Ashmanra’s Sipdown Challenge | July 2023 | A tea that makes you smile
I wasn’t intending to use this tea for this prompt, but I made the last serving of it into an iced tea, and it unlocked a memory that really did make me smile!
Back in high school, at the height of my Lord of the Rings obsession, I was super active in various online LotR fandom communities (and was known by my elf name * hair flip emoji *). I befriended a group of fellow fans, and we chatted over AIM pretty frequently. One gal had a penchant for Snapple’s peach iced tea, which she called by its initialism/acronym: SPIT. I remember trying SPIT a few times, just because I knew she liked it.
When I sipped this iced tea today, I had a sudden memory of SPIT, which reminded me of those innocent days where I basically lived on the internet and would stay up till 6:00 in the morning over summer vacations, talking with my friends on AIM until I heard my parents wake up, at which point I’d scamper into bed and hope not to get caught. Those were the days! I often miss the internet of the early aughts, which I think is why I appreciate Steepster — it reminds me of those early, tight-knit, often fandom-based communities and forums!
2023 sipdown count: 41
You’re having computer troubles?
I have to bring my laptop to work with me, as computers generally aren’t provided. I mean, there’s a spare MacBook, but I am NOT a Mac user and if I’m going to be siting around waiting for stuff, I’d rather be on my own machine.
Ohh ok, I thought maybe you had to bring yours in to work because the lab computers were down or something. That must be annoying having to carry yours around though since you’re not a Mac person.
In Academia, generally everyone just brings their own computers. I’ve been doing it for years for classes, so I’m kinda used to it. I would say that if you’re managing a busy lab, then you might have a work-provided desktop. At least, if hope they’d be provided.
Yeah, I usually need to bring mine in too, but sometimes I get lucky and my profs provide theirs for our presentations. It’s great to not have to lug yours in when you have to lead a 3-hour seminar. The lab I’m in luckily has computers so that saves me 5 pounds on my back too. :)
For presentations there are computers in almost all the classrooms, and if you book a meeting room, most of them either have a computer or you can get one from the department. :) We’re kind of spoiled in that regard.
That’s good stuff! I think my dept’s AV dude could lend us one too but in our case, it’s the profs that usually spoil us haha. But you’d hate it! Because I swear all the profs here use Macs.
There are 9 people in the lab and two of us use Windows. :)
Yeah, Apple seems to really be taking over academia everywhere. Looks like two of you are fighting the power though haha.