Blood & Bathrooms: on sponges and toilets

warning:  if discussion of menstrual blood or going to the bathroom makes you uncomfortable, you should definitely read this!

written as a note on my facebook page 16 FEB 2009: 

I'm on the sponge...



...because I've learned that the sea sponge is a great absorber of menstrual blood.


Not only is it cheaper and 'greener' (sorry) ... it feels a hell of a lot better than a dry, cotton tampon. It's spongy! It's natural. It's lovely.


Just take it out, rinse it, and pop it back in.


Happier cunts = happier world


On sponges:
As an alternative to tampons and bulky pads, I catch blood with reusable sea sponges.  You can find them at natural food stores (small, cosmetic type) for less than $3, and they'll last up to six months.  It's been nearly 2 & 1/2 years since I switched.  I haven't used tampons since, and I love it!  I've gotten quite good at being able to use the sponge in any setting... from roadside rest-stops in India (literal $h!t-holes) to restrooms in fancy international airports.  The only thing you need is water.  Yesterday was the best: we were hiking up a mountain.  Lucky for me there flowed fresh, glacial streams that ran parallel to the trail.  Yes, I know about freshwaters and why we should never drink from them.  Dead animals, animal feces, and various sources of bacteria and other microscopic nasties... make the water dangerous.  However, being that we were nearing the chilly summit of the hill, I took the risk and found it a lovely opportunity to pop a squat with the cool, clean water at my disposal for rinsing myself and my sponge.  Let's just hope there wasn't anyone just downstream going for a drink. 

In places like India and Tunisia, restrooms are ideal as there is always a source of water near the toilet.  Indian style toilets are the best, as they require the 'squat' which is a more natural, comfortable way of relieving oneself (I could write an entire post on my love for those toilets).  When using the sponge, having a water source is essential for the rinse.  If there's not a faucet right there, you must carry a water bottle... which is no big deal, as long as you remember.  Otherwise, you're forced to leave the bathroom stall with a handful of bloody sponge.  With a spare sponge and water bottle in tow, you're set!

On toilets: 
Besides being highly convenient for sponge users, toilets with water nearby are better overall.  I have a girlfriend who insists on using baby wipes after using the toilet.  Not only are they expensive, they're also made with a bunch of unnatural elements... and why would we want to bring our anatomical jewels into contact with unnatural elements?  Obviously, toilet paper is the norm in the States and many other places.  However, after living in India for a few months, I warmed up to the idea of using water instead.  Not only is toilet paper irritating, it often just doesn't do the job.  You know what I'm talking about... sometimes it's the never-ending wipe.  Now, this is often the result of a combination that's due to our position and the paper itself.  The squat position allows for a more natural and complete release of waste.  Imagine the mess of going to the bathroom while standing up.  Gross.  From there, imagine coming into a seated position.  From there, go even further and take it down to a squat.  Can you now see why it's even cleaner?  I must confess:  at times I squat on sitting toilets.  Moving on to toilet paper versus water.  Think about dirt on any part of your body.  Let's take the hands for example.  When your hands are dirty, would you find it more practical to wipe them off with a dry piece of toilet paper or clean them off with water?!  Exactly.

Alright, enough talking $h!t. Back to the original topic...


I know of one good friend who has since tried the sponge with success.  Anyone else?  Tell your friends about it.  It's less wasteful and will also save you money.  Of course... it's not exactly vegan.  Sponges are animals.  happy June! 

I heart the extra virgin

Have you looked at the lists of ingredients on the containers of your soaps, moisturizers, exfoliators, shampoos, make-up removers, et cetera?  Many of them contain loads of chemicals and unpronounceable agents.  There are claims that some of these ingredients (such as sodium lauryl sulfate, glycerin, and artificial colorings) may be harmful to one's health.  I'll let you do that research on your own.  The way I see it... why not go as natural as possible?  I've discovered that- when it comes to any aspect of life- simple and natural is way better.  This year, my new favorite multi-functioning product is extra virgin olive oil (EVOO).  Not only is it fabulous on crusty breads and fresh salads, it's also wonderful for the skin and scalp.  I've actually tested & tried the following list of suggestions:

* For an exfoliating scrub, mix sea salt into a few spoonfuls of EVOO.  After soaping & rinsing delicate regions (such as the "anatomical jewel" [see:  Cunt by Inge Muscio]), gently exfoliate dead skin cells on the non-delicate areas by applying the scrub with a washcloth or your hands.  Rinse well with water only.  

* For the best moisturizer ever, use EVOO after showering.  Pat yourself dry with a towel, allowing the skin to retain some dampness.  Apply EVOO all over the body.  Sure, you'll smell like a salad for five minutes, but the scent dissipates.  Rejoice at having the softest winter skin.  

* Dab a piece of cotton or facial tissue into EVOO for a great natural make-up remover.  From what I've read, it apparently conditions your lashes.  It's so nice not to use chemically, drying agents on the skin... especially your beautiful, delicate eyes. 

* For dandruff or dryness, massage EVOO into the scalp.  Let it do its magic for 15-30 minutes before rinsing it out.  Follow with this shampoo-free magical formula:  beat two egg yolks with some water, massage into hair.  Let it sit for five minutes as you proceed with a shower.  Rinse hair very well.  Follow with an apple cider vinegar rinse to condition:  mix about 1/4 cup (or less for short hair) with water and pour onto hair.  Rinse, rinse, rinse and enjoy your healthy mane.  For real. 

Part II: Practice

SPEAKING OF PRACTICE, there’s more to life than work, eat, drink, be merry, and sleep.  According to the World Health Organization’s 1948 definition, health is:  a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.  Ask yourself, on a scale from 1-10, how you measure up overall.  How do you truly feel about your health?  According to a favorite university professor, most people tend to place themselves somewhere near the middle.  I feel 8.2.  After you mark your number, ask yourself what you’re doing to improve on it.  Shouldn’t we all be trying to move forward?  We’re not getting younger.  This is life, it’s not a dress rehearsal or preparation for the future.  We should be enjoying it to the utmost, feeling our best.  We need money for survival, but what is more important… having a shitload of money… or feeling like a million bucks?  What do we practice to maintain what we perceive as being ourselves, our sanity, our senses of well-being?  Self-medication and psycho-therapy sessions?  Television, sports, eating sweets, eating fresh foods, crosswords, reading, and the arts?  Worship, meditation, and taking time out for breathing and awareness?  Meeting with a book club, a Mom’s group, or happy hour buddies?  So many things, so many ways.  How positive or beneficial are our practices?   What do we spend our moments, days, months, years, and lives doing? Living.  Now.  No judgments here, nor expectations, and no excuses.  Explore and contemplate.  Think about your practices… and in which directions they’re leading you.  

Yoga, Practice, and Peace

Part I of III:  YOGA

I’VE RECENTLY DISCOVERED the joys of yoga podcasts.  What an awesome invention!  It’s like having my own personal instructor right here.  Don’t get me wrong; nothing beats a live yoga class.  The podcast guy can’t straighten me out, nudge me, suggest a modification, or take me to the next level of a particular asana.  My options for live classes here are limited.  I reminisce to the time I lived in Augusta, just two blocks away from the yoga studio.  I would pay the monthly fee for unlimited classes, and attend religiously… probably 6-8 times a week when the early morning sessions were up and running.  The experience of those classes propelled me forward in many aspects of my life:  enhancing my body awareness, mind awareness, comfort in silence, outlook on life, relationship to others & the world, and benefitting me in so many ways, I could likely write a book about it.  After returning to Augusta in 2008,  (with ashram yoga training & several random classes spread out over 2 &1/2 years) I eventually found another great regular class.  Not as conveniently located, but cheaper, deeper, and well worth the drive.  Those sessions lifted me to higher realms, carrying me beyond places and spaces I once thought to be out of reach.  The instructor was female, and it was lovely to have some strong feminine energy gently guiding, yet pushing and challenging me.  Now, living in Korea, I’ve found yet another yoga class.  Though it’s in Korean, I can easily follow.  Attending classes is so beneficial to one’s practice.  There’s a beautiful flow of energy in a room where people are sharing a practice.  Individuals may have their own goals, but we’re all essentially, and literally, moving in the same directions.  All side effects aside (though all the side effects I can come up with happen to be positive), we’re moving toward that UNION of mind and body, self and God.  We’re joining Atman (one’s soul or Spiritual Self) and Paratman (God, the divine, the Energy of the Universe).  For anyone curious, practicing, or well seasoned, I highly recommend finding a local class to attend if possible.  If classes are out of reach, podcasts may be the next best thing.  To the attendance of classes and my own personal practice, the addition of podcasts has me flying higher… on that Blissful Cloud #9.    


http://www.yogajournal.com/podcast/
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/yoga-to-people-60-min-power/id171909056

poo-free

ON A RECENT bus ride, I overheard some chick talking about how it takes, on average, about six weeks for a person’s hair to re-balance itself to its natural state of health when one stops using shampoo.  The woman went on to comment that she could never stop using shampoo because of the ‘sweaty smell’ that would be so prevalent.  Being an every-other-day hair washer and someone who’s always up for trying new things… I haven’t washed my hair in 16 days.  I might not ever use shampoo again.  

I went online to see what people had to say about this, and found several dozen blogs.  When we use shampoo, it washes away our hair’s natural oil, sebum, and that causes an over-production of the sebum, which gives us the need to wash it again.  That’s the cycle.  But, according to many, the hair and scalp can take care of themselves.   As I read up on the subject, memories were jogged of the junior high P.E. teacher, who was also my beloved tennis coach, rumored to have used Ivory soap as her hair cleanser.  Why this would be the subject of student gossip is beyond me.  I discovered that a lot of people do ‘water only’, but several choose to massage a baking soda paste into the scalp once or twice a week.  People with long hair prefer to use natural conditioners.  The most popular conditioner seems to be apple cider vinegar; others use honey.  The majority of write-ups warn of the gross, greasy hair that one must live through for one or two weeks before moving on through the 4-6 week process that apparently leads to the healthiest hair and scalp we could imagine.  

For me, day five was pretty thick on the grease.  I was wondering if I’d break down and wash it.  I held out.   I guess I’m lucky for having short hair and only a day or two of nastiness (as opposed to the average week or two of grease ball hair).  My hair seems wavier than it’s been in a while… almost like… ‘beach hair’ without the sand.  Last Thursday, I rode the bike for a few hours, wearing a piece of t-shirt as a headscarf, or do-rag, whatever you wanna call it.  I decided to try the baking soda paste that day in the shower.  My hair looked and felt awesome.  According to a trustworthy friend, my hair does not stink.  For the people who always enjoyed the smell-good aspect of shampooing, many use essential oils, vanilla, and cinnamon to please the nose.  I’m even tempted to let my hair grow, without a trim, until at least February.  This is partly because I’d like to see what it’s like, and also because nobody compares to Wendell.  Happy hair, and I dare you to try it. 

on Statistics

This year, World Aids Day was December 1, 2009.  According to the World Health Organization, 33 million people are infected with HIV.  With the success of some prevention programs, new HIV infections have been reduced by 17% over the past 8 years.

Statistics tend to be thought provoking.  According to www.worldometers.info :  

This year, there were twice as many bicycles produced than cars.

There are over a billion undernourished people in the world right now.

There are more than 340,000 obese people in the world right now.

There are over a billion people with no access to safe drinking water. 

Over 15,000 people died of hunger today.

World statistics surprise.  Facts are gross and haunting.  They're just numbers until you get out there with open eyes and hearts.  A dear friend of mine is working as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cambodia.  He's written about and shared with me stories of the darkness that  the people he lives with have seen in the recent decades.  War.  Poverty.  Murder.  Disease.  Children are sold into brothels so as to support other members of the families.   

The atrocities in which people live go on and on and on.  We know this.  Mentioning them is not to depress.  It's to remind us to be mindful... mindful of the many conveniences.  We are the 'haves'.  This, too, we know.  Back to my present life's moment.  

Woke around 7:30 to begin my morning with a walk up the nearby 'baby' mountain (or, ginourmous hill, if you will) Sarabong.  The air here is almost as lovely as Monterey's, but not quite as perfect.  Gorgeous views of the city and sea.  Descended the hill on the far side, which is a switchback walkway laid with reddish octagonal bricks, lined with trees and large, tropical flowers.  I only saw three other people, yet on a clear day I would have likely seen no less than a dozen.  Continued on to explore the next hill, which seemed almost as steep, perhaps not as high.  I'd never been up this one before. The path down its far side was even steeper.  At the path's early descent the view of the sea was so amazing, I had to pause.  It's the thing, it's the outside that can simultaneously take me away and bring me back.  The wonder of that nature, seeing the sea's horizon in the distance, with no land in sight.  Heavy, grey, distant clouds lowering to a hazy whitish line over the deep, far, blue-grey ocean.  Ships here and there, and the water hitting the black rocks of the coast.   Continuing on, the path leveled out and branched out through an area wooded with pines.  Trees and fallen leaves, being wet, appeared even more vibrant.  After about 15 minutes down, I emerged to a road near a parking lot behind a huge, blue-metal-roofed building.  No idea where I was, but the direction back was obvious, so I followed the roads around 'til I reached a recognized, main road.  


This is my life here, I can take this walk any morning, and I'm grateful.  Living in a gorgeous location, doing easy, enjoyable work.  No wants, no complaints.  Decent, likable, friendly, great company.  No car needed.  Just feet, a bike, and convenient, cheap public transportation.  


The heavy clouds constantly change the sky, the sun occasionally peeks out.  One of those days that welcomes the dark, moving cover.  It's the dark, moving cover that can keep me mindful of the darkness.  The darkness that looms in the lives of so many individuals, families, communities, and nations throughout the world.  We can't save the world, but in the midst of our comfortable lives, we can remember it's there.  And when we stop to wonder what we can do to lend a hand, to help... we must know that it starts from within, with the realization that we are one.  We are all the same.  As we go, may we continue on in life with the intentions... to think good thoughts, speak good words, and do good things.  


... and appreciate the many facets of 'beauty'... 

Yoga of India in Korea

As we were about to enter a restaurant the other night, we spotted a yoga studio, Yoga of India. My new friend / co-worker, Donae, & I went up to check it out. Inside, we discovered a beautifully arranged space, dimly lit, comfortable, and adorned with Indian wall hangings. Sitting on a floor mat at a low table was the petite Korean yoga instructor, whose Indian name is Soma. She had studied yoga in India, spending time in Kerala and Pune. She welcomed us to join her classes at a very reasonable rate of 40,000 won ($) per month, for two classes each week. It’s about a ten-minute walk from our abode.

The next morning, we attended our first class. Behind the sheer, purple curtain, 18 or 19 mats were neatly arranged in the clean, quiet studio. We were a few minutes early, and the instructor welcomed us to choose our places for meditation. Though the sing-songy verbal cues were all in Korean, Donae and I had little difficulty following Soma’s sequence of asanas (postures). Her sun-salutations are almost precisely the same ten-step salutations that I do, and I could tell from the repetition when she was instructing us to inhale or exhale. Soma occasionally used the English or Sanskrit word for a posture, which was very helpful. There were about 6 or 8 other students that we were able to follow. For the next month, we’ll get two evenings a week of yoga: the perfect complement to another 40-day cycle of absolute sobriety and daily chanting of the mahamrityunjaya mantra. As the language of love is universal, so is the practice of yoga. Alhamdulillah!

Glowing, summer skin...

I’m about to give away a big, fat secret for the sweetest, most fabulous summer skin. That’s right. Before you head back to your counter of free sample-gift-bag with a $59 purchase, age-defying, high-end beauty enhancer bliss… try this one. Go hang out at Clarks Hill / Strom Thurmond Lake. Light sunscreen for the ultra-whitey. Sunshine does wonders. It not only keeps us from looking sickly, it also helps with the vitamin D. Thirdly, it’ll cheer you up if you’re complaining too much. Get some. After a dip in the lake, have a seat at the water’s edge. Notice the coarse sand beneath you. Dig into it with your fingers. Get in there, pick it up with your hands and play with it. Clumpy & moist, you won’t be able to resist the temptation to rub it all over your body. Go ahead, beginning with your legs. Rub the scrubby, baby! Move up, handfuls of sand, to rub it all over your torso, shoulders, arms, neck, and even do it up gently on the face. When you’re satisfied, gently brush it off. Notice the sparkle! The golden dazzle of glitter that remains on your new, sun-kissed, exfoliated, freshly circulating skin. There it is. That’s the beauty of the Strom Thurmond shimmering exfoliate. It’s free and plentiful. Right there at your lake. That shower can wait. Trust me.