"The essence of mathematics is not to make simple things complicated, but to make complicated things simple." ~S. Gudder

I've never understood why people hate math. It is far more challenging for me to grasp how people do anything without it. The thought of a society incapable of mathematical calculating abilities and simple algebraic thought is as alarming as illiteracy. The elegance and simplicity are astounding. No one seems to frown upon reading a simple paragraph, but people cringe over the thought of solving the equation (x+ 2)/3 = 10. 


As a child I was fed mathematical worksheets. What strikes many people odd about the math worksheets is the enjoyment I derived from them. Math delighted me. In first and second grade, whenever our class misbehaved, our teacher would begin to write math problems on the boards as "punishment". Luckily, I was a well behaved child in school, as this punishment never caused me fear but greatly excited me. In third grade we learned to multiply. I relished the fact that I would receive a free jolly rancher for doing something I greatly enjoyed. I had my cake and ate it too. The only thing that makes me uneasy about math these days is the branch of geometry. This has always proved challenging to me. 


If we look at the history of mathematical progress, much of it was done as a hobby. The disgust with mathematical courses in schools today will not point us to a happy future. Regardless of your position in society I firmly believe a strong grasp on simple algebra and a decent reading level is necessary to be a successful member of society. In my experience with potential elementary school teachers who deem the knowledge of algebra to be unnecessary (as they will be teaching "pre-school" but certified to teach up to fifth grade), I fear for our future as a country. 


Math is a lifelong friend. No one can steal his devotion away from my life. When I need to know how much to tip my waitress, he is there. When I am paying my bills, he is there. When I want to know how efficient my car is, he is by my side. He is always at my disposal, and I still cannot fathom how anyone would run away from it.
  

Farewell to Lipton, Oh hai Chocolate Puerh!

For years I have slowly been creeping into the whole tea ordeal. The more I dive in the more I cannot get enough. There are days I go without tea, and while they are generally alright, the best days start with tea.

When I got to college I learned to love iced tea. I have yet to turn back yet. Iced tea must always be cold and unsweetened for me. For some time I explored adding sugar to my iced tea, but the two never hit it off with me. Twinings English Afternoon Tea is likely the best iced tea I've had the pleasure to enjoy. It complements Merlot wine quite nicely when a wine break is a must. Occasionally I use Ahmad's Strawberry Black Tea for iced tea, with less then stellar results. Sugar may help.

It would take a foreign boyfriend to turn me onto hot tea. The Ukrainian introduced me to Ahmad's No. 1. While he prepared most of his tea from whole leaves in a beautifully painted kettle, he started me off with bagged tea to try on my own. Shortly after I turned to fruit infused black teas, and still enjoy a cup of a decent Raspberry Black Tea. The next step was discovering chai tea <3 . Chai, will likely always remain one of my favorites, though Earl Grey will remain in my heart still. I have recently come across Zhena's Gypsy Tea Firelight Chai Organic Tea, which has quickly become one of my new favorites. Over the course of my expeditions for a perfect cup of tea, I have dabbled in red teas, which I have found to be quite to my liking (I may even like them more than black teas! The horror! ), but there is more dabbling to do. However, red teas are harder to find. :-( Within the past year I met yet another advanced tea drinker, MG who has tried to introduce me sneakily to green tea. There is still a long road to explore the greens and decide if I like them. Lastly, I have yet to explore many herbal teas outside peppermint (usually mixed with a green such as Yogi's Green Tea Mint Garden ) and the worst tea I have ever sipped in my short wonderful life: anything Celestial. Super Ick!

 

Learning to prepare my tea has been a challenge of its own. I have gradually learned that stopping the kettle before the kettle whistles produces the best tea. Another lesson was reducing the steeping time of my tea bags for tea that was less bitter and tastier. Furthermore, I almost always prefer my hot tea with sugar. After having tea served to me with milk, I have begun small experiments to perfect this technique as well. Each little lesson I have learned has only increased my thirst for better tea, and soon I feel I'll be a tea snob. Ha!

In my little journey, my next endeavor will be the pursuit of obtaining a beautiful tea kettle infuser. I feel prepared to take the next step-- moving from bags to loose leaf. It is indeed a large step! The world of tea is complex and large (or at least larger than you strictly coffee drinkers realize).

MG made me the most perfect cup of  Twinings Irish Breakfast Tea I have ever sipped several days ago. I loved him for it.

Hopefully one day I shall perfect this craft.