kiya

First and most important things first:

Recipe for Green Tea Petits Fours
The chocolate and strawberry ones were assembled from this cake, this ganache, and some strawberry jam, according to this set of directions.

So. I spent last night overpreparing for this, getting all the stuff I needed in a heap, testing it to fit into the stroller, making signs and so on (thanks to

whispercricket for getting me the posterboard at the last minute). KJ went to sleep at 9ish, I guess, and I went up to bed with her at 10ish since I knew I'd have to be up early and she's fussy about sleeping Not With Someone lately.

teinedreugan and I woke at 6:45 or so and puttered about getting ready, changing and dressing the babymonster, loading things into the car. Then he drove me down to Alewife T, where I grabbed some cash and some food. Stroller fit through the doorthing, but it was tight; I ... should probably have found the wheelchair-access one, which must exist. We took the subway down to the Common and headed for the site. I ran into a couple of folks dressed like refugees from Alice in Wonderland; I ... don't think they were with us, entirely, but at least some of their compatriots came by for tea?

I think I got there a bit past nine; the organiser was there and pretty much nobody else. I tried to set up my signs, which was a perpetual source of drama because the wind kept trying to blow them away. I attached "DISPLAYING SIGNS OF TRIVIALITY - Oscar Wilde" to the right side of the stroller and "ASSAM = AWESOME" to the left. (Eventually the latter migrated to the back because of wind.) KJ was extracted from the stroller and her jacket and sat on the blanket staring at everything, for she was not really awake.

People started to drift in, many of them quite smartly dressed. As we were settling, a moderately belligerent gentleman accosted the organiser with "That's why we're doing this!", indicating her toddling son. "We're taking our country back!" We were nonplussed.

Another gentleman associated with the tea party being held on the other side of the hill came over to inform us that all tea parties were welcome in the GOP. Not to be outdone by his offered hospitality, I gave him a petit four. He complemented me upon my historically accurate Damascus vest and regaled me with interesting trivia about the Barbary Pirates; I neglected to quote the Treaty of Tripoli as excessively political for tea. Eventually he meandered off with a last, "Everyone who is opposed to the Democratic Party is standing up against Communism!"

Many people photographed our gathering; early on I commented that we were an important tourist attraction. Various protestors, counterprotestors, and others wandered by, some stopping to chat, others just taking photos. I was charmed by the fellow with the sign reading "I'M ACTUALLY RATHER APATHETIC" (it had "SUPPORT VECTOR MACHINES" on the back) but did not get a good photograph. One of his compatriot's signs was unfortunate in its suggestions about the guest of honor at the other tea party, though, alas.

Some gentlefolk with a politically ambiguous sign came by, came back complaining they had been dismissed from the rally, left their sign and went back to the rally, returned having been dismissed again. I do not recall if they had any tea.

xiphias appeared and proceeded to start setting up vast quantities of supplies, including an actual gas-fired kettle. I told him that I was certain that he would solve the kettle problem. (He apparently also read the regs and got something that none of the authorities might find uncivil.) He offered me a watercress sandwich, a delicacy of profound appropriateness which I had happened to never have had before.

I was asked why I was there, and said I was in favor of polite discourse and good tea. (Apparently the reportery guy wrote it down wrong, but I have left him a note on his website, perhaps he will fix it. If not, I have at least said so.)

There was much amiability, the offering of scones, digestive biscuits, sandwiches, petits fours, and of course tea. The organiser's small person ran laps around the gathering. More and more people arrived.

mindways popped in for a bit, and after a bit of this and that (in which I believe I got KJ to take a desperately needed snooze in the mei tai) helped me to distribute petits fours by following me around and proffering the box to people who accepted the offer.

A woman with a sign that said "Tea Party Imposter!" on one side wandered through and counterprotested our counterprotest. She was offered tea, but declined; I believe she accepted some coffee from

xiphias. Some of us expressed some puzzlement; we had tea and a party, and thus such suggestions were quite outlandish.

I offered petits fours to a number of the wandering reporters; only one accepted them, and she then asked if I would consent to an interview. She asked what I thought of the other tea party, and I noted that I wished for polite discourse, as I feel it is somewhat lacking. And that while I was not apolitical, the political position I put forth today was in favor of civility and good tea. She thanked me for being the sanest person she interviewed that day.

After KJ woke up there was more sitting about. She drank some water (1/3 drank, 1/3 poured on her shirt, 1/3 poured on the blanket); I wound up changing her into a dry shirt before we left. (Original shirt said something like: "Families come in all shapes, sizes, and colors". Changed shirt says: "I love PEACE".)

I managed to distribute all the green tea petits fours before the whipped cream went bad from the heat. This was an important goal.

Eventually people started drifting away. I caught

xiphias blowing his top at people who did not understand what debate was around then, though I didn't track the entirety of the thing. I wound up listening in on a discussion of DIY Judaism, which is much more my speed, and apparently said something clever about theology the precise wording of which eludes me. (Something along the lines of "Update your theology for sanity.")

At about 2:30 I wandered off to the T to try to catch the 3:05ish train home. Unfortunately, the Park Street elevator was out of service. So I walked to Government Center, to discover that there was a circus in Scollay Square other than City Hall. Government Center is not accessible, so I hellwithitted and walked to North Station, pausing midway to call

teinedreugan and make my pathing more efficient by asking for directions.

Spent too long in the bathroom at Boston Garden, then stopped at the McDonald's to get a snack, where KJ charmed the employees mightily. Wandered into the station in search of a place to sit and eat and was greeted by the organiser, who had also gotten a snack. We chatted, I fed KJ, and our respective trains were called.

KJ was happy and burbling for the first bit of the train ride, and then started to fuss, so I nursed her until we were past Woburn station and then packed things up to get off the train. Wilmington Station is partially accessible (one has to pick the right train car, but there are ramps and everything, and the conductor guided me to the right spot), which was lovely and unexpected (the website doesn't mark it as an accessible route).

I am left with a deeper appreciation for good curb cuts, a pleasant amount of exercise and socialisation, and a light sunburn. KJ is also empinkened, but we are keeping her moisturised and she more or less has my complexion so I anticipate she'll be fine.

So. Links.
The photos I took, such as they are.

Other people's links and photos and stuff:

The official website's compilation of photo links

xiphias's writeup is here.
Universal Hub
http://aliengirl.imgur.com/all/

Stuff from