The flu hit my city a few weeks ago, and as of yesterday it is in my neighborhood, maybe even next door. Rumor has it the neighbors have the dreaded swine flu, though from what I hear no one really knows if that is the case. Either way, yuck!

With a baby at home, and remembering my horrible triple-illness that knocked me flat for more than a month last year, I’m in a panic. I’m already mostly home-bound because of finances and baby, but what else can I do to keep germs at bay?

When I leave the house, it’s mostly to go to the grocery store, pharmacy, coffee place or library. I can’t avoid groceries, but do I need to hang out at the library? Do I need to be fingering those books and magazines that everyone has been touching? At least at Starbucks only the barista has touched my drink.

The only truly germ free book is an e-book! You buy it online and download it in your own home. No one has touched it! I’ve already been using my e-reader more because I can operate it one-handed while I hold the baby, but now I have another compelling reason to use it.

My ebooks won’t have flu germs on them, and maybe I have another way to keep the house germ free this winter.