Health Update and eBook Deals

Great news! The pathologist’s report came back and it turns out that the mass I had removed was a benign thymus cyst, so all is good. My chest is still sore if I do too much bending over and reaching for things in awkward places, but otherwise recovery goes well. I have one more chest x-ray to do on Friday and a follow-up consultation with the surgeon on Monday, and then that’s it, I hope!

My daughter and granddaughter Ellie were sick on Mother’s Day so we postponed our family BBQ until this past Sunday. My son, who works in the tech field, also happens to be a wonderful cook. He grilled the most amazing steak sandwiches which is a family favorite. Honestly, if he ever tires of a tech career, he should operate a food truck.

Unfortunately, my sister had to reschedule her surgery as she came down with Covid late last week. Both of her cats passed away this year, so 2023 has been a tough year so far. We do what we can to help her, and hope that things turn around once her surgery and radiation treatments are over.

On the promo front, I’m taking part in a great one that’s offering free ebooks in four different genres: science-fiction, fantasy, mystery, and romance. To take advantage of this newsletter signup offer, click on the link HERE.

I’m also offering my 5^th Casey Holland mystery, Knock Knock, for $.99 until June 19^th. This book is definitely on the thriller side of things. I often incorporate real-life crime events from Vancouver, and this book about home invasions targeting seniors that occurred in Vancouver several years ago.

When a home invasion kills senior Elsie Englehart, security officer Casey Holland is devastated. She’s supposed to be watching over elderly bus riders in an area frequently targeted by thugs. Determined to keep others safe, Casey escorts a senior to his home, only to come under attack by an armed intruder. Hospitalized and angry, Casey struggles to regain control of her life, despite interference from family and colleagues, and the postponement of her wedding. Yet another home invasion compels Casey to take action, but at what cost to her health and her relationships?

To grab a copy, click HERE:

Staying Health in an Unhealthy Season

Like many of you, I’ve been paying close attention to the coronavirus outbreak since it began making daily headlines. I work at a university here in British Columbia, where instructors have already faced the occasional student who refuses to come to class because until the face mask they’ve ordered has arrived. A small number of people have also suggested that instructors wear a face mask while teaching.

All the TV news, social media, and work discussions have served at least one useful purpose, which is to remind me that all sorts of germs are out there right now. So, we’ve ordered more disinfectant wipes for our common areas, plus hand sanitizers for the staff. I also keep a small bottle on the front counter in my office with a sign encouraging people to use it if meeting with department personnel. I take it upon myself to wash my hands more often and wipe down countertops. I’m also trying to make a conscious effort not to touch my face, which isn’t as easy as it should be.

Last week, I was working out at the gym, when a young woman got on the bicycle beside me and, while chatting on her phone, said, “I’ve been sick a week”. I was working on a circuit equipped with about 18 different machines. It was fairly empty at the time, but she picked the one next to me. I quickly moved onto a machine well away from her.

Gym users are supposed to use the wipes provided in the dispensers to wipe equipment down. I’ve noticed a lot of people doing so lately, but the sick woman didn’t have one. I’m not prone to paranoia and definitely not hysteria, but I do think everyone needs to be more diligent with hand-washing.

When I came to work on Monday, someone had stolen our hand sanitizer from the front counter, ignoring the do-not-remove label. If people are behaving that way at a campus thousands of miles from the epicenter, what must it be like for those living in Wuhan, China?