Mid-terms are not very conducive to blogging, so I apologize for the lack of Fort Collins information from me lately. October has seemed to slip by, but not without proving to be quite eventful for this town.
The colors of fall in this town are amazing. My friends and I took a trip to Estes Park a few weekends back. Here are some of the highlights:
- Fun Fact: Dogs are not allowed on Rocky Mountain National Park trails. Learned this the hard way after my friend bought a Year Pass to the park and realized her dog was not allowed, poor Olivia : (
- Glen Haven General Store has the BEST homemade cinnamon rolls ever. If you are in the Estes area, take time to stop by Glen Haven, it is a quaint little town that has some great hiking around the area. Less populated than Estes.
- Even Bartenders at the Stanley have connections to Iowa. Our bartender, Jimmy, had a roommate from Iowa who just went back to help his uncle harvest, whatever that is.
- Also I recommend the trout dip at the Stanley, as well as getting a nice glass of wine and enjoying the sunset on the front porch. Amazing views.
Continuing on with the breakfast scene:
- Fort Collins has an amazing breakfast place called Snooze's, amazing pancakes. I had a lemon blueberry oatmeal while I was there, delicious. So many great Breakfast places here.
- Another great breakfast place: Lucille's. I bike by it everyday on my way to class, and finally got the chance to try. It is a New Orleans type breakfast. Amazing biscuits, strawberry rhubarb jam, and delicious eggs and potatoes. They also have grits that looked awesome, I will be back for sure.
- They also have an amazing creperie: La creperie. I have walked by many a night and have seen them making the fresh croissants and other amazing European pastries. I tried a brioche (fluffy pastry bread with egg, spinach, etc inside.) and it was amazing. I also shared a pastry which brought me back to my days in Europe, they were amazing and very true to taste. I will be back.
**On a side note I feel that Hollandaise sauce is very popular here, and I am a fan.
I went to visit my friend Danielle a few weeks back in Denver. She showed me the shopping scene and got me hooked to IKEA. That place is huge and amazing. I don't know how I survived college and furnished my first apartment without using it as a resource. We also hiked in Frisco. Hoping to climb a mountain to get some great views of Lake Dillion, we realized afterwards we forgot to take a turn and apparently climbed up what is known to everyone in the town as a really 'ugly' mountain. They just call it 'ugly mountain' And i will agree it was ugly and way intense to climb. We still had some great views, but it was quite an adventure in Frisco.
Back in Fort Collins, there has been quite the disaster occurring lately. First off I need to say the weather has been perfect since I have been here. I was still in shorts and a t-shirt all last week. Beautiful weather and of course beautiful colors.
But only in Fort Collins.....
- Will I get into a Vampire show. I suppose True Blood isn't that bad and fun to watch with my friends.....
- Do they have a bar called the Luscious Nectar that has amazing blended alcoholic beverages and everclear in all of there delicious shots. It can get dangerous, but also entertaining. Their dance floor is on the second level and very easy to observe from below.... very entertaining.
- I got into my first bike crash. One boy. One Truck. Not paying attention. Backed up right into the whole entire bike path. I didnt have time to stop, so off my bike I went. No need to worry, my big star jeans came away with no holes or stains, my bike is just fine. And I have 2 knarly bruises on both my knees and a nice scrape on the arm to prove it. A bike helmet will be first on the Christmas List this year.
- The stupid train. I hate the stupid train. It has no rhyme or reason. It just shows up....right when I need to cross the tracks and get somewhere. Always. Always. Always. I wish it didnt separate my apartment from the school.
- Corn Mazes do not compare to Iowa. Big surprise. The corn is not planted close enough together and the maze was easy to get through!! Come on Colorado, lets step it up!
Big Events in Fort Collins this week:
- There was a Zombie Walk on Saturday, which mainly consists of the usual nightlife dressing up as zombies and going around to each of the bars. It is like a pregame for Halloween..but in kind of a creepy way...
- Major Fire on Sunday night in Old Town. Some lofts burnt down and I woke up to a cloud of smoke and ashes all over my car and parking lot. Not sure what caused it but there are several students out of a home and several cats that were lost : (
- Huge snow storm last night!! Of course I went and played in the massive amounts of wet and heavy snow for a few hours, ignoring the fact that I needed to be up by 5 for work this morning. They don't make snowmen here apparently, they make snow caterpillars. We were up to about 6 inches this morning and it continued to snow all day, and naturally my ice scraper was no where to be found. Time for a new one. However, the town looks like a disaster area. Since the snow is so heavy there are many, many trees and limbs down and falling all over the road making it a huge hazard to drivers and pedestrians.
No need to worry, my apartment and car are both safe, there are not huge trees near that could fall. And I just got a new straightener that turns off automatically after an hour, so no fire hazard here!
Happy Halloween Weekend!! Should be a good one. Not only is it my LAST week of weekend class ever, but it is also my dad's birthday weekend! Happy Birthday : ) Happy Halloween everyone!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Cicadas in September
It's been awhile. I have had a super busy few weeks. Lots of projects, but enough about that. First I need to brag about the weather. Still 75-80 degree weather here. Beautiful!! Nights are getting a bit colder, making it feel more like fall, but still loving the weather.
Went to Denver for the CU vs. CSU game two weekends ago and have many observations from that. Last weekend I met up with my friend Anna and we went to a silent auction in Windsor, Colorado (about 20 minutes from Fort Collins). A lady she used to work with in Iowa has a brother who lives there and he was putting on the auction. It was called the LAUREN Project and it was based off of the death of his daughter, Lauren. At the age of 25 Lauren suddenly died of Carbon Monoxide poisoning in her apartment. Lauren was an advocate for making the world a better place through volunteer work in third would countries and had traveled to many different countries in support of this. The LAUREN Project's mission is to provide grants to students under the age of 35 to do international volunteer projects. Just as Lauren loved to do. The second focus is to do carbon monoxide education and awareness projects. During the silent auction 3 students who had received the grant in the past came up to present on their experience. There was also a delicious meal and plenty of things to bid on. With all this coming to light, I realized that I did not have a carbon monoxide detector in my apartment and bid on one. I can officially say I have installed mine in my apartment now and it's light is telling me that it is working. What a neat way to spend a Saturday night! An added bonus: we were outside on the deck of an amazing country club and the sunset was phenomenal! Can't beat the sunsets here.
Well it is officially homecoming weekend and naturally I had weekend class so did not get to participate in any of the activities except for fighting all of the parade traffic on my way to class Friday night and randomly hearing the CSU fight song sung at 2AM. Annnd from what I heard we lost the game today, I believe it was 38-31. But go Central Dutch!! Also homecoming in Pella, IA and playing the number 1 team in the conference and one of our biggest rivals. They had a successful win, sad I couldn't be there to cheer them on and celebrate afterwards.
But only in Fort Collins....
- Will you have to stop for a fox crossing traffic at 5 in the morning. In the middle of the city.
- Do they have a picture symbol for every public institution. The school district, the parks, the library. It can never just say "poudre school district' it has to have the picture symbol with it.
- Do the doors open the wrong way. I swear!! I have had more embarrassing moments here with doors, I am convinced they push to open on the opposite side from the ones in Iowa.
- So those feathers that you see girls wearing in their hair now. Yeah I wish I had one. But more importantly, they were started in Fort Collins. Actually right across from my apartment. There is a fly fishing place on the corner by my apartment and a man there started them with rooster feathers. No joke, read about it the other day. I'm a believer.
- Reasons why large university football games are better than DIII schools:
-live mascots!! Hello Ralphie the crazy Buffalo. CU actually brings their buffalo, Ralphie, with them
on the road to every game. And he runs wildly on the field right before the game and again during
halftime. It is hilarious. Our little Ram doesn't like to travel. Motion sickness I'm sure.
- People watching is great. Girls in these new things they like to call t-shirt dresses. Literally a large
t-shirt somehow cut into a really short, skanky dress. It is strapless and just ties in the back.
- Do bars get shut down for serving someone who was already intoxicated way over the legal limit. Yep. One of my favorite places to go, the sports exchange (stock market bar) shut down for 10 days.
- Do they still have a real bon fire, like a big big real bon fire, lots of fireworks, and a pep rally complete with football players with jerseys and cowboy boots on for homecoming. Fireworks=insane!!
-Do they have a bike to breakfast program. Every Thursday. Bike to the location they advertise and you get free breakfast. I do love breakfast : )
- $6.25 for a movie on a Saturday night?? Yes I will take a $2.75 discount for being a student. 50/50 was a great movie by the way. Sad, but really good.
- Oh yeah and cicadas are still being loud, even on September 30. Seriously, I heard one with my own ears just yesterday on my run.
Off to do some hiking and fall color viewing in Estes Park tomorrow followed by a stop at the winery for some wine tasting. Should be a beautiful day!!
Went to Denver for the CU vs. CSU game two weekends ago and have many observations from that. Last weekend I met up with my friend Anna and we went to a silent auction in Windsor, Colorado (about 20 minutes from Fort Collins). A lady she used to work with in Iowa has a brother who lives there and he was putting on the auction. It was called the LAUREN Project and it was based off of the death of his daughter, Lauren. At the age of 25 Lauren suddenly died of Carbon Monoxide poisoning in her apartment. Lauren was an advocate for making the world a better place through volunteer work in third would countries and had traveled to many different countries in support of this. The LAUREN Project's mission is to provide grants to students under the age of 35 to do international volunteer projects. Just as Lauren loved to do. The second focus is to do carbon monoxide education and awareness projects. During the silent auction 3 students who had received the grant in the past came up to present on their experience. There was also a delicious meal and plenty of things to bid on. With all this coming to light, I realized that I did not have a carbon monoxide detector in my apartment and bid on one. I can officially say I have installed mine in my apartment now and it's light is telling me that it is working. What a neat way to spend a Saturday night! An added bonus: we were outside on the deck of an amazing country club and the sunset was phenomenal! Can't beat the sunsets here.
Well it is officially homecoming weekend and naturally I had weekend class so did not get to participate in any of the activities except for fighting all of the parade traffic on my way to class Friday night and randomly hearing the CSU fight song sung at 2AM. Annnd from what I heard we lost the game today, I believe it was 38-31. But go Central Dutch!! Also homecoming in Pella, IA and playing the number 1 team in the conference and one of our biggest rivals. They had a successful win, sad I couldn't be there to cheer them on and celebrate afterwards.
But only in Fort Collins....
- Will you have to stop for a fox crossing traffic at 5 in the morning. In the middle of the city.
- Do they have a picture symbol for every public institution. The school district, the parks, the library. It can never just say "poudre school district' it has to have the picture symbol with it.
- Do the doors open the wrong way. I swear!! I have had more embarrassing moments here with doors, I am convinced they push to open on the opposite side from the ones in Iowa.
- So those feathers that you see girls wearing in their hair now. Yeah I wish I had one. But more importantly, they were started in Fort Collins. Actually right across from my apartment. There is a fly fishing place on the corner by my apartment and a man there started them with rooster feathers. No joke, read about it the other day. I'm a believer.
- Reasons why large university football games are better than DIII schools:
-live mascots!! Hello Ralphie the crazy Buffalo. CU actually brings their buffalo, Ralphie, with them
on the road to every game. And he runs wildly on the field right before the game and again during
halftime. It is hilarious. Our little Ram doesn't like to travel. Motion sickness I'm sure.
- People watching is great. Girls in these new things they like to call t-shirt dresses. Literally a large
t-shirt somehow cut into a really short, skanky dress. It is strapless and just ties in the back.
- Do bars get shut down for serving someone who was already intoxicated way over the legal limit. Yep. One of my favorite places to go, the sports exchange (stock market bar) shut down for 10 days.
- Do they still have a real bon fire, like a big big real bon fire, lots of fireworks, and a pep rally complete with football players with jerseys and cowboy boots on for homecoming. Fireworks=insane!!
-Do they have a bike to breakfast program. Every Thursday. Bike to the location they advertise and you get free breakfast. I do love breakfast : )
- $6.25 for a movie on a Saturday night?? Yes I will take a $2.75 discount for being a student. 50/50 was a great movie by the way. Sad, but really good.
- Oh yeah and cicadas are still being loud, even on September 30. Seriously, I heard one with my own ears just yesterday on my run.
Off to do some hiking and fall color viewing in Estes Park tomorrow followed by a stop at the winery for some wine tasting. Should be a beautiful day!!
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