Keeping Warm: the teakettle

[asakiyume]

Picture the grad student: she is a teaching assistant. She works late into the night. If you went into the teaching assistants' room, you might find her curled up and assume she'd fallen asleep over her grading, or over her reading, or in contemplation of her laptop. But then she'd raise her head in some confusion and embarrassment, because, you see, she'd been cradling the teakettle, which is so nice and warm. A stainless-steel hot-water bottle.

It's cold in the TAs' room: she's got her jacket on, and a scarf, and the old boots she just bought replacements for, but somehow has not yet stopped wearing--the boots with the big split on top that lets the snow come in direct contact with her sock (and then it's quick work to reach her foot).

"If anyone finds out I do this," she'll say, "they might not want to make tea from it anymore!" As if to embrace a teakettle is illicit--transgressive--deeply wrong. Please, reassure her--but not too effusively, or she will become suspicious.

Comments

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Makes perfect sense to me! (I don't like the cold...)

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Makes sense to me, too! I usually settle, like Cucumberseed, below, for my mug of hot drink, but the whole tea kettle would be even more warming.

[cucumberseed.livejournal.com]

I snuggled with my teacup yesterday in my office, since the heat wasn't working.

Deedees says that kitties are better, but a teakettle will do when you're in a pinch.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Amazing how *very effective* even eight ounces of hot drink can be.

Kitties are definitely better--alas, they don't come and sit on command. At least, Jiji doesn't. Jiji will only sit with the ninja girl (who, it must be said, obligingly remains still for extended periods, and on the couch, which is a much nicer place to sit than on my lap on a wooden chair in a room with northern exposure).

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

I don't think that's any worse than pressing an icy drink to one's forehead in trying to escape the heat.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Same idea, isn't it. I guess she felt self-conscious about using a communal item--the kettle--rather than just a mug for her self-warming. But it does make a cuter image. Like a mother hen. "Look! I gave birth to this metallic chick! He's super warm!"

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

This is deeply adorable. :)

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

^_^ Thanks! It's a true story, but I didn't see it myself; my husband did.

[sovay]

As if to embrace a teakettle is illicit--transgressive--deeply wrong. Please, reassure her--but not too effusively, or she will become suspicious.

I wrap my hands around hot drinks in restaurants. My circulation is terrible.

I like your drawings.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I do the same, as mine is also poor!

Thanks

[vanatoomas.livejournal.com]

What a lovely story and sketch (poor teaching assistant, though! I hope she will not get sick from being cold all the time!)

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

She is strongly powered by the force of her mind--I think viruses tend to keep a respectful distance. (But I hope so too!)

[wuweibaby.livejournal.com]

Ah, a drawing and a story first thing in the morning as I cradle my warm cup of tea in my hands. Nice.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

♥♥ ♥

Stay warm and dry. (It's pouring with rain here--I'm just thankful it isn't snow)

[wuweibaby.livejournal.com]

It's been cold and dry here for about a week? No rain until the weekend! New windshield wipers get used for the first time!
My hands are so dry and rough they feel like a loofah sponge.

[rosefiend.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I totally know how that TA feel.

I guess it would be a good idea to invest in a space heater for my work. Because if I'm cold now, I'm going to be a lot colder soon!

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Perhaps what you need is just three or four Irish wolfhounds--they will make the space much warmer! (But they will also need food and exercise so… maybe the space heater is a better idea.)

[duccio.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I've read stories about people in Oakland CA, sleeping with irons on in their beds because the heat has been turned off by their landlords or the gas co. We never hear about that occurrence in San Francisco, but I suppose it happens everywhere, just reported on in minority communities because: minorities... no need to act. Blame the victims.

Cuddling the teapot probably is loaded with multiple benefits. "Tea adds life", as scientific studies re: anti-oxidents have shown, and it is a tasty stimulant, better than quasi-poison/addictive big pharma products, for keeping students alert and learning. Everybody can see we need more smart students learning and staying awake, to comprehend and to solve all these problems we have these days. Go TEA!

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Go tea--and warmth conferred in any way possible.