Monday, August 13, 2007

I've got a fever, and it can only be cured by . . .


Iced tea.

(You thought I was going to say "more cowbell" didn't you? I'll have you know we were watching that SNL sketch the first time it aired, and we laughed until our sides hurt. We knew it was genius before the rest of the world! Same thing with Lazy Sunday. We're in the know. But I digress.)

I have had such a craving the last few days for tea. Iced tea. Unsweetened iced tea.

My mouth waters just typing it.

I guess it could be due to the fact that it's over 100 degrees here. I don't know. I don't care. I just want my tea.

When I go out to a sit-down restaurant, I usually order water with lemon. That's partly because I'm trying to drink more water, and partly because I'm too cheap to pay upwards of two bucks for a drink.

(Good thing I'm a teetotaler - I hear the hard stuff costs even more. But anyway. Back to the tea.)

When I go to fast food, I usually get a diet drink. Most fast food places don't have what I consider good tea. I think that's partly because I drink it unsweetened, and I live in the deep south (home of sweet tea) and my stuff just doesn't get used up as much and therefore not refreshed as much.

I'd usually end up drinking either stale tea, or what my dad calls "chemical tea" (not brewed, but made from concentrate.)

Yuk.

But, I've discovered some fast food tea I can call my own. And it's in my backyard.

Literally.

At the Back Yard Burgers that's literally in my backyard.

Jason and I went there for lunch today (a strange feeling, being without the little one) and I had some. Then I was on my way to a meeting, and I stopped by again. Just for the tea. Got out of my car and everything, to be sure it was just right.

I have a tea maker here that I got for my 21st birthday (along with an engagement ring, but that's a post for a different day) and I've used it ever since. It turned 10 years old last week. I took it to college with me so I could always have fresh, unsweetened tea.

We've considered replacing it. It only holds one gallon, and Jason really wants one with a two-gallon pitcher. He's sure he's seen one somewhere, but I haven't located one yet.

So here we stay. With my 10-year-old beloved West Bend tea maker. And it still works. Because I just used it to make me a batch of tea.

(Jason, by the way, drinks the Walmart brand of diet peach tea. From a powder. Disgusting.)

I don't drink the stuff in a bottle at the store. Even the stuff that says it's diet. Because it has sweetener in it, albeit artificial. And I just don't like the taste of anything in my tea besides lemon.

I have relatives that drink it so sweet, you could use it for pancake syrup. But not me.

Call me un-southern.

Call me odd.

I don't care.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a refill.

5 comments:

Valerie said...

have you ever tried making sun tea? i haven't made it in years, but dang it is good.

you're like my husband. he drinks unsweeteened, too. not me. i'm probably one of those who could use it for pancake syrup.

you'll still love me, right?

Dawn Bibbs said...

Hi there. This is my first visit to your blog. I read a nice little comment from you on Susie Q's blog about my dauther, Jayla's first day of kindergarten yesterday. Thank you. Check out my blog...she had an awesome day.

Ok, I'm feeling you on the Iced Tea...that's like THE drink for us here in GA!!! LOVE it! Not as much as Dr.Pepper...but I love it nonetheless :-). Have a great day!

Melissa said...

Valerie, it's been a LONG time since I've made sun tea. It just takes too darn long! And yes, I think I can overlook a sweet tea fetish in you if I can overlook it in 95% of the folks around me.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Dawn - I can't wait to read how Jayla's first day went!

Susie Q said...

Totally love UNsweetened tea. Bill and I drink gallons of the stuff. Gallons! Literally.

I also drink a lot of water and yes, Coke too. No wonder I am always running to the ladies room. Ahem.

I loved this post...iced tea is just so crisp and refreshing. UNsweetened iced tea that is. : )

Love,
Sue

Sheila said...

Hey, you're like me..... I ALSO order water in restaurants all the time, because I don't want to pay the two or three extra bucks for a drink! lol Plus, the fact that I try to drink more water, because it's good for you.