We go together like Cheese and, well, anything really

JoeW — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 06:29:00 GMT

I have built many wonderful friendships and relationships through out my stint in College and life in general. I have come across many amazing people from very separate places and interesting phases. All of these encounters have shaped me, but none have quite the flavor of one of my life's best relationships- Me and Food.

I am a huge fan of food and eating. Sometimes, in fact, I believe food is a big fan of me as well. Much like Kanye throws back to his Momma, The Cotton Gin respects Ellie Whitney, or Rihanna appreciates false eye lashes. Food has to be a fan of me, because I'm a fan of it. I've been alive for 19 years now, and I've eaten for every single one. I eat loud and proud and frequently and I love every digestible minute.

I love going out to eat. It is very social; everyone sitting down together (which doesn't happen so much anymore). Everyone eating off of each other plates and complimenting or mocking each others tastes; it is all very entertaining and very intimate. I'm a fan of ordering food, chatting while waiting for it, eating it, sharing it, hording it, finishing it, feeling bad because I ate to fast/much, and getting dessert after it all. I even enjoy being hungry because it makes the act of actually receiving food a more grateful occasion.

College has only been the cat litter to the flower bed of my food fancy. While I did peruse all of the exotic and deliciously classic restaurants of my hometown; moving to Indianapolis has really bloomed my posies of food options. Broad ripple Village has not yet given me a bad meal and neither have the more upscale downtown restaurants when I get to take advantage of them. In fact, I feel that Butler has steeped up its food game as well. C-Club offers more food for your dollar this year. Although, I must complain that they Philly Cheese Steaks are not nearly as greasy as they were last year.

Before college I had not engulfed Qdoba, Chipotle, Moe's or any type of Cantina. I had not yet indulged in a noodle bowl restaurant or had I gnashed in a Bagel Shop. Some parents worry about sheltering their children for fear that, once out of their clenched parental talons, they will go wild and get pregnant. This is a reasonable fear because I have done just that with food. gotten pregnant. with love. hungry, greasy, topped with bacon love.

Today in America we feel the need to eat well, informed, and neatly. We need to know what is in our food, just how to prepare it, and where it came from. But this can become difficult, especially when you live in a dorm room and all you have is an orange Gatorade, 3 packets of taco sauce and half a pint of mint chocolate chip. (Which, in college, is a feast!) SO I encourage everyone to just eat. Feast and be merry and share your food! Split an appetizer, Share an entree, and don't let anyone touch your desert!

Have fun when eating, try new things, and always clean your plate.

Here are a few of my favorites--

-Anything Fried (if it can't be battered I don't trust it)
-Deserts with threatening names (death my chocolate, vanilla volcano cake, misdemeanor marshmallows)
-Foods with different sauces (it gives you lots of options and dipping really gets my chainsaw hummin')
-Chocolate (chocolate!)
-Food that I know is really healthy and I can talk about it being really healthy but it still tastes good. (Self-righteousness is one of my favorite flavors)
-Foods on a stick (it may be my upbringing, but nothing makes me feel safe like a giant fried, powdered, syruped something on a stick)
-The list goes on and on. Indianapolis has a TON of wonderful food options and they are even more fun to exploit with your new college friends at odd hours during the night.

Eat.
Sleep.
HRC.

my Greek Life

JoeW — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:59:00 GMT

I love living in Phi Kappa Psi. I was very excited to be living in the house with nearly all of my closest friends, but I was concerned if all those great people would be too distracting and too loud. I'm pretty involved, so there are lots of times when I need to be up early or up extremely late or entertaining other odd hours. But my strange schedule melds perfectly with many of my brothers’ awkward agendas. I can sleep when I need to, but there is always something going on if I want to be up late. Generally when I get free time (as rare as someone who doesn't like 'doba) I just ping-pong from room to room. Doing things Kramer style and just barging in on my friends to catch-up, or eat their Easy Mac, or play some Brawl. (Super Smash Brothers) It takes me a long time to get focused, mostly because being unfocused is so much more fun. Procrastinating is wrong but it feels so right! I get work done when I need to, but there is always something more fun to do!

For example; this weekend it seemed like Broad Ripple was the destination of choice. Being a sophomore means that not all of my friends have meal plans, which means I get to eat out a lot more than usual. Just this weekend I went to Qdoba twice, Broad Ripple Bagel, and Noodles. All of which are very fantastic. We ran into other Butler students at each restaurant, each time. ( a common occurrence) Broad Ripple is truly like Butler's little village. Going to Qdoba ( or 'doba runs) is probably the most common food sojourn.

So- a little bit of Greek House Living in review-

1) Lots of going out to eat in very packed cars. (Once one person says 'doba, everybody wants 'doba)
2) A huge cloest - I don't mean this square footage wise. Part of brotherhood is that you get to borrow clothes from anyone who wears your size. (At Phi Psi, that gets me access to roughly 30 different wardrobes) (This may not excite everyone, but it does cut down on laundry)
3) Tons of eating. I don't mean the 'going out for dinner' eating. I'm talking -Hey, it's 2:12 AM, let's share a pizza- eating.
4) A Huge DVD/music collection. (See 2 for more details)
5) Everybody has your back like you wouldn't believe. This is the main difference between Greek Life and Dorm life. While living in a residential hall does provide a lot of time to grow close to others, and you do make really amazing friends- When you live in a Greek house individuals have an obligation to you not just because you live close by (like in residential halls) but because you are brothers/sisters; a bond you keep for the rest of your life.

Greek Life is not for everyone, but I sure love it. I loved living in Ross Hall my freshman year too! I just needed to have that close bond that only Greek Life could give me. I needed a family not just a unit.

Joe's Blog : Qdoba

We go together like Cheese and, well, anything really

my Greek Life