[.ca] Vinnie's Giant Roller Coaster Period Chart & Journal ... (ISBN 0811834409)

Vinnie is rad!:
This book is cool. I've seen other Vinnie products in stores before, and when I saw he had a book that tied it all together - I went nuts. I've given his tampon cases and the book to friends, and even co-workers, and everyone enjoys it. Suddenly talking about your period isn't a big deal - I mean if a mono-brow dude can talk about it and make it fun, everyone can talk about it. I don't need to chart my period because I'm so regular, but I love all of the bonus stuff - postcards, recipies, quotes from other women, and the pop-out roller coaster car. Buy this book - great gift!

Much better than marking up your calendar at work!:
I wish I'd had this book as a teenager...but if I couldn't have it then, at least I have it for perimenopause! This book is an absolute scream and seriously useful. The tone of the text lends a delightful air of camaraderie and common-sense to a subject that has traditionally been the source of embarassment or shame for many girls. There isn't any nonsense about the Miracle of Womanhood, or what a blessing it is to have cramps, etc. Instead, the less appealing aspects of the event are treated with light humor in that "of course you get cramps, we all do, what a nuisance, but what can you do but laugh" sort of way. The tracking process also provides room for very useful notes on diet, exercise, and stress - basically, all the things that might reasonably affect your cramps, flow, etc.

Know Your Flow!:
I've never personally tracked "my time of the month," but some women really like to do this. Perhaps it's a good way to document cases of PMS or to plan pool parties, but I suppose I never had a reason to pay attention to my flow. But now that Vinnie's Giant Roller Coaster Period Chart and Journal Sticker Book has hit the shelves (thanks to the cool kids at Chronicle Books) I may have to give my menstrual cycle its long-overdue appreciation. I've never been so proud to be a girl!

Creative and somewhat useful:
This is not great literature or even average comedy. This book is designed by a rather-talented cartoonist named Vinnie who is proud of his mono-brow and wants to make life easier for his female friends. The entire spiral-bound journal has each month designed as a roller coaster, and there are stickers to put on the roller coaster for PMS, first day of period, heavy flow...etc. It is really a quite creative and useful little journal, and comparing the menstrual cycle to a roller coaster is quite accurate. Besides all this, it is a great way to keep track of your cycles for that next Gyno visit!

Are you there God? It's me, Vinnie.:
I first saw Vinnie's book in a bookstore with Vinnie's tampon case attached, and I knew I had to have it. I share a desk at work with a guy named Vinnie who handles the monthly statistics report, so he gets annoying and in the way around the end of the month. Although I haven't yet gathered the nerve to leave the case or book lying on our desk, I have really enjoyed them both. I wish the case were bigger since I use washable Glad Rags, and have to carry both used and fresh ones. Vinnie's tampon case leaves little room for that, so I've been using it to hold tissues. The book is fabulous. I loved the different comments from women on about their periods, demonstrating the diversity of experience in something common to all women. The postcards and stickers in the book are just the sort of thing my friends have come to expect from me, and I'd hate to disappoint them. The book is perfect for almost anyone; while informative to menstruators, it's funny enough for men and postmenopausal women. For girls just starting their periods, I'd recommend it as a supplement to another "just the facts" type of book, since the information is not basic, and the physical process and reason for it is not explained. As a taboo-buster, it's empowering to women of all ages. I knew it was perfect when my stodgy boyfriend Dave hated it.