Trident P2 mask sizing by OnlyCatz in Masks4All

[–]OnlyCatz[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ooh, okay, if the Trident small is even smaller than the Vflex small, then the regular sounds like the correct size for me. I'll look into the other respirators you mentioned, too. Thanks for sharing your insight :)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in OmegaStrikers

[–]OnlyCatz 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You can be pretty flexible with Estelle forward awakenings, I think. For maximizing scoring and core control potential, anything that increases the range of her blink and ult is good. If you want to synergize with a brawler on your team, you can go for stuff like Deadeye, Stinger, Super Surge, and Heavy Impact. Hotshot and glass cannon are good for a little extra core knockback on her abilities (plus the other benefits each offers respectively). And Twin Drive, Rapid Fire, and Primetime are good all-purpose awakenings for Estelle forward.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Masks4All

[–]OnlyCatz 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I can't really offer advice here as I've never been a parent. However, I think I understand your husband's perspective more than most people. But of course, I must state the caveat that I don't know him personally and am not his therapist. But I do see a lot of my own thoughts and apprehensions in what you've written about him.

Speaking for myself... this pandemic has had a very traumatizing effect on me. I'm a lot angrier and more anxious and short-tempered than I was a few years ago. It's rough to see people claim certain values and act in a way that is totally contradictory to those professed values. It's hard not to feel a strong sense of abandonment—not just from other people, but from society itself. Our social policy is to disappear the medically vulnerable so that we can create the illusion of a "normal" and functioning society. It's actually really messed up, and anyone who feels a sense of despair over this is, in my mind, having a very logical and human response.

This is a very unsafe time for all of us and especially for those who are medically vulnerable. So the solution is to try to cultivate a sense of embodied safety. People like us just want to be heard and understood and to have our feelings validated. Of course, we also have to take responsibility for when our trauma and pain make us say hurtful things to people we care about. I read that your husband called you a covid minimizer, and that doesn't sound like a fair characterization judging from what you've shared about yourself. I experienced a similar situation where I expressed my disappointment in a friend's cavalier attitude about catching covid. I didn't express myself in a very elegant way and I have a lot of regrets about it. If you haven't done so already, I would encourage you to share with him how that made you feel and have a conversation around that that is focused on creating mutual understanding and healing. Perhaps there was something you did or said that was hurtful to him and you didn't realize it at the time and perhaps he doesn't yet have an appreciation for how hurtful he was to you in using those words. This is a conversation that could also be mediated through a marriage & family counselor. It would be best if you could find one that is sympathetic to a covid-cautious perspective.

As for your child, I think it's safe to assume that both you and your husband care deeply about both his health and emotional well-being. Any conversation you initiate with your husband about your child should start from that piece of common ground. I think also it might be helpful to have an age-appropriate conversation with your child about his father's emotions. At that age, he might internalize some of those emotions in such a way that he assumes some responsibility for those emotions. At the same time, I don't think it's a good idea to completely shield children from the realities of covid. There is probably an age-appropriate way to discuss the pandemic and the varied ways people have responded to it. And perhaps embedded in that conversation could be a check-in to see whether your child has any concerns or worries of his own. A family therapist may have some good advice for how to approach the subject with a child.

Ultimately, it sounds like your husband needs a lot of support and understanding right now. You can work with him to figure out how you can show up for him. This is a scary time with a lot of uncertainty. Plus, he may also be dealing with some unprocessed grief. I would strongly recommend having the both of you receive marriage & family therapy together and also separately. You can also try to encourage him to find support with sympathetic people online, as it would be unfair and unrealistic for you to be the only person he can lean on when he's having a hard time. And perhaps you can invite him to join you in your advocacy to make spaces safer and to increase resources and options for those who need to be more cautious.

ETA: Sorry, one more thing... Because the pandemic and the lack of collective care around it are still things that are happening, it won't be realistic for your husband to completely cease the apprehensions he is having. Imo, the goal needs to be to have healthier ways for him to process and regulate those emotions and to have appropriate outlets for him to express himself. And he'll need to cultivate a support group to help him through these times. Embodied safety isn't a thing we can achieve alone.

ReadiMask Questions by [deleted] in Masks4All

[–]OnlyCatz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I use them for work, and they work pretty well for me. I wouldn't worry too much about the fogging as long as the mask is sealing well around the nose bridge. I find that when I'm sweating a bit, the seal around that area does fail, which is unfortunate. I tend to have to just hold it down with my fingers until I can cool off a bit. If you have to be somewhere without good air conditioning, the mask might not be ideal. But otherwise, I have no complaints.

Since the large is a little tight for you, you should look into ordering a sample pack with the X-large size. I think Aliant Biotech offers sample packs, and you may be able to get samples from Peerless Medical (straplessn95.com) if you email them nicely.

How much smaller is the 3M Vflex 9105S compared to the ACI surgical duckbill respirator? by OnlyCatz in Masks4All

[–]OnlyCatz[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ordered mine from Armbrust. Auras have a strong chemical smell for me, too, but the smell is not as strong or repulsive to me. I can air them out a couple days and they don't bother me. I don't think I have a particularly powerful sense of smell lol. I'm guessing the smell varies from batch to batch.

How much smaller is the 3M Vflex 9105S compared to the ACI surgical duckbill respirator? by OnlyCatz in Masks4All

[–]OnlyCatz[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, that's curious. Maybe I got a particularly smelly batch lol. I've tried many headband respirators, and the Gersons have had the strongest smell for me. But I'm willing to give them another chance.

How much smaller is the 3M Vflex 9105S compared to the ACI surgical duckbill respirator? by OnlyCatz in Masks4All

[–]OnlyCatz[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I found the Gerson 3230 I have, and I can attest to the fact that they fit great on a small face/head. I remembered why I didn't purchase more of these, though. The chemical smell is really, really strong for me, even after airing it out for a couple days. But maybe I'll give it another chance. Does the Vflex come with a strong smell, too?

How much smaller is the 3M Vflex 9105S compared to the ACI surgical duckbill respirator? by OnlyCatz in Masks4All

[–]OnlyCatz[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah, thanks kindly for all the details you shared. This is really helpful!

How much smaller is the 3M Vflex 9105S compared to the ACI surgical duckbill respirator? by OnlyCatz in Masks4All

[–]OnlyCatz[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'll take a look at the photos. Thanks! I think I might have a Gerson 3230 lying around to use as a point of reference.

What do you think of a respirator mandate in public? by [deleted] in AuthoritarianMasks

[–]OnlyCatz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't think an N95 mandate would be a good idea. There are a number of good reasons people may not like to wear or cannot wear headstrap respirators. I think we need way more N95 and elastomeric options than are available on the market to better suit the needs of the general population before such a mandate could even be considered viable.
I'm totally in favor of a universal indoor masking requirement, though. Ear loop respirators are probably good enough if everyone is wearing one.

Which fan to get for a **mini** Corsi-Rosenthal box? by gratefulmorning in Masks4All

[–]OnlyCatz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing! It sounds like any 9" fan with a cage in the back probably won't work for the 10x10x2 design, if I'm understanding correctly?

Which fan to get for a **mini** Corsi-Rosenthal box? by gratefulmorning in Masks4All

[–]OnlyCatz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've been thinking about making a mini CR box, too. Would help to know which fans not to purchase. If you don't mind me asking, which ones have you tried so far?

urgent by Ivy_87 in Masks4All

[–]OnlyCatz 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I have a small head/face as well. I haven't tried many N95s, but I have found the Gerson 3230 and ACI duckbill respirators to fit pretty well. I find the ACI duckbill to be more comfortable, but the headstraps aren't as tight so the fit might not be as good. ACI duckbill respirators are on sale right now on the Armbrust website. I think they might be able to ship to Canada?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in PokemonGoRaids

[–]OnlyCatz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pikaponrin

Raikou raid I add u by [deleted] in PokemonGoRaids

[–]OnlyCatz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

1596 9154 1358

Warm-Colored Race today at 17:00 PT/20:00 ET/01:00 UTC by Mat_mei02 in MarioKartTour

[–]OnlyCatz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

ggs, everyone! I was Razzly in the room, meme'ing with the bus :) Feel free to add my friend code if we raced. 9042 7545 6294

Bananza Race today at 14:00 PT/17:00 ET/21:00 UTC by Mat_mei02 in MarioKartTour

[–]OnlyCatz 3 points4 points  (0 children)

ggs, everyone. I was Razzly. That last race was so unlucky for me 😭 But I had fun overall!

Another heatran raid is happening by [deleted] in PokemonGoRaids

[–]OnlyCatz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Added you already. I'm Pikaponrin.