The Realm of the Pachyderm

Alright, so Odyssey has been yammering about In-N-Out Burger ever since freshmen year. So when I heard news that Orem was going to be acquiring one of these California-tastic offerings, I was pretty interested in finding out if this burger joint was worth ALL the hype it had been receiving from the mouths of just about every person from California I've ever met. Therefore, on Tuesday, while I was taking my weekly sojourn up to Orem for my chanter lesson, I decided that I would pay the establishment a visit. I also hadn't eaten all day so that I could really appreciate the whole experience.

For one this, In-N-Out is an extremely deceptive name, since my experience at the restaurant was anything but In-N-Out. I waited in line for 10 minutes and probably waited at least another 15 for my food. I knew to expect this, but it was still a little excessive I felt. Anyway, upon receiving my two cheeseburgers and fries [both Animal Style] and the accompanying strawberry shake, I had to go eat outside because every old person felt THEY were entitled to chair inside instead of me. The nerve of that demographic.

Upon tasting the food, I will share with you my first thought verbatim:

"This is it? It tastes just like Scoreboard Grill."

The burgers, even with Thousand Island dressing and caramelized onions, was astoundingly mediocre. The fries would have probably been better without the cheese, dressing, and onions. The best part of the meal was the milkshake, which I'll admit was wonderfully thick and tasty. However, as a whole, I have to say that most of the ardent love that Californians show for the restaurant is probably a regional thing.

Overall, if I really wanted a burger in Orem, I'd probably just head over to--

I know people could easily accuse me of regionalism with this one, but I honestly believe that Five Guys sells better products. For one thing, the burgers are much more customizable. I love me some good toppings on a burger. For another, the Five Guys cajun fries--which they give you TONS of--stomp the bland little boxes of In-N-Out fries.

And, I suppose if you really wanted the best reason, I'd have to say that anything coming out of D.C. originally [or Virginia, whatever] is going to probably be the best thing ever. Just saying.

So, In-N-Out: not so much. I probably wouldn't eat there again unless all my friends were there one night and I were starving. However, I did notice that if you double refrigerate the burgers, they do taste much better. Fresh, they're alright. Once refrigerated, somewhat better. Twice refrigerated, it finally starts to be quite tasty. But, there's a distinct possibility that that's just my weird palate.

Anyway, I should probably stop writing and go watch football with Snootch. I'm in Roy for the rest of the week and Thanksgiving is going to be awesome when all of this scrumptious food is done cooking. Happy Thanksgiving, kiddos!

For extra credit in my Theatre History class, we had to string together roughly 1,000 paper cranes for a display going up in the HFAC in January. 123,000 cranes will be hung around the gallery, each one representing a Japanese American citizen held in an internment camp during World War II.

This weekend has been about relaxing. While finishing the cranes, I've watched "America's Next Top Model" for the past four hours. It's been awesome :]

I'll write better posts when I'm not so burnt out from school. Promise.

Sheesh, this semester is almost over. That's too weird to think about. Anyway, Grandma posted what her next semester will be looking like, so I decided to follow suit:

MWF:

ELang 325: Grammar of English (8-8:50)
ELang 322: Modern American Usage (9-9:50)
TMA 202: Dramatic Performance: Renaissance to Present (10-10:50)
Engl 292: British Literary History 2 (2-2:50)

TTh:

Bio 100: Principles of Biology (12-1:15)
Engl 390R: Transnational/Transatlantic Literature (3-4:15)

Yes, that's a whopping 18 credits AGAIN.

I'ma die.

I'm very happy to announce that my Halloween was excellent this year! I had mucho fun spread out over the course of two days, spanning two cities, and full costume twice. Mhm, I was awesome.

Friday began cold and cold. I thought about wearing my costume, but after asking if my friends would dress in like manner, they said they would not be dressing so ludicrously before Halloween. However, upon my arrival to campus, I saw a Tetris piece and Carmen Sandiego. Needless to say, I was somewhat steamed.

Throughout the day, I saw Yoshi, more Carmens, a shark [my roommate's boyfriend--he was attacking people], the kid from Up, and a few other good ones. Eager to go home and put on my costume, I went home and wiled away the hours before the ward Halloween party by watching Arrested Development.

Then, the time came for costuming--


I was going to tell people that I was playing Andy Roddick and that he got mad after I got a backhand past him, but it was easier to just tell people that I was a dead tennis player. The original plan was to be a Blue Man, but it was going to be super labor intensive, so I decided that this was a good Plan B.

The party was fun. It was at Seven Peaks, so there was ice skating and broom hockey, as well as a really fun dance and costume contest. As per usual with events involving dancing, Grandma proved herself to be the funkiest white dancer known to mankind.

The next day, I got up too early for a Saturday and planned on catching the 811 to the Sandy Trax. However, in an oversight, I forgot that the 811 doesn't run from BYU, but from the depot at the University Mall. Upset that I had forgotten something as important as the in-between step, I caught the 830 leaving campus and waited in the cold for the 811 with a chatty lady who felt very effusive about her enrollment in the LDSBC. I soon stopped conversation by burying myself in "Native Son".

After successfully traversing to Canyon Rim, Trina picked me up and ran over to Dan's so I could pick up some eyeshadow and a pumpkin. The day spent at her parents' house was, as per usual, fantastic. There was delicious potato cheese soup in pumpkin shaped/colored bread bowls, pumpkin carving, homemade rootbeer drinking, trick-or-treating, and BAZILLIONS of homemade donuts. However, I think the crowning event of the evening came right before John dropped me off to catch the bus going back.

I had wanted to get some free Chipotle, since Halloween is one of the only days such a phenomenon ever occurs. John was fully prepared to go and pay, but I reminded him that if you dress up like a burrito that you get free food. Ecstatic, we found some cream colored sheets and swaddled ourselves before trundling off to Sugar House.

The manager, who had been dealing with this all day, wasn't amused as he handed over our free Chipotle excellence. Everything tastes better when it's free and when you're covered in a creamy bed sheet.

I got home later and went to a haunted house with my roommates. It was alright, I guess I'm just no fun because I don't scream when things pop out at me. We tried to get in to this dance party across the street, but it was more like a stand around and talk party, so I came home. Then, the girls realized that all the parties in Provo last night would be like that, so they came back and said they were going to a friend's house to watch The Birds. Grandma and I accompanied them, but left about half way through because she was tired and my make-up was getting all kinds of sick nasty.

Overall, a very good time. I love me some Halloween, even if it does get creepier the older you get. I suppose that's true for most things--

"Especially having play dates with children." --Grandma