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.