BLOG: Not Another Boring Weekend

Are you ready for game time?

It’s that time again, folks. Turn up the grills, make potato salad and sit on the couch for a few hours to watch your favorite team win or lose. Before the game, maybe even start up a game yourself with friends and family.

I am a skinny, puny kid that never really played sports in high school, because I have a major heart problem. Nonetheless, I love to watch sports and play a game for fun. I am a fantastic flag football fan, especially during Turkey Day. I hope all of you who can, will go support our Aggies kick some trash this weekend for Homecoming. The game will start at 6p.m. Saturday evening, so if you are going, be sure go get there early for good seats.

I like watching football, but I’m a bigger fan of seeing hockey — so much more fun to watch live. I remember my first hockey game. I went to go see St. Louis Blues about two years ago. My seat was close to the enemy’s goal, and it was unbelievable. To be near the glass when someone gets body checked right into it and their blood and sweat splat on the window, is exilliarating. The excitement fills inside you, and all you want to do is start screaming in pleasure, and slam your hands against the window.

Utah State has a fantastic hockey team. I got to see them many times as they destroyed BYU, Boise State and those other wannabe Aggies from Texas. One of the best parts is when the players get into a major fight. They stop in the middle of the ice and throw down the glove, and it becomes a face-punch give away.  I challenge you to go and see a hockey game, and then you may become a huge fan like myself. Utah State is playing Weber Friday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m.

Now if you want something more relaxing and fun to play, then you can join me in playing some pickleball. I am the president of the Pickleball Club, and I am inviting all of you out there to come learn and play pickleball.

You might be thinking what the heck is pickleball? It is a cross between tennis and pingpong, and we play with a wooden paddle and a waffle ball. The rules are close to that of pingpong and tennis. We meet every Saturday, from 9-11 a.m., in the HPER Building, in one of the second-floor gyms.

In Illinois, my home state, we played this for our P.E. class time. I was one of the best players, and many people will say I have one heck of a serve. If you are not very athletic, then this is the sport for you. I’ve taught many of my friends who aren’t into sports and now really enjoy pickleball. Don’t take my word for it. You should come and find out for yourself.

Now, if you don’t want anything to do with sports you can always go to Aggie Game Night, every Friday night 7 p.m. to midnight. They play an assortment of board, card and party games.

So when y’all start preparing food for the tailgate or to watch the game this weekend, I bet you’ll want chips and dip. I am going to share with you my authentic recipe for guacamole.  This is good for 2-4 people, depending how hungry you are, so feel free to add to the recipe if you need more.

4 avocados

1 small tomato

1 small onion

1 lime

salt and pepper to taste

Pit the avocados and mash with a fork until smooth. Dice the tomato and onion, and mix them with the avocados. Cut and squeeze lime into the mixture, then add salt and pepper to taste. To preserve the guacamole for another day, add more lime or lemon juice. If done right, this guacamole will blow your mind. I learned this recipe from the Medrano family down in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Also, if you would like to make your own tortilla chips, then get a package of corn tortillas. Rip or cut the tortilla into any chip form you want. In a skillet, heat oil and fry the tortillas until they are crisp, but not burned. In a bowl, toss the fried tortilla chips with salt. Then you can use them to dip into your tasty guacamole. Until next time, enjoy life, laugh a little more and share memories with loved ones and strangers.

— Quince Van Orden graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in culinary arts, in St. Louis, and loves the great outdoors. He can be reached at q.c.v@aggiemail.usu.edu.