Okay. Want to shock the (stuffin's) out of your sweet patootie? Try this:
Scene-- Person A is watching TV on a Sunday afternoon. Person 1 is either also watching, TRYING to appear interested, attempting to read over the shouting, or is occupied elsewhere in the house, most likely doing something s/he'd rather not, probably having to do with plumbing. Or laundry.
Person A: You know what? I can record this game and we can go do something. It's a GORgeous day!
Person 1: (gets up off the floor) What? Are you talking to me? Really? Okay, where do you want to go?
Person A: Let's do something different. Let's hike over to that little tea house on K, order a pot, and just gaze into each other's eyes.
Person 1: WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY (insert appropriate relationshipiastical term)??!!
Person A: You're funny! Let's go!
Where? Try Hina's Tea, middle of the 2300 block of K Street downtown. Your eyes will fly open at her selection of teas and she has samples you can sniff before you order. I sniffed a few, but was immediately sold on White Divine Temple. It's white tea (higher in antioxidants than green tea) and a melange of fruit. Don't be dissuaded by the thought of fruit in your tea. I like fruit. And I like tea. But, not necessarily together. "Eeewww", I thought. But I LOVE White Divine Temple! It smells like Girl. Flowery. Like a white divine temple. What you'd serve at a proper tea party. Makes me want to go put on a hat.
Hina's decor is a little stark and contemporary for my vintage, eclectic sensibilities, but I learned a long time ago that not everyone is like me. Instead of sugar bowls on the tables, Hina has made simple syrup out of raw sugar. It's brown and beautiful and mixes instantly into your brewed tea. Even if you, too, have kicked the sugar-in-yer-tea habit, the gesture is to be appreciated.
Make sure you have time to sit. My grrlfriend and I made the mistake of having a 6:00 curtain to mind and we walked into Hina's at 5:00...took us 20 minutes to browse/choose tea! Mistake: gulping hot tea.
S/he won't buy the idea of a tea party on a Sunday afternoon? This is another extremely cool, different outing to make. Several of you have commented on my March entry regarding our trip to see the wind mills in Rio Vista. Okay, get this--I recently learned that those turbines are sitting on land that is owned by a childhood schoolmate, Rick Russell, and his sister. I had the good fortune to reconnect with Ricky just prior to our elementary school's big anniversary party recently and enjoyed his and Donna's company at the dinner.
There's something very special about people who knew you when you were a baby. Who imagined we'd ever be this age?! It was fun digging up old school memories, as well as talking about new, exciting, grown up stuff we've got going on now. And Ricky will be a first time father soon!!
Anyway, go share a pot as you plan YOUR excellent adventure. And promise to look up some old schoolmates. Start with kindergarten.
The Dove Lady wonders what ever happened to Allisonne Louie, the smartest girl in first? second? grade who beat her in a spelling bee. D-I-F-F-E-R-E-N-T. She never forgot that, either.
