Tom & Alissa

I was never much for headaches until the last couple years, and I think I’ve figured out why: filter coffee. Nooo, you say! Not coffee! Not me!

The good news is that I think it’s certain types of coffee, because when I drink coffee “out” or at work, it invariably hits, but drinking it at home doesn’t seem to bother me. Dark roasts (being less caffeinated) don’t bother me at all, but light roasts seem to afflict me with a massive headache. Espresso doesn’t have any effect at all.

So, I’ve sworn off the office coffee, which I never really needed anyway (case in point: I have had no caffeine withdrawal symptoms, despite drinking one to two cups a day since I started here a year and a half ago). I have instead taken to drinking copious amounts of red tea (rooibos), which is naturally decaffeinated and YUMMY. I can’t afford to drop down to Starbucks, the only source of drinkable coffee in this wasteland known as Rockefeller Center, and pick up shots of espresso on whim, and I like the taste of most teas anyhow - so it’s all good.

Now for the et ceteras:
- I was in the midst of writing this entry when my copies of The Relevant Nation showed up! In case you’re new to the blog, this is a book that Relevant published this fall. I contributed to the book, as did a number of others, and Heather Zydek edited. I was pleasantly surprised by how lovely this book is. It’s a great size and has 50 profiles of young Christians (under 40) who are making an impact in their field, from our very own Angela working for religious freedom all over the world, to my friend Danai who wrote and starred in an award-winning off-Broadway play, to musicians, social activists, authors, the works.

- Frivolity: I don’t usually use wall calendars, but I love this one.