i sent out my first three friday-tea invitations today! the first for the 17th of this month (suparna - who has lived in singapore for several years and misses the tropics as much as i), and then the week of the 24th (richard j. (who has written a children's book) and jacob j. (a columbus, oh. native and a thurber fan.) i'm really excited about these friday teas. i always feel i really get to know people better through them - so much easier to listen and to think with flowers and tea and soft light and cosy zabutons and quiet conversations. i have to find out when spring break is - i think i can have two then - on the monday and the thursday during break. one of these will be for nikki s - i've just found out that she wants to write her dissertation on the history of the english language (how cool! she's the only other person i know in our year with that sort of academic interest and is writing her independent study on that topic with dan donoghue - which means that if we run out of conversation about the english language we'll just discuss how much we both admire donoghue, and that should keep us going all day. now that the invites have gone out i have incentive to finish my paper, because if i don't turn it in they won't reinstate my stipend, and without money i can't give people good teas. i've already had to give up flowers, starting this past weekend, and if teas have to go too i don't know what there will be to live for. ooh. lots of planning. every menu is a challenge - suparna seems to be a little more particular about what she eats, so probably more kinds of fruit and less of the sweets and creams. she doesn't eat my cakes, so i might go to formaggio's and buy a fruit tart instead. and boys always have hearty appetites - having two of them over at once means more substantial fare. this calls for sandwiches certainly. and less chocolate in the menu. maybe some salmon roe. and i'll bake a cranberry almond cake. mm, she says, warming to the idea.