         UNUserNotificationCenter.current().add(request) {
             (error) in
             if error != nil {
-                print("Error adding notification: \(error?.localizedDescription)")
+                print("Error adding notification: \(String(describing: error?.localizedDescription))")
             }
         }
     }


            // need to cast snapshot.value as a NSDictionary.
            let value = snapshot.value as? NSDictionary

            // ensuring that everything doesn't break if there's no new messages or maybe one
            if (snapshot.value as? [String: AnyObject]) != nil // unwrap it since its an optional


            dateFormmater.dateFormat = "MMM  d, yyyy, h:mm a"

            // will have to change the message dateformatter for each message
            
            
            for message in self.messages {
                // can't loop through and call date all of these times
                let nativeGetAtDate = dateFormmater.date(from: message.getAt)
