The Billgramige to Arkansas.

Week 5 of Travel: We’re just about a 1/3 of the way through the semester. That means I still have around 10 weeks of travel left this semester.


For some reason, I thought I was already halfway though, but I seemed to have forgotten the month of March.


So in this week’s episode, I found myself in the wilds of Arkansas. (Not to be mistaken with Ar-Kansas. The imaginary state I’ve made up in my head).
I’d never been to Arkansas, but I was looking forward to it. Mainly for two reasons:

1. I could get a new state magnet for my fridge.
2. It’s Clinton Country. (You know I love me some Bill, Hill and Chels…)

Holy Canoli.

Arkansas is hell to get to. Kid you not, from door-to-door, it took me 13 hours.
Partially my fault. I apparently had the inability to schedule visits that geographically made sense. I got to Little Rock around 6pm and had a 3 and a half hour drive to Fayetteville.

Mistake #1.

Pesky little buggar.

In my defense, it was the only day UA had available for me. I just happened to forget that no one really goes to Arkansas, so Sunday flights are few and far between.

I made it to the hotel without any major kerfuffles and awoke the next morning to snow covered cars and icy roads.

I was pretty excited to see snow for the first time this winter. However, I was quickly reminded that living out of a suitcase means you aren’t always prepared for such weather shifts.

Unfortunately we aren’t like Mary Poppins with a bottomless carpet bag, but thankfully I brought boots instead of my normal ballet flats.

Meetings and Visits went off without a hitch. Although the snow through students for a loop so info tables were a bit DOA.

Oh well, can’t win them all I guess.

Fayetteville seems like a wonderful place. I bet in the spring and fall it is really beautiful. Little Rock wasn’t as nice. I don’t really know if there’s anything there that would make me want to come back. (Other then the fantastic school we’re going to start working with).

The hotel I stayed at was in a bit of a shady location. Apparently North Little Rock isn’t the greatest place to find oneself. In fact, security escorted me to and from my car each time. It was crazy! They never said anything, didn’t acknowledge that they were following you, but always sort of lingered.

It felt like I had my very own Secret Service agent.

My only real complaint about Arkansas is the lack of healthy food options. I found myself grabbing dinner at gas stations just to avoid fast food----not that gas station granola bars are any healthier then the Sonic.

Now, although the days were busy, being the good little Clinton-esta that I am, I definitely made time for a little “Billgrimage.”

(Actual term. I swear I didn’t come up with it.)



In Fayatteville there is the Clinton House Museum. It’s a tiny brick house right off of campus that Bill and Hillary moved into---and got married in. There was a replica of the wedding dress as well as a ton of other memorabilia. The lady who ran the place was a wealth of information. The two lived here while teaching at the UA Law School up
until President Clinton became Governor.

In Little Rock, there is the Clinton Presidential Library. I liked it, but I was really overwhelmed with all of the bells and whistles they put into those exhibits. It was a bit much. I did learn that Bill Clinton stays at the Museum whenever he is in town. Apparently there is a suite on the top floor.

If I were Hillary, I’d let him stay there and I’d be at the Four Seasons down the street.