Back to School 14

 

For fourteen years my college roomie, Jill, and I have been hosting the Back to School Party.  It started as a huge party at a cabin in the woods in Kirkland, Illinois.  There was always a fire, a hot tub, cigars, a keg, tons of food, tents and random people sleeping everywhere.

Over the years we've calmed down. We can no longer drain a keg, cigars make the next morning even more painful, the fire is smaller, if at all, and there are no random people sleeping anywhere. The location has moved from Kirkland to Amboy to Ashton to Michigan. There aren't as many big people but there are several little people running around.  And our core group remains.

Each year we gather.  We eat.  We drink.  We laugh.  And, we remember why the tenth floor of Wright Hall 10 was the best.

It had something to do with Cory falling in Fell Hall then again on Fell Avenue and having to be carried down stairs during a fire alarm.

It had something to do with Cathy falling into a man hole.

It had something to do with mud sliding in the front of Wright after the tornado tore through town.

It had something to do with our awesome loft.

It had something to do with backpacks full of beer, Cherry Street, Smalls and after hours.

It definitely had something to do with some great, mostly small town kids getting stuck on the same quiet floor on the edge of campus playing asshole and bullshit when it was too cold to walk to parties (while Jill cheated).

I love you guys! 

Jill called me after the BTSP this year for my salsa recipe.  This is my sneaky way of getting all my BTSP BFFs to read my tribute!  The recipe is below.  I'd love to hear your best memories of Wright 10 in the comments.

Black Bean Salsa

1 can whole kernel sweet corn, drained
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
2-3 small jalapeno peppers, finely chopped
1 bunch/ container cherry tomatoes, chopped
2-3 avacados, chopped, tossed with lemon juice to prevent browning

Combine all the above ingredients except the avocados in a large bowl.

In a small bowl, mix the dressing ingredients below.

1/3 cup fresh lime juice (2 limes)
1-2 teaspoons chopped garlic
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons cumin
2 tablespoons olive oil

Mix into the large bowl. Fold in avocados. Chill then serve with corn chips. Or eat it with a spoon.