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.

That is all

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.

That is all

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!!

That is all

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!!!!!

That is all

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.

That is all

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.

That is all