Hair cutting @ Great Clips

Hair cutting/trimming was long time due task and I have to go to a party this weekend so I thought this is high time I should finish it up. This was my first experience with Great Clips or any other American Salon for that matter. In New Jersey, I found an Indian Lady running salon from home. She was good at her job, easily available, very neat and clean and charging very reasonable. I loved the fact that blow dry was also part of hair cutting/styling.

Anyway, when I went to Great Clips I asked how much they charge for blow drying and shampoo. Their answers made it clear that they were in hurry and not willing to spend time. Looking at their response I found it safer to go only for hair cut. Job was finished within minutes (without even basic drying) and later the way she lifted the apron all hairs fell on me (And now I madly need a shower). She did not see this or conveniently decided to ignore it. She was not at all friendly so far and when time came to pay the bill she was very much into getting tips. My hair was not so bad, but I was so mad at her that I even thought not to give her tip!

I am quite disappointed and I definitely will have to look for a different option.

Finally @ CPK

It’s the place where all possible varieties in pizza are available. Using different kinds of cheese and toppings, various combinations are created. Generally I avoid pizza since it’s full of cheese and makes me feel very heavy. But CPK does have one meeting my needs – crispy and low in cheese. Yes I am talking about my favorite Tostada. It’s like there is no point of going to CPK for any other pizza. Tostada is their specialty. Crisp layer topped with beans, sour cream, little cheese and thin crispy tortilla chips – there’s no way you can say no! We also like Tucson Hummus in appetizer – hummus with fresh parsley served with warm and soft pita bread.

I love this place for its ambience too. It’s like upper scale pizzeria (but still very much affordable) with quite a decent service and without typical pizza baking smell.

We did not get a chance to go to CPK after we moved here. But finally, we went for advanced celebration of Valentine’s Day. I guess this was just the second time we were just two of us. Whenever we go to CPK, we never go alone. We have very fond memories at CPK to mark different occasion.

Miss ya all………

The Mermaid Chair - Sue Monk Kidd

I was surfing through Shelfari and NY Times Bestsellers List, I came across this book. I never heard of her and was not at all aware about her style or expertise. After reading synopsis, I thought to read it.


The story is about a middle aged woman Jessie who is stay-home happy wife with psychiatrist husband and college going daughter. Her life looks perfect from far but she has started feeling lonely and suffocated lately. One fine morning she gets a call from her mother’s friend Kat to inform that her mother has cut her own finger and hence she must go and look after her. Jessie has stopped talking to her mom for few years, but she cannot say no to situation like this.

She flies to stay with her mother and realizes that her mother has done so as some sort of punishment. Her father was killed in an accident when she was a kid and her mother became very lonely after his demise. After trying several times, her mother is not willing to open up. Fighting with her own state of mind, unknowingly Jessie falls in love with monk, Brother Thomas. She is full of guilt, but she cannot backout. She is scared of losing both her husband and latest love. Brother Thomas helps her understanding her mother, Nelle’s point of view.

Jessie has always suspected that her mother’s illness has something to do with her father’s death and all her mother's friends know about it. After she cuts off her second finger, it becomes unbearable for her friends to keep that secret anymore. Her father suffered from incurable disease and decided to end his life. Nelle and all friends helped him out to carry out his suicide plan which looked like an accident. His father sits on the Mermaid Chair to poison himself. Now after these many years her mother regrets about it and as a punishment starts hurting herself.

After the truth is revealed, Jessie is relaxed enough to tackle her own problems. She decides to go back to her husband Hugh who still loves her unconditionally. Brother Thomas continues his religious journey and Jessie is once again happily married.

So many stories are interwoven – relationship between Jessie and her mother, between Jessie and her daughter Dee, Jessie and Hugh, Jessie and Brother Thomas. Author has said complicated things in very simple, but touching manner.

Best part of the story is the way author has narrated story around Egret Island – an imaginary island near the coast of South Carolina. It’s a small little island where everyone knows everyone. It’s far from even small town’s luxuries and amenities. After reading description of this island in book, it’s impossible for one not to fall in love with ocean.

Deep and profound story narrated in easy and uncomplicated fashion!

A Gentleman of Leisure – P G Wodehouse

During my college days, I asked a friend for her advice about what should I read. She happened to be well read and very much into books. She gave me a book ‘Carry on Jeeves’ by P G Wodehouse. I diligently started reading but somehow could not finish it. These days when I went to library, I thought to start reading his books.


This book revolves around Jim who bets with a friend that he can rob someone’s place. He ends up in a place whose daughter he has fallen in love with. He does not know her name or address and hence later on he has no means to find or contact her. For couple of years, he roams around everywhere and finally happens to meet her on the soil of England. Her father who still thinks of him as a robber has strong dislike for him and is very much against their union. Then series of dramatic events occur and finally things fall into place.

A typical British style smart and witty humor :)

Finding ol’ Time Fascination

Hot bread became our favorite joint in NJ especially when we crave for spicy little bites without spending much time. Vada Pav, Dabeli and Panini Sandwich became our much loved dishes. After moving to MD, we did not get a chance to have food at Hot Breads. We knew that there were couple of them in Gaithersburg – one very good and other with opposite extreme. Though we did not know which one was better.


Anyway, yesterday we went there around early afternoon. We ordered Vada Pav and Samosa Chat. I was extremely happy with Vada Pav but not so happy with Samosa Chat. Obviously rates were higher than those of NJ. Portion size was also quite small. If one is really hungry, one needs at least two dishes, which will add upto 10 plus bucks. But once in a while, it’s worth going and spending money.


Final Word, go for it when you long for spicy Indian Snacks

The Worst Indian Food

It seems that I am very much bored and frustrated so just to kill time I write reviews. It’s not my personal opinion, but neutral and unbiased review! I’ll write about books, movies, restaurants and any other places I visit. Let me start with a restaurant review. We went out for dinner Saturday at Minerva in Rockville, MD. I rarely crave for Restaurant Indian Food and Saturday was one among those rare incidents.
 This place was recommended by few of our friends hence was a safe take. First impression was not so good since I did not like the ambience and only couple of tables was occupied. We ordered Chhole-Bhature and Paneer Makhani-Roti. And we could not decide which dish was the worst! I had had the worst Indian Food in US. Service was too slow; it took little over half an hour for our first dish to arrive.

Everything was very oily and spicy and staff was also little rude. I guess chef/owner must be South Indian (there were quite many dosa/idli dishes in the menu) and lesson is, never try North Indian Curries in South Indian Restaurants.

t happened for the first time that we did not tip at all and I have made up my mind to never step my foot again!!