The Oliver Street Surgery: Fill & Download for Free

I’m a huge fan of dogs. In fact, I’m that annoying person who will walk up to you while you’re walking your dog and ask, “Can I say hello to your dog?” I’m not pushy about it. If you’re in the middle of a run or driving down the highway, I’ll leave you alone, but if you’re walking down the street or hanging out minding your own business I will walk up to you. To paraphrase Will Rogers, “I never met a dog I didn't like.”Now, while I like all dogs, I will admit that I am partial to these two:These two are Oliver (bullmastiff) and Olivia (boxer mix). We got Olivia first from a rescue. We adopted her (yes, I say adopted because I’m one of those people) when she was maybe three weeks old.We didn’t know it at the time, but she was a very sick little girl. The whole litter had bad giardia and it was a pretty messy few weeks. She had it so bad, and was pooping so much, that her small intestine inserted itself into her large intestine (although we didn’t know it at the time). This eventually lead to a complete blockage and Olivia stopped eating and drinking. My husband and I were pretty frantic. We were eventually referred to a vet at a specialty hospital who correctly diagnosed the issue. The vet, knowing Olivia was a recent rescue, was pretty delicate. She told me what was causing Olivia to stop eating and explained, “This isn’t something that will correct itself and it isn’t something we can address with medication; it will require surgery to repair. The procedure will cost $4,000. Now, maybe we should discuss options…”I was holding my Olivia in my arms at the time and replied, “You just told me that in order for Olivia to live, she will need an operation. There are no options. Fix. My. Dog.”Olivia recovered from the operation with a little less small intestine and about half of her large intestine. She requires a special dog food to help firm up her stool, but other than that, she’s fine - if a little high strung. Considering what happened to her in her youth, I think this is pretty understandable.After a few years, we began to wonder if Olivia would prefer a companion. She was home alone all day while we were at work and we figured she might be happier if she had some company. Given Olivia’s personality, I figured we should try and find a dog breed known for it’s relaxed nature. When I searched the AKC website, the dog that immediately caught my attention was the bullmastiff. So, I went about contacting dog breeders that specialised in bullmastiffs. I went with one that on her website stated “If, for whatever reason, you are unable to keep and maintain a puppy you receive from us, we will take the dog back - DO NOT give the dog to a shelter.” So, after a few months, we got Oliver.Olivia was…maybe less than thrilled at first (based on her expression when meeting Oliver I’m pretty sure she was thinking, “Oh, what fresh hell is this?”), but she came around pretty quickly. They treat each other like siblings - they tend to annoy each other but are also inseparable. Oliver is remarkably easy going which I think confounds Olivia - why doesn’t he understand the significance of the thing I’m barking at?! Olivia has a lot more energy which I think exhausts Oliver - why must we go for a walk when I’ve already peed and pooped?Here are a few pictures of my two in action.Olivia, less than thrilled at having to share the bed with Oliver.Oliver trying to get Olivia’s attention while she quiety ignores him.The two of them in the back seat of my convertible. The one thing they both enjoy.So yeah…dogs…I’m a huge fan.

Why don’t you post to the quote that is of such concern so that I can provide an answer in context?This question assumes the truth of its premise. Lawyers would call it a “when did you stop beating your wife” type of question. The questioner seeks circulation of a statement designed to plant a false idea in the minds of those who read it, i.e. that we are somehow threatened by the beliefs of others.It is simply a bad question, but, I’ve been asked to provide my response and am happy to do so.First, does this question derive from a recent source? Or something decades old? Or something said by a member, like myself, with no right to speak for the Church as a whole?Or, does the questioner refer to materials or teachings from 30–50 years ago. A time before the internet taking leaders out of context who were concerned about a very few teachers who were being paid by the Church to teach students using the Church’s resources but, which teachers instead chose to spend time plowing through critical arguments rather than teaching about the Gospel of Jesus Christ? See, e.g. The Mantle Is Far, Far Greater Than the IntellectWe are taught now that there is nothing wrong with becoming familiar with critics and their arguments. See, Elder M. Russell Ballard: Engaging Without Being DefensiveI’m often accused of being defensive, but my concern is more often that our critics mischaracterize the history and extrapolate broad conclusions from the actions of one or more members of the Church. Questions such as this that assume false premises should be responded to, lest neutrals assume that there is no response.The Church has set a fine example by buying ads in the Book of Mormon musical playbills—rather than try to correct misimpressions and outright falsehoods, the Church is content to simply offer a correct interpretation.Does this ad look defensive? I rather think it shows that we are confident in what we have to offer; it will improve your quality of life.For example—the questioner claims to be a returned missionary but then uses the term “Mormon” incorrectly. To be sure, some former missionaries no longer associate with the Church they once represented, but the questioner here posts a picture of himself in missionary attire and claims to have a large family and studying at BYU, which is itself rather suspect. There are honest critics and then there are those who are just trolling.When the term Mormon is used to refer to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is typically a signal that the questioner is opposed to the doctrines and practices of the Church, since we have asked for the last few years that the Church and its members be addressed by the correct name assumed in 1838. Not always, but usually.From the very beginnings of The Church of Jesus Christ there have been critics.18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. Matthew 11Roman authorities were just perplexed by the opposition against Jesus—Pilate couldn’t understand why a street preacher presented such a threat.Likewise, the restored Church of Jesus Christ was immediately criticized. Of what concern would the story of a 14-year old unschooled farmboy be? If Joseph Smith were merely a common con artist bent on self-enrichment, how did he become so notorious? The world is full of groups of people doing their “own thing” why did the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints actually end up having the United States Army sent to quell a non-existent rebellion? See, e.g. Utah War | WikiwandThe first critical materials were published almost immediately. Mormonism Unvailed, by E.D. Howe was published in 1834, only 4 years after the Book of Mormon itself was published and the Church was formally organized. We know that they are there—they do go out of their way to find us you know…The only time I have been discouraged from reading critical materials was during my missionary service—and I was discouraged from reading anything but 30 minutes of scripture study daily. I had made a promise to represent the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the manner that the leaders then saw fit, so I obeyed. We were expected to use all of our time, talents and efforts for missionary work—that was why we were there. We were asked not to spend time reading newspapers and other materials of any kind. Although, as I am an inveterate reader, I must confess that as a missionary, I did tend to hang around the local newsstands on our preparation days, but we did actually teach and baptize a young woman who worked at one.So, no, I don’t think there is any red flag about a member being interested in critical arguments. I’ve got a library with many of the standard critical works—Brodie, Krakauer, Hardy, a few others; and they made me a bishop. My interest in Church History hardly “red-flagged” me. The lawyer in me knows that you have to understand your opponent’s case as well as or better than they do. The “red flag” waves only when you exclusively study critical materials—a physicist who reads and studies only history will gradually become an historian. Expertise in any subject requires study of that subject, not arguments against it.We strive to be like Jesus Christ—and that is the idea that guides our studies:26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. 2 Nephi 25Honestly, there isn’t anything in critical materials that your typical missionary hasn’t heard or been told by some “concerned” Christian. By the time you finish your mission, you’ve pretty much heard it all. I have read many stories on the internet of converts to the Church who were surprised by certain doctrines or historical facts—that is regrettable. I regularly and often confront such questions and was reading up on them even before I became a missionary. But, I spend far more time on more productive studies—you wouldn’t learn much about Jesus by reading an expose written by Judas. And, do you think you are getting a decent portrayal of anyone when you read a hit-piece designed to make a quick buck?These days, speaking as a former bishop, I was far more concerned about use of pornography by members than members reading critical or even hostile works that even young and new members can see through rather easily. Most of those people I have known who left the Church became familiar with the critics and their arguments after they had already become disaffected in some fashion. Not everyone, but many, reach for such materials to support a decision they have already made. As per the talk by Elder Ballard that I cited above, we have made great progress in acknowledging that some people just believe different things and that is their right, even if they are in our own families.I find it ironic that as a people, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints tend to be known for what we don’t do or don’t approve of. In my experience, I find that, as a general rule, our leaders don’t discourage things as much as they encourage things.Our leaders teach us to read from the Standard Works (our canonical scriptures) daily. They don’t waste time telling us what not to read, rather, they encourage us to read “out of the best books” rather than waste time in lesser pursuits.We are encouraged to read Church History and to study the latest issues of conference. In fact, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came to BYU-Hawaii and told the assembled students that the problem is not reading Church history, it is not reading enough Church history.And, for those who lack faith, God has said to study anything of value:77 And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.78 Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;79 Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms—80 That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you.81 Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor.82 Therefore, they are left without excuse, and their sins are upon their own heads.83 He that seeketh me early shall find me, and shall not be forsaken. . . .118 And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.Section 88, The Olive LeafWhen I served as a bishop and currently as I serve in my responsibility as a teacher of high-school aged members who take religious instruction every school day, I work from the doctrines and just don’t have time for the critics. Critics are not interested in building faith in Christ and those members who are focused on keeping on the covenant path are not going to be distracted by the critical crowds who offer nothing of substance in the place of what they denigrate.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is under construction, I’m helping to build it. Does it need to be finished, absolutely. But the foundation is solid and we are learning how to build faster and better all the time. Ephesians 2Why bother with the roots when you can taste the fruits? See, Matthew 7Do you ignore medical advice because 50 years ago doctors were doing things that today would be recognized as shockingly bad medicine? Do you avoid surgery because a surgeon 200 years ago was typically just a self-appointed dude with a sharp knife and the ability to use it?Most arguments against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hearken back to decades old private statements of leaders that bear no doctrinal weight, that aren’t canon. Or they disparage leaders and actions taken by people who, in hindsight, failed to heed the voice of the Spirit and made mistakes.Very, very rarely do I encounter a critic who is willing to engage in a constructive dialogue, but they are there and I read what they have to say with interest because a truly unbiased and curious observer often creates new interpretations or ideas that help me better understand my own beliefs.How has this group of sixteen million people managed to sustain such growth in numbers, influence and power?Come and see.All are invited to come unto Christ | ComeUntoChrist.orgShorter excerpt from above talk:

Honestly, I miss it. It was hot, dirty, and nasty. I lost friends. I aged my family about 50 years with worry. But I had some of the most important and meaningful moments of my life on the streets of Baghdad, and in the deserts of Southern Iraq.It's common to see war referred to as long periods of boredom punctuated by brief periods of terror. I'd put it another way. It's long periods of boredom, intermittently lightened by humorous antics, punctuated by occasional bursts of awesome, but typically overshadowed by frustration.EOD prepping for a controlled detonation.I will probably never again witness in my life the controlled detonation of hundreds of tons of weapons, ordnance and explosives. I'll only ever again see giant carriages made of solid gold in a museum, not stored in a dusty warehouse along with hundreds of mortar tubes. I'll probably never have the opportunity to sleep in a tank factory again, or in the projection booth of a movie theater. I sincerely hope I never again have to get my showers from a pipeline that originally said "fecal water".I also remember days at a time where nothing of any interest happened at all. I remember periods of sitting around in the desert outside Nasiriyah, waiting for some sort of orders, sweltering in the heat, with little water or food because "we're cycling back to the U.S. in a couple of weeks." I remember "we'll be home for a July 4th parade." I remember "we'll definitely be home for Halloween." I remember "we'll absolutely, 100% certainly be home for Thanksgiving." I remember the overwhelming sense of disbelief when I actually got on the plane in February the following year, the longest continuously serving unit in country.I have no idea why all our balloon hats looked like penises.One day, we had a rap battle. It originally was supposed to be a freestyle, but none of us were competent enough to do that, so we wrote them out in advance. I, as MC Jewbacca was challenged by DJ Big Head, who was so shamed by my lyrical throwdown (I don't remember the exact line, but it involved something about needing rappel cords to climb up his bitch-tits) that he conceded on the spot.I remember watching rockets from MLRS and other systems flying overhead at night in a lazy arc. Even though I knew that the other end of that parabola was death for someone, it was one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. I remember wallowing in weeks of my own caked sweat, grime, and filth while waiting for a shower (that we never got, because it ran out of water), while watching Air Force help desk operators walk from their air-conditioned barracks to their private showers blocked off from the rest of us.The view from the rooftop of our FOB.I remember being told to form up for a raid on some compound. Instead of riding out mounted, staging somewhere else, and then hitting the outside, we ran the whole way. We were told it was so we wouldn't give them prior warning. I don't think anyone actually thought it through. I remember kicking doors in, the adrenaline rush of being the first man into a room, with no idea what's waiting for you on the other side. I remember falling halfway through the roof of a building because the structure was rotting. I remember cordoning off a section of town near the Italian embassy and spotting suspected insurgents and calling in their location for the Kiowas buzzing overhead. During the drive up through Southern Iraq, I recall watching a mortar team slowly walk rounds in on our position while we were waiting for a bridgelayer. We were not allowed to engage them. Nobody told us why; we intuited it was because of the pair of Bradleys who said "fuck this" and broke from the formation and ended that mortar team.I remember being woken up by RPGs impacting the main building in our FOB. I remember the weird clacking sound that an AK round makes when it impacts marble near your face. I remember just how quickly I can get my rifle up, safety off, on target, and sending a round at the guard dog coming at you as you patrol towards a suspected mortar site. I also remember exactly which people in my platoon shot stray dogs for no good reason.This guy broke his neck trying to be cool and popping a wheelie on a motor scooter outside our FOB, visible behind the wire to the right. I'm calling it in on the radio.I remember one night, on Baghdad Island, when we were conducting a traditional L-shaped ambush, searching for a hostile mortar team that had been plaguing us for weeks (and the engineer battalion before us, who were incapable of doing anything about it, hence why were called in). I was covering an open field, and off in the distance there was a glowing plume of fire. I'm not sure if it was the burn-off from an oil rig, or a methane burn, or what exactly. It was just attached to some kind of superstructure tower. As I lay beneath the trees, with my rifle resting atop my radio in the thick vegetation, my body soaked from the canal water we trudged through to get here, I realized that the only visible difference between my experience here in 2003, and what my father experienced 35 years ago in Vietnam was that damn tower with the flame.Baghdad IslandI remember the aches and pains. They're different than the aches and pains I have today. On Christmas Eve, we did a cordon operation in Baghdad. My platoon was conducting a traffic checkpoint and was generally stationary, but I was the RTO so I had to follow the platoon leader around with the radio. He was particularly mobile that night, checking on everyone. I never told him that I had badly twisted my knee that day. I was visibly limping by the end of the night. CSM Eric Cooke, the CSM for 1/1AD (1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, which at the time was the brigade to which my company was attached) drove through our lines. An IED triggered beneath his vehicle shortly down the road and killed him. I still visit his grave every time I visit Arlington Cemetery, even though I didn't really know him. How often do you see someone in the final seconds before their violent death? Later in my deployment, I had a surgery done on my foot by the battalion PA and our platoon medic, who were reading how to do the procedure out of the book as they were doing it.Security patrols at the northern tip of our sector.I remember the people who greeted us with unrestrained joy -- the guy who showed me the scars on his back from where Saddam tortured him because his uncle was a dissident. The satellite dish salesman who lost his wife to the Ba'athist regime. The people weeping when we destroyed images of Saddam and literally trying to hug us through the windows of our vehicles.I also remember the ones who were indifferent to our presence. One day we were on a patrol in a wealthy neighborhood. A young woman in blue jeans was watering the front yard concrete. (I guess so it didn't crack or something?). Someone hollered out at her "Hey girl, you look good in them jeans." She responded in nearly perfect English "Hey boy, you look good with that gun," and then ignored us. When we were overseeing the security at a local bank during the transfer of the new Iraqi dinar currency, I was accosted by a guy who asked "Why are you here? Why do we need a new dinar? My savings are worthless. Why have you done this?" I didn't have the answers. But it didn't matter because he was encroaching on my security bubble. A firm "Get back. Imshe, imshe" and a threatening look does a lot to forstall further questions. A week later, I never gave a second thought to the questions as I literally wiped my ass with dinar notes because I ran out of toilet paper.Dinar exchange security.I remember the ones who hated us too. The barber who worked in our FOB was a secret fedayeen delivering pace counts to enemy mortar teams. To this day, I involuntarily get an uncomfortable feeling when I think about the time he shaved my face with a straight razor. The "internet cafe haji" who had a plot to use his access to kill all the Jews (of which I was one of the few) in our barracks in our sleep. The ones who protested outside our FOB gates. "Go Go Amriki, Leave, Ishta Ishta. " The cognitive dissonance of experiencing a wide range of reactions while hearing people who had never been to Iraq and could never find it on a map tell me how the Iraqi people felt about my presence... even to this day.A massive fire across the street from our compound.Some protest. I think it was related to jobs.I grew to hate the politicization of the war. I was younger at the time, and more conservative in my viewpoints, but it was easy to mistake criticism of the war with a denigration of my contribution as a soldier. "Oh fucking politicians, twisting our sacrifices for their political gain back at home." Then, the growing disillusionment with the equally disgusting blind jingoistic support from the pro-war crowd, who were equally twisting our sacrifices for their political gain and self-righteousness. As time went on, the politicization bothered me less, and the ignorance and blind support bothered me more. If I could never hear the phrase "Hero" used again, (unless it's sarcastically by an NCO), I would cut my ears off faster than Van Gogh.And yet, sometimes, I still think back to a late night OP, just a small reconnaissance team of scouts and snipers up on a rooftop overlooking an olive grove in the city. Calling in reports over the radio. Watching the roads and intersections around us for threats. Bullshitting about what kind of car we were going to get when we returned to the states. Talking about video games. Eating a shitty MRE, but then the joy of finding jalapeno cheese packs and a strawberry milkshake buried in your buttpack. I still miss those nights.TK and Lee-roy, my colleagues during my time in Weapons Squad, shortly before we went out on one of those OPs.