pegkerr: (Default)
[personal profile] pegkerr
I was thinking, after my post about my weird inner dissatisfaction, that part of my problem was that I haven't been able to follow my treasured Friday night out custom for awhile. I used to spend Friday night out doing whatever I wanted to do, and over the last six months, this has become very difficult because 1) suddenly there were three Friday night karate classes in a row and 2) no money because of the layoff. However, last night, Rob had the day off and so could drive the girls to their classes, and I decided to skip my own karate class in the interests of mental health (sorry, [livejournal.com profile] pazlazuli) and have one of my classic Friday nights out. The money hasn't quite been flowing in yet, but I know it's coming, and I have money left over from the bonus from work. And I have some gift cards from Christmas.

First, I went to a bookstore and bought some books using gifts cards so I'd have something to read while I ate and while waiting for a movie. I picked up Jeannette Walls' The Glass Castle, which I've been wanting to try for a long time, and a book on making decadent coffee drinks.

Then, I went to try a restaurant I haven't tried before that sounded interesting, Namaste Cafe and ordered whatever I wanted without worrying about price or calories. And so I did, and it was absolutely wonderful. Namaste Cafe, at about 25th and Hennepin, is a charming little place painted in warm saffron colors. I got the Ginger Cardamon Chai (delicious), the Katmandu Curry with lamb, Aloo Paratha bread on the side, and I finished up with Sikarni, which is whole milk yogurt drained to a custard-like consistency, mixed with sugar, cashews, raisins, cinnamon and cardamon. I just about moaned aloud when I took my first bite; it was so delicious.

I had hoped to squeeze in a stop at a bead store, maybe Bobby Bead, which was just a few blocks up on Hennepin. I was thinking in terms of what Julie Cameron in The Artist's Way called a weekly artist date--spend time doing something that pleases your inner artist, as a way to get your creativity going. I've been meaning to get the supplies to make a red bead necklace--I have lots of blue and purple necklaces, but nothing that's red, and I wear a lot of red. But I didn't have time if I wanted to catch the movie I had in mind. I drove over to the Riverview Theater and watched "Into the Wild." The Riverview is so cheap ($3 a ticket) that it assuaged any guilty pangs I might have had about spending more than usual on dinner. I was tremendously impressed with the movie (I plan to make a separate entry on it, considered in conjunction with The Glass Castle.

Anyway, the evening was such a success, gave me such pleasure, that I realized, with some surprise, how much I've been missing this. I haven't been doing enough just to recharge and reenergize myself by doing all the things I love most to do. I'll need to find more ways to do so in the months ahead.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-02-02 06:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ke1seybee.livejournal.com
i loooove namaste cafe. try the spicy masala chai : )

(no subject)

Date: 2008-02-02 06:26 pm (UTC)
pameladean: (Default)
From: [personal profile] pameladean
I too love Namaste. The mustard fish totally rocks. It's definitely a moan-aloud dish too.

I'm glad you got to go back to your tradition. It's so clearly good for you.

P.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-02-02 08:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cakmpls.livejournal.com
R and her friends have eaten at the Namaste, and she says I should go. So that's quite a few recommendations!

(no subject)

Date: 2008-02-02 08:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nmsunbear.livejournal.com
Oh, that sounds like such a wonderful battery-recharging night! And your description of dinner made me hungry, especially the Sikarni. I do not live near the Namaste Cafe, so I'd better find a recipe!

(no subject)

Date: 2008-02-02 09:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] peacockharpy.livejournal.com
Your night out sounds wonderful! (And so does that ginger cardamom chai. Wow.)

(no subject)

Date: 2008-02-02 09:32 pm (UTC)
ext_29896: Lilacs in grandmother's vase on my piano (Default)
From: [identity profile] glinda-w.livejournal.com
Anyway, the evening was such a success, gave me such pleasure, that I realized, with some surprise, how much I've been missing this. I haven't been doing enough just to recharge and reenergize myself by doing all the things I love most to do.

Thank you for this. Even living alone, it's so easy to get caught up in the survival stuff and not actually plan for recharging.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-02-02 09:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ambar.livejournal.com
How lovely!

(no subject)

Date: 2008-02-04 10:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] aelfsciene.livejournal.com
On your description of the restaurant and food, I immediately del.icio.us'ed the website and looked up a recipe for shikarni, which I am totally going to make. ^_^

I'm delighted you had such a wonderful night out--I'm struggling to find ways to recharge, myself, and am reminded that just doing simple pleasurable things for you is the way to go.

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