For a Random Wednesday

This just turned up on the NETA list, so many of you may have seen it.  It is too good not to share though, and while I could have waited until YouTube Saturday, well.  I didn't.  Random of me.

Other randomness?

• We have been subscribers to Blockbuster for a year now and I have had the first season of One Foot In The Grave at the top of my queue the entire time with a status of "very long wait."  Okay. 
• I am taking advantage of a free two week subscription to Netflix, put the same dvd on the top of my queue and had it in two days.  Hmmm...  And it seems the turn around is quicker.
• Having seen only one episode I'm thrilled.  British humor is worth the wait.
• Did I mention I finished the second Outlander book, Dragonfly in Amber?  It was pretty good, not as good as the first, but I never wanted to put it down for good until I finished it.  I still think the author goes a little too far for shock value, but the story is a fun romp.  Who can't use that?
• Now I am listening to The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb.  I am a bit more than half way through, and typical to Lamb's novels, there isn't a whole lot to be happy about.  Then the journals of the main character's great grandmother come to forefront and I am loving this aspect.  I remember that when I was reading She's Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True there was a point about half way through each that I almost put the book down because I hated the main character or something and then there is a turn of some kind that made me want to really finish the book.  I'm glad I kept with it, I hope this book doesn't disappoint.
• I never realized that Amazon has author stores.  Here is Wally's.
• I found a copy of the second issue of The Knitter (their website is not low on the priority list, apparently).  Meh.  I still like it, but am not as impressed as I was with the first issue.  Of course, there is always the Mason-Dixon column, very much worth the price of the magazine, right?  I think the third issue might be out any day now.  I'll be looking for it.
• I've been drinking a lot more oolong tea lately.  It hasn't ever been a tea that I was drawn to, not for any reason, just too taken with other teas.  I love this stuff.  It blends very well with fruits and makes a light, flavored tea.  Yum.  My favorite right now?  Sweet Oolong Revolution by Teavana.
• Have I complained about Teavana here before?  Probably, yes.  You know, I am willing to pay for good tea, especially when I find some that I really like.  Companies like Adagio and Harney are companies that have a wide range of tea qualities and you can pay an average to a huge honkin' lot for a few ounces of tea from either.  Usually, very worth the price.  When the tea arrives, depending on what size you have purchased, it will often arrive in a tin or in the case of large amounts from Harney (I'm talking a pound or so), a pretty respectable bag.  I like the bag, because I have probably ordered it in a tin previously and will deposit some of the pound into the tin for easier scooping. 
• Now, Teavana teas are expensive.  Especially some of their flavored whites, white tea being expensive anyway, but if you look closely at the flavored white teas you might think you aren't getting so much white tea, but an herbal tea with some white tea leaves tossed in.  Still in all, I have my favorites and will continue consuming them when I can afford to. 
• Here is the thing that gets my dander up.  Every time I go to order tea at my local Teavana I get the hard sell to purchase a tin to store my tea in, because even at the high price, you get the tea in a little baggy that is not really appropriate to keep your tea fresh. 
• Did I mention that Adagio and Harney send the tea IN.THE.TIN?  I save those tins to reuse.  A couple collect change, the rest are washed, dried will be used to store teas in again.  Some of them will be Teavana teas.
• When I get the big push from the Teavana tea scooper I always tell them (and yes, I know they are just the employees doing their jobs) that I will never purchase a tin from them, that when I get tea from other wonderful purveyors of leaves they include the tin with the tea at no extra charge and I save those tins and reuse them to keep my Teavana tea fresh.  I just take off the little sticker from the bag they give me and place it on the tin, so I always know what I have. 
• Having noticed the hard-sell on everything in the store by the tea scoopers, I asked one happy young girl if she worked on commission.  Her demeanor changed dramatically and she said, "No, not really."  "Not really?  What does that mean?" and she replied that while she doesn't technically work on commission, they are pressured to reach sales goals and quotas.  That explains the tea scoopers jumping on me every time I go through the door.
• I know, I'm a complainer, but I'll still buy some of their teas.  But Teavana, just so you know.  I won't buy a tin from you.  Ever.
• I couldn't think of a random thing when I started this post, and now I have a million thoughts in my head.  Some of them are of all the things I should be doing right now. 

Forty-three.  Maybe I should throw a random thought in every post.  Maybe with fewer linking things though.  That'll keep 'em coming back!

Comments

[Vicki]

Those Baa-studs make a pretty cute movie!!!

[Cookie]

I'm still searching for the second issue of that magazine. I'm curious to see the lace pattern in it. However, I don't think I'll be getting any more of them. Too much time wasted looking for magazine that could be used for other things.

I think I hate that tea company for you.

[margene]

I've fallen for Harney's Pomegranate Oolong...so good. Think I'll have some right now.

[Barbara]

Do you know about Upton Tea? Lots and lots of good stuff. And great service. No connection, just really impressed with them. My favorite right now is Earl Grey Creme Vanilla. yum.
www.uptontea.com

[Cheryl]

Still going on about those tea tins, huh? I hope you're using your netflix trial to watch that movie we talked about.

[Laurie]

I second the Upton Tea recommendation. Great service. No pressure.

I have a zillion Hediard metal tea boxes. Empty. If you ever want one for tea storage, let me know. Or five.

LOVE the video. LOVE. I had not seen it.

[Jennifer]

That was too funny. Thanks for the laughs.

I am so unworthy when it comes to tea. I still think that Celestial Seasons is great tea. I think tea bags are fine. I am so unworthy.

: )

I'm a little wigged out by the plastic tea contraption by Adagio with steaming hot water. I'm not a big fan of any plastic with any hot liquids. What do you use?

[Cheryl S.]

Loved the video!

I've heard before that Netflix gives "better" service to free trial members, so that they'll have a positive experience and continue their service. I've been a Netflix member since 1998, before they had unlimited rentals, and while the service has sometimes been better than others, I wouldn't want to give it up. But then, I don't have cable.

[Tammy]

I like my oolongs on the black end of the spectrum and Harney does have some great choices. And yes, I would NEVER pay for a tin when I have all those great Harney tins!

[Cindy in Happy Valley]

Our local coffee roaster has great intensely flavored, black fruit teas. I can actually smell fruit as I sit here at my desk, even though it is encased in its little plastic baggie. (It actually smells a little like bananas to me. Weird.)

I think I might have liked Dragonfly in Amber better than Outlander, but I change from day to day, and the "shock" thing...there is less as the series goes on. My least favorite was the next, Voyager.

[Tracy J.]

Hilarious video, and I always love your random thoughts. They make for great reading!

[M.]

Thanks for posting the video. And, I've gotten hooked on Adiago Tea, just reading your post :) I'm still searching for a great oolong tea. Our market stopped carrying the Oolong in the brown and gold packet, and I can't find a match.
Most importantly, love your blog, yeah!