Over Afternoon Tea

Tea is not only a drink but a ritual over which people have been relaxing, talking, and catching up on each other's lives for centuries. This blog is intended to serve as a virtual cup of tea, helping me keep in touch with friends and family in my physical absence.

Occupational Hazards: When You're Married to a Nerd

Half-awake this morning, I commented on the news story my husband had left open about an unusual archeological find, one indicating male-centered fertility rituals in an era when most fertility rituals were still centered on the feminine.
"Yeah," he grunted. "I wonder if that has anything to do with the shift from Chthonic to Ouranian deities."
"Mmm," I mumbled, perking up a little, "I bet it does." And stumbled into the bathroom to wash my face.
After I'd woken up a little, I realized it was a strange conversation to have before my first cup of tea. And especially before his first cup of coffee.
But the best was definitely this evening at the ironing board. His brother had just called and mentioned a water park, leaving us discussing the advantages of water parks versus standard amusement parks (neither of which my husband has ever visited).
"Yeah, water parks are great," I began.
"Minin aide thea," read my husband, who had just picked up a copy of the Iliad which was apparently far more interesting than my discourse.
It wouldn't have been SO bad if he'd at least realized he left me in the middle of the sentence. It took him a full five minutes to surface to my silence.
"I'm sorry," he moaned.
"Homer," I said, "is worse than Circe."

For all and sundry, but particularly for those who like the way good tobacco smells, a recommendation: get your hands on some Iron Goddess of Mercy Oolong. The name is weird but the taste is amazing. I think it's quite possibly the thickest, richest, most complex tea I've ever had. Very unusual, and very different from most teas.

If you can't find it nearby, it can be obtained at Cha Fahn, my favorite spot for green tea.

P.S. Expect to hear more about tea. I'm gearing up for a rather complicated tea party in the late summer/early fall which I want to a) be an educational experience in re tea for my guests and myself, b) pair foods with appropriate teas (this is where I'm going nuts), and c) be a sort of family reunion and fun for all involved. Ergo lots of tea thoughts and articles and papers flying. Bear with my mental construction.

"Chocolate is the married man's duct tape." -- My husband

Can I adopt my sister-in-law?

She's five. She just had a tooth out. She can ride her bicycle (which used to be Martha's) without training wheels, but she has to use a stump to mount it. Her bedtime is nine, but she's up till ten tonight because she wants to be with Mama, because she loves her.

If my husband's kids are as cute as his siblings, I'm in luck.