As I wipe the dust
from artifacts of a forgotten life,
packing them in boxes
to be forgotten until next time,
I am an inch from tears.

I'm happy to be leaving
(I don't like it here at all),
but I spent five years as a nomad,
and this is the first home I've had
since leaving the place I grew up.

I grow attached to places
to walls and walks and views,
to Sunday morning bells,
and the sounds a house makes
when everyone is asleep.

"Tori" tea

I consider this beverage to be a sort of magical elixir, without which many of my less-healthy vocal performances would not have been possible. When I first started making it, I had 20 weekly hours of scheduled singing, plus any practicing or just-for-fun singing I did on my own. High in vitamin c for if you're actually sick, perfect for a scratchy or tickly throat, and the thing that can carry you to the end of your set, when it seems like nothing can. I figure, if it's good enough for Tori Amos, it's good enough for me. I've shared it with a number of people, over the years, and even if they didn't like it at first, they've all become converts.

This was a recipe I got from Neil Gaiman's blog and then scaled up and added some extra tips for brewing.

Neil said:
"Okay. Duncan is Tori's personal chef. This is the drink he makes for her, and is posted with his permission. He says to make sure it's not too hot when you drink it, and he adds that an ice-pack on the throat for about 20 minutes after coming off stage can reduce inflammation of the vocal chords."

I say:
I usually make this stuff about a half-gallon at a time with the following measurements:

1 tbsp powdered slippery elm bark in about 1/2 c of cold water
1/4 c honey
1/4 c lemon juice
24 slices ginger
12 slices lemon
~64oz boiling water

-Put the cold water in the bowl of a food processor *then* add the powder. Process until the lumps are gone. (this does not work as well in a blender)
-Pour the mixture into a heat-resistant container, preferably one with a strainer. I use a plastic Rubbermaid pitcher with straining spout.
-Add lemon juice, honey, ginger and boiling water, and stir to mix thoroughly and dissolve honey.
-Add lemon slices.

Can be drunk as soon as it's cool enough, or for better potency from the ginger, cool to room temp, refridgerate, and let steep overnight before straining. I don't recommend leaving the ginger in much longer than that. Will keep about a week after straining, when kept in a resealable container in the fridge.

Before dispensing, mix/shake thoroughly. Microwave a cup at a time or drink cold or at room temp.

-Finding powdered slippery elm bark: This is the key ingredient that intimidates most people. I get mine from these guys: http://pennherb.com/index.html whose shop is on Spring Garden, just near the Spring Garden Street El stop. The $9 bag should last a good long while, and they also ship from their online store, for non-Philly folks.