Tea Tour 2009 is underway. Madison artist Nicole Gruter is traveling cross country in a van re-outfitted as a giant tea cup and holding tea parties. Mad as a hatter, sure, but it's more than that, too. From The Onion's coverage of Nicole's tea time:

"It's the idea of a ritual relaxation that people do every day in certain countries, and that we've completely dismissed as necessary," Gruter tells The A.V. Club. Yet she's asking her guests more than you'd demand of your dollies in the back garden. She wants them to talk about the stress brought on by the Western world's hectic lifestyle, in which we're rarely encouraged to take a moment for ourselves, quit fidgeting with email, and give our brains a rest.

An important reminder on Labor Day, which was intended to be a day off to relax as a national thank you to American workers. Nicole is out in Oregon at the moment. If you want to check out the van (called "Tea-Mobile") and have a soothing cup with Nicole, here's the Tea Tour 2009 itineray.

More:

* Tea Tour 2009 promo video

* The Making of Tea-Mobile

* Nicole Gruter's website