Aw, Bev. I think my mom was something of the same kind of smoker - she hasn't had a physical craving in almost twenty years, but she loved having a grown-up prop, having something to do with her hands when she was thinking or waiting or choosing just the right word. She loved the ritual of it more than anything else, and, as for you, for her it was very deeply tied to the act of writing.

I've always thought this exchange hit the nail on the head, as far as the ritual of smoking goes:

Frasier: What is so wonderful about smoking?
Bebe: Everything! I like the way a fresh firm pack feels in my hand. I like peeling away that little piece of cellophane and seeing it twinkle in the light. I like coaxing that first sweet cylinder out of its hiding place and bringing it slowly up to my lips. Striking a match, watching it burst into a perfect little flame and knowing that soon that flame will be inside me! [Begins displaying innuendo]
Bebe: I love the first puff, pulling it into my lungs... little fingers of smoking filling me, caressing me, feeling that warmth penetrate deeper and deeper until I think I'm going to burst!
[Frasier raises his eyebrow]
Bebe: Then 'woosh!'... watching it flow out of me in a lovely sinuous cloud, no two ever quite the same!
Daphne: [Visibly aroused, as are the others] More potatoes, anyone?

That's about it. And yet, eventually, other rituals took over (coffee is her thing, but I believe there are some here present who find the ritual of a well-crafted pot of tea very pleasurable), and the words started coming even faster than before (er, the coffee may have helped a bit with that) and her hair and clothes didn't have that bitey smell anymore.

I believe there are some here present who find the ritual of a well-crafted pot of tea very pleasurable

I have no ritual anymore, and I FUCKIN' LOVE IT.

Sorry. I know it's an overpriced piece of frippery, but I want to sexually gratify my teamaker. I already liked tea. Now I want a committed relationship with it.

ita ! It's good to see you posting again. I was thinking of you the other day because your interpretation of events on Persons of Interest was right, and I was wrong.

your interpretation of events on Persons of Interest was right, and I was wrong

Oh, really? (Hi!) I've lapsed watching the show because I have two other things recording in the same slot--has the arc been moving along much? Where do they stand with the lady cop right now?

I hold it's not frippery if it does the job better and makes you happy.

H used to smoke a pipe. He quit when he realized he didn't really *like* the way pipe tobacco tasted, he just liked all the little tools and rituals. I'm sort of that way about tea. I'm fond of tea, but it's the tools and rituals that make me happy.

The finale is this week. We have some more of the main characters back stories, but it is mostly a villain of the week show. The lady cop is working with them but doesn't approve of their methods or know about the machine. She also doesn't know the other cop is also working with them, and other cop doesn't know she is working with them either.

I found chrysanthemum tea! I was looking for it and failing to find it, which is nutty given how not-fancy it is, but finally found a tea stand that sold loose tea. Little flowers floating in my tea pot, I love it!

She also doesn't know the other cop is also working with them, and other cop doesn't know she is working with them either.

You know, I did not realise this. It didn't even occur to me. Doh.

finally found a tea stand that sold loose tea

Previous day I managed to make it into the office I was waylaid by a tea purist, who spent about 20 minutes talking about *nothing* but tea. He highly recommended the store in Century City mall that's not Teavana. And he talked about a whole lot of tea stuff I'd never even heard of.