Does this stuff happen when I'm not cycling and I just don't notice?

What did you guys do on Sunday?

Me?

Well, Mal and I went to church, then he was ready to come straight home, which is rare. Usually he wants to go to the water park or somewhere else.

We came home, ate lunch, and played. James actually slept until one o'clock. After he woke up, I wanted to get out for a bit to make a budget (it's hard for me to do it after Mal's asleep, which at present is between 10:30 and 11:30 PM), and to set an appointment to see a GI.

I went to Randall's to enjoy their Coke Freestyle machine and free wi-fi. I got settled in and realized they've changed their wi-fi since last time I was there. They don't allow ANY streaming, which means that I couldn't enjoy noise-reducing "study music" whilst I tried to put together a budget. Instead. I had to listen to the race they had playing on their television, where the announcer kept talking stats and places and which car was doing what... in other words, a lot of numbers.

Even when I can concentrate fully, numbers aren't my strong suit, so this was a problem. I wasn't there long before I decided to go to McDonald's and use their internet, instead. So I put my tablet into my already-heavy purse, topped off my large fountain drink, and went to get a 12-pack of soda to bring home.

I realized that we also needed eggs about the same time that I realized my soda had bubbled up onto the lid, pooled there, and was pouring down the front of my dress.  Then I quickly grabbed the eggs and headed to the cash register. About half way there, I made another unwelcome realization: My underpants were falling down. I was wearing a dress. I had a fountain drink and eggs in one hand, and a 12-pack of soda in another. There was no way to fix it, so I just walked with my legs metaphorically glued together at the top.

By the time I got to the cash register to check out, I was fully aware that my entire butt cheeks area was uncovered by what is supposed to cover them, but fortunately I had on a dress that is fully lined, so there were two layers above it. I paid and walked out to the car and sat down without losing my underpants, so I guess yay for me.

Then I went to McDonald's. I had lost all passion for budgeting by then, so decided to find an in-plan gastroenterologist to see about my stupid esophagus-sticking thing. I've had it for as long as I can remember, but recently, it wants to happen multiple times per week instead of just one painful and terrifying (and gross) time every couple of years. Primary culprits: chicken, carrots, and dry bread or noodles.

Anyhoo... the Blue Cross Anthem site makes it really easy to search for a specialist in your area, but they don't have contact info for them once you get there. I looked up the first doctor I honed in on and found that she was actually practicing in Arlington (near Dallas) rather than in the Austin area, so I filled out a form that indicated that the listing was in error.

Then I found a second doctor. When I Googled her, I found that she, too, is affiliated with a practice in Irving (Dallas area), and I filled the form out for her.

By the third one, I was angry and surmised that surely there is someone who works for BCBS whose job is to make sure that listings are up-to-date. Why was I working so hard for free? And by free I mean, to make an appointment I'm going to have to pay full price for, anyway, whether they're in or out of plan, since our deductible is something like $14M and we haven't cracked into it at all this year.

What I'm telling you is that my Sunday afternoon was weird, and what was supposed to be a sort of relaxing break didn't actually yield much by way of accomplishment or relaxation. Also, I'm a Mom so not too sure what I was expecting with that whole thing.

Product Review: Thinx

Here's a very serious caveat: If you were born with a Y chromosome, this post is not for you. Nope. Move along, friend. Buh-bye.

Okay, just us Double Xes, then?

Hi there! You might remember (but probably don't) a review I did almost exactly four years ago on The Diva Cup. I was not overstating things when I insisted that it changed my life. It seriously did.

So, here we are, now six and a half years after this discovery, and guess what? I made another discovery.

Not an "instead," but an "and also." Why? Because life changes.

It's likely that the convergence of a couple of things have conspired to create an unsatisfactory (even more so than the usual) situation surrounding this here lady's menses.

First, I had a second baby. Shouldn't be surprising that that changes some stuff.

Second, I'm likely in the early stages (middle early?) of perimenopause. I think Perry Manypaws sounds like the name of a Disney character. No? How about Merry Pennypaws? Definitely. Someone get on that.

Anyhoo, since I'm breastfeeding -- yes, still -- I fully expected, based on the voracious nature of my son's desire for "la la" (he calls it) and his nearly-constant sucking reflex, that I'd get a break from my period for a year or so.

Unfortunately, that was not to be. About four months in...

Not only that, it was like high school grade awful. Extremely painful, making me more anemic than usual, and often lasting ten days. Oh, goodness, and the volume.

Since I have a Diva Cup, I know pretty much exactly how much I'm bleeding. It's terrifying.

And so, here is my problem: Even if I empty and clean up every single time I'm in the restroom (which is a lot, because I drink all day long; at least once an hour), I end up with leaks.

Ugh, it's been like a teenage dream... a nightmare: Switching underwear several times a day, STILL having to change pants, being nervous that something might have happened since last time I checked. 

Hope none of the Ys are still here; I warned them!

As has everyone with internet access, I'd seen Thinx and it seemed really neat. Also expensive. But, after nearly a year of this, I was getting desperate. Six months ago or so, I read a very funny review that made me decide, "Eventually, I'm going to do this."

Get it? Thinking about Thinx.

Still. More than $30 a pair. Actually, that's about what a good bra costs. So, finally, after more and more of the same, I went for it. I was going to buy one pair and test it, then decided just to go for it, buy 5 (to save 15%) and hope for the best.

First things first: Sizing. Their website says, "You may have heard to size up, but our sizing now runs true to the size chart!" So I looked at their sizing chart. In real life, I wear a size 14, which would be XL. But I also measured myself, and according to that, I would be an XXXL! I waffled on which to do, and ended up ordering my actual, real-life size, measurements be darned.

I'm glad I did! So order your pant size and you'll be fine. Oh, and yay to them for sizing according to something that makes sense, as opposed to other women's underpants, in which I wear a 7 or 8, which roughly corresponds to... nothing else. Why?

Just Sunday, I had gotten dressed and left for church, ran to the restroom as soon as I got there, and had a disheartening, "Really?! ALREADY?!" reaction. Fortunately, I guess, I'd already gotten my dress dirty on some mystery substance in my car, so it wasn't like I didn't already need to change clothes. Sigh.

A day or two later, in the space of about half an hour, something happened so that a leak made it through the unattractive thick cotton underwear I'd strategically chosen, and through the thick denim seam at the crotch of my shorts! UGH!

Then, like a miracle, this package arrived this week! They didn't send me a notice of shipping, so I wasn't sure when to expect them. I was glad they got here during my period, but was kind of disappointed that it seemed to be on its way out. But silly me! It's only Day 5, and it's returned with a vengeance, so I'm getting a very solid chance to try them out.

Okay, first, here is what they look like lying on the floor and not on a cool model:

These are the "heavy flow" (2 tampon) hip-huggers. I didn't even notice until today that the lining of the nude pair is still black. That's nice. You don't have to see... you know. Stuff. But it's flawless on the outside; you can't see through to the black.

These are my favorite, the lighter day (1 tampon) boy shorts. I am still using my Diva Cup, so only want these as a backup. I pick boy shorts because I am a middle-aged woman who does not enjoy trying to manage wedgies or the roll-down that happens when I wear stuff that hits me under my natural waist. So, it's boy shorts. And there was much rejoicing.

First thing: These are seriously-engineered underpants. They look sturdy, and they're not bulky, but they're substantial. Kind of like I'd expect a girdle to be put together, except that when you put them on, they're very comfortable. I could tell instantly that I was going to enjoy wearing them.

The inner core part goes up fairly high in both the front (pictured) and the back. You can look on the website to see exactly how these are put together, but basically, the inner layer is some moisture-wicking tech (like your running shirts, for those of you who are into that sort of thing), then an anti-microbial, an absorbent layer, and then a leak guard layer.

So far, here is my experience: I know I've had a couple of pretty productive days, but they've been flawless. It hasn't even gotten through to the outside layer of the drawers, much less my pants.

But here's where I was really looking forward to a change: Overnight.

Remember that toddler I have? The one who still breastfeeds? He wakes up multiple times a night, and he flails. He also just sits up and starts randomly crawling around, occasionally falling off of the bed.

So at night, I literally wrestle a toddler. And all of that activity, plus usually an eight- to ten-hour time spread during which I can't empty out and start over has led to my having to do emergency sheet washes, and it's been truly embarrassing and stupid and pointless. I AM ALMOST 44 YEARS OLD. I NEED MY DIGNITY.

Anyway, they work! Not a drop.

Finally, I live in Austin, Texas. It is summer. Nothing, and I mean nothing "feel(s) dry!" Not here. Not now. Well, friends, I feel drier than usual. I mean  drier than even when I'm not having my period and an wearing normal underthings.

Also, I've read about the"stank," and maybe you have, too. I think this might only be a deal if you free flow with them. Using the Diva Cup, there has been no discernable odor being what one unfortunately expects.

And now you know.