Lent, Strong Will Power and Radiation

A few weeks back I was impressed by a friend who gave up facebook for Lent. I, too, decided that giving something up for 40 days could only make me a stronger person and started weighing my options.

I could remember from my 'religious' classes in elementary school back in Poland that if you participate in Lent, whatever you choose to give up has to have some value to you. So, things like "I won't go to Africa" or "I won't drink milk with honey and garlic" within the next 39 days (yes, I started a bit late) wouldn't work. On the other hand, I quickly made a decision that I wouldn't be giving up things that are essential to living like coffee or bubble tea. So, sushi it was.

Not to be alone in this exciting endeavor, I asked Len to stop drinking wine. As strong of a person as he says he is, he didn't last even 12 hours.

I proudly was doing very very well, and then the earthquake in Japan happened. Radiation from a nuclear reactor started spreading reaching California within just a few days. It was suggested that we have more iodine in our diet, and the things to get it from (other than supplements) are veggies from the ocean like kelp and seaweed (and more other things that I know little about). I saw kelp at the store once but have no clue how to prepare or eat it. Seaweed, on the other hand, conveniently wraps sushi rolls. It was a hard decision to make, but as a nursing mother, I didn't want to wait any longer and decided to sacrifice and get some iodine in my diet ASAP. Lent happens every year - I'll have plenty of opportunities to show off my extremely strong will power in the years to come.

Right now my family and our health are my priority. Iodine (so sneakily hidden in sushi rolls) - here I come!