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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