I came across your discussion using google and Im glad I did. Im in Scotland and I just wanted to leave a short message encouraging you to keep on doing! information altace webpage devoted to information altace. trazodone sleep webpage devoted to trazodone sleep. rules!

Thanks, Charlie. Maybe you could plug your books - I'm sure that nobody's ever thought of that before !!! :)

on hay fever... I've had cromolyn work during that level of attack. Standard max dose and the effects work their way through/to the mast cells. So, might still be worth trying if a reoccurrence of last week's attack happens or could happen.

I take a maintenance dose every 2 days through summer (because of tree species that I'm not allowed to systematically hunt down and destroy. But then humanity can't yet decide if its ok to kill off the mosquito), plus extra for days like a recent visit to a relative's dusty house.

Just the usual talking-head slot in a documentary about robots that's timed to coincide with I, Robot. Nothing to get worked up about!

Charlie,

You said that you were off to London for an interview.
Anything that you can tell us?

Sodium cromoglycate is the generic name and yes, it is available in the UK. Trouble is, by the time I know I've got hay fever my nose is far too blocked for a nasal spray to be any use! I'll think about getting some in next spring ...

The best hay fever med (also not very well known- so I mention it here) is cromolyn nasal spray. It keeps your nose from releasing histamines in the first place (a "mast cell stabilizer"), reducing/removing the need for antihistamines.

Saves my springtimes: without it I'd huddle indoors wrapped in filters for 1/4 of the year. With it I can withstand all but the pollen-fog days: then I also need antihistamines.

It isn't a steroid (like most other sprays I've seen in the US or Canada) so no limits on how long to take it. Nor is there a rebound when you stop. Instead it builds up and fades away slowly. (still mostly effective after the first spray, but takes a day or two to be fully effective.)

Don't know about availability in the UK. In the US/Canada it is over the counter (has been for 10 years). Other names for it (from medline) Cromolyn Nasal Solution, Gen-Cromoglycate, or sodium cromoglycate. In Canada I've seen an eyedrop version.

Hope you find some-- I want you relaxed and back to writing as soon as possible.

And now, in the past two hours, I've come down with really bad hay fever, so I can't go out to play. Go figure.

Yes, Lenore died. Not unexpected (she was diagnosed with third stage ovarian cancer three years ago), but still a real downer. I'd rate her as one of those people who'd have been a close friend if we didn't live eight time zones apart and see each other once every three or four years.

Oh, right after I posted this blog piece I got some serious headfuck news from Tor by way of my agent. Mixed bad and good, but I think on balance mostly very good indeed -- only before I could talk to my editor directly he ended up in hospital. And as it impacts what I write in my next novel, I think downing tools for a month is probably not merely a good idea for my health, but a necessity for other reasons as well. Sigh.

Lenore Levine died?

Ah, crap.

When I described my day job to Charlie at Boskone earlier this year he estimated, I think it was two years, to burnout.

Charlie said this.

You bet I was scared.

Since you've got nothing to do for the next few weeks (apart from getting married, that is) howsabout you update your webpage "who am I" section? Apprarently you've got a book coming out from Big Engine in May or June this year.

 Sorry to hear about Lenore, not unexpected. I wouldn't describe what get her as being stess-related though. You seem to thrive on pressure. (insert meta-ssmiley here).