eowyntook

So, I actually used my Lady Cup for the very first time today. It's AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This morning, I hadn't started bleeding yet, but I figured that I would later today and decided to try my cup. At first, I tried to put it in standing up and failed miserably. So, I put it in sitting down, and had a little trouble, but finally got it in. It was a little uncomfortable because of the stem, but, I decided to leave it and just see if it was something I could get used to.

So, this evening (I wore it all day :)), I was in the shower, and I decided to just try to remove/reinsert it in there. I took it out, and when I checked, there was blood in the bottom of the cup! I was SO excited because normally, even using tampons, I would leak ALL the time. So, I washed it, trimmed the stem a little, and decided to try to reinsert it standing up again.

It practically placed itself! While I was standing!!! And I barely even knew it was there. I can actually bend over and sit down without worrying!

In any case, I just wanted to say thanks to everybody who helped me figure this out. :)

And, if anyone is thinking about getting a cup and hasn't yet, it's awesome!

 OH MY GOD!.... so everything went rolling along great on my dry run with the meluna a few posts back, and I thought it was amazing...except its been nearly in there 36 hours and I'm still trying to remove it.  I can barely reach the rim and have been using a rubber glove at this point because even though I've been taking breaks and let it sit overnight, my vag is a bit pissy at me. I have read all the comments about removal and bearing down is helping a little bit, I can reach the ring stem I just can't get the suction to break or grab the bottom of the cup.  Does anyone have experience with meluna specifically and the suction they bring due to only having two holes and the stiffer rim? Previously I thought I couldn't fit a large...because I thought I'd located my cervix and I was close but whatever that was wasn't my cervix.   The cup thats in there is the size of the large from rim to stem, so you can bet my large order is in and on its way....I'm lucky I want to use a cup so bad, this removal process would have scared anyone else to never touch a cup again. I assume the majority of today will be spent trying to get this thing out. 

A Weekend at Southdown Abbey

Come visit Austin, Texas, December 4th-6th, 2009 as it is transformed
into Southdown Abbey on Persephone from the Firefly and Serenity
‘Verse.

Join us as we celebrate Shepherd Book’s journey before becoming a crew
member on Serenity. We’ll start with an Abbey Fashion Show, showcasing
Asian-inspired designs, while offering Sereniteas’ blended teas, as
well as homemade hors d’oeuvres. We’ll have a costume picnic on the
Abbey grounds and then a dance in the Fellowship Hall with music by
The Bedlam Bards and food made primarily from produce grown at the
Abbey! We’ll end this shiny shindig with Serenity on the Big Screen at
our local Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek.

The best part – all proceeds from this event will go to support The Al
Wooten Jr. Heritage Center of which Ron Glass, our Shepherd Book, is a
Board Member.

Want to spend a weekend at Southdown Abbey? Tickets are $25, get them now. Space is extremely limited for this event, so don’t miss out!

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit
www.lonestarshindig.com

Hi everyone! 

After learning about the mcups I decided that I had to get one.  I don't have a thing against tampons except that I have to change so much.

At first I thought that the only mcup that existed was the diva cup..  but as I am learning there are so many brands! 

I'm researching and trying to figure out what cup I'm supposed to get and so far I've come to the conclusion that a mooncup might be best for me... but I'm not sure, so I was hoping someone could help me out. 

- first off, I live in California, if that eliminates any of my options... (but I would think that I could have any mcup mailed to me... no?)

-I am 17, virgin, 110 pounds, 5'8 (a bit underweight, i'm working on it)
-I usually have my period for about a week or so...
-My flow tends to fluctuate, but I can get a super (tampon) up there if I have a heavy flow, but usually it's a medium flow
- I don't want to have to change every so often, 12 hrs sounds REALLY good. 
-I can get two fingers up there and reach my cervix (I thought I lost a tampon, so someone told me to stick my fingers up there and get it :(, that's another reason why I want to switch to an mcup! I think I've had at least 10 incidents where I thought I lost my tampon or couldn't remember whether or not I had put one up there)
-I don't think I'll have trouble getting the cup up there or taking it out, I can adapt pretty well, I just don't want to be in pain and I also don't want my vagina to explode or anything


Hmmmm.... so is the mooncup right for me?  If not, do you have better suggestions?
 
-


 

Not sure if any of you remember, but I posted last night (I think it was last night :/) regarding my Diva Cup and the trouble I was having with putting it in and taking it out. Well, I just wanted to let everyone know that I took all of your suggestions to heart, put them together, and voila! Today (and I'm still on my dry run, so I'm guessing it'll be even better once my period actually starts) I had very little annoyance from my Diva Cup. I put it in so that it was comfortable right away, and have figured out how to fold it when taking it out so that it doesn't hurt. I'm very excited by this, and just want to thank the mods of this community for having such a helpful place to come to regarding this stuff, and those who commented on my post and offered encouragement and suggestions. Thanks, you guys! ♥

So, my sis has said she's finally ready for a cup (yay). She just turned 21 and is a virgin. I'm interested in getting her a medium Meluna. What are ya'lls thoughts on a Meluna for a virgin and cup noob?

Thanks, Sara

Hey guys,

A couple of people said in a thread that they feel like they've slightly torn their genitals when using the Diva. I think I may be experiencing that! I have felt localized pain for the last few days (period ended about a week ago) and today I checked it out with a mirror. I noticed a very thin red line, about 1 cm long, very near my vagina. It only hurts if I touch it, or if urine or hot water runs over it in the shower or something. 

Any advice on how to handle? I put a tiny dab of neosporin on it, hoping that would help it heal. It's not that painful, but i really want to have sex with my husband and I'm afraid it will cause irritation. Will this just go away on its own or should I call my doctor?

Thanks ladies!

xoxo

Just a couple of pics from a stop at the Cleveland, TN Salvation Army today.


( ... plus one )

Just because the hot water comes out of the dispensor slowly - does not mean it's empty. 
What did you expect?
Did you think that scalding lava-water would come blasting out like a firehose?

So don't be telling me it's empty when water is OBVIOUSLY coming out the tap.
I have better things to do then walk back and forth with a giant pitcher of hot water.
 

How do you all respond to requests for cheap rooms from people you're not necessarily friends with? See, tonight a girl I know through mutual friends but who is not a good friend of mine called me and asked if there was any way she could get a cheap hotel room in the Charleston/Mattoon area for the middle of next week for a friend of hers that's coming down to visit her. And then she asked if I could find it for her and reserve it and the friend would pay for it. In her words, I "should be able to do this no problem because [I'm] a hotel worker." So, to recap, she's asking me to reserve a room under my name with my information and is expecting, since I'm an employee at an independently owned hotel, to get her a super cheap room for her friend, who I do not know.

What the eff? If this was the first time this had happened I would be more wtf?! but this happens all the time. Friends are always asking me to find them good deals and whatev and I do what I can to explain I have no special powers. I just know all the stuff people SHOULD be doing anyway, like, being nice and courteous to the reservations person and etc to get them to (possibly) knock two or three bucks off if they're feeling generous. Meh. How do you all respond to these requests from friends/family/whatev

I was on the Diva Cup site today and found this statement on the homepage:

"Because of the intimate, personal nature of the product, we suggest replacing the cup each year.  We have not indicated, nor suggested, a ten year usage."

In your opinion,is this simply a means to sell more of their product? I can't see where my cup could have any amount of damage in just year that would constitute buying a new cup. It's sturdy, and I keep it cleaned with a no soap, fragrance free cleanser. MY opinion is...a well taken care of cup could last well over a year and as such if taken care of and cleansed properly wouldn't pose any more of a health risk after a year than it did when I bought it. What is YOUR opinion?

Hey everyone,

I got my medium meluna with a ring stem in the mail today. Frank was also kind enough to include a complimentary small orange with a ball stem.  I started with the Diva cup about three cycles ago but used it sporadically because it caused a heavy heavy crampy feeling and I felt it was way too long, however it did work most of the time flipped inside out, however still created the extra crampy feeling.  I'm not on my period right now, I had brain surgery about six weeks ago and coming off all the drugs has messed up my cycle.  

I put the medium in tonight for a dry run, and since my period is all messed up I have no idea when its coming again. Better safe than sorry I guess.... anways, the medium fits like a dream. Once i figured out a good way to fold it, which I don't even know what I used...I think it was something like origami, it was in, however it took a second to kegel it into place. For the first minute and a half it felt like it maybe wasn't open all the way and was going to just slip right back out.... 

One thing I noticed even when using the Diva, and especially after letting the meluna sit in there for a few hours...is that when I have a cup in, it turns to the left.  The stem of the diva and the stem of the meluna can be found on the right side of the entrance of my vagina.  I'm officially in love with the ring stem, because its not poking me like the diva...it almost feels like the cup is completely sideways inside. Is that possible? Previously I thought my cervix was low (on average) and was to the right.  Where I thought it was would justify the placement of the cup, so I assume the cup is where it's supposed to be.  I never had any leaking with the diva, even with the stem tilted and jabbing my inner lip.  Does anyone else's cup do this? Is that normal? How do I know if i have a tilted uterus?

Alot  of people say the meluna has strong suction. I agree but feel that for me, the diva had even STRONGER suction. I thought most of the divas crampy feelings were from suction....but the meluna has an even wider, thicker rim....weird...

the meluna and diva don't spin, but that doesnt mean a thing....I've done my research here, and the cup is fully round at the bottom which must mean it is open.  i'm actually excited to start my period, so I can work out whatever bugs the meluna may bring.  The cup is riding high, which makes me think I have more room and may be able to accomodate the large meluna.  

Anyone have any thoughts on the position of the cup?

My bottom line is I already love the meluna and its been in for an hour! I can't feel it, regardless of the way it seems to be tilted.  Only the period will tell though...

Here's to hoping its the Goldilocks cup!

Just got a Diva Cup as a birthday present from my best friend, who has been using one for about a year now. She rants and raves about how awesome it is, and how my first period with it will be the best period of my life. My period is due in about two or three days, and I've been wearing the cup since yesterday, just for practice putting it in and removing it, and to make sure that it feels right and all that. I'm not sure if I'm doing anything wrong or if it's just a matter of continuing to practice, but I'm still waiting for it to be completely comfortable. Unlike tampons (which I have used until now), I can still feel it, especially if I tense my muscles (it's my quick and dirty test that I do to make sure I've inserted tampons correctly and comfortably, I figure it's transferrable to the Diva Cup as well). The issue is that it pinches mostly on one side, and it's the same side every time. I cannot for the life of me figure out why. I'm also a virgin, so I'm not sure what effect this has on how much I should or shouldn't feel the cup.

Also, does anyone else have discomfort with removing their menstrual cup? Once I've gotten up to the rim of the cup, I'm not quite sure how to make it small enough to be comfortable removing. It kinda just ... pops out, and it's rather painful. I don't want to squeeze the edges together because I'm afraid that, once I'm using it for my actual period, everything will spill.

Basically, I just need some help. I'm so confused and PMS is making me frustrated to the point of tears with this thing.

http://www.asofterworld.com/index.php?id=497

back

buy this print digg facebook reddit stumbleupon

next

http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/11/final-reminder-for-bookshops.html

A quick reminder (as I was just asked) that today is the day that the bookshop Graveyard Book party reports have to be in to Harper Collins. By 9 pm PST.

http://files.harpercollins.com/Mktg/HarperChildrens/PDF/GraveyardContest_rules.pdf are the rules and info for those who lost them.

Hi Mr. Gaiman,

I was disappointed today to read you won't be part of the judging for The Graveyard Book contests. My not-wealthy, middle-of-nowhere bookstore just sent in its entry, and something we're concerned about is the fairness of judging.

For example, independent bookstores like Powell's (I'm sure you know) easily have enough money and are in a convenient enough location to ask you to come at one time or another. Against stores like that, who were able to put more money into their parties, we stand little chance.

I don't think that it's a lost cause for us; we were very creative. I'm just nervous to know you won't be judging. Can you tell me whether you think the judges will take things like size and location of bookstores into account? It would make me sleep a little easier until the results are announced.

Tusen takk,
Allison

Well, per the rules, the judging is based on:

(i) Overall creativity of the Party, as demonstrated by the invitations, signage, decorations, activities, entertainment, and refreshments.
(ii) Customer attendance and response (i.e., enthusiasm, costumes, participation).
(iii) Ability to capture and represent the spirit of The Graveyard Book.
...specifically to reward creativity, and not the ability to outspend other shops. (That was also why the party had to actually be at the bookshop, and not at another location.)

I asked my editor, Elise Howard, and she said,

Gosh, yes. Here's what we think is happening. We are looking at all the entries. On Monday, we'll send you the best 11, from which you will choose the Grand Prize Winner. The rest will get the first-prize package. So the short answer is that you ARE helping to choose.

The longer answer is that we will be very fair and will consider creativity, which includes work done with available resources, along with pure execution. (Don't you think? We haven't done anything yet; still waiting for more entries to come in.)

...which means that

a) I was wrong and will be the ultimate judge, from the shortlist. (Damn.)

and

b) everyone's on a level playing field.

Does that help reassure you?

PS -- Widgett's Graveyard Book Dessert competition winners have been announced over at http://www.needcoffee.com/2009/11/06/graveyard-book-dessert-challenge-winners/.

This one had NOTHING to do with me at all. But lor' the winning desserts look tasty...

I'm 33 with one child (22 months) and have just bought my first menstrual cup. I'm based in the UK so have the MCUK (size A, based on being over 30 with a child).

My period is  due in 6 days. I'm excited and a bit nervous about my forthcoming new menstrual experience.

Is there anything I should really know beforehand? Any golden rules?

I'm not planning on doing a dry run. Just going to wait till the day.

I'm a bit confused as to how high it should sit. One of my pet hates is being able to feel a tampon inside me, if I haven't inserted it high enough. From what I've read, it seems that this is a problem for many people. I'm not very familiar with my cervix.

The  instructions say low, but everyone else seems to say high. How the hell do I know if it's in the right place?!


Thanks in advance x

Hi everyone!!!!!

Some may remember me as the one who does the bulk orders. Well, yesterday I placed the order and am now starting up another one. =)

According to Meluna, the Larges are being released middle of November. ANy takers????

Im asking $20 per cup ( rate of currency exchange has changed... sucks!). This will include shipping within the US. I will do international shipping just send me an email and Ill come up with a quote for you. ;)

Here's my email- chaplain.k@hotmail.com  Any takers???????

Ugh, these past 12 hours have sent me to the brink of madness! I woke up at 3 am with a leak :(. So I go off to the loo, get washed up, reinsert, go back to bed. I woke up at 7:15 this morning, leaking yet again! The cup is not full, but some ppl have said it's because the cervix actually sits inside the cup taking up space so the cup can't fill completly? SO, I go to clean up and BAM, that aweful "red string of death" I've heard so many ppl refer to as one of the hazards to emptying in public. It wasn't the length of said stringage, it was the fact that if I had been squatting (as I do in public restrooms) instead of sitting, well, I might of had to excuse myself home for a change of pants! YIKES!!!! Now I'm at work with monster cramps, AND the stem I've trimmed twice so far is still poking me! AAARRRGG!!!

Phew, now I feel better. Sometimes you have to talk about your frustrations to feel better you know ; ).  So now for the question and answer section of this post. 1. Is there a way to remove the cup in a fashion similar to insertion? It is SO painful for me to take that thing out! I use a punch down for insertion, but when I go to pull it out, I can't figure out how to make the circumphrence (sp?, cut me some slack, my menses make me really slow in the thought department!)  small enough to pass through without feeling like I'm giving birth to a plastic baby.
2. Both leaks this morning felt like a gooshy feeling, like when I beared down I could feel the air moving. Does that mean I don't have a proper seal?

I'm still loving the cup, not nearly as "grossed out" as I thought I'd be about collecting the fluid. I mean, I had to see and touch much more with conventional supplies! All I brought with me to work today are 3 small pantyliners for leakage, I am determind to make this work!  Oh, and thanks to IB proferin and my heating pads, the monster cramps have started to subside! YEAH!

http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/11/note-to-self-nights-are-for-sleeping.html

Still trying to get back onto a diurnal schedule. (And, I should add, failing.)
And, of course, although I posted it before, it bears repeating that you can watch the film that Steven-Charles Jaffe made of the "Dark and Silly Night" comic Gahan and I did for art spiegelman and Francoise Mouly's Little Lit at the New Yorker site, or here:



And if I'd been here for Hallowe'en I would have posted it here then. Which reminds me, The Graveyard Book party season is over. Over thirty independent bookshops had Graveyard Book parties (The ABA's Bookselling This Week reports on thirteen of the parties -- and the shops -- at http://news.bookweb.org/7149.html.) The very best one of all will get me in their shop doing a signing in December and, looking at these thirteen, I am very glad I am not any kind of a judge for the awards.

My only hope is that the shop that wins will be somewhere warm. But most of the places on the party map will be just as cold by December as my house. (Vague and only climate-based relief that HarperCollins said No to Alaska in the rules mingles with vague and selfish disappointment that they also said No to Hawaii.)

It looks like the CBS Sunday Morning profile on me is going out this Sunday, the 8th, 9:00-10:30 AM, ET. According to this website:

Correspondent Serena Altschul visits author Neil Gaiman -- the tender-hearted master of the macabre -- whose books, including Coraline and The Graveyard Book have topped best-seller lists for 25 years.

.. which left me wanting to go "I am NOT a tender-hearted master of the macabre, I am in fact VERY SCARY INDEED," but I suspect I would convince nobody.

Thrilled to see that Odd and the Frost Giants was listed as one of Amazon.com's Best Books of 2009. While I was in China The Graveyard Book was listed as one of the ALA's teens top ten for 2009 as well, an award voted on by over 11,000 teens. (And I made it onto the list with lots of other good people.)

Also, Fragile Things was awarded the French 2010 Les Grands Prix de l’Imaginaire Award for translated short fiction. My thanks to the judges, but mostly to the translator, who in this case is the incredibly talented Michel Pagel. If I ever look good, do well, sell books or am popular in a foreign country, it's because of the translators, and they never get enough thanks or acclaim. And I think I'll post the cover here, because I never have.

You're welcome. I think this link has everything for sale in the auction: http://shop.ebay.co.uk/scrawldog/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

Honestly, this is sad and disturbing, but I thought I would share.

At our faculty meeting, we had a woman come talk to us about drug use and paraphenalia.  Very scary stuff believe me.  We saw all the usual stuff like pacificers, but then, on the bottom of the screen was a tampon.  Of course the male teacher sitting next to me had to ask what it was used for.  Apparently there is something with Vicks.  And she was very clear about which kind to get (I learned more about doing drugs than preventing use). 

Tampons as drug paraphenalia?  Just another reason I am happy cup user.  But I will think twice about stocking my desk with tampons for all the times the nurse is not in.