Afternoon Tea

Based on my blog entries this month, it should be clear how little free time I've had. BUT one of the best choices I made in the midst of all the crazy was to have afternoon tea at The English Rose with several friends from school. A traditional English tearoom (see pictures), it's one of Chattanooga's unique places run by two "real life" English women and the perfect place for all things girly.

After writing our party's name in chalk on the chalkboard to secure our place during a short wait, we had time to peruse the shelves and shelves of tea sets, teas, stationery, aprons, and other little trinkets that you really hope you don't knock over since you'll be paying for them if you do. Most entertainingly, we saw a group of about 6 elderly women decked out in all red--literally from head to toe. They all had on different red hats, and I'm pretty sure I overheard someone say that they come every week for tea at high noon. I wouldn't put it past them. And I secretly hope that I'll be having afternoon tea in a red hat when I'm 80+ years old!

We sat down and the first thing our server asked us was, "Would you like a pot of tea for the table?" Yes please! And oh, it was good! But when our finger sandwiches and cheese scones came out, the tea took a back seat. The cheese scone was especially delicious with all the buttery flavor of a scone without the dryness.

But better than the black tea (with cream, of course) or the "crumpets" was the conversation with friends who understand my life in grad school right now and that was the real treat.

If you ever have a leisurely afternoon in Chattanooga, I highly recommend the English Rose. In the above picture, our table was the one in the bottom left corner.

The Weepies: my new favorite band

go to lala.com.

type in The Weepies.

brilliant! 

(thanks to Katie for the recommendation!)

Ph.D. speak

Ph.D holders have a secret handbook, I'm convinced. In it, there must be a chapter on how to sign off on emails because nearly every professor and friend I know with a Ph.D signs off with the word "Best." It doesn't matter their age, how long they've known me, how old they are, or how long they've had a doctorate--they all sign off the same way.  Example:


Cara,


Thanks for leaving the signed form on my desk. I'll send it on to the English office and email you with what I find out.


Best,


Dr. Smith

To be clear, there's nothing wrong with signing "best." It general communicates well wishes to the receiver, but it's also curiously vague. Best what? Are the missing words before "best," as in (I'm the) best or (you're the) best, or is it after, as in (I wish you the) best? Is it just me or is this a national phenomenon, part of a secret code of conduct for professors? And am I allowed to use that word when I sign emails even though I'm not a professor? If I ever have the letters Ph.D. after my name, I think I'll sign off differently just to buck the system...since I'm so rebellious and all. Maybe something professional like "Your awesome professor" or "So glad I'm not in your shoes."