Things I've missed in the last Six Months

Since moving into this new life in Cornfield Town, a lot has changed. And as much as I'm pro-change, there are things that I miss very dearly. And since we're at this list-making time of the year, here's a list of things (and people, and moments) that I miss very dearly:

16. Short-drive access to decent restaurants that can seat more than twenty people
15. The quaint town-square and its farmer's markets
14. Impromptu Lunches with Her at Petra Cafe
13. The Dickson Street Bookstore
12. Iron Horse Coffee Company
11. Kimpel's asbetos-filled halls (who knew?)
10. My own office space - yegods, old large wooden desk, I miss you.

9. Being able to breathe without the neighbours hearing me

8. Vaulted ceilings (and while I'm at it, in-house washer-dryer systems)

7. Living in a place where pets don't defecate on my doorstep

6. Long, pointless walks

5. Following Galactic Suburbia

4. Writing
3. Reading (yes, ironically)
2. Reading Science Fiction, specifically

And most of all, I miss

1. Having the time to do things for myself without guilt




Clearly, this semester here has been incredibly frustrating, and I'm not even counting the academic stuff yet.*

* Okay, clearly this is not a gratefulness post. And to compensate, I admit that this move has had a couple of saving graces. I've met a few wonderful people here - people that warm my heart. And I've found a awe-bloody-some yoga studio. 

My New Project

the sibling pointed out to me today that this is turning into an Arkansas Updates Blog - :) ... it sure is... so here's what I'm now working on: a blog about life in Bentonhalli:
http://bentonvillear.wordpress.com/

The blog is still a work in progress and there's tons more to come but bookmark it y'all and keep a look out for the grand-opening

Such a Busy Sunday

A friend of mine from the theater group introduced me to Tom Redwine's podcast:
http://www.tomredwine.net/

I'm running out now, but I've heard the latest podcast and I love it.
Do check it out.

To go how no man has gone before - on a bus

The decision to up and move it from the des to Bentonville in pursuit of the spouse was easy.

The real transition from being a working-person-with-a-life-of-one's own to homebody-learning-to-keep-house is still - a bit of a pain - ahem, is underway, I mean.

My biggest bugger often is 'how am I going to commute?'
I can find things to do, places to go, people to meet... that has never been my problem.

But what drives me crazy is to have to wait for the spouse or a friend to be free to drive me around - to the grocery, to the mall, the hairdresser, to roam around.
Sweet gorilla of Manila - what a royal pain!
Aight, so I did learn to drive, but ahem, I don't have a car right now.


So there it is again, that dreaded question: 'how the hell am I going to get around on my own!'
I have actively considered starting a rickshaw service, but that's not as easy as it seems.

I've walked around a bit, but there are some days that I'm loathe to walking about. (what the heck! there is only so much a person - this person - can walk around)

Enter: Ozark Regional Transit

In this area they have two routes running Route 46 in Bentonville and Route 44 in Rogers with regular transfers between routes.
Service to the Springdale and Fayetteville areas is aslo available.

Stops: The Bentonville route stops at a whole bunch of convenient places: NWACC, the Library, Harps, City Hall, the Walmart Super Center and more

Fare: V. V. Reasonable at a $1.25 for adults and $1.00 for students (NWACC students and profs travel free) - the service also has the bus-pass option if you plan to hop on and off frequently.

What you should know:
The frequency of service is ... long. Buses run at one hour intervals.
Usually on time but can sometimes run a few minutes late.
You will need to plan a little bit in advance - look at their maps for Bentonville or Rogers to decide where you want to go and when.

Remember though that if you're in a hurry to get somewhere or if you're the last-minute commuter, the bus is not your ideal choice.
Now there I'd vote for calling up the spouse / friend to get you around.

Pros:
All the drivers I've met on Route 46 are helpful and super friendly.
If you have a question about where to stop, what to do, they always have an answer for you.

And above all, I can get around on my own - and that for now, is good enough.

Someone please send me my work permit already.

Theater season is drawing to a close - for me, I mean. For the rest of the town, a new season starts and there's a whole bunch of exciting plays and auditions to look forward to.
[Note: If you are in the Bentonville / Rogers, AR area - I fully recommend RLT : Go watch some of the plays - they're one of the "fun" things you can do in this little town. ]

So now, I'm dreading the moment where this play thing ends and I have to get back to my real (read home-body) life. Just the thought of it is frustrating.
Which is why, again, I hope to get my work permit soon - then I can channel all irritation and anxiety towards griping about a job hunt. Ha ha.

Ideally, both a job and an admission with aid at the university.
But one at a time will work too.

I live, I learn - mostly I learn that life is weirder than we think, has more wrinkles than amamma's skin today and hides little secrets very well.
And that sometimes, unexpectedly, my questions are answered.
Also that answers can provoke a mix of discomfort and curiosity.
And that sometimes, some questions are better left unanswered.

On an entirely different note:
Come watch Rumors by Neil Simon at the Rogers Little Theater - playing for three weekends from April 17th
More details at: http://www.rogerslittletheater.org

Its a hilarious play, with a damn neat cast - try not to miss it, will ya?

Phoren Desi Khana

Ah so finally, the promised review of the only desi restaurant in town
Scroll further down for The Verdict

Or read on for a brief story:

Over the last four months, as a desi homebody in foren land, I've learnt to cook. A lot.
But every once in a while I crave Indian food without having to go to the bother of cooking it.

And thus it was that I found (what is apparently the only Indian restaurant in town) tada!: Aroma

As a precautionary measure, we asked around, googled the restaurant and looked at the few reviews available before going.
I'm not a fussy eater. But Urgh.

And then I went back with great hope and foolishly against my better judgment.
Oh sigh! all over again

The Place: Aroma
Address: 1100 SE 14th Street , Bentonville, AR, USA
Meal: Dinner
Number of visits: 2
Rating: 1.5 to 2 on a scale of 5
Cost: 10$ + tax per adult; 5$ + Tax for children

The Ambiance:
The restaurant is sparse clean and has a very tiffin-centre feel to it, minus the hearty fare.
But hey! its a restaurant, and you are there to eat... so lets not count ambience in our rating.

The Service:
is non existent. To their credit they do try but I don't reccomend the place at all if you you are pressed for time.

Food! Food! Food!
Food served is mainly North-Indian fare - both on the buffet and a la carte.
Your buffet options are limited to a boring repetitive fare: Biryani (mutton & veg), Rotis, 2 veggie gravy curries and two non-vegetarian curries swimming in oil, Dal, and two meat starters.
The accompaniments include a couple of salads and a raita.

Be warned, the veggie is much, much better than the non-vegetarian food.

The meat is tough, lacks in taste, and smelt mildly stale both times that I dined there.

Another disappointment is the lack of desserts on the buffet.
(hey! I love a good sweet-dish after a hearty Indian meal - my stomach also has a separate compartment for desserts ... and chaat)

The gravies (minus meat) and Dal are my favorite picks - they taste decent and make for happy accompaniments to the rotis.

The A la Carte menu offers more variety but will cost you several minutes in time.

Well, it is the Only option for an Indian eat-out in the area and ends up drawing a sizable crowd.

My verdict: give it a miss
It is definitely not work the 10 + taxes that you will pay for the buffet or more that you wil end up paying for the a la carte.

Get online, get recipes, cook - however new you are to Indian food, you'll do a better job than this.
Or heh, mail me and maybe I'll cook for you. Ha!