Rest and Relaxation

People ask what I do for enjoyment and relaxation. I am a member of Marble Memorial United Methodist Church. I serve on a couple of committees, Nomination, Outreach and Finance Committee. I inwardly giggle when they mention my name and finance.  I do not know how or why they got the notion I am conversant with how to make and keep money. It is still a mystery to me. Methodist are known for good potluck dinners, singing (another giggle for me), and forming committees. Sandwiched between those United Methodist activities is the preaching and being a practicing Christian. I use my religious training daily. Saying prayers for me is a releasing event. I am not an active Bible thumping activist as most of my prayers are between me and my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Most of my prayers are silent. I pray during dentistry or surgery procedures, making recommendations, treatments and other worrisome veterinary medical episodes. I try to keep in mind God does has only a first name. Unfortunately I forget sometimes his last name does not start with the letter "D". When this happens a friend of mine refers to these memory lapses as secular prayer.  I am a work in progress and I strive to have fewer expletives emitted.

A good sermon helps to keep things in perspective. Living the sermon and using the principles of Christ in my daily life is harder. Knowing what is best and keeping my brain and tongue in synch with the Good Book, is my daily goal. I have to ask forgiveness more often than I wish to admit. Luckily my religious mentors and my memory of how it is supposed to be done have decreased the number of bad incidents. In the words of my friend Frank Fulcher "I am not what I wish to be. I thank God I am not what I used to be."  Bible Study at the Lighthouse Coffee Company on Wednesday mornings is a midweek boost I need.

I also like to go boating for relaxation. We also have a1988 old boat we use on Lake Erie.  Holey moley that boat is twenty-two years old. Driving the boat forces you to give complete attention to what is going on. Ignore the bow of the boat and you get bounced and slapped around by the waves. Time on the water lets you let go of all the knotty problems you brought aboard. If I drive the boat long enough those problems float away. I will deal with them when back on shore. Aside from the expensive gasoline and all the other fees and expenses, boating is very relaxing. Ignoring water depth becomes expensive replacing lower units on the stern drive. Free floating in the Toledo channel can be hazardous when other boats or lake freighters are navigating up or down to Toledo. Knowing where the shallow parts of western Lake Erie are a must. Thunderstorms and lighting are not fun especially when waiting for a Boat US tow boat. You need to respect the weather, Lake and other boaters. Some boaters have forgotten the rules of navigation and may be lacking good manners.  There is no place for bad manners on the water. In my opinion boat operators need to stay away from alcohol beverages. There are enough things to keep track of being responsible for boat, passengers and finding your way home. I have come to learn that it is not how far you go or how fast you go. What matters is how long you are out on the water that counts.

I also study learning veterinary dentistry. There is always some aspect of veterinary medicine to keep learning about. Dentistry has been a special interest for me since 1989.  This time frame is almost half of my practice career. I attend the American Veterinary Dental Forum and have attended since I think since 1996 or so. This is a fun fully packed 5 day event held every fall in various cities in the United States or occasionally Canada. There is a requirement that a Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College be located in that Metropolitan area. There has to be hotel, exhibitor room, lecture halls and wet laboratory space available. There are almost two thousand attendees from all over the world present. It is stimulating, interesting and even humbling being at this forum.

I am a board member for the Animal Emergency Clinic in Ann Arbor. I occasionally work a weekend shift there. Talk about an adrenalin rush, a gratifying time and challenging surgeries they all happen there. The staff there is talented in a specialized area of veterinary medicine. I appreciate the support they give me when I am filling in a shift.

I really appreciate the staff supporting me in my practice at the Milan Veterinary Clinic. They truly make the difference on a daily basis. The team work they bring to the table is uplifting and very much appreciated. There are lots of important aspects that make a veterinary medical practice great. The biggest asset a practice can have is the people on the team.  We need people of varying skills and different talents. We need those that are focused on outstanding client care.  There is obviously a need for people that like animals and are able to restrain them for different procedures.  Some procedures need a bit of physical restraint and a dash of chemical restraint.  We in practice understand this and do it in a manner that has the pet's best interest and well being in mind.

The qualifications are a big soft spot for animals, a willingness to work with like minded people and the ability to get along with people that are not at their emotional best.  Some office exams include "Option E".  Or there is a hit by car accident with fractures, lacerations and blood and other body fluids discharging all over the place.  People are very attached to their animals. You can hear the pride in their voice when they are relating their animal love story.

What I like in my friends that work on our team is how much they enjoy hearing the same stories. They also enjoy the people that bring in pets to be treated. Friends are made in our practice.

For more information about a specific case, consult your veterinarian.
The outside of a pet is good for the inside of a human.