Newsletter June 7, 2026

 

Good Evening!

                 Welcome to Sunday evening. It's been a really busy week without leaving the bookshelf. I can't believe it's been seven days since we last chatted, and so much has happened. First is the shooting war I've opened up with the Mayo Clinic. Every morning when I get up, I check my calendar because I have a blood test that I need to run every two weeks. The test is called the INR test, and it tests your blood for its ability to coagulate. When blood coagulates, it creates clots which grow; however, I have blood clots in my lungs, a condition called Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension. That means those blood clots are causing high blood pressure inside my heart. I take a blood thinner to keep those clots from growing, and the INR test shows just how "thin" my blood is. I put a slide in the tester, put a drop of blood on the slide, and sent the results to the Mayo. A person who isn't taking warfarin will have a result of 1. The dose of warfarin I take changes, but my INR should show between 2.0 and 3.0 with 2.5 being perfect. If it's too high or low my daily dose of warfarin will change.

                 On Monday the Mayo sent me a message telling me they don't trust home test devices and everyone has to come in and take a test with their home tester, then submit a test to the lab. I said, "Sure, I'll be there in August for my semi-annual test and torture session."

 They said, "No, we need you in before June 30 because: protocol. We can't wait for August because: protocol."

 I replied, "You want me to drive 100 miles round trip for one small drop of blood?"

 They said, "Yes, is there a problem with that? If you don't do it, we will withhold medical treatment."

                 This nonsense went on all week. They said I could have a different lab do it, but they rejected every lab I mentioned because they weren't a "Mayo Lab." I had enough. I have a very rare and fairly fatal condition, and I don't need them aggravating my condition so I decided to aggravate theirs. I started sending emails. To my personal doctor, to my Mayo Specialist, to the company that makes the testers asking innocently, "I've been self-testing since 2013, and I've never had a clinic panic like this. Is there a problem with your product I should be worried about?" If you see headlines that read "Mayo Clinic Withholds Medical Treatment From Disabled Veteran" that's me.

 While I'm stirring that pot, there's another issue that's too close to me. On Friday nights, I play Chat Room Trivia at WRIST.pub with several erotica authors, then on Saturday, we play music videos in the same chat room. It's a fun time and not exclusive to authors. You as readers could pop in and see what's going on, maybe spin a music video as well. Instrumental to both nights is my friend Gigi. Gigi is young, under 30, and a writer at WRIST. She's also blind. She's got a great sense of humor, lives with her teacher/caregiver, but she shocked us yesterday. She said she suddenly got very dizzy and "barfed on Fred." (Fred is her Akita guide dog) her caregiver put her in bed, but she felt better a while later and got up and the same thing happened again so she was rushed to the hospital. We, in the chat room, were panicking because someone said, "That happened to my mom when she had a stroke!" Thanks, dude. If you have room on your prayer list, add Gigi to it. Better yet, stop into WRIST.pub, look up her stories, and when you cool off (she can write some steaming hot smut!) leave her a note.

                 I'm getting around to doing something I've been wanting to do for a long time - a blog! (Finally) It will be a repository for these newsletters plus my digital art. I'm having so much fun with the art, but I don't have a place I can display it other than at Night Café. A lot of my art is coming from outside of Night Café now, and I've found a niche in recreating history that's been lost. I used to take railroad photos in my hometown, but now the tracks are gone. The railroad completely disappeared in 1978, and my mom threw out the images I was saving. I've already restored two moments in the history of my little village (Williamsville, NY) and I'll try to recreate more.

                 I'm trying a new email client this evening - Betterbird, from the makers of Firebird. It's kind of confusing, but it's starting to come into focus.

                 If you're looking for something to occupy your mind and dazzle your senses but not wander too far off the beaten track, go to YouTube and check out 8K Clarity. It's mostly short nature films in breathtaking 4K, 8K, and even 12K HDR video. It truly is breathtaking.

                 Writing news: I'm more than halfway finished with Stormwatch Chapter 16. The Chamonix Howe arc is coming to a close, and I'm hoping that it will be everything you wanted. I'm currently writing the "showdown" between Macy and Cholly's grandmother. Because Valériane Lévesque does not speak English there will be a lot of French in the text, and English translation will be there. Lots of emotion; it's hard to write when I'm tearing up. Chapter 17 will include the trip to Nisi Arcadia and visiting Ellie. Chapter 18 will include the fundraiser, the barbershop contest, and the wedding in the woods… I may have to move the wedding to Chapter 19, we'll see.

                 Today is the last day of working on Chapter 16 for a week. I'm taking a break from Stormwatch and going to spend my writing time working on a Literotica National Nude Day contest entry. Mrs. D will be out of town, so I should have plenty of time to finish the story. If I remember right, I haven't given this contest a try since 2022. I am not in it to win it, having come in second place in the April Fools Day contest, I'm not eligible to win, but there are side benefits to being in the contest - you reach a lot more people, and pick up a lot of followers. Soon as my contest story is done, I will be back to Stormwatch Chapter 16.

                 When Chapter 16 is finished, I'll start on Gods Save the Queen, Book 5 Part 1. This book will be brighter and less bloody that Book 4… but to be honest, Book 4 is selling quite well.  Book 5 is an emotional release for readers, a truly joyful holiday celebration in the Snowcross mountains. Like book 4, book 5 is a story I love and can't wait to write. My ouline is kind of sketchy so I have to add a lot to flesh it out to novel length.

                 That's it for now. If you have any questions, comments, or complaints, feel free to drop me a line, and if you want to chat live you can find me on Discord at  https://discord.gg/UJWb7tzX3P