Not sure what a backyardigan originally was, but it’s a pretty fun word to say.
Go ahead and try it – (probably) no one is listening!
Author: meredithallen
now what?
I have taken my last class. Turned in my last assignment. Set my long-winded college president’s emails as ‘spam.’ Walked across the stage in a cap and gown and my mom’s borrowed pumps.
So uh, now what?
the fort collins homesick blues (with my apologies to gary p. nunn)
Thanksgiving has come and gone, and now Christmas is looming. This year I’ll be spending it in Texas. Y’all have heard of Texas, right?
I spent Thanksgiving in Colorado, with no snow and pleasantly mild weather. I expect Texas in December to be about the same. While I do love a good white Christmas, I’ve been pretty homesick lately and am excited to have a Texas Christmas, especially since I know a whole white spring semester here in Colorado is in front of me (y’all know I’m right!).
How to cheer up a homesick Texan:
- follow her around while playing some George Strait – bonus points if you remain hidden and let her think that’s just her own personal background music
- start dropping the word “y’all” anywhere you can work it in a conversation – bonus points if you get her accent to come out (but no laughing/making fun if it does)
- a six-pack of Shiner Bock – bonus points if it’s the whole sampler pack
- let’s be honest, gifts work no matter what the situation – no bonus points here, just you know, bring gifts
But most importantly: Don’t take her to Serious Texas Bar-B-Q….just don’t.
And now, please enjoy some old school King George:
Non-Texans, for an explanation of the title see below:
thoughts on thanksgiving
Thanksgiving, the most genocidal of all holidays. My apologies to Native Americans, but this will actually not be a political post. I’m not afraid to say it: I love this holiday and I love turkey! I ate a turkey sandwich everyday for lunch for two years.
There’s nothing like Thanksgiving, although this year I’ll be house sitting in Colorado instead of sitting at my parents house in Texas. Luckily my parents love me enough to drive sixteen hours on Wednesday, cook a bomb dinner (thanks momma!), figure out why my jeep is doing that funny thing (thanks daddio!), and drive sixteen hours back to Texas on Saturday. (My brother lives here so they’re really getting a twofer.)
While I looooove T-day, I firmly don’t believe in Black Friday. I’m not a particular fan of shopping anyways, and I think the savings are just not worth the hassle of fighting the crowds. And am I the only who thinks it’s crazy that sales are starting on Thursday evening this year? This doesn’t bode well for the future of America : Soon stores and fast food restaurants will be open willy nilly all day Thursday, then before you know it school won’t be canceled either.
And who wants to live in that world?
However you spend your holiday, I hope it’s happy! (And that you don’t get trampled at Wal Mart.)
story time – bond style
What is the only thing that could ruin the premiere of Skyfall? Not a lot, but a probably drunk underage chick puking on you will certainly do it.
All names and places have been changed to protect the innocent (SIKE! If I knew this chick’s name, I’d totally tell you.) Well, actually she didn’t puke on me. She sat down right next to me but after she started moaning during the previews and her boyfriend ran to get her a large empty cup, I moved to the other side of my hotshot. An empty chair is all that separated him and this chick, but she passed out right as the movie started so we figured it was all good (well not good, but you know what I mean). Why this couple chose to sit right in the middle of the row, in a midnight premiere of a super crowded, highly anticipated movie, I’ll never know.
About halfway through, she sat up and let loose….and guess what? That large fountain cup wasn’t big enough. She was pretty nonchalant about it, her boyfriend was embarrassed, I was covering my ears and trying not to gag, and my hotshot was bolting out of the row. It was a hot mess. I hit the bathroom, trying not repeat her performance. My hotshot, braver than I, had actually seen her throw up all over her sweater and hair, and was describing it to me (I think in defense of his immediate reaction to run away and leave me there).
Her boyfriend and his pals congregated in the back of the theater, discussing how to get her home (ummm, drive her there?). He was super apologetic to my hotshot, explaining that she hadn’t been feeling well all evening – and this some made it worse. You don’t stick around a super crowded, highly anticipated movie theater if you need to bring something to puke in with you.
It may take a while before I can stomach to finish this movie, but the first third of it was awesome (visually stunning!).
oh yeah, that’s the stuff
Cinnamon rolls. A baker’s gift to the world, am I right? Here are the top three places to get a BOMB cinnamon roll in Northern Colorado:
- The General Store in Glen Haven, CO. A beautiful mountainy drive (15 min up the Big Thompson Canyon from Loveland, 15 min from Estes Park) + a cute little town (and I mean little) + THE BEST CINNAMON ROLLS IN THE WORLD. What more could you ask for? (Hint: nothing.)
- Verns in LaPorte, CO. Hit up Lorry Park and hike off those calories afterwards.
- Johnson’s Corner in Johnstown, CO. The most controversial of the list. Not it’s appearance here, but rather it’s placement. I’m sorry, you Johnson’s Corner fans, but third place is not a mistake. You make the drive to Glen Haven and if you still think these are better, we can talk.
Honestly, no matter the order I’ll eat any of these, any time, any place. I’d like to shake the person’s hand that thought of cinnamon rolls. And donut holes (but that’s a whole other post!).
Election Day 2012
Hey y’all – Don’t forget to go vote! (Luckily, I look good in both red and blue.)
if you aren’t watching parks and rec, you’re doing it wrong
Did I just become a (Kenny Rogers Style) gambler?
In all my time in Colorado, this weekend was the first time I hit the slots in Blackhawk. And I loved it!
I started things off with some penny slots, with a little confusion (so many buttons!) but also little luck. So we moved on to the real action – blackjack. And I was on fire! I can’t emphasize this enough: winning is awesome, y’all.
Soon I was ready to try my hand at rolling with the big boys. Mainly I wanted to try craps because it looks so fun in movies, but I couldn’t figure out what to do. It looks complicated, plus there is always a huge crowd of people who don’t particularly look like they want to answer any questions I might have. (Gamblers aren’t as chatty as you’d think.)
But I still wanted to try something different. Feeling lucky and emboldened by a quick google search, I hit the roulette table and took a chance on red – and it paid off! I’m not sure whether it was my lucky heavy lipstick or mismatched socks that made me such a big winner, but it felt amazing. After a few more rolls of the ball thingy I decided to quit while I was ahead, and then promptly lost all my profits at the next blackjack table. Of course.
Besides having the time of my life, I learned two valuable things this weekend:
Lady luck is a fickle mistress. And I look pretty good in lipstick.
the mystery and wonder of kitchen utensils
Let’s discuss kitcheny things, shall we? My mom is an amazing chef. She sometimes teaches cooking classes, and has a myriad of different experiences in the industry. I’m not sure if she realizes what a sub-par cook I am (well, now she might – hi mom!). Regardless, we have done the “I’m gonna teach you how to cook, girl!” thing a few times. Recently it’s changed into “you should learn a few go-to recipes.” I’m sure soon it will be “don’t be afraid, girl! It’s just a piece of chicken.”
Besides patiently telling reminding me how to bake a potato when I call, she also buys me a lot of cool gadgets. This rolly thing that takes the outside of a garlic clove off. An ove glove. A mood ring meat thermometer (no numbers, just colors!). So the world’s tiniest kitchen is pretty tricked out. Unfortunately, I’m not even sure how to use half of these things correctly. Besides – a lot of gadgets minus a dishwasher = a lot of bummer house work.
So thanks for all the cool stuff, mom! I really do appreciate everything. But today I used a ladle to eat cereal and flip a grilled cheese.
(spoiler alert: I burned one of them)
Meredith R. Allen 