OU Halloween 2009 Preparation

My first video of the week is about Ohio University’s famous Halloween party.  It captures the atmosphere of Halloween and what students are anticipating this year.

Come back next week for another topic all about Athens!

Ohio University’s Halloween through the ages

So, as I mentioned in a previous post, Ohio University Halloween is an ordeal that is fun but looses its luster with age.  To show off some of the OU experience, enjoy this slide show showing some pictures from the last three years I have been at OU’s Halloween block party.  What are some of your favorite costumes or Halloween experiences? Post in the comment section below.

What an original costume.

Another original group of costumes.

Halloween goers gather on the steps of the court house.

The more revealing, the happier the Halloween?

Treasure trolls– some students take a more creative approach and make their own costumes.

A few Halloween characters.

My junior year I was Hermione from Harry Potter and my boyfriend was Voldemort… scary, I know.

A domino is an easy do-it-yourself costume.

A mobster and a peacock! My roommates both made their own costumes.

Halloween in Athens: the older you get, the more it sucks

Sunny side up! I was ready to go out for my first OU Halloween, dressed as an egg.

It’s getting to be that time of year: Halloween in Athens, Ohio.  It’s a time of heavy drinking, cold weather and trying to negotiate uptown crowds in a Michael Jackson costume.

Halloween weekend has long been a notorious weekend at Ohio University and one of the major reasons we have such a party-school reputation.  And… I am not staying in Athens for it this year.  I know, I know–some may gasp in disbelief…”You aren’t staying at OU for the Halloween party?”  Some may accuse, “It’s your senior year!  You are dumb for missing it.”  Others may judge, “How could you miss the best party of the year?”

Well folks, it’s easy for me.  Sure, I’ve had some good times on Halloween weekend, but from my experience, the older you get, the more Halloween sucks.

Freshman year was amazing!  Sophomore year I had fun, but found the overcrowded streets and parties to be a little irritating.  Junior year was fine–I went out and had a good time but fought crowds at too many parties.  Senior year I will be respectfully bowing out of Halloween.

At first, it was such a new experience.  The lights, the music, the people.  It was funny to see the costumes and I had a great time getting dressed up and going out.  In the following years, I still had fun, but it never quite compared to the first year and the thrill that the famous Halloween weekend.

This year, while my friends will go out in whatever cheap costume they choose at Halloween USA, I will be in Frankfort, Kentucky, helping my oldest sister move into a new house.  I am not trying to give excuses for why I am missing Halloween– I will feel something when I miss this OU tradition– but when it came down to it, I wasn’t that upset to miss it.  I gladly accepted a chance to escape the madness.

What is the appeal of Halloween again?  Is it the drinking?  The 25-minute lines to get into bars?  The near claustrophobic tendencies felt when walking down Court Street?  The fact that no one can call anyone else because of the sheer number of people trying to call or text in such a small area?  Is it the no-name bands?  Is it the increased security and abundance of police?  Is it the fact that you don’t know anyone at your own house party?

Regardless of all of the amazing things about Halloween at OU, I am just fine missing it for one year.  Maybe I will come back some day as an alumnus to make up for missing my senior year Halloween.  I’m sure even then it will bring back feelings of frustration, cold weather and overcrowding… oh the memories.

The university uniform: the Uggs are back

It’s fall in Athens, Ohio, and that can only mean one thing: the reemergence of Uggs.  The Uggs, which have been lacking love during the warmer months made their move when the weather reached the lower 60’s.

Brace yourself. Here come the Ugg boots.

To many, Uggs (a sheepskin boot) are a fashion staple– so much so that I can’t walk anywhere without seeing at least a dozen pairs and they are not even in full force (no lie, in the ten minutes it takes me to walk to class I see about 15 pairs of Uggs.)  Give it two weeks and they will be EVERYWHERE!  However, for me, they are an accessory that I have never bought, worn or desired.  I don’t shun them– in fact, I understand their merit– I hear they are warm and comfortable.  I, however, don’t understand how they have become the “uniform” of all Ohio University women?

Somehow when the weather gets cold in the fall women feel the need to break out “leggings” and Uggs— the ensemble that has become the norm.  On the other hand, when I get cold, it is thermal shirts, sweat pants and wool knit socks.  A little more traditional, a little more boring.

I mean, spandex is now an alternative to pants?  I am pretty sure I missed that memo– and apparently it was a memo sent out to too many other females at Ohio University.  I applaud women for trying a new fashion identity… way to go, really… but at this point it is nothing new and all too many women are combining the lethal combo of boots and spandex.

Maybe I need to update my fashion sense, get with the times and wear skin-tight pants with large furry boots, but for at least this fall and winter you can expect to see me in my sweats, tennis shoes and  baseball cap.  Yes, you may mistake me for a dude, but I like to think of it as my own fashionable identity… one that actually distinguishes me from the other women on campus wearing the identical fall uniform of Ohio University.

Fabulous fall recipes

My roommate, Hillary, making her favorite fall recipe- low-fat pumpkin bread.

The temperature has dropped and my roommates have begun cooking for the season.  Our apartment smells like cakes and spices… not something I am used to as I am lacking in the cooking department.  I detest cooking and my attempts often end with anxiety and wasted food.  With that said, these recipes sound delicious and with some help– and supervision– I plan on trying a few.

Here are some of the top flavorful fall foods:

Low-fat pumpkin bread

I caught my roommate cooking her favorite fall recipe today and for the health-conscious cooker, this recipe offers a fall treat with reduced calories.

• Ingredients: One can of pumpkin pie filling, 3/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/3 cup of applesauce, 3 egg whites, 1/3 cup of water, 1 and  2/3 cup of wheat flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder.
• Instructions: Preheat over to 350 degrees.  Mix applesause and sugar into a bowl.  Stir in eggs then pumpkin filling, then water.  Stir in dry ingredients.  Pour the mix into a loaf pan and cook for 55 to 60 min.
• The finished product was tasty and a big hit with our friends.  The recipe serves about six people and is great for breakfast or a desert!

Autumn Apple Salad

• This recipe from allrecipes.com is a great idea for someone on the run and it’s simple.  Two pluses in my book!  It only takes ten minutes to make.
• Ingredients: 4 tart green apples, cored and chopped; 1/4 cup blanched slivered almonds, toasted; 1/4 cup dried cranberries; 1/4 cup chopped dried cherries; 1 (8 ounce) container vanilla yogurt
• Instructions: In a medium bowl, stir together the apples, almonds, cranberries, cherries and yogurt until evenly coated.
• Viola!  Quick, easy and delicious!

Pumpkin Chili

• Comfort food is must when the weather gets cooler and this chili recipe adds a little fall flavor to the traditional recipe.  This recipe is from seasonalrecipes.com.
• Ingredients: 3 pounds lean ground beef; 2 cups solid pack pumpkin; 2 cans red kidney beans; 2 medium onions, chopped; 3 (15-ounce) cans chopped tomatoes; 2 tablespoons chili powder (less if serving children); 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (omit if serving children); 2 tablespoons sugar; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 bay leaves.
• Instructions: In a large casserole, brown ground beef and drain off excess fat. Add the rest of the ingredients, stir well, and simmer over low heat for 1 to 2 hours. Serve with crackers or garlic bread.
• This new twist to chili received some great reviews.  Add it to your fall favorites too!

Enjoy these fall recipes for now and feel free to post any great fall recipes you may have and want to suggest to other readers.

Ohio ranks as one of nation’s best foliage drives

A path in Darby Metro Park is a great place to enjoy the fall surroundings. The image is from Autumn Adventures '09 Web site.

Ohio’s fall colors rank among the nation’s top ten foliage drives, according to a USA Today article.

The article, from SmartTraveler.com’s research, notes that the Appalachian Fall Foliage Tour through Ohio is one of the best places to see the season’s leaves of orange, brown and red.

The Appalachian Fall Foliage Tour, which includes part of Athens County, includes beautiful scenery and activities along the way, according to the article. The 56-mile tour takes passengers from Marietta up route 60, to route 78 and ends in Glouster.  The Ohio River Scenic Byway is part of the tour as well.

The scenery of southeast Ohio is beautiful in the fall and this ranking in the top ten is a great way to attract more people to the region and increase tourism. Ohio’s tourism department is not stupid either.  They are promoting Autumn Adventure ’09— an initiative encouraging people to check out all that Ohio has to offer in the fall.  The web site gives information about the fall color report, farm markets and wineries in the area and 3-day getaways.

Other top ranking fall foliage drives include the Maple and Mountains Tour in Maine, Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway in Massachusetts and Feather River Scenic Byway in California.