instead July 28, 2008

Now that I’ve done a little intro to Alternative Goods for Your Goodies, I’ll let y’all into my personal experiences with some of these lovely products.

Since being more conscious about what my money is supporting, I can’t help but be extremely guilty and disgusted when my period comes around- not about my period itself, but about the products I’ve been using. I can’t stand pads and tampons anymore for the discomfort they cause me and the idea of what they’re doing to the environment everytime I throw another one in the trash barrel.

My experience so far with lunapads have been very satisfactory and vindicating, though, as a college-bound woman with an unstable job, I’ve still been unable to muster the nerve to purchase anything beyond some pantiliners.

Anyhow, during my last cycle, I was perusing the feminine care isle of a CVS, whereupon I found a box of Instead Softcups. Having heard about menstrual cups before, I was very excited to try a possibly more comfortable and hassle-free alternative to tampons/pads. Unfortunately, after going home and unsuccessfully testing about half the box of 14 softcups, I was disappointed. Though I still very much like the idea of these disposable cups, and they fit into place pretty easily, these one-size-fits-most cups did not fit me. They fell out of place very easily, causing leakage.

Since my experience, I have contacted them in hopes of them producing a slightly smaller sized cup. We women aren’t all built the same! (Since then, I’ve purchased a DivaCup, which I’ll report back on once my next cycle comes. Wee!)

Anyhow, aside from my own experiences, I have heard of many women who swear by this product. So I encourage all of you out there to try it. Take it from fellow goddess: Angela Shelton!

Tick tock July 24, 2008

Up until recently, I was very much in the summer mode- just working, relaxing, hanging out.  Of course, I’m still in this mode, but it’s becoming more and more undeniable that college is fast approaching.  My contentment with just living in this moment is coming to a screeching halt as everyone I encounter seems to have an interest in my plans for college and in my level of excitement on this subject.  It’s a big transition and I’m excited, but I am nervous for the school work to come.  I really hope I’ll be able to handle the work load and manage my time.  Other than that, I’m excited to meet new people and explore Philly.  But I can wait.

With that said, I’m really glad I have my Posse to share this experience with.  Since our recent retreat to Thompson Island, we’ve gotten very close, and I realize how lucky I am to have such a secure support system for the next four years, and maybe even beyond that.

Speaking of the retreat, having spent a couple nights on a woodsy island, I’ve found out that I have some sort of mosquito allergy.  Out of all things to be allergic to.. mosquitoes? Gettingsbug bites are already quite irritating enough, without the added swelling.  I guess I’ll have to brave the rest of my summer with layers, anti-itch cream, bug spray, and antihistamines.  Joyous.

Alternative Goods for Your Goodies! July 12, 2008

For quite a while now, I’ve been working on being a smart shopper- that is, making sure my money goes to people who deserve it and people who care about the community, their customers, and the environment, rather than major cock-sucking cunt-hating corporations.

Thus, I now present to you: the wonderful world of alternative menstrual products!

What’s wrong with regular ol’ pads and tampons?

1. They’re brought to you by man-owned coorporations, who know jackshit about you, your cunt, and your comfort.
2. Disposables are awful for the environment, getting flushed down the toilet, or taking up space in landfills.
3. $$$
4. Toxic Shock Syndrome, bleach, chemicals = directly exposed to your vagina. eek!

Soo…what are the alternatives?

Behold!

1. Lunapads, Gladrags
   
2. Instead Softcups
3. DivaCup, the Keeper, the Mooncup

What’s so great about these alternative products?

1. Support women and lesser known corporations that love your body.
2. Most of these options are reusable, lasting for up to years and years, saving you mucho money and reducing your environmental footprint.
3. Safe and healthy! No scary cunt-destroying chemicals!
4. Comfort, comfort, comfort!

So there you have it. Check it out. And start taking control of your body.

Have a truly happy period!

Doctor Appointment From Hell July 12, 2008

Today I have had the worst check-up experience of my life.

I’ve been going to the same doctor for the last ten years, but now that I’m eighteen, I’m smart enough to know when I deserve better.  Much better.

Now that I’ll be off to Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania this coming August, I needed to get a check-up at the doctor’s, and get all my shots and whatnot.  The service at this office sucks.  They truly do not know how to connect with their patients.  Because this is a long story, I’ll attempt to shorten it with a list of what went wrong for me during this experience.

1. Scary butch nurse, who does not communicate well.
2. Scary butch nurse walks in and out of room asking if I possess a “blue book” listing all of my past immunizations, or if I’ve ever gotten a skin test- both of which I knew nothing about, and both of which they should have had in their records.  That’s your job, Doc, not mine. (This is when I started to get nervous.  You expect me to let you inject stuff into me, when you don’t even know what the fuck you have or have not given me before? What?)
3. Doctor comes in and lists all of the things that need to be done to me.  Holy shit.
4. Doctor tells me that I’ll need to come back on Monday and take the urine test then, because I’m currently menstruating.  Doctor walks out.  Scary butch nurse walks in and orders me to pee in cup.
5. I sign papers without being explained what exactly is going on.  I get four shots, a TB skin test, and my blood drawn.  Nurse tells me my arms will be sore this weekend.  Thanks.
6. I am told to make an appointment for Monday.  Reception ladies are not at reception desk, and when I find them, they tell me just to call anytime, though they’ll be closed on Saturday and Sunday.
7. Cherry to top it off:  I find out, after leaving the building, that the Doctor did not mention that the Gardasil shot I consented to take costs a whopping fucking $500+ (and I don’t know if my insurance covers it) and that it’s a 3-shot process that occurs over several months (hello, I will be in Pennsylvania.)

Lesson: Get a doctor with nurses that you can trust, because who knows how they may be fucking around with you and your body.

However, it was quite amusing when, after talking to me on the phone and hearing how upset I was about my experience at the doctor (without hearing all the details) my boyfriend ran from his house to mine, still in his PJs, worried that something catastrophic had occurred.

Let those babies breathe! July 11, 2008

I’ve been going braless for months now. Being part of the Itty Bitty Titty Committee, this wasn’t so hard a transition for me. It was quite simple- my boobs are small (A Cup range, if you must know) and wearing a bra was just plain uncomfortable.

There have been connections made between wearing a bra and developing breast cancer or fibrocystic breast disease, because wearing a bra can hinder how your breasts remove toxins and other processes. In addition, not wearing a bra is supposed to actually prevent sagging. Boobs have ligaments, and just like any other muscle, to be strong, they need to be used. When you wear a bra to support your boobs, those muscles aren’t being used, causing your boobs to lose the inability to support themselves without a bra.

For me, it’s a way to say fuck you to the media, big corporations that benefit from selling bras and making me hate my body, and pressure for girls/women to look a certain way. For such a long time, I had problems with my self-image, because I hated how small my breasts were, and I thought no guy could look at me and like me. Wearing bras would make my boobs look bigger.

Eventually, however, I got sick of being brainwashed and oppressed. I got sick of feeling uncomfortable and confined. I got sick of looking at myself in the mirror without a bra, and thinking I look bad, just because my boobs looked small. Well, you know what, they are small. And I love them. And they’re healthy and free and oh so comfy.

Your’s can be too. =]

Check out: How To Go Braless