. After trading stories about Shakopee, a trucker from Minnesota showed me a picture he took of the tornado on his cell phone. For awhile it was like a little party in the Hardee’s.

Once the rain stopped, more and more people left the party. Pretty soon it was just me and Minerva again, watching the radar.

Before I left, I filled out a questionnaire so that the Hardee’s manager would know how helpful those girls were.

I don’t think I’ll be eating at a McDonald’s for a very long time.

Brighten up the Cupboards

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:33:28 -0500

It’s kind of dreary today compared to the recent sunshine we’ve had, so I thought I’d share a few pictures of my Fiestaware collection. Every time I open my cupboard, I’m greeted by a chunky rainbow of bowls and plates. Something about seeing these colors all stacked up in this order makes me happy, so I’ve taken to keeping them that way. I never can decide on a favorite, but currently I’m liking the Peacock. In case you are wondering, here are the colors in order from top to bottom: Tangerine, Sunflower, Shamrock, Peacock and Cobalt.

Best 22nd Birthday ever, Pt. II

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 11:27:19 -0500

This weekend I went up north to celebrate my birthday with my family. I must admit I had a great time and think some of the others did, too. The Boy came with me and my brother made it home also, which always makes me happy. I don’t get to see my brother all that much, so it’s always been a special treat when he’s around. During the day we watched some Dr. Who on BBC America and then went over to The Igloo for lunch. As always, the food was delicious but I do miss the papaya flavored drink they used to offer. After a quick trip to the store for some ice cream (that came in a metal can!), we headed back home to find that Dr. Who was still on.

Later that night, after dinner in Morris, everyone met back at home for cake, ice cream and Champagne. Once we had sufficiently stuffed ourselves, it was time for presents. While it wasn’t my actual birthday anymore, I have to say that I made out pretty nicely. Thanks to everyone for making this such a memorable birthday.

Here are a few of the things I got:

Meet Nancy (or The Best 22nd Birthday Ever)

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 21:15:53 -0500

Today I’m another year older. I can still remember ten years ago when I turned twelve. It was Easter Sunday AND my golden birthday. How lucky was I? By that time, I was well into my “retro is cool” phase. I suspect it had something to do with Kevin Arnold and Winnie Cooper.

When my parents asked me what I wanted for my birthday that year, I remember asking for one thing; a LavaLamp. My mom and sister laughed when I said that I wanted a LavaLamp, probably because had lived through the fad. Though to me, they were new and the coolest thing ever. I had been wanting one for a long time and it couldn’t be just any old color, oh no. I had specifics; white wax with blue liquid on a silver base. When I received my LavaLamp for my birthday I was thrilled. It was so perfectly retro I just couldn’t wait to plug it in and wait for it to heat up. Now, that LavaLamp doesn’t quite work like it did and the liquid is no longer blue. But I got quite a lot of use out it, which makes me think it was a good present.

I guess I still haven’t gotten out of my “retro’ phase. I often find myself gravitating toward mid-century modern furniture styles, cigarette pants and bands like The Greenhornes. Somehow these tendencies have been engrained in me and affect my decisions even today, years after the Wonder Years. That’s why when I saw Nancy, I thought it to be the coolest cruiser I had seen in quite a long time. Since the recent change in the weather, The Boy and I have been looking into getting new bikes. When doing some research, I came across Nancy. I think it was the brown seat with the blue piping that did it for me or maybe the white fenders. I was instantly smitten, with both Nancy and her male counterpart, Sid. Not only were they retro chic, but they were 3 speed automatic. No manual shifting! Because of the automatic shifting components, the price tag was too high for me. So I kept looking for a cruiser that wasn’t too cheesy, but was still had enough charm to keep me interested. Nothing compared to Schwinn’s Nancy, but I knew there was no way I would ever find that bike, let alone have the money.

When my birthday came closer, The Boy started acting strangely. He barred me from going into his spare room where he would often disappear for a few minutes at a time. Once I thought I had heard a clanking sound. I asked if he was alright and he said that he was just trying to fix his drum pedal. This made perfect sense to me, seeing as his pedal was broken and he kept an extra set of drums in that room.

Since I had had written Nancy off, you can imagine how surprised I was when The Boy wheeled her out on my birthday. I couldn’t believe that he had found her and put her together right under my nose. Unfortunately, after a week of sunshine, the mercury dropped to around 45ºF and it was raining off and on all day. I took her for a spin anyway and I was surprised at how smoothly the gears shifted. Riding the Schwinn Nancy made me like the bike even more. I still can’t believe I own her.

Lemon Cream Tart

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:07:10 -0500

For Easter, my mom requested that I make a special dessert. I once again turned to my baking bible for inspiration. I settled on this lighter than air lemon cream filling. It’s made much like a lemon curd, however the butter is added after the cooking process. The result is a perfectly “citrus-y” (read: not too tart, not too sweet) creamy filling. While this lemon “cream” actually contains no cream, be warned that this does use a little over two sticks of butter. But it’s a holiday and one piece is really all you need when you split this with family.

Note: I added berries, but this lemon cream is definitely good enough to stand on its own. Fresh whipped cream would also be nice compliment.

Rating:

The Most Extraordinary French Lemon Cream Tart

Ingredients
1 c. sugar
Grated zest of 4 lemons
4 large eggs
3/4 c. fresh lemon juice from 4-5 lemons
2 sticks plus 5 tbsp. (10.5 oz.) unsalted butter cut into tbsp. size pieces @ room temp.

Procedure

First Steps:
Have an instant read thermometer, a strainer and a blender ready to use. You may use a food processor if your don’t have a blender.
Bring a few inches of water to a simmer in a saucepan.

Making the Lemon Cream:
Put the sugar and lemon zest into a heatproof bowl that will fit over the simmering water without actually touching the water.
While still off the heat, rub the sugar and zest together until the sugur is “moist, grainy and very aromatic”.
Whisk in the eggs.
Whisk in the lemon juice.
Place the bowl over the simmering water. When the mixture feels lukewarm, start stirring with your whisk.
Whisk constantly until the mixture reaches 180ºF. You must whisk constantly in order to keep the eggs from scrambling.
The mixture will thicken as it approaches 180ºF and the whisk will leave tracks as you stir. Brings the mixture to temperature may take as long as 10 minutes, so have patience.
Right when the mixture reaches 180ºF, remove it from the heat and strain it into the container of your blender or food processor. Dispose of the zest you have strained out of the mixture.
Allow the mixture to cool to 140ºF. This will take about 8-10 minutes.
Once cooled, turn on the blender or food processor and (with the machine running) add the butter about 5 pieces at a time.
Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the container as needed.
Once all the butter is in, keep the machine running for another 3 minutes. If your machine starts running hot, then work on one minute intervals. This final step ensures your lemon cream will be extremely light and smooth.
Pour your lemon cream into an airtight container and make sure to press a piece of plastic wrap against the surface of the cream to keep it from forming a skin.
Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before use.

Storage Information:
I made the lemon cream the day before I needed it. The cream will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. If freezing, be sure to thaw the cream overnight in the refrigerator before you want to use it.

Accent on Design

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:07:04 -0500

I have a strange fascination with regional commercials. Eagle Man/Woman, Empire Carpet, Victory Auto Wreckers, Max Madsen and the list goes on. The other day I saw this commericial for the Champaign Ashley Furniture HomeStore. It features Eric, the Interior Design Consultant. This ad has all the making of a great regional commercial: poor video and sound quality, bad editing, cheesy “special effects” and of course a star who is slightly uncomfortable on camera. I’m not judging Eric or his design ability. I’m sure he could help you pick out some nice accessories to liven up your décor. I am merely commenting on the commercial and how awful it is. I think if I had a business I would try to make an awful commercial, because those are the ones people remember. I wish I could find a copy of it online somewhere, but alas I have not. If I do, I will be sure to post it here.

Backyard Shark+Curb Service

Mon, 3 Mar 2008 14:21:44 -0600

This Saturday, local rock n’ rollers Backyard Shark will be performing live at the High Anxiety Music Center in Champaign. To counter their rokk prowess, Curb Service (a.k.a. Larry Gates of Lorenzo Getz) will offer up his fine turntabilism and mic skills. Saturday night will offer a little something for everyone’s tastes so check it out!

When: Saturday March 8th 2008 - 8pm
Where: 302 S. State St. Champaign, IL
Who: All Ages
How Much: $5

Scottsdale Show ‘08

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:50:38 -0600

This past weekend, I flew out to Scottsdale, AZ to compete in the 53rd Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. Together with the U.S. Nationals and Canadian Nationals, the Scottsdale Show completes the “Triple Crown” of the Arabian show circuit. I hadn’t worked a cow since October and I hadn’t ridden since early December, so I am still in shock that I managed to come out on top in my Championship Working Cow Horse class. It was the first year that they actually held a Championship class for the amateurs with Half-Arabian working cow horses, so that made my win feel even more special.

Pepsi in the Raw

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 12:56:47 -0600

Following the trend of going “natural”, Pepsi has introduced Pepsi Raw. Pepsi Raw is made with coffee leaf, cane sugar, apple extract and sparkling water. No more artificial ingredients means that this cola will drop from 100 calories to about 20 per can (8 fl oz). Currently, Pepsi Raw is only available in select clubs in England. I’m hoping it does well so that we may have a chance of trying it over here in the states. I know The Boy would be happy to try it; anything to keep Pepsi in his diet. But I would still rather have him drinking water.

Backyard Shark Practice @ Cozy Dog

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 23:11:06 -0600

Today, (most of) Backyard Shark met in Springfield for a quick refresher course. New gear purchases combined with increased communication has brought about a rush of creativity and enthusiasm- which is exactly what BYS needed. Expect to see new Shark shows and music in the near future.

Edit: Backyard Shark will be playing Sunday May 4th 2008 as a part of the Canopy Club’s New Sound Sundays.

New Year, New Look

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:03:17 -0600

My blog is officially one year old! Hooray! To celebrate, I have completely revamped the website. I’m still working out a few kinks, so I am aware that it’s not perfect. However, all the links should work and you should be able to navigate the site with ease. I will be incorporating a search function soon, as well as adding to the Friends page. Hope you like it! Cheers!

¡Flan!

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:27:22 -0600

Today I made dinner for The Boy. We were going to cook together, but he had band practice so there wasn’t much time. I didn’t mind though, I love to cook. It’s very relaxing, especially when everything comes together.

Since it is Valentine’s Day, I wanted to make a special dessert. Everyone does chocolate or something with strawberries, so I wanted this dessert to be different. Besides, winter strawberries are never very good. Looking through my cookbooks, a picture of flan caught my eye. I skimmed the recipe and decided it would be easy enough...and it was! The sugar caramelized perfectly and tasted wonderful with the addition of a little lemon juice. Tempering the eggs for the custard was simple and I didn’t have any trouble with the process.

I used Dorie Greenspan’s recipe from Baking From My Home to Yours. She explains everything so thoroughly that there really isn’t any room for error. The flan turned out of it’s pan very easily. I think this was due to the fact that I ran my knife between the flan and the pan right when I took it out of the oven.

So what was the result? A completely smooth and velvety texture with just enough sweetness. The Boy ate his up in about a minute (and he’s a very picky eater)! I will definitely be making this again.

Rating:

Ms. Greenspan’s Caramel Topped Flan

Ingredients

For the caramel
1/3 c. sugar
3 tbsp. water
a squirt of fresh lemon juice

Procedure

First Steps:
Preheat oven to 350ºF and make sure one of your racks is in the center
Line a roasting pan or 9”x13” backing dish with a double layer of paper towels
Fill a teakettle with water and put it on to boil; turn off heat once water boils
If you are using a single large cake pan, place it in the oven while you make the caramel. Heating the pan will make it easier to line it with the caramel. If you are using small individual molds or ramekins, then skip this step.

Making the Caramel:
Stir the sugar, water and lemon juice together in a small heavy-bottomed pot.
Place the pot over medium-high heat and cook until the sugar turns from clear to a rich amber color; ~5-10 minutes
Remove the pan right when you first notice the color to change or at the first smell of smoke. The sugar will continue to darken after it’s been removed from the heat. Also don’t turn your back on the caramel! It can change color in an instant!
If you are using a large pan, remove it from the oven and pour the caramel into the pan. It’s very hot and sticky, so work with oven mitts. Caramel can get above 500ºF!
Quickly tilt the pan to evenly coat it with the caramel. Set the pan aside. The caramel will harden up, but that’s okay. It’ll soften up in the oven. Now would also be a good time to clean up your pot, since the caramel will harden and be hard to get off.

Making the Flan:
Bring the milk and heavy cream just to a boil.
In a 2-qt. bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar vigorously for about a minute.
Stir in vanilla
While still whisking, slowly drizzle in about 1/4 of the hot milk and cream. This will temper the eggs so that they won’t scramble.
Still whisking, pour in the rest of the hot liquid.
Use a large spoon to remove some of the froth that has been produced.
Put your caramel lined pan or molds in your roasting pan or backing dish.
Pour the custard into your pan or molds all the way to the top.
Carefully place the setup into the oven. If some custard spills, that’s okay.
Now pour in enough hot water from your kettle to come halfway up the sides of your pan or molds. It’s fine if they start to float.
Bake the flan for about 30-35 minutes. Bake a little less if you are using small molds. The flan is done when they no longer jiggle and are slightly golden and puffed. A knife will come out clean if inserted.
Remove the setup from the oven and transfer your pan or molds to a cooling rack.
Run a knife between the flan and the edge of the pan to loosen.
Let the flan cool to room temperature on the rack then loosely cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
When ready to serve, run a knife along edges once more. Flip out onto a rimmed dish. The flan should easily slide out of it’s mold and the caramel sauce will coat the top.

Storage Information:
The flan will keep in the fridge for up to 2 days, covered with plastic wrap in it’s baking pan. However, once you’ve turned it out, you should eat it that same day.

Grey Day

Tue, 5 Feb 2008 19:40:33 -0600

It’s been raining all day. Now my window is leaking. The same window that maintenance caulked a few months ago. I don’t think the problem is the caulking, though. It’s leaking from the very top of the frame. I went outside and noticed that the frame itself is sagging down compared to the other two windows next to it. This will be the 17th time that I have asked my landlord to look at this window. I was even promised a brand new window 2 years ago, which never came to be. Gotta love campus landlords.

New Amplification

Mon, 4 Feb 2008 22:21:58 -0600

For Christmas, The Boy gave me a little 5 watt Vox combo amp. However, it was bubble pink, which really isn’t my style anymore. If I were 16 again, I would’ve loved it! But the girliness factor was just too high for me. So, he returned it for the “Classic”, which features the vintage flair of the original Vox amps such as the AC30. Since the shop did not have the Classic in stock, it had to be special ordered.

Almost a month had passed, and we still hadn’t heard anything from the shop. The Boy called on a Saturday and was told that it should be in any day now and to call back on Monday. Monday came and he called back. This time he was told that the Classic was discontinued, and the only one they could get a hold of was a refurbished one from the Vox factory. This was fine with me since it would be cheaper and still be guaranteed to work like it was new.

By the end of the week, The Boy received a call letting him that the amp was in and ready to be picked up. So after work and class, we went over to the shop and I finally got my Christmas present! It looks great with the burgundy finish of my guitar.

But the story doesn’t end there...

The Boy had been eyeing an Orange combo amp that the shop had, so he brought his guitar along to try it out. It was a tube (valve for all you Brits) amplifier called the Rockerverb 50 Combo. After trying it out, along with a cheaper AC30 and the Tiny Terror, The Boy bought the Orange Tiny Terror (a portable 15W tube amp) with the condition that he can bring it back the next day if he didn’t like how it sounded with his cabinet. After a long night of discussion and research, The Boy decided that he didn’t like how the Tiny Terror sounded through his cab and that he would be better off with the combo. The next day, we went back to the shop, returned the head and picked up the combo. So far, he can’t stop playing it.

Rose Bowl ‘08

Thu, 3 Jan 2008 21:36:13 -0600

I just returned from sunny Pasadena, CA after watching USC beat up on Illinois. While the game itself was disappointing, we at least had the better marching band.
More pictures and (possibly) video to come…
Edit: Photos are up here!

[Video] JigGsaw-It’s A Crime

Wed, 7 Nov 2007 20:11:14 -0600

For all those who missed them last month at Cowboy Monkey...

JigGsaw will be performing with many other great artists this weekend as part of the IMC Fest's musicial line up. The IMC Fest is an annual event that helps benefit the IMC, its associated groups, and WRFU 104.5 (Radio Free Urbana).

[Video] When Campus Rokked

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:18:27 -0500

I wasn't around for any of this, but I sure wish I had been. It would be awesome to take back some of the soulless campus bars in the name of rock n' roll. R.I.P. Mable's and Red Lion Inn for you are now the icons of a pre-Starbucks Green Street myth.

Note: It's good to see the crappy IHOP is still around, as well as Garcia's.

This second video features the Vertebrats who are probably one of the first big acts in the Champaign-Urbana rock scene. Why doesn't WCIA do segments on the local bands anymore? So what if there is no larger "creative movement" taking place. The lulls should be documented, too.

Also, check out the shot of Assembly Hall complete with empty beer bottle. And is it just me or do the pendant lights in Mable's look like the same ones used over the bar at Cowboy Monkey?

Cool Like Craig Finn

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:50:17 -0500

If you've never heard of Craig Finn nor either of his bands, then you are missing out.

Let's begin with LFTR PLLR (or Lifter Puller). This is a track off of Soft Rock entitled Sublet. It was really hard for me to pick just one of their songs since they each have something good to offer the listener. I only posted a 30s. clip, so it shouldn't take very long to load.

You may not find Mr. Finn's vocals the most pleasant, but that is one of the reasons I became enamored with LFTR PLLR in the first place. The second reason being the lyrics. Throughout the many LFTR PLLR songs, Craig recounts the adventures of a fictitious group that consists of co-eds and ravers, destitute nightclub owners and dealers. While these events may be fabricated, they also exude a sense of nostalgia making them seem not only historical but experiential at the same time. This brings me to consider the quality of a song in general. I think a band can sing about whatever they want, but unless they have something that will drive their fans to go "Wow, I went through that. I can relate to this music", then you've got nothin'. Okay...enough of this. On to The Hold Steady.

The Hold Steady-Chillout Tent from the album Boys And Girls In America (again, only a 30s. clip)

One of the main reasons for choosing this song is because of its similarity to the songs of LFTR PLLR. Anyway, not much to say here other than after reading over the liner notes for this album I noticed that the female vocals on this track were provided by Elizabeth Elmore of Sarge and The Reputation fame (there is also a girl on the back cover of the booklet that looks a lot like her...). A discussion of her coolness will require a post all its own someday.

I don't really understand why The Hold Steady has become as popular as it has. I mean they played at Ground Zero this year for chrisake, they are America's band. My logical brain tells me to look at the variables. Has the lyrical content changed? No. Have the sounds changed? No, but it's debatable since there is now a keyboard. Has the time changed? Yes. LFTR PLLR was active from 1994-2000, while the Hold Steady has been around since 2004. Something happened during those four years that prepared America to receive The Hold Steady. Maybe their concert at Ground Zero was actually a private salute to the events of a certain September that contributed to their acceptance. What took place exactly, I just don't know; but I can conclude that LFTR PLLR was ahead of its time.

I Hate Unofficial

Fri, 2 Mar 2007 19:40:06 -0600

On Friday March 4th 2005, I awoke to the sound of the neighboring frat house’s stereo system pumping out the same Rick Dee’s Top 40 garbage it always did. It was unusually early for the partying to be taking place, but I shrugged it off and readied myself for the end of the week trudge to class. I put on my favorite shirt at the time, which happened to be blue, not knowing that this decision would later play a significant role in the day’s events.
As soon as I stepped outside, I knew something was up. At first I credited the surge of drunk sorostitutes and the like to the seeming coincidence of it being one of the first nice days of the year and the beginning of a weekend. However, my life as a blissfully unaware freshman changed with the first drunken slur that was thrown my way. “Hey! Why aren’t you wearin’ green?! What’s your f*ckin’ problem?!”, yelled the Abercrombieaglepostal clad FratBrat. Yes, it was true. I was not wearing green. But why would this boy and his friends, who were all curiously tan for early March, find it so important to point out to me the obvious fact that I was not wearing green. What was the big deal? Although I was annoyed at the comment, it jostled me into noticing that there really was an overabundance of green t-shirt wearing going on that Friday. When I finally made it to class, I asked one of my friends what was with all the green and carrying-on in the streets? I mean, didn’t those idiots know that St. Patrick’s day was well over a week away? My friend guilelessly replied, “Dude, it’s Unofficial. You know, the Friday before St. Patrick’s Day? Well, it’s actually two Friday’s ahead this year because of Open House, but yeah it’s basically a day where you wake up and start drinking and drink all day or until you pass out, get arrested or die”. This new holiday that I had just been informed of seemed to be pretty amazing to me, mostly because of the influence it had on people. I mean, most of the kids out there celebrating wouldn’t wake up that early early to go to class. But give them a good reason, say to start working on their keg, then no problem. They’re all over it.
2 years later, I still loathe having to leave an extra 10 minutes early for class in order to pick my way through the vomit covered sidewalks. The insulting comments still come my way, as I refuse to wear green, but I just smile and know that I’m really not missing out on anything.