The spectacular Swiss-Michigan Alps.

With the sun shining in late October, and the prospect of moving to Michigan in the coming years for Jen’s program, we decided that it was time a for a day trip north into our neighboring state. What awaited us was a whole host of even smaller towns than South Bend…beautiful…but damn…to think that our time in South Bend could be our exposure to ‘big city’ living is pretty terrifying. None-the-less, we made the most of it and tried to picture ourselves living in the middle of nowhere on one of these properties. With the wind in the willow trees, silence all around us, sipping iced tea on the patio as the sun fades, buying a dog named Rover…and having no one except each other to talk to…hmmm…better make that a Long Island.

As we drove home, through some of the flattest country side we have seen, we were amazed to see signs for nearby ski fields. As ridiculous as this seems, you have to admire the sort of optimism that considers a hill of about the same gradient as my driveway as suitable for a ski resort. Awesome stuff!

Pictured: The stunning Swiss-Michigan Alps and gorgeous Three Rivers.

And we have a winner…

A friend once told me that if you took all the excess fat off the American population, it would fill the Grand Canyon. Having visited the Grand Canyon, this remains one of the most disturbing and utterly revolting trivial facts I have ever been privileged to hear. Now, in the average American’s defense, eating any substance that could possibly be identified as ‘healthy’ or ‘nutritional’ is one expensive habit, and one that many Americans can’t afford.

With this disclaimer out of the way, I am now free to introduce you to one of the most incredible culinary delights I have ever laid my eyes upon. There is nowhere in the world that provides the same range of deadly eating options as the American supermarket. Isle after isle of mass produced frozen death traps stare eagerly at unsuspecting shoppers as they pass by with their industrial sized carts. The lights shine brightly as gorgeous models promote the dietary ‘advantages’ of cramming the equivalent of three-days food into one pristine breakfast bar…’for people on the go’. In stark contrast lies the dreaded fruit and vegetable section, relegated to a dark and lonesome corner, much like the ‘adult’ section of the video store, which shoppers are equally embarrassed to be found browsing in. Luckily, many stores are sensitive enough to carefully place ‘other’ food stuffs throughout the fruit and vegetable section, allowing ashamed shoppers to pretend they were indeed looking for the pumpkin pie or caramelized apples if caught unaware.

While I will be sure to keep this updated and current, the winner of this months coveted “Most Deadly Boxed Foodstuff” goes to the now legendary Jimmy Deans Chocolate Pancakes and Sausage on a stick. This award winner easily covers each of the major food groups (fat, sugar, meat and chocolate), and delivers a microwaveable package of breakfast, lunch and desert…all on a stick! So ladies and gentleman, it’s official. The American Revolution…the Civil War…the Civil Rights Movement…thanks to Jimmy Dean…it was all worth it.

Pictured: ‘Heaven’ in a box.

Exotic weekend away in...South Bend?

So it's fall break at Notre Dame - a week off from classes and commitments - that gives hardworking students time to travel somewhere exotic and relax...or alternatively, move five-minutes down the street to apartment-sit for a friend. So Jennifer and I, determined to make the most of any situation, moved into a friends loft in downtown to take care of his new kitten and live it up for a few days. It turned out to be an awesome weekend away, with time spent relaxing in the city, sampling the night-life, and realizing that we are maybe not yet ready for a pet. It also meant we were walking distance from the Notre Dame football stadium, and hence all set for our first Irish football experience against those troublesome out-of-towners from UCLA. An amazingly close game ensued, complete with plenty of Rudy impressions and a last second game winning touchdown pass. All in all it was an afternoon to remember.

Pictured: The spectacle that is Notre Dame Football.

Dirty...'liberal'?

So with the non-presidential elections soon to take place, we have been privileged enough to witness the truly amazing phenomenon that is political advertising in the conservative Midwest. Politics in America, like at home, runs predominantly on scare campaigns, with a few particularly unique ‘Midwestern’ themes. For those who like me, never really knew where Indiana was, it is potentially one of the most land-locked states in America. With thousands of miles and multiple states separating the great land of Indiana and the Mexican border, you would think that illegal immigration would maybe take a back seat to more pressing local issues…nope. It is as if people here are convinced that every immigrant jumping the border has a map of the United States, with a big red circle around Indiana and dreams of cornfields and Steak’n’Shake…

Then there are the incredible television advertisements, including my favorite…the ‘dirty’ liberal. This ad identifies policy decisions of a particular candidate, with a similar soundtrack to that of Jaws playing in the background. Then, as the camera zooms out, and the viewers sense of dread is at its peak…the voiceover asks ‘What do all these decisions mean?’ By this stage you have reached such a paranoid frenzy that you are ready for anything…she is a Nazi sympathizer…she eats babies…she actually liked the fashion of the eighties…but no…she is a ‘liberal’… one of those dirty, left-wing hippy activists who supports gay marriage rights, greater tax relief for the poor and human rights for illegal immigrants…my god…what a monster!

Snow in...October?

So ladies and gentleman, it has finally come...we are experiencing the first signs of a Midwestern winter. Until now, it has only been talked about quietly, mentioned behind closed doors, everybody ensuring that Jen didn’t hear those terrible words. Nobody spoke of ‘snow’, ‘ice’ or ‘windscreen scrapers’…all words that struck fear into poor Jennifer’s heart, but now there is no avoiding it, for last night it snowed. It was awesome to see, and incredibly beautiful. Only about six more months of it to go…

Pictured: Denial, fear and more fear…except for me in shorts…that’s just plain stupidity.

Snow in...October?

'Out of Towners'

It’s always exciting to have friends come to stay…especially when you have relocated to a new part of the country…and of course especially when that new part of the country is SOUTH BEND. After months of being teased with the occasional photo of cornfield country, Steph and Kyle (Jen’s sister and her boyfriend) were absolutely busting to see the Las Vegas of Northern Indiana. Despite their eagerness, we decided that they would have to wait, for as soon as their flight landed we informed them that they would be forced to spend the day in Chicago, a dreary and lifeless city with few attractions and even less culture and atmosphere. Accepting their fate we headed into Chicago and made the most of an afternoon in the city. The highlights included standing in the only clearing within five city blocks during a thunderstorm, tasting Chicago style pizza, and Jennifer not buying anything on the Magnificent Mile...

As we drove out of the city towards South Bend, the tension and excitement was palatable. Stopping only for a extremely average meal at White Castle, which we all wished was In’n’Out in more ways than one, we arrived at our apartment. As locals we knew that despite the thunderstorm, South Bend is most stunning at night…in the darkness…preferably with no street lighting. Despite their exhaustion, Steph and Kyle were like wide-eyed youngsters for the full duration of the five minute city tour. A long day was concluded with much drinking and catching up…and of course…a healthy dose of David Brent…

Sunday brought a hangover and blue skies, always a great combination, and after staring blankly at each other for an hour over coffee and aspirin, we headed to the campus of Notre Dame and Ivy Tech. Then it was off for another culinary treat, this time at the famous Midwest diner ‘Steak’n’Shake’. Despite the disappointment of their not being a ‘steak flavored shake’ , we were able to settle down and relax over our meals. Later that night, a further culinary feast awaited our guests, with our staple diet of corn making it a full South Bend experience.

So Steph and Kyle’s flying visit quickly came to an end, with the weekend feeling much too short, and making us both miss family and friends. We did realize however, that a true sign of love is actually being sincerely sorry to see someone leave, after taking them to the airport at five o’clock in the morning. It was an awesome weekend, which went by way too quickly. So thanks again for coming to stay guys...and we look forward to seeing you at Thanksgiving.

Pictured: ‘Sunny’ Chicago, our visitors from the West Coast, and the infamous Steak’n’Shake.

Midterm Madness

So there is nothing like a few exams to take you all the way back to your undergraduate days. After being lulled into a false sense of security, and thinking we were responsible semi-professionals now with our big offices and own mail-boxes, we are back in the hot seat of exam time. While sitting exams is never something you look forward to, the inevitable nature of testing seems to bring out peoples true personalities, a fact that can provide at least a degree of entertainment as you cram 600 pages of knowledge into whichever part of your body will take it. So after six weeks of cruising the halls pretending to be calm and collected, panic is starting to emerge through the cracks of a few peoples facades. Slowly but surely, doors are being closed and office lights are on later and later, and sadly enough, the faint aroma of marijuana is slowly leaving the halls of the psychology department. As for me, I have one more to go…statistics next week…which amazingly enough, no matter how many times you take it…is just never, ever, interesting.

Pictured: Asserting my masculinity over a bookcase. Granted, nothing to do with exams, but I know you only look at the pictures Andre, so just for you my friend (and yes…still fighting the battle against sleeves)