Ninja Me 2

Still using the mask, which is is a Godsend. The charcoal layer gets me through the bakery and pizza baking area of Walmart. Although I haven't tested it by the cleaning aisle yet, I passed the scented candles without incident.

The only down side is that it's too scratchy to sleep in, much to my dismay. After researching the matter, I determined that a three ply cotton mask is sufficient to keep out stuff bigger than one micron, which covers pollen, dust mites, dander, mold and a great deal of dust. Virus are another matter, but I'm not worried about swine flu; I just want to breathe.

I made my own 3 ply cotton mask, which is very breathable and lets me sleep without torment and wake refreshed. As soon as I take it off in the morning, I start coughing, so I know it works. The charcoal mask is still superior, but I bought surgical masks at Walmart today (superior filtering, but ugly) and will scavenge them to make more soft cotton masks.

Considering a Vogmask on Amazon, possibly pink so I don't look like a terrorist. I would come home from the store to see that terrorists have bombed Belguim...sigh.

Of course, now I'll have to write about a masked mage. Kicking around an idea for a metal mage in a junkyard. Much less anguishy than that the last one, promise. There might be a dark elf involved...

Ninja Me

My doctor has been asking me to wear a mask for years during pollen season, but I didn't realize how much it would help my asthma and allergic headache. As a result of pride and stubbornness, I suffered from spring bronchitis, severe asthma and the horrible foggy, drunk feeling that spring allergies bring. As a result, I was trapped indoors with air purifiers and felt unsafe driving, shopping, etc. It also cut into my work time, resulting in weeks of lost productivity.

This mask is life changing. I love it. I told my kids they could call me ninja mom, because it's not at all like a stupid looking paper invalid mask. Yes, it fogs my glasses a bit, but it's easy to ignore, plus the steam inside the mask is soothing to my lungs. Best of all, I don't wheeze when raking, I have energy, and the stupid pollen is defeated.

I love that it's washable and love the price. I'm ordering more.

Famixyal Top Quality 2 Pcs Fashion Three Ply Activated Carbon Cotton Warm Mask

I slept in the mask last night and will be wearing it unless I eat, shower or brush my teeth for the next few weeks. On the one hand, Walmart is going to be interesting, but I got so disoriented and dizzy after forgetting to hold my breath in the laundry department (chemical sensitivity) that my daughter had to drive home. She even treated me to a lecture for scaring her; it's a weird reversal when your teenagers start mothering you.

Stores are usually tricky, since the dairy/wheat allergy usually leaves me dizzy and breathless. I prefer to shop early, and of course that's when the bread and pizza is baking.

Trust me, you can't hold your breath through an entire shopping trip.

Antique stores are fun, but not if old musty stuff triggers asthma. I'm hoping that won't be a problem anymore.

The final thing, the big tamale, is church. Perfumes, an old, musty building, chemicals...I haven't been able to attend our church in years. It'll be odd testing the mask there, but there are a few other sick people wearing surgical masks for cancer, etc. I'm sure the ninja will blend in soon enough.

Might even start a fashion trend. We can be the "Ninja Church". We already have a Korean congregation that shares the building, so it's not that far fetched.

The important thing is, I don't have to be afraid anymore, and I don't have to miss out on work. My son requested one for when the pollen makes his eyes swell and my husband is going to use one when he cuts the grass, which he's quite allergic to.

Ninja family. Sounds like a book...or at least a cartoon.

 

Breaker's Ruin is loaded on Amazon

Breaker's Ruin is uploaded on Amazon, and is available now.

For all other formats, it will be out on Feb 19. Sales are supposed to be superior with a bit of lead time, so I split the difference in marketing vs. immediate availability.

Apple is a big seller and the UK, Australia and the US make the most sales, although Germany has a surprising number; if I were going to translate into any language, it would definitely be German.

That said, I haven't pursued translations or audio books, simply because I've got my hands full creating and managing content.

Speaking of, I've got to update my website and do a bit of advertising. Stuff to do...

Happy reading!

Working on Breaker's Ruin edits.

Edits in hand, hope to release the book this weekend.

Breaker's Ruin Blurb and comments

Convergence, book 2. Coming soon wherever ebooks are sold.

Daisy has the perfect family…until it falls apart. Suddenly her dragon father is ill and her mother pregnant with twins. Her brother is too young to help, and when their mother gets sick, Daisy must decide if remaining human is best for the hatchling’s future.

Breaker wants Daisy, complications and all, until a terrible accident changes everything. Is he strong enough to overcome it, or will his pride be Breaker’s ruin?

***

I had a crap year with extra crap sauce. Breaker's Ruin reads like it. Oh, it's well written, but I had a lot to get off my chest. Good people die. Parents prove to be merely human. People Daisy loves get hurt.

With all that, it still has an amazing ending. Her life isn't perfect, but it's balanced. She'll never be bored with the challenges ahead, and you're left with the feeling that she and Breaker are going to do an outstanding job.

Also, she gets to eat a bad guy. Dragons have all the luck.

Breaker's Ruin done!

BR is done and off for edits. Will be available soon.

Beware artificial sweeteners

Ran out of the stevia sweetener I was using and didn't want to go to the store, used a sprinkle of sugar instead. Now the fatigue and some digestive issues I've had in the last couple of years are going away. Coincidence? I don't think so.

Working on BR. The end is near.