Muncie's Thiruvalluvar

You read the title right...thats how I call him. And boy...look at his beard....how else can I call him?

But it was not just the beard that is fascinating about Stan......He owns the Heorots Bar....He owns two wolves as pets....He has a beer named after him and with his figure on its label...(see inset)....the beer is called ard ri...

It was a pleasure to meet him.

Wooo...

Now, in Freak Teaky Friday, there was a person walking around with a German Shepherd (albeit a close cropped one with very less hair and a gray/black one at that). It was very obedient and playing with onlookers. When the band stopped playing, I was watching it play around and suddenly noticed that something was not right.

It's eyes.

They were different.

Mel looked at me gaping and said "That's not a dog....it's a wolf'.

That moment, I dropped all ideas of going near it.

Freaky Tiki Friday

Last Friday, on an invite, went down to downtown for Freak Tiki Friday. Local bands play to a crowd in front of the bars. The bars alternately sponsor this event to attract crowds and hence its free to the people. I call this the 'Follow the Money' business model. Nothing is free in this world. You just got to follow the money.

Anyways, Mike and Mel had invited me over and I got introduced to a couple of their friends. Mel was my boss' sis. After a couple of beers, I found that there was no college crowd around. One of the persons at my table was a former bartender and she gave an interesting insight. College kids hit the bars around their campus only. There, everything comes cheaper than anywhere outside. Hmm..

The band was good and I personally met the lady singing. Mike had actually been a former drummer and had helped compose some of the songs the band was playing. After that, we hit another late night bar; another band. It was like 12 midnight when I left.

Rib Fest in Muncie

Am a voracious meat eater. So, was more than happy when I heard of the rib fest this weekend at Muncie. Restaurants/families in towns and villages around Muncie get together yearly in Muncie and make what they are best at.....pork ribs. Aaaah...the smell that hangs in the air....hmmmm....makes your taste buds go berserk! The pork ribs are barbecued and given right away piping hot! And with Heorots beer to accompany, you never want to leave that place. Add to it, a lots of music bands playing music all around. It was a carnival, guys!....:)

I had ribs from two of the best places (had to wait in the line too long but worth it!). I also had elephant ears and funnel cake. The former is so close to our channa batura and the latter is almost like one of the snack we get in India. Both were delicious!

At the gun range

Aug 1 turned out to be fun. I caught up with one of my childhood passion (though it was more toys then). Cliff took me to a gun range with his pistols and rifle. At 25 yards, I fired his semi-automatic pistol and 1949 0.22 remington long range rifle. aahh....the smell of gun powder (similar to our fire crackers) and the boom...boom will melt the heart of any man! And for a first timer, I did not fare bad. I hit the target 98% and most of it were in the circles! Fired like 70 rounds with both. Personally, I like the rifle more (the pistol is too noisy and is more a short range).

I managed to pick a bullet I shot and the target sheet as souvenier.

Water fountain

Here is a night shot of the water fountain in a pond in my Muncie apt complex. And do you see a peeping head? no no...thats no Loch Ness monster. Its a harmless duck! There are about like 40 ducks out here and when I walk there in the middle of the night talking with Ramya, they will rush to my side thinking I have something for them to eat! ....:)