It has been twenty years since I graduated from The Ohio State University. I was just there recently while Susan was at a nursing conference in Columbus. I always enjoy wandering around campus and looking around. While a lot of the campus has changed since I was there, there is still enough to bring back a lot of memories.
Wait, what's that you say? I haven't talked about my OSU experiences before and this is chapter 7? Did I miss the first 6 chapters somewhere? No, you didn't miss anything. I figured if it was good enough for George Lucas to start with episode 4, I can start with episode 7. I may go back to prior episodes but I promise if I do, unlike George Lucas, Jar Jar Binks will not appear in them.
Now, where was I?
I always enjoy going back to Ohio State. Seeing how things have changed, but there are reminders of memories as you walk around. Going about campus reminds me of the classes I took and the events I participated in. It is true that buildings and places are haunted with memories - things I hadn't remembered in years come back to life as if they happened yesterday. The book stores, bars (I visited strictly for cultural observation), mom & pop businesses, pizza shops, and the Oval bring back fond memories.
High Street is still full of different food places. There used to be Flying Tomato Pizza (their stuffed pizzas were the best), Skyline Chili, and a Three-in-one (KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut) if you were in the mood for diverse cuisine. I remember La Bamba, whose motto was burritos as big as your head. I argued with a friend of mine over whether to order the medium or large burrito. He recommended the medium, but if you have seen me before you would know I wanted the large burrito. I took his recommendation - the medium was still too big to eat. Their motto was correct. Recently, a friend of mine and I went to a little gyro place on High Street and that turned out good. I would highly recommend to try those little restaurants in your area rather than the national chains. The food tends to be pretty good with excellent service. Every now and then you find a gem or two.
There's also the Library on High Street. No, not that kind of library - it was a bar (still there too). So, if your family called and your roommate could say "Oh, he's at the Library" and he wouldn't be lying. How your parents interpreted that statement is on them. High Street was filled with bars all along South campus roped off to keep the slightly or majorly inebriated from falling into the streets. As, I sent I went there to study the culture, not to appear cool to my friends.
Then there are the older buildings. The Towers, south campus, Ohio Stadium, the OSU Library (which looks sweet now), and other classrooms. Don't ask about the Stacks in the library. I never witnessed anything there, but I heard enough stories to be suitably frightened. The oval was always filled with history and filled with students. I remember springtime where it seemed every student was there (I don't know who was going to class then). You could walk across campus and bump into friends from everywhere along with hearing the oval preachers screeching that we were all going to hell.
Going back to Ohio Stadium you can feel all the history that took place - except for the time I was there from 1988 to 1993. During my time there, we never won the Big Ten, a bowl game, Illinois, and that garbage team from up north. I had heard rumors that the OSU football team was great at one time, just never experienced that. Thank you, John Cooper.
I actually wanted to go to Case Western Reserve University to study chemical engineering. OSU was my second choice. I went to OSU because it was cheaper, I wasn't totally sold on engineering as a career, I wanted to be away from home but not too far, and because of the great Woody Hayes. If you have to ask about Woody Hayes, please look him up on Wikipedia. Best college football coach ever. But, I may be a little biased.
Columbus, because of Ohio State, is one of the few cities I would consider leaving Cleveland for. Susan would love to move here (with all the shopping options for her). It is the city and place which helped mold me into the person I am today. Some were good and some were less than optimal - but they shaped me in some way. The people and events helped me grow into the responsible adult (ok enough chuckling) that I am. It is a town of memories and I enjoy going each time I can, like this October 19-21. At some point in the future, I'll discuss different chapters in my life regarding Ohio State and the people I met there.
It was the best of times...
Wait, what's that you say? I haven't talked about my OSU experiences before and this is chapter 7? Did I miss the first 6 chapters somewhere? No, you didn't miss anything. I figured if it was good enough for George Lucas to start with episode 4, I can start with episode 7. I may go back to prior episodes but I promise if I do, unlike George Lucas, Jar Jar Binks will not appear in them.
Now, where was I?
I always enjoy going back to Ohio State. Seeing how things have changed, but there are reminders of memories as you walk around. Going about campus reminds me of the classes I took and the events I participated in. It is true that buildings and places are haunted with memories - things I hadn't remembered in years come back to life as if they happened yesterday. The book stores, bars (I visited strictly for cultural observation), mom & pop businesses, pizza shops, and the Oval bring back fond memories.
High Street is still full of different food places. There used to be Flying Tomato Pizza (their stuffed pizzas were the best), Skyline Chili, and a Three-in-one (KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut) if you were in the mood for diverse cuisine. I remember La Bamba, whose motto was burritos as big as your head. I argued with a friend of mine over whether to order the medium or large burrito. He recommended the medium, but if you have seen me before you would know I wanted the large burrito. I took his recommendation - the medium was still too big to eat. Their motto was correct. Recently, a friend of mine and I went to a little gyro place on High Street and that turned out good. I would highly recommend to try those little restaurants in your area rather than the national chains. The food tends to be pretty good with excellent service. Every now and then you find a gem or two.
There's also the Library on High Street. No, not that kind of library - it was a bar (still there too). So, if your family called and your roommate could say "Oh, he's at the Library" and he wouldn't be lying. How your parents interpreted that statement is on them. High Street was filled with bars all along South campus roped off to keep the slightly or majorly inebriated from falling into the streets. As, I sent I went there to study the culture, not to appear cool to my friends.
Then there are the older buildings. The Towers, south campus, Ohio Stadium, the OSU Library (which looks sweet now), and other classrooms. Don't ask about the Stacks in the library. I never witnessed anything there, but I heard enough stories to be suitably frightened. The oval was always filled with history and filled with students. I remember springtime where it seemed every student was there (I don't know who was going to class then). You could walk across campus and bump into friends from everywhere along with hearing the oval preachers screeching that we were all going to hell.
Going back to Ohio Stadium you can feel all the history that took place - except for the time I was there from 1988 to 1993. During my time there, we never won the Big Ten, a bowl game, Illinois, and that garbage team from up north. I had heard rumors that the OSU football team was great at one time, just never experienced that. Thank you, John Cooper.
I actually wanted to go to Case Western Reserve University to study chemical engineering. OSU was my second choice. I went to OSU because it was cheaper, I wasn't totally sold on engineering as a career, I wanted to be away from home but not too far, and because of the great Woody Hayes. If you have to ask about Woody Hayes, please look him up on Wikipedia. Best college football coach ever. But, I may be a little biased.
Columbus, because of Ohio State, is one of the few cities I would consider leaving Cleveland for. Susan would love to move here (with all the shopping options for her). It is the city and place which helped mold me into the person I am today. Some were good and some were less than optimal - but they shaped me in some way. The people and events helped me grow into the responsible adult (ok enough chuckling) that I am. It is a town of memories and I enjoy going each time I can, like this October 19-21. At some point in the future, I'll discuss different chapters in my life regarding Ohio State and the people I met there.
It was the best of times...
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