New Year's Resolutions

Every year, most of us come up with a list of resolutions that set us up for failure. Most of them are unrealistic and repeats of previous unfulfilled resolutions. In 2010, I want to accomplish some of my resolutions. Therefore, I have compiled a list of things I know I can achieve.

1. Enjoy family
2. Cherish friends
3. Learn something new
4. Visit somewhere different this year
5. Eat a little less
6. Exercise a little more

Now that's a list even I can handle.

Need I Say More?

There Is A Little Truth In Everything!

Polar ice caps are melting faster than we thought. Scientists are doctoring data and we have emails to prove it. All of the news over the Copenhagen Climate Conference has made me wonder, "What if both sides are right?" What if climate change is really happening and we can do something about part of it? What if climate change is really cyclical as well and there is not much any of us can do about other parts of it?

There are motives for many to stake out positions on each side of this issue. One of my favorite quotations by Aristotle is "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." Most of us would be better served on many of our hot button political issues if we listened to the advice of this great philosopher.

I'm not sure which side is correct. Could the truth be in the middle? Maybe both sides are correct in some aspects of this debate. In that case it would go to show that there really is a little truth in everything.

The Future of Soccer in Italy

On a recent trip to Rome, I could not help but observe the children in the photo above playing soccer. The were having a blast running back and forth on the cobblestone area in front of the restaurant. If you look closely you will not see a soccer ball but a little white object which is the cap to a water bottle.

In the soccer world, countries like Italy and Brazil dominate. I do not see that changing anytime soon. If children growing up in these countries can kick a cap to a water bottle with efficiency, I think they will be kicking a soccer ball better than other countries for years to come. Kind of reminded me of the line in the movie, Dodgeball, "If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball."

Memphis Basketball Rebounds for 2010

Today was a great day for University of Memphis basketball fans like me. After going through losing a head coach and five of the best basketball recruits in the country this year, many were writing the University of Memphis basketball program off as dead. I must confess, as a fan I was in this camp. I worried about Memphis not being in a BCS conference.

All of these worries began to fade when they took a chance on Josh Pastner. His reputation as a relentless recruiter quickly calmed the nerves of fans like me. The first year coach has put to together the #1 recruiting class in the country for 2010. His recruiting class of 2010 is the best recruiting class of any first year coach in the history of NCAA basketball. All I have to say is, "GO TIGERS GO".

Cash For Medical Care

There is something wrong with a healthcare system that won't see cash paying patients. Recently, I had a patient who had no medical insurance. She had just finished her practice teaching and was in between college and her first job. When I saw her she had signs and symptom that one would have with a brain tumor. I recommended that she see a neurologist for a comprehensive work up including a MRI. Much to my dismay, I could not get her seen by any private neurologist in the Nashville area. Why, you ask? Because she had no medical insurance. That's right she was paying cash. How many businesses walk away from cash? Not many!

I did not stop there. After all this is Nashville, home of Vanderbilt and Meharry Medical Schools. Surely, one of those institutions would see my patient. After all, they have future doctors to train. Wrong again. No Luck at either institution.

Eventually, she was able to see a retired neurologist practicing a few days per week in a free medical clinic. He saw the importance of getting an MRI and made a few phonecalls. He was a former staff member at Vanderbilt and was able to call in an old favor and get her in for testing. No tumor was found and the patient has been monitored for the strange tumor-like appearance of her optic nerve for a little over a year now. Had this been a severe brain tumor, the patient might have died during those weeks it took to get her in for a MRI.

Don't get me wrong. I am not sure what the fix to our healthcare system is but I do know the system is broke. Health insurance costs are skyrocketing at 16-23% a year. Believe it or not, these increases are not going to the doctors. Over the past several years doctor reimbursements have remained level or declined in most cases.

I am not sure where the blame lies or what the cure is. I am anxious about what lies ahead for patients and for doctors. I do know one thing and that is when I have a patient with a condition that could be life threatening, I want them seen, even if they have cash.

English-My Second Language

Arkansas has it's own language and accent. As much as I try, I can't quite shake the Arkansas accent. In fact, my son makes fun of me and my accent frequently. He says that the closer I get to Arkansas, the more my native dialect (aka Arkansas English) comes out of me. He even has noticed the distinct accent when I am around friends and family from the "Natural State" as it is known.

I have decided to not fight this transformation which occurs as I travel closer to my home state. In fact I am embracing it. I am thinking that maybe those of us who are lucky enough to be from Arkansas should really get more credit in life. In fact, if Arkansas English is really a language of it's own, shouldn't those of us lucky enough to be from there get foreign language credits for English in high school and college.

Where's Your Smile?

Do you know anyone who never smiles? What is it with these people? It has been proven that the mere act of smiling releases hormones that make one happier. When I am driving down the road thinking about the problems in "my world", I try to remember this little fact. When I smile, guess what? My problems don't go away but most of the time, I do feel a little better.

I have one acquaintance in particular who never smiles. I am not kidding, this person never ever smiles. Sometimes when I see this person, I make a game out of trying to make her smile. I know my humor can be bad sometimes, but even on a bad day I can elicit a small smile out of most people. Never happens with this person! I know smiling won't solve all the problems of the world, but I think it's a start.

Skirted Swimsuits and Tucked Shirts!

I just returned from a week at the beach and I have a couple of observations. I may not be as well known in the fashion industry as Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, or Mark Ecko, but I could teach a few people a couple of things about style. #1. Very few ladies should wear a fully skirted bathing suit. I know, you think it makes you look slimmer. Guess what, it is not even close to an optical illusion, and I know a thing or two about optical illusions. Unless you have got one of the new swimsuits with a three to four inch skirt for accent purposes only, most skirted swimwear only make women look, how should I say this, less slim. #2. And men, unless you are going to work or going to play eighteen holes of golf, you need to take those shirttails out of those jeans and shorts. That beer gut only looks bigger hanging over that belt with your golf shirt or tee shirt tucked into those cargo shorts. Yeah, you say that spare tire around you waist is what separates the men from the boys. I agree, but that tucked in shirt is making you look like a man with a beer gut!

Remember When 40 Was Old?

I can still remember my first days as a twenty six year old optometrist. I was young and green. I remember examining patients who had turned 40 and were losing their near vision. The complaints rang in my ears daily. Everything from, "My arms are too short" to "I can't see to thread my needle". I remember vividly looking at these 40 somethings and thinking under my breath, "These folks are old."

Now that I have reached the pinnacle in life we call THE BIG FOUR ZERO and surpassed it by five years, I am looking back at 40 and thinking it is not quite as old as I once thought. In fact, I look at forty as young these days. The aches and pains of a forty-five year old are much more persistent than they were at forty. The memory and hearing is not quite as sharp as it was then. The wrinkles on the face are a little more pronounced and the mid section is carrying a little more weight these days. And the eyes, the old wonderful eyes, they are not quite as good as they were back then. No line progressive bifocal lenses hide the fact that I can not see up close. Seems as though a lot of things have changed since I became old.

Look Who We Are Following!

Years ago my wife, who is Roman Catholic, was in a Bible study with several Baptist ladies. One of the ladies in the group made the comment that Catholics just don't understand salvation like the Baptists do. This lady may have been right to some extent. There is definitely different interpretations of this issue among believers. Differences not only exist between Roman Catholics and Baptists, but there are also differences in interpretation from one protestant denomination to the next. I would even argue that protestants like me to our own degree don't understand salvation like the Roman Catholics do.

One thing that all people forget is that we as believers have more in common than all the differences we have. Many of these shared beliefs are not always just with Christians but also with Jews.

Everyone in my family has a great sense of humor and we like to find humor in the every day activities of life. So when Julie saw the truck above, she said, "LOOK WE ARE ALL FOLLOWING JESUS!" Of course she was joking about the truck when she said this, but I began to think that it really would have been a great response to the Baptist lady several years ago.

I Wonder If?

On the way to the beach this week, I noticed several billboard signs as well as hand painted signs with messages like this. "REPENT OR BURN IN HELL" These signs can be seen scattered throughout the Bible belt states from time to time as one drives across the south. I am not a big believer in this type of "in your face" religion. But after seeing all the signs (pun intended), I wonder if...they make a difference?

Handwashing in Alabama

This week we have traveled to Gulf Shores, Alabama to enjoy some rest and relaxation at the beach. Gulf Shores is called the "Redneck Riviera" for good reason. I love it down here but it always provides me with things to ponder. This week is providing lots of little topics to explore in the blogging world.

The first is the topic of hand washing. On the trip down, we stopped at a restaurant for lunch. While in the restroom, my son saw a boy around the age of 6-7 years old using the restroom. The little boy's father stood watching as he finished his business. The little boy started to head over to the sink to wash his hands. That is when my son heard the father exclaim, "You are not prepping for surgery boy, let's go eat."

Man's Best Friend!

It's been said that dogs are man's best friend. I read somewhere that pet owners have lower blood pressure readings. I am not sure mine is any lower. I suppose there are studies to support just about anything.

There are many advantages to dog ownership. They always meet you eagerly at the door. They love you unconditionally, yet they depend on you for every need. They always listen. Some have big dogs and some of us have small foo foo dogs. Some hunt and some just lay around. No matter what your dog is like...I am betting that they are considered a member of the family.

I Lost A Friend Yesterday!

Wayman Tisdale died yesterday after a two year battle with cancer and I have lost a friend.

Most remember him for his basketball play at the University of Oklahoma. I still remember Memphis State playing Wayman Tisdale and the Sooners to get the final four in 1985. In addition to setting several records at Oklahoma, he went on to a productive career in the NBA.

I must confess. I have never met Wayman Tisdale but we have shared a lot of time together. "How?", you ask. Well, after his NBA career, Wayman Tisdale went on to become one of the most well-known names in contemporary jazz. He played the bass guitar as if he was telling a story. Even though I have never met him personally, I have spent a lot of time with Wayman. Most of this time was in my car on the way to and from work as well as other places. I would listen intently as Wayman played the bass almost as if he was talking with me. His music graced the local jazz station until it was taken off the air. Now, I listen to him on XM radio. Making one of his concerts was on my list of things to do someday. Now, I will never get that chance.

So today, I say goodbye to a friend. Fortunately, for all the jazz enthusiasts out there, Wayman will live on in his music and in our hearts.

Help Me, I've Got HCD!

Hypeconnectivity Disorder. It's a term used to describe those of us who are "too connected". If you are reading this blog, chances are you have it too. It may not be quite as bad as my case, but you have it.

We have got answering machines, call waiting, call forwarding, cell phones, and smartphones. It's a "If you want me, you got me world." Add to that the internet, email, My Space, Facebook, Plaxo, and Twitter and, well, you get the picture. We are just too connected.

How does one relax? How do I get away? Emails, texts, and calls. It never stops. At least with Attention Deficit Disorder, one can take a medication. What do I do? I need help! Maybe those three words are my first step to a solution.

Just What Does That Mean Anymore?

Recently we received an invitation to the National Honors Society induction dinner and ceremony for my daughter. On the bottom it stated Sunday attire required.

Growing up in the Bible belt, that meant a nice conservative dress for a lady and a suit and tie or sport coat and tie for the man. Times have really changed. In many Presbyterian and Methodist churches across the south, the dress habits have not changed too much. In the summer you might find a few guys in golf shirts or dress shirts without ties and do see a few ladies donning slacks in these churches. In many southern Baptist and non-denominational churches, it is not uncommon to hear them promote casual wear such as khaki's and golf shirts for the guys and slacks for the ladies. We even have a church or two in middle Tennessee that promoting blue jeans on Sunday.

I am one of those who believes like the Brent Burns' song says, "God don't care what you wear." I also see the other side of the coin. If I had been invited to meet President Barack Obama or Ex-President George Bush, I would probably wear a suit and tie so why would I not give the same respect to God that I would give an elected official.

This brings me back to my original question, Sunday attire required, just what does that mean anymore?

Macular Degeneration and Stem Cells

I realize that the topic I am about to weigh in on is very controversial. There is a recent article out suggesting that Macular Degneration may be cured with stem cells. Click here. I can tell you that as an optometrist, if this treatment becomes mainstream that many will be helped. Macular Degeneration is a devastating eye disease which causes blindness in many people each year. As the baby boomers age, the numbers with macular degeneration will increase. It is devastating to patients physically and mentally.

Yes, I know all of the arguments against stem cell research. The fact that an embryo is destroyed is not to be taken lightly. However, when couples go in for "in vitro" fertilization, many embryos are made. Only a few are used to make a child. The leftover embryos are destroyed. My moral question is if these are going to be destroyed, why should we not use them for research.

Many argue the religious and moral implications to destroying human embryos. However, the Catholic church is one of the few churches which is consistent in opposing stem cell research and "in vitro" fertilization techniques. Based on that, I can see where the Catholic church can put up such an argument. Most religions are all over the map when it comes to issues such as these.

Many of the faithful of all religions would never tell a church member who is having trouble conceiving to not seek medical treatments such as "in vitro" because the leftover embryos will be destroyed in the process of making their child. However, these same people will oppose stem cell research fervently for the same reason.

As for me, I am not going to tell anyone who wants to have a child to NOT do "in vitro" because it destroys embryos. I have never been in the position of not being able to conceive a child so I do not understand. I do, however, believe that if these leftover embryos are going to be destroyed then they should be used for stem cell research when the parents have been educated and the parents approve.

I do know what Macular Degeneration does to patients and see the struggles these patients go through daily. I do have an understanding of the battles these patients face and would like to see them helped. You never know, you just might be one of those patients some day.

As for the way I see it, this is exciting news for my Macular Degeneration patients.

LOVE - The 4 Letter Word

Yes, you heard me right. A four letter word. There are times when love is just as bad as all of those other words in our language. You ask, "But how can this be?" Love could never be a bad word. Well, I disagree. Here are a few examples.

When you are up at 4:00 in the morning cleaning up your child's vomit and diarrhea, love is a four letter word.

When you are on your fourth load of laundry and your spouse is enjoying some TV time, love is a four letter word.

When you are awake at 2:00 in the morning listening to your spouse snore, love is a four letter word.

When you are a teenager and your parent says you have to be home at 10:00 and all your friends are out until 11:00, love is a four letter word.

When you put your dog to sleep so you can put it out of it's misery, love is a four letter word.

And last but not least, when your teen says, "But Dad, we are in love!" I think that is obviously a four letter word.

Friends Are Like A Savings Account

One of my college roommates, Craig Willingham, always said his father had a saying about friends. He said, "Friends are like a savings account. You never know when you will need them or if you ever will, but they will be there when you do." I think Mr. Willingham was on to something.

When did the word "Partner" become "Gay"?

A few years ago I told a patient that my partner was excellent at fitting gas permeable lenses. The patient finished his exam with me a proceeded to our optical dispensary to look at glasses. While looking at our frames, he made this comment to my technician, "I did not know Dr. Collins was progressive." My technician asked, "Progressive? He answered, "You know, gay. Dr. Collins said he had a partner and I did not know that he was gay."

Now, I confess that I have been in a committed partnership for over 16 years. A BUSINESS partnership that is. I have been married to my wife for almost 19 years. All this makes me wonder, when did the word "partner" become "gay"?

Patients Say the Funniest Things!

Here are a couple of excerpts from conversations with real patients. One never knows what a patient will say or do for that matter.

A few years back, I spent several weeks getting a patient to 20/20 with her contact lenses. She was your typical over forty patient who could not see up close. On top of that she had a lot of astigmatism. And she wanted to see like a twenty year old again. This type of patient can be tough to get fit in contact lenses if not impossible. After several weeks of trying different contacts, I finally got her fit into lenses that made her what we in the business call 20/happy. At the end of the check up I said, "You've certainly not been easy." She responded, "Well, I know a few guys who will disagree with you on that front."

Recently, I walked into the exam room and a patient told me how she was seeing little black things in her vision. She said the black spots were constant and were shaped like little spermatozoa. I said, "We are going to have to dilate you and take a look at your eyes. This could be a problem. I don't want you seeing those types of things in your eyes." She responded, "At least not this weekend, my husband is out of town."

Here is another one. "Mrs. Smith, your son has a chlamydial infection in his eyes. This is a sexually transmitted disease. We are going to have to treat his eyes and have him see his primary care doctor for testing." Mrs. Smith then responds, "Doctor, junior is a roofer. He has been up on those hot roofs all summer. Do you think that has caused this infection?"

Do men get PMS? Pre-man-strual Syndrome!

Today, I submit to you that all men get PMS. Before all my male friends bombard me with emails and comments, please hear me out. It's not the same PMS that our female counterparts experience on a monthly basis. It's our own type of moodiness centered around other areas of life. It's that moodiness that flares up when it is raining on a perfectly good fishing day. It's the cramps that come from being out on the golf course while our lady is at home all teed off that we are spending 4 hours out of our day chasing a little white ball. Instead of a craving for chocolate, it's a craving for a beer with the guys. Come on men, you know that feeling. Don't deny it. Admit it! It's male PMS. Premanstrual Syndrome! The only problem is this condition can not be cured by a pamprin with a midol chaser. It can only be cured by a little guy time on the river, lake, or golf course. It can even be cured with a little guy time at the local bar. Embrace it men. It's your first step to a cure.

A Cure for Hormonal Teenagers!

Lately, I have been thinking about the best way to silence a screaming hormonal teenager. I have been trying to think of something humane and effective. I think I have the right solution. A tranquilizer gun. Yeah, you heard me. Just like the one's used in Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom.

Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom was the first true reality television. Today, I can imagine Marlin Perkins's saying "Watch Jim as he silently approaches the raging, hormonal teen. Jim assumes his position around the corner from the teen and sits quietly at the edge of the kitchen. Jim takes aim, carefully observing the wild, screaming, teenager. BANG! The teenager goes down and the kitchen falls silent. Remember, ladies and gentlemen, the animal is just tranquilized. While he or she may seem to be dead, the teen is just sleeping. Jim invites the parents to sit down and join him for a quiet evening at home. But they have to hurry because the tranquilizer will be wearing off soon and the raging teen will awaken.

"Thank You" for your "Thank You"

We love to say thank you. Over the years, we have been taught that a thank note, card, or gift is the proper way to acknowledge what someone has done for you. Why is it though, that many of us like my dear wife feel as though we have to send a "Thank You" for the "Thank You". Does this not create an atmosphere where one feels like he or she needs to send a "Thank You" for the "Thank You" for the "Thank You"? Get my drift?

Where does it end? Life is all about giving and receiving. Receiving without feeling the need to reciprocate every gift in life is as much about generosity as the giving of the gift itself.

25 Random Things about Me from Facebook

I thought this was kind of silly at first. On facebook, people post 25 things about them and tag 24 other people to share the same with them. After reading about friends, the idea became more interesting. As I pondered my 25 Random Things it was somewhat therapeutic to examine myself. I recommend that everyone sit down and do this. It might just make you laugh and it might make you cry. Good therapy nonetheless.

1. A 97 year old patient once told me that the secret to a long life is "Good Whiskey & Good Women". I think I will take my chances with "Good Wine & One Good Woman".

2. Life is more about what one does than what one says, even though I tend to say way too much.

3. I believe that real men don't wear crocs.

4. Call me old fashioned but I still think nothing is more classy than a man in a nice suit with his lady in a smoking hot dress.

5. I enjoy cooking and grilling, my brother calls me Bobby Filet.

6. I believe the more a man does around the house, the higher the woman raises the bar! Tomorrow I resolve to start doing nothing. That bar needs to be lowered again.

7. My identical twin and I split our brain matter when the egg split. We are really not all that smart, we are just overachievers for the IQ that we have.

8. I believe that when most of us get to the end, we will regret what we did not do rather than what we did in life.

9. I find flyfishing for trout to be much more relaxing than hunting for my golf ball way out at the ladies' tee these days.

10. I believe when placed in a room full of 5 hardcore conservatives and 5 hardcore liberals, that even I could build some conscensus. Now why can't the elected officials in Washington, D.C. do the same?

11. I once wore a speedo on the beach at Gulf Shores to win a bet with my wife!

12. I won the Mr. Middle Tennesse Bodybuilding Competition in the "Over 40" category. OK, I made that one up but the speedo story is true.

13. My lucky number is 13.

14. I hate runners who talk about all their endorphins and the Runner's High they get when running. All I get is shin splints, arch pains, and out of breath.

15. There are only a few things that taste better than a glass of good wine, except maybe that second glass.

16. If you can't say something good, then don't lie!

17. I have a 16 year old son and a 13 year old daughter who drive me crazy...in a good way!

18. I can not stand bagpipes and men in kilts. Only women should wear dresses. I have a friend that says the only good sound a bagpipe makes is when it hits the accordian at the bottom of the dumpster.

19. For all you theologians out there, I believe that God chose you before you chose Him so get out of here with your alter calls, sinner's prayers and semi-pelagianism. Love God and live life as a response to Him choosing you and not out of fear that you are not going to heaven!

20. In warm weather, you can find me on my screened backporch, sitting on the swing, and hanging out with my family and friends.

21. I would rather have dinner at my home with 4-5 couples and 8-12 children than go to a nice restaurant with only a few people.

22. I hate cold weather and I love the beach in LA! (Lower Alabama)

23. I am color blind as is around 10% of all males on the planet.

24. My wife is full blooded Italian (maiden name Palazola) and Roman Catholic. Her grandparents on both sides came from Italy. How did she end up with a Heinz 57 like me?

25. I have been married to my crazy Italian wife for almost 19 years and I love her more everyday.

Even Jesus Needed a Doctor's Change!

Have you ever been to your optometrist, get your glasses or contacts and not be able to see like you thought you should out of them? In the world of optometry, we call these "Doctor Changes". Somewhere during the exam or the fitting something went wrong. The patient responses may have been fluctuating, the measurement may have been off by a fraction, or the doctor may have given the patient too much or too little power in the prescription. The patient returns and wonders why he or she can not see. Sometimes these patients are very nice about their situation and other times they can be quite angry.

I am writing today in defense of your doctor. In the Bible, one can look to Mark and see just how hard it is to be an optometrist. Jesus was in Bethsaida and they brought a blind man to him. He took the blind man and puts saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him. Jesus then asked the man, "Can you see anything?" The man looked up and said, "I can see people, but they look like trees, walking." Then Jesus laid hands on his eyes again and restored his sight because for some reason something did not turn out right with Jesus' first treatment. It even took Jesus, a second try to get this man to see.

I do think I am a pretty good doctor, but I can tell you I am nothing like Jesus. And what about his treatment? Plain ole spit in the eyes! I think I will give that a try at the office tomorrow. The fact that we have stories of Jesus healing all kinds of ailments and never needing a second try except here, in and of itself, points to how hard my job can be. Even Jesus needed a "Doctor's Change."

Which is better #1 or #2?

I spend most days at work asking, "Which is better #1 or #2?" I know that it sounds boring to most. In reality, it is a wonderful career. I get to help people see. Nothing is better than hearing a young child put on glasses and say "I can see leaves on the trees now." or "Wow, I see the snowflakes!"

Everyone views life through their own set of lenses. Every now and then something happens that will change how one sees the world. This change may be initiated by a personal event, like marriage, the birth of a child, an illness, or even death. For others it might be war or political events that change this worldview. This change in vision can be a positive force in the world as well as negative.

There have been times in life when being second or even last has shaped what happened next. There have been other times when being first is the defining moment and nothing can top it. As for "Which is better #1 or #2? My simple answer is, "It depends." You say, "It depends on what?" That is when I say "It all really depends on what you are looking for!"

Happy Birthday Bubba!

For most of my life, I have been known as a "Collins Twin." I suspect it was easier to call us the Collins twins than attempting to tell us apart. When we were very young, my father called me "Gee Gair" and called my twin "Bubba". Back in those days my twin could not say "Gee Gair" so he called my "Gay Gay". I am kind of glad that name did not stick. Later, we became twin 1 and twin 2. Twin 1 (me) had one set of eyes and twin 2 (Jerry) had two sets of eyes since he wore glasses and I did not.

As young children, twins share almost almost everything from clothes to toys. One develops an incredible sense of fairness and equality. It is also a very unique situation when your brother and your best friend are all wrapped up into one. On the downside, one develops a little bit of codependency. In our case, as with many twins, our parents had the schools place us in separate classes so we could establish our own identities. As we got older, especially in college, we found that having classes together became more of a positive. If one of missed class or zoned out, then the other one had the notes.

Sibling rivalry has always existed to varying degrees. I think it drives twins to some extent. It can certainly teach one about winning and sometimes a whole lot about losing like the time I finished runner up to my brother for a scholarship. Today, that rivalry is limited to our fishing trips. By the way, I always win at fishing.

Today, the Collins twins hit the big 45. I have to add that I hit 45 nine minutes before him, but who is counting. So, I close with Happy Birthday Twin 2 except I can't say that because we both have two sets of eyes today. Well how about something more appropriate, Happy Birthday Bubba!

Happy Birthday Elvis-Wherever You Are!

Today is the birthday of the man who transformed my concert expectations, Elvis Presley. When I was in the fourth grade, my mother took me and my twin to the Mid South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee to see the King. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to see many concerts and musical performances but I can say that, to this day, Elvis put on the best concert I have ever seen. Elvis was not necessarily a role model in his life but he transformed music around the world. No concert since that day has ever compared to the performance which Elvis gave the crowd. So today I remember Elvis' birthday and say thanks for the concert of a lifetime!

Teenagers-arghh!

It's official, my youngest has reached the teenage years. I am not sure whether to celebrate or cry. I wish I could find that manual on raising teens! I thought I would share a few quotes I have run across.

Adolescence is a period of rapid changes. Between the ages of 12 and 17, for example, a parent ages as much as 20 years. ~Author Unknown

There is nothing wrong with teenagers that reasoning with them won't aggravate. ~Author Unknown

The main problem with teenagers is that they are just like their parents were at their age. ~Author Unknown

To an adolescent, there is nothing more embarrassing than a parent. Dave Barry

Pray for me please!

(That last one is my quote by the way.)