As someone with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), I’ve developed chemical sensitivity. Basically, if I am around any harsh chemical smells, I tend to react adversely. Reactions vary from migraines, rashes, hives, flushing, asthma, burning mouth syndrome, or feeling faint. This is especially difficult in social situations, or while on public transport. Having to step away from a conversation because I physically can’t handle the amount of perfume or cologne the person is wearing, or, switch hotels numerous times until finding one that doesn’t use deodorizers to ‘mask’ smells and other toxic cleaning solvents is not something I look forward to in my day to day interactions.

For a device that does much to obscure the face, anti-pollution masks (also called “courtesy masks” or “respirator masks") are rapidly gaining in mainstream visibility. In March of this year, Vox published an article with the headline: “As air pollution gets worse, a dystopian accessory is born.” In perfect synergy, research indicates that the incidence of allergic diseases (including asthma and mast cell) has also increased globally in most industrialized countries. Poor air quality is damaging no matter who you are, but moderate levels of air pollution, pollen or other airborne agents can be outright lethal to persons who are impacted by allergic diseases as well as immunocompromised persons.

(Note: there are other reasons that a person may choose to wear a mask; all intentions to preserve health are valid.)

Being a huge Disney and Harry Potter fan, I’ve had Walt Disney World and the
(Original) Wizarding World of Harry Potter on my bucket list for a long while. So, given the opportunity to join my partner for a tradeshow in Orlando, I didn’t hesitate (regardless of it being hurricane season). I was excited not only to visit the parks themselves, but to explore the theme park capital of the world, Orlando, Florida. Here is a list of our favorite spots inside and outside of the parks…

I was recently working and living in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and got pretty sick… We are (romantically) talking about days of not leaving the toilet, not sleeping, not eating. Unsure if it was food poisoning or an infection, I called my travel insurance company, and they instructed me to head to the ER. I began to Google, ‘how much does it cost to go the ER in Mexico?... ‘what is going to the ER in Mexico as an American like?’ and couldn’t find any straight answers. Per usual, I guess I was finding out IRL.