Simone Says: Another BTown Blog

As the leaves change and the winds pick up, we acknowledge that summer warmth is long gone, and it takes with it the option of eating outside at restaurants during the COVID pandemic. I’ve taken the past few weeks to embrace eating outside and all things orange leaves and celebrating autumnal birthdays. When it comes to birthdays this year, however, we're swapping out glamorous soirées for local park gatherings with a pie of pizza and good company instead.

College during a pandemic is exactly what it seems like: we still have college – the exams, the late nights, the tedious group projects. And we still have the pandemic – keeping our distance, wearing masks, making everything a political issue. So when you put those together, you get a different college experience, one without the parties and nights out, but more enjoying the small moments with close friends and embracing the time we have together. The occasional (and I mean weekly) school-sanctioned mitigation COVID test is just an added item on my busy, nonstop schedule. Nonetheless, we’re making the most of it all.

My sorority house has stepped up its food game, now that we all eat 3 meals a day at home as opposed to being on campus. Since breakfast is absolutely the best part of my day, here’s what I’ve been waking up to recently. Between yogurt parfaits and loaded avocado toasts, each new day comes with some sunshine... or maybe just an egg sunny-side-up.

More on the eating-from-home work-from-home vibe, for the High Holidays in September, my friends and I joined forced to make the ultimate Jewish feast. Noodle kugel and chicken with veggies - we balled on a budget. I contributed a Caprese salad with my favorite balsamic glaze that I tend to put on everything. We took Rosh Hashanah by storm and created the best potluck dinner college students can make. Following all COVID-19 restrictions, my friends – the Jews and supporting non-Jews, too – came together and had a great time celebrating.

All things considered, this whole "Simone cooks" thing isn't an everyday occurrence as I do find every excuse to eat out.

The newest find in my college town was Fat Dan's Deli, a Chicago-style joint with a twist of my favorite pastrami on rye and corned beef sandwiches. I opted for the Supa-Dupa Grilled Cheezy with provolone, American, cheddar, brie(!!!!!), and tomatoes on thick, toasted grainy bread. I don't normally go out of my way for a grilled cheese sandwich, but this, THIS grilled cheese was something else. The tomato was a great addition because it wasn't soggy, the provolone, American, and cheddar cheese were perfectly melted, but it was the brie that made it so spectacular. Brie on crackers and baked brie can really get me going, but throw a hunk of it in a grilled cheese sandwich and WOW. Yeah. It was that good.

Switching it up a bit: take a peek into my date night the other night. After much deliberation between hitting up one of our go-to spots (hi, Siam House and Social Cantina!), my boyfriend and I decided to venture out and try something new. We decided on sushi. And I don't mean sushi, but I mean sushi. We splurged on a party platter from Bloomington's own Ami and it did not disappoint. Okay yeah, it was too much food, but I'm a firm believer in making any night, even date night on a couch, better with an extreme amount of food. Again, today's take on college is all about making the most out of whatever is around. And I couldn't love anything more than sushi with my boyfriend while watching the newest season of the Bachelorette.

Continuing with my autumn adventures, I celebrated my 20th orbit around the sun on October 10th! I was surrounded by friends near and far, and we celebrated with all the pizza in the world. 'Za from Goodfellas and cookie cake from Baked! of Bloomington made this year's birthday another great one.

Not every birthday has to be a big thing, though, as I quickly learned this year. I've had my fair share of fabulous birthdays (hello, absolutely amazing 19th birthday) and I'm looking forward to birthdays in the near future (I see you, 21st birthday bash) – but it's also important to live in the present and enjoy whatever there is. This year, I appreciated and enjoyed all the things I was able to control (you know, the pizza, the gift I bought for myself, etc.), but I also embraced the things I couldn't control – I'm talking to you, positive COVID test result that came back on my birthday. It was a day to remember, for sure.

Headed into my 20s during a pandemic of this nature can be daunting. With the job market constantly changing and even something like studying abroad next semester not guaranteed, staying positive is not always feasible. But with a little help from the people who support me most, we can get through just about anything.

Thank you to those who saw me at my worst on my 20th (haha). And to those who will be there on my 21st – just you wait. Cheers to better and brighter days ahead. College is different this time around, but as I tend to say often enough, "it's all good".