Huh?  You ask yourself?  What is she talking about...

Well, let me tell you.  It's been about three weeks now since I've been sick.  Sick meaning that I've been congested and tired and probably had bronchitis, sick!  But I couldn't get in to see the Doctor.  Thanks H1N1.

So, instead I sucked it up and risked weakening my heart (I've heard long illnesses are a drain on your heart - don't know if it's true).  Anyway, in my addled state I decided I should drink lots of tea with honey to help with my cough and my congestion, etc.

So, I've been making myself a nice hot cup of tea in the morning and another in the evening.

Now let me rewind for a minute.  At the store several weeks ago they had an end-cap tea display.  The tea boxes were on sale so I got several boxes.  I bought an Earl Gray, even though I wouldn't be caught dead drinking any kind of tea with that much caffeine in it and I got an irresistible Orange Tea and something else.

Okay, back to the story. 

So, thinking that I'm being all healthy and natural, I was drinking my nice hot Renaissance Fair mug (which is about 14 oz. large) of orange, herbal tea.

Imagine my surprise then when I lay in bed, wide awake at three and four in the morning unable to sleep.  I am so relaxed.  I've had a super long day at work and at home.  I should be more than ready to sleep.  So, what's the problem?

After about two weeks of this on/off not sleeping business, I decided to investigate.

Here's what I found.  Black tea, some say, has the highest caffeine content of any tea...  now I didn't really do the research, BUT, even if it doesn't...  Any amount of concentrated caffeine in a body that is not used to it, is too much; particularly at night!  Therefore, I might as well have been doing several shots of RedBull!  No wonder I haven't been sleeping... and I've been sick for so long! 

Argh!  What is the moral of the story?  Read before you drink and be careful of those night caps!  *Yawn - stretch!*