Let’s Catch Up

What I’ve been up to lately and what’s up next on Hot & Bothered.

Well hey there! Goodness, it’s been a minute. I’m not sure where the time went but I’m still here and thought a little catch up was in order before we dive back into menopause content.

In May I traveled to New York City to help my sister move from a darling studio apartment on the Upper West Side to another (bigger! better!) studio on the Upper West Side. I love both my sister and the city very much, so I’ll take any excuse I can to visit - even if it means schlepping wagonloads of odds and ends from one apartment to another in 90 degree heat. Fun fact: did you know that if you lay a KitchenAid mixer on its side and wheel it in a wagon for as little as 15 minutes all the oil from the motor will drain out into said wagon?

In May also started a low FODMAP diet after dealing with months of very painful gastritis and then SIBO. Thankfully, I’m finally feeling much better and able to eat nearly everything again without discomfort. Hallelujah. But also, what a wild ride. One I’m very, very much hoping is over.

June brought more highs and lows. While visiting dear friends in Atlanta we learned one of our kids was in an ambulance on his way to the ER. His brothers took great care of him while we rushed home, where we found him all stitched and stapled back together again. (Have kids, they said. It’ll be fun, they said. 😩) Thankfully, he’s fine and we’re all feeling very grateful it wasn’t worse, because it could have been so. much. worse.

June also brought a long drive to Utah with one of my kiddos for a summer internship. The weather in Utah was incredibly hot and soooooo many wildfires were blazing, but I will never not be glad for a trip back home - even a very smoky one. Especially to spend time with my brave, brilliant, extraordinarily resilient sister who just had to start chemo again.

After a few days making sure my kid got settled in, I hopped on a flight back to Ohio where I’ve been catching up on life, making questionable gardening decisions, and am finally sitting down to tend to my Substack, which has clearly been neglected of late.

(Side note: Who in their right mind does a bunch of planting right before a heat wave??? Me. That’s who. 0/10, would not recommend. You know what I would recommend though? Ann Patchett’s latest novel Whistler - I loved it so much. Also, Goodles mac and cheese - my latest lazy lunch obsession and the 8th wonder of the world with 7 grams of fiber and 14 grams of protein per serving. I add a carrot from the fridge and whatever fruit I have on hand and call it a Complete Meal. Delish!)

As for menopause news, I’ve queued up a series on genitourinary syndrome of menopause and the importance of vaginal estrogen cream to help keep everything “down south” healthy and happy as hormones decrease. Low-dose vaginal estrogen is safe, inexpensive and leads to better health outcomes. Trust me, you’re going to want to stay tuned - this cream works miracles!

Until then,

Rebecca

P.s. Tell me you’re in perimenopause without telling me you’re in perimenopause.

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