Blame the Brownie?

I had so hoped that I had a new miracle headache cure.  For several weeks I've made a nightly date with Claritin and a week ago I decided to ditch my contacts in favor of some swanky new spectacles. Alas, another month; another migraine. It was worth a try. This year's general dampness certainly has created mold-related allergy issues for some folks with respiratory issues, and I have to say I'm breathing better at night overall. I'm also getting to the end of the day without tired, achy eyes. Both of these are quality-of-life improvements, but not a magic fix to the migraine issues. 

As every month nears its end, the migraines creep back no matter what I try, so consider yourself warned, America! Should I have finished off my almost-3-year old's chocolate chip brownie for him yesterday? Maybe this was not the week to fall off the non-chocolate wagon. On the other hand, tonight's predicted 20-degree temperature drop and possible storms means I'm also contending with the weather component that has no fix. Hiding inside in the air conditioning certainly makes me feel better than being outside in the humid air. Adopting a summer-long subterranean life would only work till the kids got hungry, though, so that's out. As for the glasses, well, I'm saving five minutes a day by not needing to clean contacts, so that's could turn into some helpful extra sleep, I suppose. 

As always, things could be worse. The intensity of my migraines seems less these days than it has in the past, so something is working. It's simply a mystery still in need of a solution. 

Coffee: It's Good for the Brain!

This morning I was flipping through Real Simple over my morning oatmeal and coffee and skimming the article on Brain Boosters. Any groggy, non-morning person will appreciate the appeal of suggestions aimed at improving mental sharpness. Low and behold, tip number two caught my eye as I sipped my caffeinated joy: "Drink Coffee." Well, sure! I'll say yes to any study that helps me justify my utter failure to give up coffee this year. The study cited in the article noted that "avid coffee drinking" (three to five cups per day) of caffeinated joe parallel less "cognitive decline." Why, we ask? The possible reason, and the reason I mention it here, is the magnesium present in coffee. Magnesium "decreases the chances of type 2 diabetes, an illness correlated with dementia. And a cup of joe is loaded with antioxidants, which help protect brain cells from free-radical damage."  Interesting to me is that I often hear recommendations to include magnesium supplements as a means to combat migraines. I regularly take a magnesium oxide supplement (Mag-Ox 400) on the recommendation of my doctor, and I've heard other magnesium formulations promoted from other sources as well. Coffee connection? I'm not sure. It may not be a good enough reason to drink more coffee, but it's certainly giving me a good reason to keep enjoying the coffee habit I already enjoy! 

The incredible bouncing migraine

Yesterday, I threatened to get my eyebrow pierced (not kidding if it really would work) to alleviate migraines. That, of course, didn't go over very well. There's also the little matter of the incredible bouncing migraine. Most of the time my headaches begin and centralize over my left eyebrow. It is not uncommon, though, for the pain to ease on the left size only to materialize later over the right eyebrow and then to fade and reappear over the left brow again. What is that all about? I asked a doctor once and even he had no answer to that mystery. Since I'm really, really not interested in two piercings and my headaches can't seem to make a commitment, I guess my modern trepanning approach is a no-go. 

Admit it, some of you are a little disappointed.  (And most of you are really, really relieved!)

Fortunately, it's a day of no crazy, stormy weather and the magic of Sudafed worked to kill of the lingering headache. Staid mom persona remains. Until next time...

A Clear Pattern: Dairy Products Lead to Congestion

No headaches to report today, thankfully, but I'm again noticing that dairy is at least mildly problematic. As I've mentioned before, I've dramatically cut back on my use of milk and cheese. When I do have dairy products in my meals, I notice their effects. Yesterday's foods included the cheese in my lunchtime lasagna and one small slice of pizza with mozzarella at dinner. By bedtime, I felt a congestion that used to be a nightly occurrence but has disappeared since I cut out the dairy. It definitely comes back when I have a noticeable amount of milk or cheese in the hours before bedtime. This is a mild stuffy-nose kind of complaint, but the pattern is very clear for me. I breathe better when I keep my dairy consumption to a minimum. Unfortunate, but true. 

Dining in Elmhurst, Greek Style

There was a moment of indiscretion with an ice cream sandwich yesterday evening, which could account for the mild headache that has been threatening all day. (It looked so innocent -- and yummy!) There's also been the threat of stormy weather all day, so lets blame any headaches on that instead, shall we? 

Wind and other complaints did not keep us at home this Father's Day, though. Since the weather report did suggest that thunderstorms were a possibility, we chose an indoor activity: exploring Elmhurst and its historical museum. Unfortunately, the lunch restaurant of our choice wasn't open. (We had called. We had checked on line. Sources contradicted each other.) As we began to wander Elmurst for an open and interesting restaurant, a small billboard caught my eye. We were blessed to be in Elmurst during the weekend of the St. Demetrious Greek Orthodox Church Taste of Greece Festival. That was worth turning the van around! (Actually, we turned around at least twice, thanks to a GPS unit that may date back to the ancient Greeks, but I digress.) 

Our Greek lunch was not what I would call light eating, but let's not discount the joy of happy eating. Jamieson enjoyed the gyros, which the kids nibbled, too, and pronounced good meat. I tried pastitsio, a Greek lasagna. It was rich and filling and wonderful. More lasagnas should be filled with egg. For dessert, we shared the loukoumades, heavenly honey puffs topped with cinnamon and yet more honey. Can you imagine how many wipes were needed to clean up the crew before we let them back into the van? Not a few, but worth every one. Oh, and those spheres of loukoumades bliss went delightfully well with the Greek coffee Jamieson and I enjoyed at the end of our meal, too. Just beware of the extra, um, intensity at the bottom of the cup. Not unlike Turkish coffee, grounds do make their way into the bottom. 

Well-fed, we made our way to the Elmhurst Historical Museum and then on to Fullersburg Woods Nature Center. Since no rain ever dampened our day, we were able to enjoy a walk along Salt Creek before calling an end to our day's adventure. 

I have to admit either the eating, the walking or the weather did finally provoke a real headache, but so far it's managed to stay controlled with minimal effort. We had a great day of exploring some new tastes and seeing some fun sights. A good way to celebrate Father's Day. 

A Taste of Japan: Mitsuwa Market

Gabutto Burger! 

During the last week of May, we were without Daddy as he spent several days in Japan for business. Wanting to share some of the culture that he experienced during his travels, he took us on a trek to Mitsuwa Marketplace in Arlington Heights for an dinnertime adventure. 

Mitsuwa is a full-sized Japanese grocery store that also includes additional shops, such as a book store, video store, and a food court with numerous menu choices. We wandered the grocery aisles for a while first, especially to enjoy the packaging of the products in the candy aisles. (Wouldn't you know it, the fun doughnut-shaped candy-making kit that Jamieson brought back from his trip was available at the store, as were some of the cookies he brought the kids.)  After browsing, it was time to experience some real Japanese cooking. 

Jamieson had heard good things about the ramen noodle shop Santouka, which was his goal. For the kids we went for something familiar: Gabutto Burger. It was a burger and fries, so they loved it, but the combination of beef, pork and breading made it different from the burgers they usually get at fast food places. We ordered plain burgers for them, but Gabutto offers unique sauces -- a demi-glace and Teriyaki -- to make the burger even more unique. Once the kids were fed, it was time to order for the grownups, but staring at Santouka's detailed menu overwhelmed me. So I told Jamieson to get his order in first. So, he did that and I headed back over to Gabutto to get the Teriyaki tofu burger -- not my most adventurous choice. More on that in a moment. While waiting for my food, I had a bite of Jamieson's ramen. Oh, my. Those "oriental flavor" ramen packets we all get for 20 cents each in college are nothing more than packing peanuts, folks. Real ramen is something mighty tasty. That was a bowl full of noodles of substance with some complex flavors in the soup. Yum. And, that was just food court ramen. 

I enjoyed my tofu burger, but like I said, it wasn't a daring choice. My food was tasty. I was satisfied. But I would have felt like I took better advantage of an interesting food opportunity if I had ordered something more unique. Any food that I couldn't possibly make at home would have meet that criteria. Sometimes, though, as we seek to broaden the kids' cultural and culinary horizons, I unexpectedly find myself to be the most difficult-to-feed member of the group. Why didn't I try those noodles? I was afraid. What has been my experience with fast food, inexpensive Asian food, and (obviously) cheap ramen noodles? Near instant migraines. As much as I want to be a daring diner who eats any odd thing that comes my way, I am so very, very tired of food-induced headaches. So, at the same time I am trying to teach my children to try everything, I am also trying not to eat everything. It's a dining dilemma.

At least Mitsuwa has a good bakery and sells plenty of desserts.  On our way out, we picked up a few things for the ride home: the Koala's March cookies for the kids, Calpico soda for mom and dad, and Mochi Ice Cream, balls of green-tea flavored ice cream covered in sticky rice cakes. Mochi was a bit more stickiness than the kids wanted to have between themselves and their ice cream, but they did attempt a bite. At least we had those cookies. And no one went home hungry. 

(And no one had a headache the next day!) 

One for the road
Mochi: Green Tea ice cream 

Trying Mochi

Health By Bike

A peaceful stretch of the
Illinois Prairie Path

One of the most delightful blessings of my life is living close to the Fox River and its wonderful trail network. Yesterday's glorious weather called me outdoors and I couldn't resist hopping on my bike and zipping on to the trails for a quick trip down to the library. Sure, it would be a smidge faster to do errands by car, but that would be to miss out on the fresh air factor. Navigating traffic and parking lots causes headaches. The only problem I had biking was the near-miss when a chipmunk with a death wish darted in front of me and parked his furry little body in front of my oncoming wheel almost a moment too long. Ah, a little nature-induced adrenaline is good for the brain, too. 

Today I made time for running on the treadmill in the basement, which isn't nearly as invigorating. I do open the windows but it isn't the same as running or biking under a verdant canopy alive with the birds and filled with some of the happiest pedestrians a person can meet. It just feels good to be outside these days and my body thanks me for making time to be there.