The Things You Hear in a Pediatric Office

      

            Many of you know that I work for a small pediatric office. I absolutely love my job. It’s the best. Wanting to be a pediatrician myself this is kind of a dream job. As of late though I have been a tad frustrated. Currently, my job title is a medical receptionist…which is a cooler name for a man secretary (when i answer the phone people still think they have the wrong number...). I consider myself a people person and I don’t really interact with people as much as I do insurances and patient charts. BUT! (there is always a  big butt….) I have started training as a MA!!!! Which means I will actually interact with the kids. Today was my first kind of official day.And it was hysterical. Here is a series of quotes I heard today from those hooligans. Hopefully it makes you laugh. Expect more. They rock.

“Don’t worry! It will start to un-hug you soon!” (Talking about the blood pressure machine)

“Ooow! That is tickling my blood! Make it stop!”

“MY ARM IS OUT OF BLOOD!”

“Ummm…it’s a number O”

“-_- Is that your bag of shots….?” (That’s the face the kid made…)

“When you hit my muscles they make a crunchy noise!” ( I have no idea how he knew this…)

“Do you want to draw on my magic paper?”

“You want me to PEE in a cup!? Are you crazy!?!”

Needless to say today at work was a riot. Can’t wait to hear more crazy things these kids will say.

Also this is the best video ever captured. If my nephew can’t make you laugh/smile in this video I am 98% sure you sold your soul to the devil….just sayin…

P.S. I am thinking of re-designing the blog page. Be excited.

P.P.S You get 100 blog points for this one. If you reach 1,000,000,000 blog points you can cash them in for a PRIZE! Woop!

Cutest kid in the world. I am 88% sure he is cuter than any baby ever born. Ever.

10 Dirty Little Secrets...kind of...

Well I have noticed the past couple of blog posts have been rather depressing…and I hate depressing. As a self proclaimed optimist I hate when I find myself in the dumps. It stinks. (Pun intended.) So this post is a random and joy free. It is a list of ten things that most people don’t know about me. Unless we are besties then this is probably going to be a nice refresher.

How i responded to how many negative posts ive done.

 

 

10 Secrets about Max George (or things you just didn’t know about me…)

 

emily is excited about this list...you should be too!

 

 

1-Donkeys over Elephants.

            This one isn’t a secret or anything but I consider myself to be a democrat. Quite liberal. I believe that abortion is a woman’s choice, I believe in Gay Rights, I believe Stem cell research can save the world, I believe in partial gun control, and I like Obama. Most people when they find this out about me have a mid life crisis. I don’t know why…It ay stem from the fact that I was a good little Mormon boy most of my youth, but hey what happened to growing up and figuring out your own life. Apparently they don’t believe in that… ;)   

 

 

2-Elementary my dear Watson.

            When I was a strapping young elementary student I was bullied horrendously. It got so bad that I ended up switching schools in the 5^th grade. I was skinny, wore glasses, could not play sports to save my life, loved reading, and had more girl friends then boy friends. I pretty much set myself up for it. Kids were mean and they were ruthless. And it caused me a lot of self esteem issues for awhile. I HATE and LOATHE bullying. There is nothing more self destructive in my eyes. It’s bad. And I feel it’s a HUGE problem in Utah. Especially with our culture and the homosexual movement. Its wrong. End of story.  

This is fantastic.

 

3-Hydrozoa, Anthozoa, Cubozoa, and Scyphozoa

            I am a zoology student studying medicine. Most of my classes involve me learning about animals. Irony of this is I HATE animals. Not a fan. I love fish. Recently however I have become fascinated with the phylum Cnidaria, commonly known as the jellyfish family. The fact that they are the first beings that are close to sentience and show the first evolutionary neural links enthralls me. If we can learn how jellyfish became somewhat sentient then we can dive deeper into the human psyche. I am geeking out about this…but welcome to my life :D  

 

heh....

 

 

4-An unsolved mystery.

            Most of you know I LOVE the paranormal and secret societies, and conspiracy theories and the like. I grew up addicted to “Unsolved Mysteries,” and I now love a good horror movie. However, with that in mind, I HATE haunted house/spook alley things. They give me a massive sympathetic nervous reaction. If I am watching it on TV I can separate myself, however if I am there I want to throw punches. It’s a paradox really. And it drives Kylie nuts.

This man is 80% why the show scared me so bad...

 

5- Mythos

            It is no secret that I love to read. Love is a small word…obsession suites me better. Books are part of my soul. And my escape. However there is one book I have read more than any others. It is not any of the Harry Potter (they are a close second), It isn’t a childs book, and it is not the Book of Mormon. (Sorry…I am a sinner) It is Edith Hamilton’s Mythology. I got this book from my Amiga (Aubrey Carter this is you) back when I was like 13 for Christmas. And I have TORN it apart. Culture and mythology are a part of who I am, and this book is evidence of that. Its awesome.  

favorite book of all time.

 

 

6-Half way there….

            One of my biggest dreams in life is to become a member of the Freemason society. I have been enthralled with this organization since I was little. And I don’t know why. It may stem from my love of the occult. So if you know of anyone who is a Mason and wants a noobie. Let me know ASAP. I mean I am kind already there being a Mormon… ;)

So cool...

 

 

7-Yo ho, and a bottle of rum.

            If I could take a moral holiday and not believe in a health code I am 80% sure id be an alcoholic. For some bizarre reason these drinks have allured me ever since I read about butter beer. However, if I actually did drink…id either A-be a psycho drunk and end of casuing chaos, B-feel guilty because I know what it is doing to my liver and my brain, or C-Become a dead beat alcohol addict. So its probably a good thing I believe in the word of wisdom. Ill stick to my sparkling cider.

 

Just one of those days

 

8-Chef Boyarde

            I love to cook. It started on my mission as a stress reliever and it has stuck with me since. However…I HATE the clean up..which kinda makes cooking difficult. Also I don’t really ever have time to sit and cook something awesome, and when I do I usually end up experimenting and ruining the food. I guess it’s the mad scientist in me…I make a mean Avocado and Chicken salad though…just saying. Ask Elder Gomez about my Cinnamin Rolls.....

hehe True Story....

 

9-If you get the ball…just pass it to me okay?

            Oh sports….how I hate you. If you refer to number two I was often bullied for my lack of myosin and actin fibers. Many a jock looked at me incredulously as I tried to dribble a ball, or score a goal, or ran away from the football. This in turn made me hate a lot of jock. And sports in general. With that in mind I do love Tennis. And Baseball. But the minute it gets heated or competitive. Im outta there.

I may have called a soccer field a court the other day.....



 

10-Pictures

            It is no surprise to people that I love taking pictures. Cody Haslem will thank me one day for my obsession. However, most people don’t know that I hate taking “nice” pictures of myself. (once again I think it stems from number 2) I love my goofy and crazy pictures, but I always think I look malnourished and emaciated when I try and attempt a “good” picture. This makes life fun when my beautiful chica friend is on pars with Barney Stimpson and cant take a picture that the gods are envious of. She is gorgeous. Im lanky and awkward. We even it our I guess… ;D

Love this girlie...a lot. Dont know how she puts up with me or my sunglasses....

 

 

This was fun. More people should blog about this. Leave feedback! I do love it so. Or just leave a comment about something people don’t really know about!

 

p.s. Blog points are back! You get 200 for reading this and another 300 as a bonus for all my depressing stuff as of late! If you are over 2000 you have now leveled up and have learned the share Max’s blog skill. Which is super effective…all the time!

 

Dear Stress, Lets break up. Love Max

Havent blogged in a really long time. Life has been crazy. But I feel I need to. These past couple of weeks have been incredibly stressful. Usually I do pretty well with stress, as of late though, life has been brutal. School this semester was rough. I don’t know why but the last two spring semesters have been crazy challenging for me. I think I may be cursed….80% sure I am. what greek god has it out for me?  With that in mind though I will be going back in the summer. I love school. Id be a mess without it. Cursed or not cursed.

 

Adding to the stress of school, I have also found out that my stomach is plotting to kill me. (Kylie thinks I am harboring a rodent in my gastrointestinal system and I have named him Archibald) I got some tests done and finally found out some answers. I have erosive gastritis and a overgrowth of bacteria. So now I take a bazillion pills for breakfast. It’s a banquet everyday. Be jealous. Hopefully the meds works though.

Most of my days at the moment...

 

Along with the stomach and school has been drama. I. HATE. Drama. A lot. I will never understand it. The discord and negative emotion it produces its horrendous. I don’t know why people go out of their way to make other peoples lives difficult. I do not have a perfect record of creating drama…but I try with all my ability to rectify it when it happens. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Drama causes un-necessary heartache and stress. Why do we have to have it? I don’t understand.

Yup...Darwin would be ashamed.

 

 

Fourth thing. Doubt. As a self proclaimed scientist…I HATE doubt. I have a lot of trouble with just going with the flow of things and not logically thinking about things. When there is a battle between my heart and my brain…. usually my brain wins. So when things happen that don’t make sense and the logic tells me one way but I doubt it and have to trust in my heart…I really get screwed. From my academics, to my relationships with people, I try and be logical. And it gets me into trouble sometimes. Have you ever seen the moviw/play “Doubt?” Excellent piece of art but it DRIVES ME INSANE. Just tell me. I like reason and I like logic. I have a set plan and if that is upset in anyway it really throws me out of control. I hate it. Trying to work on it.

New motto?

 

 

Well this is quite the negative piece of literature. All of this aside I do have things in life which I am incredible grateful for. One of my best friends in the world is FINALLY engaged. (I was worried Jesus was going to come before it happened…), I am vice-president of the neuroscience club and we are the coolest kids in the world, I am doing research with my favorite professor and it gives me purpose to go to school everyday, I have 5 new pet jellyfish who are my best friends, I am still dating Kylie and she is the best thing to ever happen to me, My best bro is graduating college in a week, my nephew learns words I teach him (like “Brain”), I talked to the pre-med advisor and I am all set for 2015 med-school, I went to the Out-reach program and have plans to start to volunteer there in the summer, and I got my stupid car back. So aside from all the crap life is still really good. I think we just notice the crap more. Which Sucks. A lot.        

 

            Random blog post I know. But at the same time incredibly therapeutic. Really hope things do calm down though. Don’t know how much more I can take before I snap.

   

You've got a friend in me....i think....

            Do you remember back in the day where everyone was your friend? Where the only really crowning decision you had to make about your friends was if they had the shiny Charizard card. What happened to that? Puberty Happened. Drama Happened. I hate it all. Our testicles and ovaries started having fits with our bodies and all of the sudden we started to not like people. We became a lot more exclusive about who we liked and didn’t like. Damn you testicles and ovaries. You screw up a lot. (pun intended…)

            This post deals with my opinion on what is the difference between a best friend and a true friend. How they are so different in my eyes, but also how they can be so similar. The past couple of months I have thought a lot about this and how it really shapes our lives. How we cause a lot of drama that can eventually ruin others. How something so incredible as friendship can be shattered by stupidity and misunderstanding. I have thought about my own life and the hurt I have caused, but also about the awesome friends who have stood by me through it all. And they are the ones who in reality…matter.

            What is a best Friend? We all have them. They are awesome. Sometimes they suck. But all in all what would we do without those people we call our best friends? To me they are those friends who you get a long with. That you enjoy spending time with them so much you need their presence. I am sure we have all felt this. Like when I don’t see Cody Haslem for a week and I start to have withdrawals. I feel best friends are incredibly important in every way. However I feel that this is the more superficial relationship. I have TONS of best friends. If you ask me who my number one is I wouldn’t know how to answer you. These are the people who make us feel happy and we enjoy their company. However, I have had a lot of “best friends” simply die out. The friendship that was once so exciting grows old and soon you are just acquaintances. Think about all your “besties” in high school who are now only small pictures in your yearbook who gave your thier numbers that you never called, or said HAGS! (i HATE hags...). Why didn’t the relationship last? Why do we lose so many friends as we get older? ( i am guessing its cause they wrote HAGS in your yearbook -_-)

            What is a true friend? To me, this term is a lot more intimate. Ask me how many true friends I have and I could list only a couple. They are the people in my life who I know will be there for me no matter what happens. We could fight, yell, attack, maul, and scream at each other, but in the end will be there with me when I die. They are the people who you don’t have to talk to everyday and when you see each other you talk about EVERYTHING. They make you not only feel happy, but comfortable and relaxed. They are the people who you can honestly feel like yourself around. No hiding. You can tell them ANYTHING. It takes a lot for me to consider you a “true friend. (Cody you are one…don’t let the above example fool you ;) )” I hope I am considered one of these kinds of friends to some people. Because to me these people are one of greatest things I have in my life. I would be completely lost without them.  I think we all have these people in our lives. And I feel that they are the ones who matter.

            I have also thought a lot of how fragile these relationships are. Friendship is a two way deal, and if one person is not up for the challenge then the relationship crumbles. I have always thought that true love is not easy. It is something we all have to fight and sacrifice for. I feel true friendship is the same way. And I believe that is these kinds of relationships that are the dearest to us. And I am baffled and angry at people who try and throw it all away. Intentionally or unintentionally. My mother always says “we hurt the ones we love the most” but what happens when we hurt our loved ones over and over and over. When do we finally say enough?

            I know this is kind of long but this has been on my mind as of late. I am so glad I have both best and true friends. I am thankful that they support me in all that I do. We are a crazy bunch of psychos, but I feel we are deeply connected. I hope we don’t let a petty thorn such as drama or misunderstanding ever ruin what we have. Because if that ever happens, I know I wont go down without a fight.

   Weird post I know. Just love it.

Two songs that express how I am feeling at the moment. 

Warning…the Mumford and Sons one is rated R. there is a funny little word that starts with F that is said thrice. If this offends you…don’t listen. If it doesn’t. Be prepared to listen to the greatest angry song ever made. Like ever.

“In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.” ― Dalai Lama XIV

I do believe it is time for another political rant. I know you all love these. -_- but this one has been stewing on my brain for quite some time. So if you got offended by my last post don’t read this one. Be excited.

This is how i feel about this subject...

It seems to me that after the election things haven’t gotten any better. Now instead of openly attacking our president, people are now nit picking everything he does. I swear he could go to the bathroom incorrectly and Utah would be in an uproar. I have now heard things such as he is the antichrist, just like Hitler, the most un-American president we have had, an ass, a Nazi, a dictator, and the reason we need to have a revolution. WHAT IS GOING ON!?

A lot of this stems from the Connecticut MASSACRE that happened in December. Obama is now trying to figure out some way to help this nation fix what is going on. Most of these attacks on the president stem from his new gun control actions. I am not sure how I feel on gun control myself. Especially after the December events of children being killed. I feel that something needs to be done. Something with guns. However, guns are inanimate objects that can’t do anything without someone to pull the trigger. With that in mind though, something needs to change.

First beef. People are reacting to these new gun policies like Obama is going to call in the Gestapo and force people to hand in their guns. Pull a sleeping beauty and make a pile of guns and burn them all. (if you are unfamiliar with this metaphor please go watch the awesome and beautiful classic). This is not going to happen. The focus of the new gun control is EDUCATION. Currently for the past 17 years there has been a ban on gun-violence research. What. The. Hell!? Why!? That’s my question. Is lifting this ban a bad thing? He wants to put police officers into school. How is that evil? Sure think the Connecticut mothers would have liked that. More background checks. He wants to improve background checks. Yeah that sure is evil.

Even Emily is upset there is a 17 ban on research on gun violence.

I do not agree with Obama 100%. His health plan will drastically affect me as a future health care professional. But I don’t attack the man. He is a human. With a family.  And deserves respect. He is trying to do what he thinks best. Ultimately 4 years will come and go and some other “antichrist” will come up and change all that Obama is doing. He is in charge of appeasing a nation that is filled with different races, religions, ideas, sexual orientations, and differences. Give the man a break. You try being president and trying to appease everyone. People who don’t agree with you at all. It. Wont. Happen. And we need to start a revolution!? That makes perfect sense. Instead of trying to increase education, let’s take the very things that we are fighting about and kill more people. Makes absolute sense. Because the last civil war we had ended with about 200, 000 from combat. Yeah that makes perfect sense. (http://www.historynet.com/civil-war-casualties) (this is a citation. It tells you the credible source in which I got my information from. These are uncommon in social media now a days…)

Second beef. Facebook. Facebook has changed everything. I love the stupid social network. But it is incredibly damaging. People can now gather information from who knows what kind of idiotic websites out there and post it like it is actual fact. I don’t think its evil to voice your opinion on Facebook as long as it is civil and you have the right facts. Anyone remember their English teachers saying don’t use Wikipedia because it can say anything? Well its not just Wikipedia that lies. Obama didn’t single handedly raise milk prices. Sorry. Unfortunately people now hide behind the magic mirror of the Facebook wall and say whatever the damn they want. Would people call Obama the antichrist and Hitler in front of his wife and children? Only on Facebook.

Third and Final Beef. Would you really like to live anywhere else? Probably not. I was very apathetic in politics until I spent two years in a third world country. Where I didn’t have everything I wanted. I lived in areas where people were lucky to have a little meat in their food for the week. Where concrete and wood put together with who knows what constituted a house. Where the kids would play in the black green sludge that came out of the gutter. Where kids would get pregnant and 12 and 13 on a regular basis, and every 10 year old new where to get drugs in the neighborhood. Where the thought of living on yearly salaries meant you were rich. Yeah we have it hard. Yeah our country is headed to its doom. Seeing the real world made me wonder at how INCREDIBLE Americans really have it. To be quite honest we have NOTHING to complain about. Nothing. I lived with a kerosene stove as my only method to cook. Where only one appliance could be used at a time. Where my floor was straight concrete. Where my bathroom looked like a serial killers hide out. But yeah, let’s whine about government stealing all our guns. I’d rather have carpet.

Yeah We have it bad.

Our only table to cook on...

Either that or a microwave

Notice the beautiful sheet acting as our blinds?

Moral of this blog is let’s all just cut the damn attacking and be civil people. Whether you support the president’s agenda or not. I am a Christian and Christ taught us to love EVERYONE. So did my parents. Christ chastised the very people who were scrutinizing his beliefs, yet forgave him even when they nailed him to the cross. Don’t we do the same when we attack Obama. Let’s not throw stones. Let’s worry about what really matters. We will all still have our guns. But there are people who don’t have food. What’s more important? Once you decide. Try going and doing something about it instead of putting it up on your wall.

p.s. My thoughts and opinions. I know some of you will hate me, or not agree with me. And that’s okay. Just be civil please.

p.p.s you get  800 blog points for reading all of this. It was a doozy. 200 more if you leave feedback.  

“I do not believe, from what I have been told about this people, that there is anything barbarous or savage about them, except that we all call barbarous anything that is contrary to our own habits.”
― Michel de Montaigne, The Complete Essays

“The Potter books in general are a prolonged argument for tolerance, a prolonged plea for an end to bigotry. And I think it's one of the reasons that some people don't like the books, but I think that's it's a very healthy message to pass on to younger people that you should question authority and you should not assume that the establishment or the press tells you all of the truth.”
― J.K. Rowling  (LOVE THIS. So True. Maybe this is why I love the books so much.)

Truth.

Highlights of 2012

   So i know this is like 18 days late, but i have been thinking of this topic for awhile and have done some soul searching i guess. I have wanted to blog about something in the new year but i couldn't figure out what. I thought about doing some resolution thing...but that was cliche and really who actually follows their resolutions. (Except Annika Jensen...she is pretty awesome...) So this post will be about some highlights from the past year! Be excited.

   Thinking about it this last year for me was a crazy one. Lots of changes and new things came into and out of my life. Its kind of been a crazy ride. I will list a few of the more important things.

2012

Spring Semester 2012
This semester sucked. Hardcore. I was told that i would be fine in a chemistry class even though it had been four years since high school chemistry. Not. A. Good. Idea. It was a challenged and i received grades that i never thought i would get. Ever. As someone who worries about school a little too much this was really hard. I struggled with it a lot. I know it kind of sounds trivial to people but it was a big deal for me. For the first time i felt my career was at a risk. I made some decisions though and it worked out. And it perhaps was one of the best decisions academically i have made.

This is more true than anything i've ever seen....

Eric's Mission
We sent Eric out to the great state of Washington in April. And it sucks. I love that he is there and it is the greatest thing for him. But it sucks. Totally understand where Sarah was coming from when i was gone. It has been rough. And he hasn't made it any easier the butt head -_- but it has been a big transition not having him around. there are days where i want to just have a man night with my brother and....he isn't...there....it sucks. Hardcore. Missions are the best thing in the world. But lets be honest peeps. They kind of suck.

his large nose is missed. 

Summer 2012
Things happened prior to the summer that are far too personal to discuss via a blog, but these events have led me to figure out who i really am as a young adult. On June 17th, 2012 my car broke down on the side of the highway and that is where Kylie White and I rekindled something incredible. SOOOOOO glad my car did break down. ;D Kylie is incredible. She is the most independent, beautiful, and supportive person i know. She rocks. I am half a person without her. I could go on and on about her, and it would not get old. But it probably would get old for you reading this blog. Moral of the story...she was my highlight of 2012. And she is the highlight of my life. We are pretty awesome. And damn cute together. True. Story.

Favorite picture. Even if Ky's eyes look possessed.

Classic old picture of us. 

The Election
The presidential election was out. of. control. I am incredibly glad with the out come, yet i am incredibly disappointed in a lot of people. People who i thought were good people saying vile things to me and others for different beliefs. It. Was. Disgusting. People found out that i am not the average Mormon boy kid that i was when i was 12. I have an opinion. And that scares people i guess. What scares me is what people say when someone has a different opinion than them. They can be right in their own idea, but the moment you differ from them you are a heretic and you need to re evaluate your testimony. So glad my parents taught me to think and be myself. Love them for that. I will support my president the best i can. May not agree with everything he does, but i do agree that our nations leader needs some respect.

Plethora of Friends
I have met a sloo of incredible people this year. Particularly, Paden Moss, Matt Green, Mikenzie Lynn, Andy Gilbert, Kayla Colten, Courtney Hamilton, Landon and Parker Greenhalgh and others that are incredible people. I finally began to talk to people in my major at school and now have friends on campus! Its awesome. These people will go far in life, and i am glad I am now affiliated with them. Friends are kind of the spice of life. Without them i can imagine life to be quite dull. In my case, my life is over spiced i guess...(cheesy yet beautifully crafted analogy. love. it.) :D

We rock.

perfect jumping pic

Bringing Sexy back....

This Picture is an optical illusion. Can you find Paden's legs?

Emily
One of the unseen things about Eric being gone is that Emily and I are now mega close. We have always been super close...but now we are mega close. Even though its usually 5 days before we see each other and she is usually sleeping. Love the girl to death. And we party like its 1976 when we hang. Without her my life would be filled with science jokes and humor that would be lost to void space. Yet she fills it right a long with me. Cant wait for her to start her real life, and go to the chamber of secrets at Weber with her!

True beauty. 

The future of medicine Be Excited.

   Overall this year has been one of self reflection and self evaluation. I feel that i have learned a lot about myself and what i want in life. Its had A LOT of downs and even more ups. Overall it was an incredible year. And i have a feeling that 2013 should be just as great. I guess that is up to me to decide.


P.S. there were a profusion of other fantastic things that happened this year. but if you already made it this far...I am sure you now know more than you would ever want to about me. Plus this was kind of cheesy. And who likes cheese?

P.P.S If you did read it all give yourself 100 blog points! And get 300 more COOL points if you post a highlight of your year!

Where are you Christmas?

Well finals are over and I survived with some pretty great grades. Can’t Complain. The Christmas gods have smiled upon me and somehow by their grace I got a B IN CHEMISTRY! Suck it chemicals! After the fiasco last semester this was such a relief. Now I can enjoy the holidays in full force. And it will be jam packed with awesome.

While the holidays are around the corner we as a country are faced with something horrendous. The shooting of the elementary school kids in Connecticut will usher in this Christmas season. This is an incredible tragedy and I honestly do not know how to react to it all. It makes me sick. How a person could get so depraved that the only release is to shoot 20 elementary school children is beyond me. As an aspiring pediatrician, who cares greatly for children, I can’t even fathom how this man thought he could take the lives of these innocent children in his hands. It is one of the greatest tragedies this country has had to face recently.

To those of you are now debating the ethics and morals of gun control I ask you is it the time? It has been one day since the shootings and the debate is as heated as ever with people attacking each other for what they believe. My thoughts on it have been shattered and now I do not know what the best path is to take. This to me clearly shows how divided our country really is. In this dark hour the United States needs to be united and pray for these poor families. Can we not put our political opinions aside for awhile and just be humans? Stop worrying what is so important that we must have or not have and start caring about those who have lost so much. It pains me to see so much debate about guns, when we all could be out there telling our loved ones how much they mean to us, or helping someone else have a better holiday. Tis the season?

In a way this event has really put everything into perspective for me. I hope my friends and family will value a little bit more what is important in our lives. Especially during this exciting part of the year. I know I will. Christmas is a time for family and being grateful for the things we have. Many people have lost both of those things in this tragedy. Now I hope more than ever that our country can ultimately learn from this event and unite. If not our country than our communities and our families. My family is the most important thing in my life, and to lose them would be my end of the world. I can only imagine what those poor Connecticut families must be feeling at this time of the year. I echo our president’s words to hold on to what we have a little bit more. Tell those who you love that you do love them. Whatever dilemma or drama you are facing, maybe it is time to forgive and forget and start to love. Only that hope will truly heal us from this awful and devastating moment in our history.

Merry Christmas

Two favorite quotes from Les Miserables.

“Oh ye wretched of the earth, there is a flame that never dies. Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.”

“To love another person is to see the face of God”