My tea came! I'm very happy about it. I got good-sized amounts of:

Rooibus Rote Grutze
Rooibus Candied Almond
Formosa Jade Oolong (Tung-ting style, yummy!)

And then samples of these (which I can't wait to try...)

Heirloom Tea Flowers
CTC Irish Breakfast Blend (a collage of Assams)
East Frisian TGFOP (another blend of Assams)
Sweet Almond Green Tea
Green Tea with Red Ginseng
Sencha (a middling grade)
Genmai Cha (which should be interesting)
Formosa Amber Oolong Select (can you tell I love Formosas and Assams, yet?)
Season's Pick Gunpowder Green (that one's Joy's)

And they tossed in a complementary Ceylon sample from the Uva Highlands region, which will probably go to Joy since I'm not normally a fan of Ceylon teas.

Oh happy day!

Love the thunder, but I really rather wish it would stop raining. It's far too chilly - and I thought this place was supposed to be dry.

On a different note, I'm actually going to church today for the first time since I've been here.

It's cold. I'm huddling in my cloak (thanks, Mom!) and waiting for the tea to brew while Saiwe cuddles in my hand, nipping at my fingernails.

All in all, not that bad.

I thought of you last night. Somewhere between "God Bless America" and the Air Force Hymn I remembered the way you laughed, threatened the hapless dogs, watched your grandkids - and it didn't hurt.

Ave atque vale, Papa.