Modern Day Slavery

I am convinced that slavery is alive and well today.  I am convinced it is far more wide spread than it ever was during the early years of this country.  This slavery doesn't care if your male or female, it doesn't care what color your skin is, it doesn't care how old you are, it doesn't care what religion you are.  It is amazingly non-discriminant.  What is this form of modern day slavery?  DEBT.  I felt this was an appropriate topic having just passed through a very expensive season.  My main goal in life right now is to become debt free.  Only then are we truly free.  Only then do you have the freedom to say, I just don't want to work anymore.  Now I admit there are some things that almost universally require us to go into debt for.  A home, an education, and perhaps a car.  But that is it.  I hope and pray that for this new year we will all get a little closer to becoming debt free. 
I remember meeting a dentist in Cleveland on a golf course.  My friends and I were out golfing and he was playing as a single so he joined us.  Through the conversation we had with him we discovered that his father who was also a dentist was still working at 80 years of age because he couldn't retire.  I just about lost my lunch.  I felt so sorry for his dad.  Now if his father chose to work at 80 years of age more power to him, if however he had to work for financial reasons, that is very sad. 
Some people blame the banks for our current financial problems in this country.  If you do how can you get back at them?  Become debt free. 

On a happier note, I wish you and yours a happy new year and truly hope you had a merry Christmas.
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Do I need an antibiotic?

Hello from the land of the miserable colds.  I have been sick for over a week now, and boy do I love it.  I woke up on Sunday and felt like I was getting sick.  I chose to ignore it and get ready for church.  I went with my family to the first part of our church meetings.  At the end of that hour, I decided I should go home and get some rest.  My throat was on fire.  I don't remember having a sore throat hurt that bad in a long time.  Even my silver bullet halls blue ice cough drops had little effect on my throat.  I knew I was in for a fun one.  The next morning I was so miserable I actually called in sick.  I have never done that before.  I have gone home early from work on two separate occasions but never have I canceled my whole day.
I knew with the sore throat that it would lead to a cough.  Sure enough I have been coughing for all of last week and continuing into today.  It feels a little difficult to breathe and I wish I could just suck all the junk out of my lungs instead of having to cough it all up.  I have a good friend who is my physician.  I sent him a text, and asked if he thought I should have an antibiotic.  He asked me a few questions and said yes lets put you on one.  So hopefully I will start seeing some relief in the next 24-48 hours.
I have become a little gun shy about toughing things out ever since my younger healthy brother ended up on a ventilator in the ICU for over 10 weeks.  He caught the flu H1N1 and it progressed to pneumonia.  He almost died.  If a young guy who is in far better shape than me can get that sick that fast it makes me a little concerned.  Now I don't think that every little sniffle needs an antibiotic, but because I felt like it was hard to breathe I talked to my physician.  I could have just called a buddy and had him call in an antibiotic for me without consulting my physician, but I wanted to get his opinion on my situation.  If you are concerned that you need an antibiotic consult your doctor.  Being tough isn't worth several hundred thousand dollars in hospital bills or ten weeks in the ICU and several weeks in physical therapy.  Take care of yourself this cold and flu season.

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What do you do when you get a cold?

Sunday I woke up feeling a little odd.  I felt like I might be coming down with something but I got up and got dressed for church.  I made it to the first part of church but I knew I was getting sick.  I went home and started the "healing routine".  This cold is miserable.  I have been very blessed in that I think I have gone nearly 2 years with out a cold.  On Sunday my throat was on fire!!!  Literally on fire, ok maybe not literally but I wouldn't have even flinched if I had flames shoot out of my mouth.  I took some NyQuil and went to bed.  Monday I woke up feeling like I had been hit by a runaway freight train.  I canceled my patients and laid on the couch all day long.  I usually work through anything but this cold hit me hard.  Here is my I have a cold routine.  I love NyQuil and DayQuil.  They don't last that long but they work like a charm.  I also take insane amounts of vitamin C I just took 5000 mg.  I drink plenty of fluids and rest as much as possible.  I am not aware of much more I can do when hit with a cold.  If you have any tricks or tips please pass them on.

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Christmas

I love Christmas stories, especially the ones that make me think or promote feelings of gratitude.  I have a collection of stories.  I wanted to share this one with you.

A Christmas Train

By Thomas S. Monson

He recalled a Christmas, probably in his tenth year; when he wanted an electric train more than

anything else. He did not want the less expensive and easier-to-find wind-up train. He wanted a train

that could be plugged into a socket and run by the wonder of electrical power.

The economy was still depressed at that time and asking for an electric train was asking for a lot—

probably even requiring financial sacrifice by his parents. Nevertheless, Tommy hoped and dreamed

and, much to his surprise, found an electric train under the tree on Christmas morning. He immediately

put the train together and operated the electric transformer. He loved watching the train go forward,

then backward, and all around the track.

Hours later, his mother interrupted Tommy at play by showing him a wind-up she had purchased for

a boy named Mark Hansen who lived down the street. The train for Mark was not as sleek or as long as

his train, but Tommy noticed an oil tanker car in Mark’s set that was unlike anything he had. Even

though he had a better train set, Tommy began to feel envious of Mark’s oil tanker. Tommy pled with

his mother to let him keep the tanker. She responded to his fussing: “If you need it more than Mark,

you take it.”

President Monson recalled how he added the tanker to his set and felt very satisfied---at least for a

little while. Later, he walked with his mother over to Mark’s home and presented him with the wind-up

train, minus the oil tanker. Mark was thrilled with the generous gift. He put the train cars together and

began playing with them. Then Tommy’s mother wisely asked, “What do you think of Mark’s train,

Tommy?”

Tommy began to feel guilty about the tanker he had confiscated. He asked his mother to excuse him

for a moment, and ran home as fast as his legs could carry him. He detached the oil tanker from his set,

along with another car from his own set, and ran back to Mark’s home.

Beginning to feel the joy of giving, Tommy burst through the door and said to Mark, “We forgot to

bring two cars that belong to your train.” He gave Mark the oil tanker and another of his own cars and

helped attach them to Mark’s set. President Monson remembers how he watched the trains go around

the track and “felt a supreme joy, difficult to describe and impossible to forget. The spirit
of Christmas had filled my very soul.”

A Christmas stroy.

A good friend of mine sent me this story.  I don't know who the author is but I loved the message.


The Man who missed Christmas
It was Christmas Eve, and as usual, George Mason was the last to leave the office. He walked over to a massive safe, spun the dials, and swung the heavy door open. Making sure the door would not close behind him, he stepped inside.
A square of white cardboard was taped just above the topmost row of strong boxes. On the card a few words were written. George Mason stared at those words, remembering...
Exactly one year ago he had entered this self-same vault. And then, behind his back, slowly, noiselessly, the ponderous door swung shut. He was trapped--entombed in the sudden and
terrifying dark.
He hurled himself at the unyielding door, his hoarse cry sounding like an explosion. Through his mind flashed all the stories he had heard of men found suffocated in time vaults. No time clock controlled this mechanism; the safe would remain locked until it was opened from the outside. Tomorrow morning.
Then realization hit him. No one would come tomorrow--tomorrow was Christmas.
Once more he flung himself at the door, shouting wildly, until he sank on his knees exhausted. Silence came, high-pitched, singing silence that seemed deafening. More than thirty-six hours in a steel box three feet wide, eight feet long, and seven feet high. Would the oxygen last? Panting and breathing heavily, he felt his way around the floor. Then, in the far right-hand corner, just above the floor, he found a small, circular opening. Quickly he thrust his finger into it and felt a faint but
unmistakable, cool current of air.
The tension release was so sudden that he burst into tears. But at last he sat up. Surely he would not have to stay trapped for the full thirty-six hours. Somebody would miss him. But who? He was unmarried and lived alone. The maid who cleaned his apartment was just a servant; he had always treated her as such. He had been invited to spend Christmas Eve with his brother's family, but children got on his nerves and expected presents.
A friend had asked him to go to a home for elderly people on Christmas Day and play the piano--George Mason was a good musician. But he had made some excuse or other; he had intended to sit at home, listening to some new recordings he was giving himself.
George Mason dug his nails into the palms of his hands until the pain balanced the misery in his mind. Nobody would come and let him out, nobody, nobody, nobody...
Miserably the whole of Christmas Day went by, and the succeeding night.
On the morning after Christmas the head clerk came into the office at the usual time, opened the safe, then went on into his private office.
No one saw George Mason stagger out into the corridor, run to the water cooler, and drink great gulps of water. No one paid any attention to him as he left and took a taxi home.
Then he shaved, changed his wrinkled clothes, ate breakfast, and returned to his office where his employees greeted him casually.
That day he met several acquaintances and talked to his own brother. Grimly, the truth closed in on George Mason. He had vanished from human society during the great festival of brotherhood and no one had missed him at all.
Reluctantly, George Mason began to think about the true meaning of Christmas. Was it possible that he had been blind all these years with selfishness, indifference, and pride? Was not giving, after all, the essence of Christmas because it marked the time God gave His Son to the world?
All through the year that followed, with little hesitant deeds of kindness, with small, unnoticed acts of unselfishness, George Mason tried to prepare himself..
Now, once more, it was Christmas Eve.
Slowly he backed out of the safe and closed it. He touched its grim, steel face lightly, almost affectionately, and left the office.
There he goes now in his black overcoat and hat, the same George Mason as a year ago. Or is it? He walks a few blocks, and then flags a taxi, anxious not to be late. His nephews are expecting him to help them trim the tree. Afterwards, he is taking his brother and his sister-in-law to a Christmas play. Why is he so happy? Why does this jostling against others, laden as he is with bundles, exhilarate and delight him?
Perhaps the card has something to do with it, the card he taped inside his office safe last New Year's Day. On the card is written, in George Mason's own hand:
"To love people, to be indispensable somewhere, that is the purpose of life. That is the secret of happiness."

Merry Christmas

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Buca di Beppo

Over the thanksgiving weekend I took my family to Salt Lake City.  We make this trip annually.  We love to go to temple square and look at the Christmas lights, I am always amazed at how many they fit on a single tree.  We also make it a point to go and look at the statue of Jesus Christ and watch the Christmas story as told in Luke chapter 2.  It is a very fun and inspiring night for us. 
We wanted to take our kids somewhere fun for dinner while we were down there.  My wife and I had been to Bucca di Beppo before, which is an italian restaurant, and our oldest loves fettuccine alfredo.  How could we miss?  This visit didn't go so well.  We had at least three dirty plates brought to our table all with food stuck on them still.  We had dirty silverware and to top it off there was a hair in the salad they brought us.  My Mother-in-Law, who is more than happy to let a restaurant know if they messed up found the hair and stayed quiet about it.  I was shocked.  Long story short, not sure I will go there again.  Now that may be a little too hard on them but when I go to a restaurant I expect it to be clean.  One dirty plate ok but three???  There is something wrong there.  Plus to top it off my oldest didn't like the fettuccine alfredo.  Another swing and a miss for me!!!!  Gotta love it.

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Thanksgiving

Just a quick note before the holidays.  As I reflect on Thanksgiving and the true intent behind the holiday, I am reminded of traditions that are near and dear to my heart.  I remember growing up my mom would get up extremely early and start cooking the bird.  When I managed to drag myself out of bed I would smell the aroma of Turkey.  I will never forget how good that smelled.
Now that I am grown I am trying to teach my kids how blessed we are to live in this wonderful country.  Do we have problems in this country?  Yes and they are big ones but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.  One tradition we have is for everyone to say what they are most thankful for.  I love doing that and I look forward to this Thanksgiving when I can enjoy that tradition again. 

No matter what it is you do for the holiday, I hope you take the time to count your blessings, because I am positive you have many blessings to give thanks for!

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I have a tooth ache

The other day I had a patient come into my office with a tooth that was bothering her.  I took an x-ray and sure enough there was a large cavity that extended into the nerve of the tooth.  She told me this tooth had bothered her a month or so ago and she went to the doctor and they put her on an antibiotic.  She took the antibiotic and the tooth started feeling better at which point she put off going to the dentist.  She was in some pain when I saw her but due to time constraints we only prescribed her an antibiotic and some pain medicine and scheduled her for a time that worked better for her. 
The next morning she called and she said she was swollen and was going to the emergency room.  I knew exactly what they were going to tell her, GO BACK TO THE DENTIST.  We normally start at noon on Wednesdays and stay open until 7.  I came in to see her at 10.  She was very swollen.  I got her numb and did the root canal which turned out great!  But now she will have to wait for the antibiotics to kick in which usually takes 48 hours, and she will probably be swollen for a week or so.  Why am I telling you this?  Simple, if she had come in the first time her tooth hurt she would have avoided a visit to the ER and an emergency root canal and all the swelling.  A general rule with teeth.  If it hurts its most likely going to be expensive and the longer you wait the worse it will get.

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Cold Sores

Yesterday I had a mom bring her 8 year old daughter into my office.  She had been to an urgent care clinic the day before.  The urgent care clinic told the mom that she needed to see a dentist and gave the child an antibiotic.  I sat down and looked at this poor little girl and she has sores in her nose on her lips and chin and all over her gums.  They looked like little pimples that she had popped and that they had crusted over.  I know for those with a weak stomach this may be a little disgusting.  But I immediately knew what it was.  This poor girl had primary or acute herpetic gingivostomatitis.  Basically that's a big word for a cold sore outbreak.  It most commonly occurs when the kids are between 2 and 3, but can occur in adults as well. 

I have learned over the years that when it comes to treating cold sores early treatment is the best way to go.  The earlier you treat the shorter the duration.  I love to prescribe a medication called Valtrex for patients with cold sores.  It is an amazing drug.  If you take the pills as soon as you know a cold sore is coming on most of the time the cold sore will not appear at all.  If you get cold sores talk to your physician or dentist and get a prescription you can thank me later.  I have also heard that taking the supplement L-Lysine will decrease the number of cold sores you get.  Just two tips from a guy who deals with them on a regular basis.

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Failure?

If you have kids, you will at some point feel like a huge failure.  Whether you kids are unruly, or you do something that hurts their feelings, or maybe you just feel like you not good enough to raise children.  I know that every parent has felt like a failure at some point in time.  The thought occurred to me the other day as I was swimming in feelings of inadequacy as a parent.  I was reflecting on how often I feel like I mess up, and I then thought about God.  He is perfect and he has some children who act and do the most terrible things imaginable.  But he still loves each and every one of us and he is rooting for us to improve and learn and grow.  I know that if we keep our head up and do the best we can, our kids will be ok.  Sure they may end up on the Oprah show talking about us, but they will be alright and as long as we always love them they know they can turn to us.  So that is my goal, despite how I mess up, I want all my kids to know I love them and I am doing my best and that they can always come to me with any problem or decision they may face.

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Stalkers.

A very good friend of mine has a stalker.  I don't know about you but I have never had a situation like this strike close to home.  I mean every now and again the news reports about some star who has a stalker, and I know that people who aren't famous have them too.  But until it comes close to home, I think it is similar to many other problems we have in this life.  We tend to live in a "that won't happen to me" world.  It is sad to see someone who is dealing with a person who is obsessed.  This stalker is an intelligent person but when he sent my friend an e-mail it was quite clear to me from the first paragraph that he was either really drunk or way off his rocker.  Fortunately for my friend she got the police involved right away and he is now under arrest.  If you have someone who is stalking you take the threat seriously and get help from the police.  I know they can't do everything to protect you but it is better than nothing or at least is has been for my friend.

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I made the front page!!

As you may know I have written and published a children's book.  The book is titled My Dog The Lawyer.  I got a call from our local news paper on Sunday, asking if they could come by and interview me in the next couple of hours.  I agreed and a photographer showed up a couple hours later followed by the reporter.  It was a nice interview but I figured that I would be buried on some obscure page of the paper.  I was in Denver the next day and was surprised to see a text from my mom with my ugly mug on the front page of the local paper.  It was a very unexpected but very pleasant surprise.  So here is the picture, enjoy.

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Win a million dollars

I am so excited.  I can hardly believe my luck.  I just got a letter in the mail telling me that I have won 1.4 million dollars.  All I have to do is send in a check for $19.99 and then I will be rich!!  Can you believe my luck. 

What a joke.  Please don't be fooled if you receive a letter from Robert Richards Prize Announcer.

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Should I get a flu shot?

What exactly is the flu shot?  The flu shot contains dead flu viruses.  These viruses cannot cause the flu because once again they are dead.  The idea behind the flu shot is to "teach" your immune system what the flu virus looks like so that when confronted with a live flu virus your immune system will recognize it and attack and kill it thus protecting you against the flu.  The flu shot in my town can be found for around $25.  I think that avoiding a week or two of misery and the need to buy a medicine call tamiflu which will cost you at least $100 is well worth the price of a small shot.

Why do they have a new flu shot each year?  The answer to that is simple.  Viruses and bacteria can mutate or change.  If you have heard of a super bug or antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria, they are examples of mutations in the bugs that make us sick.  According to the CDC,
"There are two reasons for getting a yearly flu vaccine:

• The first reason is that because flu viruses are constantly changing, flu vaccines may be updated from one season to the next to protect against the most recent and most commonly circulating viruses.
• The second reason that annual vaccination is recommended is that a person’s immune protection from vaccination declines over time and annual vaccination is needed for optimal protection."

So when should you get your flu shot?  Flu season usually peaks in December and can start as early as October and last into May.  So get the flu shot as soon as it becomes available in your community.

Lastly what are the side effects of the flu shot?  Again I will refer to the CDC.

"Different side effects can be associated with the flu shot and LAIV.
The flu shot: The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated), so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot. Some minor side effects that could occur are:

• Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
• Fever (low grade)
• Aches

If these problems occur, they begin soon after the shot and usually last 1 to 2 days. Almost all people who receive influenza vaccine have no serious problems from it. However, on rare occasions, flu vaccination can cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. As of July 1, 2005, people who think that they have been injured by the flu shot can file a claim for compensation from the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).
The nasal spray (also called LAIV or FluMist®): The viruses in the nasal-spray vaccine are weakened and do not cause severe symptoms often associated with influenza illness. (In clinical studies, transmission of vaccine viruses to close contacts has occurred only rarely.)
In children, side effects from LAIV (FluMist®) can include:

• runny nose
• wheezing
• headache
• vomiting
• muscle aches
• fever

In adults, side effects from LAIV (FluMist®) can include

• runny nose
• headache
• sore throat
• cough

More information about the safety of flu vaccines is available at Influenza Vaccine Safety."

For my money I am getting a flu shot every year.  I just think it is the smart thing to do.  If you want to read more about the flu check out www.cdc.gov/flu/.  That is all.

My book

Its done!!!!!  YEAH I'm very excited.  Here is the link to my book on Lulu.http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/JeremyHodgeDMD

Please let me know what you think!!

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Lazy Men

I saw a post on Facebook the other day that talked about basically a superwoman.  It talked about how she got up early, got the kids ready, fed them breakfast, did their hair, made sure their backpacks are ready to go for school, and herded them out the door all the while the husband scratched himself and got served breakfast and left for work.  Then she does all the household chores, balanced the checkbook, laundry, rotated the tires on the car, roofed the house, solved world hunger and developed an emission free fuel source.  Then she made dinner with a smile helped with home work etc.  The husband comes home from work does nothing but watch TV and eat the dinner his wife prepared.  Then she had to make love to him and she did it without complaining.  PHEW!  She is one busy lady. 

My first reaction to that post was that I was a little offended.  In my house I participate in raising the kids I help with the laundry, I cook some of the meals, I help clean, I help get the kids up and ready for school.  I do my best to help in all aspects of home life.  I help with homework and music practice.  Now I admit my wife does most of the work but that is simply because I am at my job.  When I come home I help out.  For example yesterday I came home for lunch and I noticed the clothes dryer stopped and there was a load waiting in the washer.  I took the clothes out of the dryer folded them and put them away.  I also took the clothes out of the washer and started them drying.

I know there are men out there who don't treat their wives well at all!!  I know there are some who don't lift a finger to help around the house and act like a king waiting on his servants!!!  Those men disgust me!!!!  I often wonder what they would do should their wife suddenly be gone for any reason.  I know women work very hard and I am not trying to say they don't.  My wife runs from sun up to sun down.  My point is that there are some men who run right along side their wives helping and supporting each other as they go through life. 

If your a lazy pig husband as described in the post I saw on Facebook you need to change and stop taking you wife for granted.  If you do the best you can to help in every aspect of home life good for you!!!!!

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Coping with the death of a loved one

I am not sure what it is lately but I have had people all around me dying.  It is a very odd feeling.  I haven't lost a parent or anyone really close to me thanks goodness.  But I have had several friends lose someone close to them and had two extended family deaths on both my side and my wife's side of the family.  I almost feel like I am the center of a bulls eye and the darts keep getting a little closer.  All this death has caused me to reflect on how people deal and or cope with the death of loved ones.

I know coping is very different for everyone so I am going to tell you how I do it, and how I hope I will be able to cope when it comes time for me to lose someone close to me such as a parent.  I believe that we are children of God, I know this actually.  Because we are children of God I believe that the whole point to this life is for us to see what we are made of, in other words how do we deal with hardship and grief and pain and morality.  I also believe that God loves us far more than we could ever possible comprehend in this life, and that he knows each of us very well, better than we know ourselves.  That being said here is how I look at it when I am faced with a death.  I look at it like they have finished the marathon, they have crossed the finish line and the reward is to live in peace and comfort and never ending happiness.  I really think that with this perspective it is much easier to cope with the loss of a loved one.  Even with children, they came to earth they lived as long as they needed to and they are done.  But most important of all I know we can all be reunited when we die.  I know we will see them again and that we will never have to be separated again.

I know that I packed a lot of different thoughts into a small paragraph, if you should have any questions on what I believe please leave me a comment and I will be happy to either explain more or point you towards the information.

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The best places to eat

I am not a culinary expert by any means.  That being said, I do think that I know good food when I taste it.
-I went to a Ruth's Chris Steak House with my wife on two different occasions.  The first time we loved it.  The staff was very attentive and it was an incredible meal.  The steak was to die for.  The second time around not so much.  My steak was still great but my wife's was not so great.  Plus the second time we went the staff all but ignored us it was such a stark contrast from our first experience.  But my steak was still amazing. 

-The Carnegie Deli is one stop I have to make if I am in Las Vegas.  I absolutely love the Reuben sandwich there.  Always a huge hit with me!!
-In Arizona down in Tuscon at a restaurant called El Guero Canelo resides the best hot dog on the planet.  It is called the Sonoran dog.  If you don't like hot dogs you will like this one, if you do like them this will become the standard you measure all other dogs by.  If you are even close to Tuscon you have to go.
- Jackson Hole Wyoming.  Billy's Burgers.  Just get one, you can thank me later.

These are just a few of my favorites, if you are close to any of them give them a try.

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Heart attack signs and symptoms in women

A very good friend of mine suffered a heart attack just the other day.  She is a young female, and it got me thinking about recent literature I have seen indicating that women can have some very different symptoms from what men typically experience when it comes to a heart attack.  There are many stories out there about how women can suffer a heart attack and get a misdiagnosis.  I looked on WebMD and found a story about a lady from New Jersey who was experiencing "a feeling of indigestion and extreme fatigue. Later, she had nausea, vomiting and fainting."  But she never experienced the typical symptoms of chest pain or pressure.  In fact one study found that nearly half of all women who have a heart attack never experience chest pain.

So I thought I would try to find and list all of the symptoms of a heart attack.  Because according to one study the average heart attack sufferer arrives at the hospital almost five hours after the symptoms start.  Which can significantly increase their chances of dying.  It is extremely important to become familiar with the warning signs of the number one killer of women in the United States.


The average heart attack sufferer gets to the hospital almost five hours after the onset of symptoms. This delay significantly increases their chances of dying. That's why it's so important to know the warning signs of a heart attack and what to do if you experience them. Being educated could save your life.




Common Warning Signs include but are not limited to:

Knowing these common warning signs of a heart attack could help save your life:

-Chest pressure, tightness, and heaviness

-Pain in shoulders, neck, jaw, or arms

-Lightheadedness

-Fainting

-Paleness


-Sweating

-Nausea

-Shortness of breath with or without chest pain


Studies on what doctors call cardiac events in women reveal that many women may experience early signs or symptoms of heart trouble in the days, weeks, or even months leading up to a heart attack. Unfortunately, many of these signs may be dismissed as nothing out of the ordinary, by both women and their doctors. The most common early warning signs include:


Unusual fatigue:  In one study, more than 70% of the women surveyed experienced marked fatigue in the days or weeks prior to their heart attacks.

Sleep disturbances:  A recent study revealed that almost half of the women who had recently suffered a heart attack also experienced sleep disturbances in the days or weeks leading up to their attacks.

Indigestion.

Anxiety.

Back pain.

Weakness.

Lets face it, all of us experience some these symptoms from time to time, have a bad week and anxiety sets in or fatigue or even indigestion.  So how do you know if the symptoms you are experiencing are serious?  Pay attention to your body.  Note the common aches and pains you have, take notice of things in your life and connect them with any anxiety your feel or sleep loss you experience. Basically just be in tune with your body.  Not f you experience changes in your energy level, comfort, or sleep habits, that are out of the ordinary and make you worry, you should discuss your concerns with your health care provider, especially if you have heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, a smoking habit, or a sedentary lifestyle. 

I also encourage you to search the Internet and learn about the causes and how to prevent heart attacks for yourself and those you love especially women as they experience.

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Thrive not just survive

Often times in life it seems we get so busy with work, school, kids, grand kids, church, friends, etc. that we don't take time to enjoy the simple things in life.  The other day I was riding in the car with my wife and she was reading a book and she would periodically share parts of the book with me.  One sentence she read to me was, The key to happiness in life is learning to thrive not just survive.  I am quoting from memory but that was essentially it.

I really had to stop and think about that for a minute.  There are so many things in life that are beyond our control.  We never know from day to day or minute to minute if something bad will happen to us or some one we know.  We never know when tragedy will strike or hardship will reign supreme in our lives.  The only thing that is certain is that we will all experience tragedy and hardship.

So how do we thrive instead of just survive when the bad times come?  I am not 100% sure I have the answer.  But I often think that it is all about how we look at it.  When events in life come we have the choice to be angry or be happy.  Let me give you an example.  When I was a kid I would ask my dad to tell me a story at bed time.  I used to say if he could make me laugh the story was over.  Well as you can imagine I would do my best to not laugh, and I was quite good at it.  I was taking a happy event and nullifying it.  Now I know this is very different from a tragic event in life but I believe that the same principal applies.  We choose how we feel.  It isn't always an easy choice but I truly believe we choose how we feel.

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The Soul Surfer lending a helping arm

My daughter and her friend watched the movie Soul Surfer.  I have not seen this movie but my daughter really liked it.  She and her friend decided that they wanted to base a fund raiser on that movie.  They decided to donate any money they made to the Make a Wish Foundation.  The idea behind their project was simple really, they would find sponsors, and the sponsors would agree to pay them a certain amount for every hour they went around with their hand tied behind their backs.  They called it lend a helping arm.  I was surprised at how many girls made it the entire 9 hours with the use of only one arm.  They raised almost $200.00 to give to the Make a Wish Foundation.  I was very proud of my daughter, I know at times she was discouraged by this event but she stuck with it and got it done.

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Tyler Perry why did I get married

I watched Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married the other day with my wife.  I really enjoyed the movie I have to say.  I was actually caught off guard by how much I enjoyed it.  I am not sure what I was expecting from the movie but it was really good.  My wife ordered it through netflix, which until very recently was a great stock to own. 

I wanted to share with you a line from the movie.  Tyler Perry's character is talking with three other guys and they are talking about marriage.  Tyler's character is trying to convince another character to stay with his wife.  Tyler's character talks about the 80/20 rule.  He says that in a relationship a person will usually only get about 80% of what they need.  He says why would you leave the 80% and go chase the 20%.  It doesn't make any sense.

I think in life that there are many many instances where we get 80% of what we need, it could be in a job, or in a marriage, or in a place to live, in an education, it can happen almost anywhere.  So why do we look at the 20% we aren't getting and long for it?  I honestly think it is because we take the 80% for granted.  We as humans tend to forget how blessed we are and look at what we don't have.  It is so easy to compare yourself to the neighbors or friends or colleagues, and say to yourself, why don't I have that?  I am about to spoil the movie a little if you haven't seen it, but in the end the one guy does leave his wife and he ends up regretting it.  The second movie really shows how much he regrets it.

My point is, if you are unhappy with something in your life, make a list.  One side put all the things that are great, all the areas you feel blessed.  On the other side put all the things you don't have.  I am fairly confident that you will find the list of good is much bigger than the list of bad.  I think that the secret to happiness in life it to always look at the 80% and ignore the 20.

I am a Tyler Perry fan for sure now!  Although I didn't like Why Did I Get Married 2 nearly as much.  Mostly because of how it ended.  Go see the movies, you might just enjoy them. 

Kim Kardashian Marriage

The other day I subjected myself to the worst thing imaginable.  I went to Walmart on Saturday afternoon.  I know I am completely insane aren't I? 

I admit, that Walmart is a far cry from horrible events in life, but of all the life experiences that don't really matter in the big scheme of things, Walmart on a Saturday afternoon is at the top of my list of terrible things.  I am standing in the longest check out line in the world watching old women dig in their purse for the checkbook or for that last coupon, and I cant help but over hear an older woman behind me.  She picks up a magazine with the Kim Kardashian wedding stuff on the front and she says "That silly girl finally got married".  Her husband grunts "Huh"?  The woman replies, "Her she finally got married".  The man mumbles something incoherent.  I am sure he was more concerned with the huge line we were in than the fact that Kim Kardashian got married.

I like to think about the generation gap when a situation like that arises.  I can only imagine what it was like when that elderly couple was young.  I highly doubt that anyone was a celebrity simply because they were alive.  I am positive that when that couple was young they didn't have a show about keeping up with people, who as far as I can tell, are only famous because the oldest daughter was seen out with Paris Hilton, and that she is naturally beautiful.  I am not saying I have anything against any of the Kardashians at all.  I am just merely reflecting on what our current society finds fascinating as opposed to what society found fascinating back 60 years ago.  What would people have thought about Snookie, or any of the other Jersey Shore characters?  No idea but I tend to think they would have found them ridiculous.  Again I am not saying get rid of Jersey Shore, just contemplating why they are famous.

I am happy that Kim got married, I really hope she is happy and that they are both willing to put in the work it takes to make their marriage last.

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Organizing the garage.

I saw a very funny cartoon once it was a Family Circus.  Billy was standing in the garage with his dad and the garage is a mess.  Toys bikes and kids stuff all over.  Billy says to his dad something like "Dad when I grow up I am going to keep my garage clean.  I think of this comic all the time as I am hurdling bikes, and trikes, and scooters, and wiggle racers etc. 

My wife is the greatest, on Friday afternoon I started moving all the kids stuff out of the garage so I could organize.  Out of the house comes my girls with my wife and they are going school clothes shopping.  I decide to go along mostly as a referee to keep my three daughters in line and make it easier for my wife to help them shop.  Because I went shopping I didn't get my garage cleaned out. 

Saturday morning my wonderful wife organized the children, which is something akin to herding cats, and we proceeded to clean and organize the garage.  I was amazed at how much junk accumulates in a single house.  Most of what I had to organize was stuff that belongs to my children.  We had a big load we took to Deseret Industries, which for those of you who don't know is like goodwill.  I was very pleased to get all that stuff cleared out.  I was able to almost completely empty one gigantic shelf that I built in our garage.  I almost don't know what to do with all the room.  But alas I am sure my children will have it filled back up in no time at all.  Until that occurs however I will enjoy pulling into my nice clean and organized garage.

Decisions

Here is another short message I found on decisions.  I like this video very much.  It focuses on a father and husband and the choices he makes regarding his family.  But I think that the message applies to all of life.  I have found that often I am faced with difficult choices.  I always try to do what is right.  I am not perfect of course but I try to make the best choice.  I firmly believe that the one thing that can never be taken away from us is our character.  No matter what may come, if we always do our best to make good choices we can sleep at night.  I have been through some tough times in the not to distant past and I have been able to sleep.  I have been able to sleep and relax because of two very important factors.  First I have done all that I can to make sure I am honest in everything I do.  Second, I have faith that God will help me have the strength to deal with any problem that I face.  I am not perfect, in fact I feel very far from it but I do the best I can each day.  Ok enough of the soap box.  Watch the video and hopefully it will make you think. 

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My daughter the Rock Star.

Here it is.  Her first rock video.  Hope you enjoy.

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Teasing your children??

I would like to pose a question.  Is it ok to tease your children?  For me teasing is a way I show love, maybe I am deluding myself but I tease the ones I love.  Let me give you an example.  Last night my wife and I took our youngest for a ride to get a treat.  My youngest did the funniest thing, but that is beside the point and a story for another time.  We went and got an ice cream and then went to pick up our oldest from her friends house.  On the way to the friends house my wife tells me about the joke she played on Mercedes. 

The road that her friend lives on had just recently had a coat of oil sprayed on it.  I don't really understand why the city does this, it frustrates me because it gets all over the car, but what can I do.  My wife not wanting oil on her car pulled through a church parking lot which is just across the street from the friends house.  She has stopped directly across the freshly oiled street from the friends house.  At this point my wife tells Mercedes that she had better run across the street so she doesn't get stuck.  Mercedes get out of the car and sprints across the street.  I love so much that she is so innocent that she actually thought she would get stuck. 

When Mercedes got in the truck last night we all had a good laugh.  I think it is so important to be able to laugh at yourself and not to take things so serious.  It makes life a little more pleasant.

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My daughters first rock video

I have three girls.  My youngest is 7 years old.  She is so funny.  This morning she came into my bed room with her guitar singing a song about picking scabs and getting a big scar.  No idea where she heard the song, or what made her decide to sing it to me but I was cracking up.  I took her to the front room and had her sing it for me again while I recorded it on my phone.  Needless to say I will be posting it on You Tube as soon as I figure out how to do that.  When I do I will post the link here on my blog.  The funniest part however is the end and I missed it.  She sings the song and at the end she raises her hands over her head and makes a noise like the crowd cheering.  I stopped recording and just as I did she takes the guitar off and pretends to smash it on the ground.  SHE IS 7.  I have no idea where she has ever seen anyone smash a guitar but it was hilarious.  Video coming soon.  Kids are the best!!

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Death of a loved one.

It seems that the older I get the more I know of people dying.  I am not sure if it is just the fact that I am more aware, or if its because the people in my family are nearing the average age of life expectancy.  Perhaps its just because as we get older our sphere of influence and knowledge expands.

My wife has lost two cousins in the last 9 months.  Both from the same family.  The parents are grief stricken to say the least.  At times like this I can't help but wonder why things happen the way they do.  As you know I am a religious guy.  I know that God lives and loves us despite what it may feel like at times.  I know that he is intimately involved in our lives and wants us to be happy.  I know that concept may seem very counter intuitive, but I would like you to consider this.  If you never knew what grief was could you possibly understand happiness?  There is absolutely no way at all for us to understand something unless we have the opposite.  If you had never been sick would you understand health?  Not possible.

I can only imagine the horror of losing a child, even if that child is an adult.  But there is one thing I do know, and that is that God will help us through.  He won't take our challenges and trials away but he will help us through.  If you are struggling with the death of a loved one I would encourage you to talk to God.  Get on your knees and tell him how angry, or sad, or hurt, or lonely, you are and he will comfort you.  He won't save you from the experience but he will help you get through.

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Honesty, how important is it?

I was recently looking at some Mormon messages on the web site for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I like to watch these as they usually touch me.  I wanted to share one I found with you.  It is about honesty.

I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.  I hope it made you pause to think the way I did.

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Help! I need a potty!

As you may know my family and I recently took a trip to Jackson Hole.  We love to walk around the town square.  As I am sure you can imagine, there are quite a few people in the square eating and shopping.  As a result there is a significant need for restrooms. 

This last time we were there we found that some of the stores who used to have a public restroom no longer offer those services.  I think I can understand why a store would close its restrooms to the public.  Traveling with three girls and two women requires a restroom.  Its just a fact of life.  I was a little frustrated to find that there were very few public restrooms available, and that some of the few available were locked, and to make it even worse, some people were using the public restroom as a hotel bathroom.  I saw teeth being brushed and heard of sponge baths taking place.  Needless to say if you needed a restroom a long wait was in store even if you are a guy. 

I really didn't understand how a high tourist area would have so few public restrooms.  If your a man you could go into an alley and turn to a corner is suppose if you were in a real jam.  But for a woman to do that doesn't work nearly as well.  Sorry ladies. 

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Jackson Hole Wyoming

This last weekend I took my family to Jackson Hole Wyoming.  We spent three nights there and really had a good time.  There is so much to do in Jackson Hole.  If you like to bike or hike it is a dream land.  If you like to do anything related to the outdoors you would love Jackson Hole.  On the snake river close to Jackson, you can go white water rafting, where you will encounter some really amazing rapids two of which are, Lunch Counter and Big Kahuna.  If you like to shop then you are in luck because they have many great stores surrounding the town square, and some amazing restaurants. 

I always make it a point to eat at Billy's Burgers.  It is a small little burger place.  If you don't pay attention you might miss it.  Billy's is located in the town square next to the Cadillac Grill.  If you are looking for a great burger in Jackson Hole it is the only place to go.  The staff work very hard and the place is usually packed.  Billy's is tiny I think it can hold maybe 20 people on bar stools surrounding the grill and food prep area.  I have had to wait for a seat every time I've eaten there.  They play classic rock and the chef usually sings along.  You can get the same burger if you sit in the Cadillac Grill, but part of the experience is sitting in Billy's.  If you are looking for a big, juicy, incredible burger, with a fun, simple, almost 50's diner atmosphere Billy's is the place.  A must try if you are in Jackson Hole.

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Help

In life there are many times when we need a little help.  Maybe your car is having trouble and you need a mechanic, or perhaps your moving and you need some muscle to haul the piano down from the third floor to the moving truck(I have had to help do this before), or maybe your just having a lousy day and need a shoulder to cry on. 

There are also opportunities for all of us to offer some help.  I was able to help out at a local free clinic the other day, which is something I do regularly.  I treated a woman there a month or so ago and she was so appreciative that she stood up and gave me a big hug when we were done.  I have often heard it said that God answers our prayers through other people.  It was in that moment when she hugged me I caught a small glimpse of the true meaning of that phrase. 

My point today is simple.  Look for opportunities to help, look at your neighbors and I can almost guarantee you will see some way to help.  I promise you that if you do help others when you can you will catch the vision that I believe God has for us.

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Help me sleep

Last night the planets aligned, and the stars moved into the right quadrants of the sky, and as a result, my kids were in bed at a reasonable hour.  I was so excited to get a little extra sleep.  I fell asleep right around 10:30.  I just knew I was going to get some great shut eye.  Then at 10:45 my wife gets a text message that startled me out of my blissful slumber.  CRAP!!!!!!!  Now I am up, because I got that adrenaline rush and was wide awake.  So I toss and turn until about midnight.  Still not too bad can get a solid 6 hours.  Then at 2:32 am my oldest daughter comes into my room and says she is hearing thumping noises coming from down stairs, and she is convinced that some one is down there.  GRUMBLE, MUTTER, almost CURSE.  I go down stairs and of course there is no psychotic killer, no rampaging ghost, no one at all except my two youngest kids asleep in their beds.  Walk back upstairs muttering incoherent sentences, about wishing someone was down there to kill me because then at least I would get some rest, knowing that I will want to die when the alarm goes off.  The alarm goes off and sure enough I want to die.  I am so tired when I touch the screen on my phone to silence the alarm it isn't working so I keep tapping it, finally it shuts off.  Then I hear voices coming from my phone.  I had dialed a phone number in my contact list, not exactly a butt dial but you get the picture. UGH!!!!

Affordable Dental Plans

Dental insurance is, in my opinion, one of the biggest scams ever unleashed on the American people.  Dental insurance for the insurance companies is a cash cow.  I am convinced that dental insurance is used to subsidize health insurance for many of the big companies out there.  If you get dental insurance through a job great, it is definitely much better than having none at all.  If you are looking to buy a private plan for your family, save your money. 

You will never get more out of the insurance company than you pay in.  The way dental insurance is set up today is almost the exact same way it was set up in the 1960's when it was first introduced.  Back then you had $1000.00 maximum to spend on your teeth every year.  Back in 1960 that went a very long way towards fixing a mouth.  Today most plans still only give you $1000.00 to spend on your mouth each year, in today's numbers that may pay for only one tooth to be fixed.  The dental insurance companies know to the exact penny how much their out of pocket expense could be each year.  In other words if they have 2000 people on the plan they know that all they have to do is charge enough in premiums to cover the worst case scenario of every person using all their insurance, which amounts to 2 million dollars.  But they also know many people wont use more than a couple hundred because they wont need any work done.

In my office we are actually developing a dental plan for our patients.  It isn't insurance because a third party wont be involved, but our patients who sign up for the plan will have far more control over their treatment. I am hopeful that this will help bridge the gap for all those who don't have dental insurance through a job.  The moral of the story, if you have dental insurance through your job be grateful and use it.  If you don't have insurance through your job find out what an insurance premium would cost and put that aside each month in a savings account and then you will essentially have dental coverage that works better than most dental insurance plans.  Just a little rant.

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Weight Loss Pills. Which ones do I use?

First of all let me just start off by saying that I am not an expert in the field of weight loss pills, (if such a thing even exists).  That being said I have tried a few different ones all with similar results. 

Those of you who have read my post entitled the Diet Coke heart ache know that I have issues with too much caffeine.  With out getting into details suffice it to say my heart doesn't like a ton caffeine.  I have been trying to lose weight, but I am kind of lazy when it comes to exercise, mostly due to the fact that I am so tired when I get home I really don't feel like doing it. 

So naturally I have bent to temptation and tried a variety of weight loss pills.  The effects were almost instant.  I started to have a strange sensation in my head that I don't like at all.  I felt like I was almost in a dream state.  My head felt foggy and yet more clear at the same time, (I know how that sounds I am writing it) it was as if I wasn't myself anymore.  My mouth and nose and eyes felt dry.  But worst of all my heart was racing.  I could hear my heart beat in my head, not a pleasant effect.  I don't like the way I feel on those pills at all!!! 

Now the first time it happened I just assumed it must be the type of pill I was taking.  So when the opportunity to take another kind presented itself I took them.  Same result foggy but clear, heart pounding in my ears.  Now this is the point at which most of you probably would just stay clear of all diet pills.  NOT ME, no siree,  I decided to take yet another kind with the same results.  I am sure your thinking he has done taking those things now, wrong,  in a last ditch attempt to lose weight the lazy mans way I tried one more type of pill.  Same result only this time I finally got it through my thick head that diet pills and my body are not a good combination at all.  I would love to say that I was trying all these types of pills for science and or research, but alas it was just sheer stupidity.  If your looking for an example of what not to do with weight loss I am the guy to mimic.  But if you are looking to lose weight the right way I suggest you talk to your physician.  I would use diet pills with caution and keep in mind that there is no such thing as a magic silver bullet to lose weight.  As far as the pills are concerned, my experience says pick the cheap ones and give them a whirl unless your doctor recommends a specific kind.

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The Civility Experiment

I was just watching a mormon message called the Civility Experiment.  It was a very eye opening couple of minutes for me.  It really made me stop and think for about how we as human beings, and even more important, how I react in a given situation.  This message really moved me.  It is so easy in life to judge a book by its cover, but how often are we terribly wrong?  I had to wonder what the world would be like if we were all a little less judgmental.  I have included the video here for you to enjoy and I truly hope you do enjoy it.  I absolutely loved the quote at the end from Thomas S. Monson.

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Why wont you take my money?

I don't know if my experiences are different from yours, but I really don't understand why I have to chase people down to purchase their product.  We have a white vinyl fence that surrounds our back yard.  About a month ago the neighbor boy threw a rock at it and broke one of the panels.  I also have a gate that doesn't work very well.  I naturally called the company who originally did my fence.  I talked to who I assumed is the owner of the company and he said he would stop by to give me a bid the next day.  He never showed or called.  I called again, left a message, no response.  My wife called, left a message, no response yet again.  I know it isn't a huge job but I also understand very well the concept of keeping the customer happy so they will refer new people to you. 

I have had similar experiences in my professional life as well.  I am interested in a certain dental implant system and I have requested information several times to no avail.  I don't think I will ever understand why some businesses don't want to take my money.  But what can you do? 

As far as my fence goes I am calling a different company to come and take care of it.  I won't ever recommend the previous company to anyone.  Will the loss of my patronage hurt them?  I doubt that losing my business alone won't hurt them, but if they make enough people angry with their poor customer service they could go under.  As far as the implant system goes, they have the corner on the market so I guess I will have to just put up with it for now.  Frustrating.

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Conscious sedation in the dental office

If you have been paying attention to the radio lately, you have most likely heard a dental commercial offering conscious sedation.  Some may refer to it as sleep dentistry although this is illegal to say in my state. 

Sedation dentistry is quite simple.  You must have a consult with your TRAINED dentist and review your diet and any medications you are taking.  Wait a minute did I just say diet?  Yep your diet can effect the medications we use.  Once it has been determined that it is safe to sedate you in office an appointment will be made. 

The night before your appointment you may be asked to take one small pill this is typically a valium.  We have you take a valium the night before to kick start the sedation process, also about an hour before you will take another small pill.  Morning appointments are nice because you shouldn't  have anything to eat or drink for about 6 hours prior to your appointment. 

Once you arrive for your appointment, you will be escorted to the room where you will have your treatment done.  The dentist will come in and determine how sedated you are, and most likely give you some more medicine.  Now all you have to do is just lay back and drift off to la la land.  It usually takes about an hour or so to sedate a person enough to begin the work.  The nice thing about sedation for you the patient is that before you know it the appointment is over and your on the way home, or you may just "wake up at home". 

The other beautiful effect of the medicine is that it causes amnesia so you will remember very little if any of your appointment even if your not "sleeping".  There have been many times when my patient has sworn to me that they would remember everything from the appointment, but when they return for a follow up they never remember very much.

If you are terrified of the dentist, sedation dentistry might be for you. 

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Chicago doesnt have anything over my city when it comes to wind.

Today is a typical day in my home town, meaning we are experiencing hurricane force winds.  I am exaggerating a little but you get the idea.  My assistant said the weather man was right that winds with 40 mph gusts would start around noon today.  I was looking out my office window and I swear I saw a small child blow by.  Windy is an understatement for this town .  I am sure if a child were to try to fly a kite today they would end up in Canada with in the hour.  Back to the weather man in our town.  Predicting wind is no big feat.  It is like saying today the sun will rise.  There is always wind in this town. 

How to sleep when your wife is out of town.

When my wife is out of town I have a hard time falling asleep.  I have come up with a few suggestions if you find yourself in my shoes and needing sleep.
1.  Sleeping pill
2.  Beat head on wall until you pass out.
3.  Don't sleep
4.  Have friend punch you in face until you fall asleep.
5.  Try reading until you fall asleep or until the alarm goes off.

Personally I like to use the sleeping pill or the don't sleep method.  But you can do as you choose.
Hope my little list helps!

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Here Kitty Kitty

A week or so ago my family and I went to Twin Falls Idaho for a swim meet.  Twin is a bit of a drive for us and because my daughter had to be there fairly early in the morning, we went to Twin the night before and stayed in a hotel.  That night we went to dinner, and then we decided to go see the Shosone Falls.  They are called the Niagra Falls of the west.  With all the snow we have had this last winter and all the rain we have had this spring the falls were spectacular.  It was a very beautiful sight. 

My kids had recently seen Toonces the driving cat from Saturday Night Live.  As we were looking at the falls, my youngest daughter started talking about how toonces the driving cat took his family down the river and off of a water fall.  It was so funny to watch her laugh as she was talking about Toonces, but what was even funnier was the fact that she wasn't even saying his name right.  She was calling him toosences (I think that is how it would be spelled).  I know reading this that you really aren't experiencing it the way I did, the point I am trying to make is that every now and again I am amazed at how wonderful little moments with our kids can be.  I will remember that night always.

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John Pinette

One of the funniest men I have ever heard.  You need to watch his act.  I have netflix and the wii.  I streamed his show I'm Starvin very funny.

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First bike ride of the year

The other day I went for my first mountain bike ride of the year.  Now normally for this event I am required by law to contact the paramedics so they can be standing by to save my life, after I have ridden for a block or so.  Once they jump start my heart I am usually good to go for another couple of blocks.  I joke of course, but the first ride of the year for me is usually a hard event which always makes me wonder why on earth am I doing this?  I typically want to die by the time I have reached the top of the hill I live on which is a whopping distance of three blocks.  Yep I am the epitome of health.  As you may know I have been using the Insanity DVD series to get my fat butt in shape.  A couple weeks ago I stopped using the DVDs, but I am here to tell you that although it had been a week and a half since I had done a work out when I hopped on my bike, (which was crying at the thought of my mounting it) I was pleasantly surprised at how good I felt.  I went for my normal ride on a loop called roller coaster, and by the time I had reached the top of the loop I was wanting more in fact the only reason I didn't do a second loop was because of time constraints.  That amazed me a little I have to say.  For those of you who love to mountain bike, happy trails.

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