WARNING: The following blog contains information that may not be suitable for young children or persons with Y chromosomes.

So my uterus is no longer jet-lagged. Unfortunately for me, I was still thinking I had a few days.

Anyhow, this is how this morning went. I was all excited because I discovered an ashtanga studio in a different prefecture of course, but one that looked promising. Class didn’t start until 11am so I have started designating Tuesday as my “Cleaning Day”. I walked Chase to bus stop and then came home and put in some housekeeping time. I never thought I would say this, but I think I actually like doing light housekeeping. I dust a little in the bathroom and push a swiffer around the floor in the main areas and do a load of laundry and I feel like I’ve accomplished something. I actually just hired my helper Joji’s sister to come in for a half day (Tuesdays) because I just felt like once a week was not good enough. Since Cliff has been gone for a week, the place hasn’t gotten so dirty so I told her to start next week, although I am having my doubts. Plus, I am still feeling guilty over my mani/pedi situation, hair, food, classes, EVERYTHING! I was complaining the other day to this lady who’s lived here for 5 years already that I feel like I am just bleeding money and she said, “Oh honey it’s not real! It’s Monopoly money!” Insert: look of surprise. So I am going to try to keep my cleaning mojo going and save myself 4500 Yen ($60) a week.

Back to this morning: I decided to bike to the station and of course it’s raining and of course on my way the chain came loose, but thank God I wear black all the time, because after I fixed my chain I could wipe the grease on my pants. Once I find a bridge to park my bike under, I head to the station and just as I pass through the gates I get “the feeling”. You know, when you think, “Did I just lose control of my bladder? or is that my period starting?” So now I am looking around at the kiosks and typing into my translator app “Where are your feminine products?” Logically, I’m thinking there is no way they are selling newspapers, snacks and tampons in that little booth and I am just going to embarrass myself. So I find a bathroom -and Girls, you can deny it all day, but I KNOW you relate… I get into a stall and get to working on my MacGyver pad. Of course this is Japan and they only have that terrible super thin crunchy easily degradable tissue on the roll and of course I am wearing Brazilian workout pants…. but GD! I’m gonna make this work! So the time is ticking. I walkout albeit less comfortably than when I walked in, and I get to my next town. As I am climbing the many flights of stairs out of the station, I know people are looking at me strangely either because those Brazilian pants don’t hide a thing, or because I am walking funny due to the fact that my makeshift pad keeps migrating all over my lower half. Somehow I manage to find a convenience store and locate their 1 box of tampons.

POD of the Pad:

I couldn't resist. A 1000 words people...

I must also add that shortly after I moved here I took notice of all the video surveillance cameras everywhere. I guess that is part of the price you pay to be in a safe city. It is a little strange though thinking that you are being watched everywhere you go.

Tomorrow my new friend from the Club is taking me to Korea town in her car! I am very excited about this. Chase has decided to try the swim team which meets after school every Mon/Wed/Fri and with cub scouts Tuesdays and Baseball Thursdays, my push for him to try to make it home alone by the train is on. Cliff just called and should be back in Japan by Wed evening our time. Says he had a great time in the States.

Until next time…