iBeth

Chocolate Headaches?

Awhile ago, I decided to clean up my act.  I've been eating more fresh produce & vegetable-based proteins (tempeh, tofu, seitan), drinking more water, getting more exercise, avoiding alcohol and other junk foods.  I sure notice a difference in the way I feel, and I sleep better, too!

But the past couple of days I've been troubled by headaches, bad headaches accompanied by sensitivity to light.  The only commonality, that I can see, is that for the past couple of days I've eaten about 50g of milk chocolate in the afternoon instead of my usual fresh fruit.  (No, I'm not perfect.)  "If it weren't so ridiculous," I told my husband, "I'd think that chocolate was giving me headaches!"  ha ha ha.

"Chocolate is well known for triggering headaches," he replied. 

Seriously?  Google tends to agree. There's widespread belief that chocolate triggers headaches (though it's also possible that impending headaches trigger chocolate eating).  While one double-blind study casts doubt on the connection, and I never noticed the problem in the past when chocolate was my dietary staple, I am going to assume that chocolate is the culprit for my recent headaches.  I can use all the motivation I can get to indulge less often in high fat, high sugar foods.  Half of an expensive 10,000 Villages fair trade chocolate bar is left in my desk, but maybe I can find someone to give it to.

Still, I am a bit astonished.  Chocolate causing headaches.  How did I never hear about that before?

Amelia Displays Good Manners

The other night, Amelia's daddy and I were proud to see her display good table manners.  We were meeting extended family for dinner at my sister's new house.  Emma and Amelia both sat at the table with grownups, ate spaghetti and salad cheerfully and neatly, drank from glasses without needing straws, used napkins, said "please" and "thank you."  Amelia even contributed a new topic to the conversation.

"Mans and boys have penises," she announced brightly during a conversational lull, "And girls have vulvas!"

Why yes, Honey, they do.  We'll talk more about that later.

Reading Is My Bag

On New Year's Eve, Emma entertained herself by writing a play.  She wrote scripts for me and for her sister.  My script contained only my lines and we never performed the play, so I have no idea of the overall plot.  But I love my lines! 

I can't figure out where she heard the "X is my bag" expression.  Maybe she saw it on a tote bag somewhere, since tote bags and Austin Power movies appear to be its main habitat this side of the 1960s.  However she learned it, she's absolutely right!  "Stop bothering me! Reading IS my bag."

Emma Makes a Sign

"Grandma," Emma said earnestly.  "I accidentally spilled some water in the bathroom.  But it's ok.  I made a sign."

Who is God?

During the sermon at church recently, Amelia was seized with a burning question:  "God, God, God!!  Who is God, Mommy?  Mommy, who is God?  Who is God, Mommy?  Who is God?"  I didn't know quite what to say, so I whispered, "God is love.  Now, BE QUIET."

Fortunately, I had a book on hand in case of just this eventuality:  What is God? by Etan Boritzer.  The book was a little old for Amelia, but she did listen to the whole thing.  The one who really liked the book, though, was Emma.