Daily Dose of BS Jan 30 waffle bowl

This coming Sunday is finally Waffle Sunday, it is also big game day, a national day of tv, wings, other high calorie tasty treats and lots of alcohol. My family however has a totally different menu when it comes to the big game, it started many, many years ago. At the Schmidt house we have a family tradition of waffles, and sausage on the day when football plays its big game. I remember the year we started it, it was right after reading the Sunday paper I glanced at a glossy newspaper ad that had a waffle maker on the front page, we went to the store and bought it, as a family we have been making waffles every single Waffle Sunday since. I love Waffle Sunday, because even if your team isn’t playing in the big game you can still waffle back and forth and enjoy the plays and of course the commercials. I even left a party a few years ago when the Green and Gold was in the waffle bowl to go home to have the breakfast of hotels with my family.  Have a great Waffle Bowl Sunday no matter how you spend it and go team go. #bswithbob #wafflebowl

Daily Dose of BS Jan 29 facebook

Has social media become a sounding board for the too afraid to say something in public?  Have the pages of facebook become a finger pointing, lets air our dirty laundry sounding board?  Do the posts that lots of people make kind of give the preverbal middle finger to others around that cannot do what it is that you do, or are doing?   I say yes to this, but I also think that the social media platforms have a place in our lives as well.  For each of the times that I have seen someone upset with their relationship and down on everyone and the very next person to post is having the best day of their lives and nothing can go wrong.  I don’t know how many times I have read a negative post on a politician and then see the complete opposite.  I guess what I am trying to ask is, do you think that we are to _____ on social media?  (open honest/ closed fake) I like my social media time, in fact I sometimes wonder what we did before we could peer in on others’ lives?  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 28 walker

I would think that running a state would take all your efforts.  Governor Scott Walker announced yesterday that he had formed a political organization to help boost his potential 2016 presidential run, Getting this group together is the first big step toward a possible presidential campaign that comes as other candidates are also building up their efforts to seek the republican nomination.  Governor Walkers group called “Our American Revival” was formed earlier this month and will be able to raise and spend unlimited cash to help Walker push his agenda to a national audience.  I asked Governor Walker in an interview if he was thinking of running for president someday and he was pretty vague, I think that if I were to ask him again I would get an answer.  Do you think that Governor Scott Walker would make a good President of the United States of America?  Please try to play nice on your comments.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 27 choices

We all have choices to make these choices will determine your day and the day of others.  Funny I was thinking about that while driving into work, that the choices I make will determine how my day will go and could determine how the days of my coworkers will be as well or others that I run in to throughout the day.  It is the little things that add up to be big things I think.  You choose to hit the snooze, or skip breakfast, return that last email, take the call.  All choices, all things you decide to do in a day can have an effect on your day.  You can choose to react or over react, or ignore.  However you choose to take on your day, best of luck with your decision and remember you will have to live with the consequences.   

Daily Dose of BS Jan 26 vape smokes

When the smoking ban was first introduced in the state of Wisconsin I was against it.  I was a smoker for much of my adult life (I have not smoked since August 29^th 2007) and damn it I am not going to have my government tell me what I can or cannot do.  Well that stand softened once it became law, in fact I think I hit up the bar more frequently now than before because it was nice to come home and not have to strip off the stinky clothes.  In Madison they are no talking about doing the same with the vape cigarettes and making them illegal indoors, and guess what I agree.  I understand that these are only water vapor or steam but I don’t want to smell it.  I get offended when I see someone walking through the grocery store puffing away at their vape pen.  You don’t like walking through my sneeze do you? 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 23 ballgate

With all the crap that goes on in the world each and every day, in the grand scheme of things does it really matter that the balls were under inflated in the Patriots win over the Colts?  What is the NFL going to do strip the AFC Championship and chance to play in the Super Bowl XLIX (or 49, I had to google it) I seriously doubt it.  And for Tom Brady to say that he didn’t know, really?  I notice when someone uses my headphones, or when the tires are low in my car.  I am guessing that he knows all about the footballs that he is playing with to claim ignorance I find that offensive.  What ever happened to taking personal responsibility?  Also wouldn’t the Colts have the same advantage with the under inflated balls?  America it is time to move on to something with more substance, to complain about, something like what ever happened to good Saturday morning cartoons.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 22 rebate

Ever bought something because it was on sale and with the rebate it was an unbelievable deal?  I have and for the most part I have received the rebates back.  A Midwest based hardware store offers lots of rebates, and I have at times purchased a couple of items I was going to buy anyway because of the rebate, for example when you purchase a tape measure at $5 end up getting it free after rebate limit 3.  Well a few years ago while working on the cabin we needed tape measures for the guys helping out, I bought them, got the rebate back in good time.  On black Friday there was a deal that was so good with a rebate that it brought me to the store.  I purchased the cordless drill (that I needed anyway) filled out the paper work, and waited, and waited, and in fact still waiting for.  If this were you, what would you do?   And have you had this happen to you? 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 21 state of the union

Yesterday the president made his 6^th state of the union speech.  He offered up some ideas like two free years of community college, offering paid sick leave for all businesses, and reducing mortgage premiums as to allow more low income Americans to buy homes.  The funny thing about the state of the union is that all the networks cover it and only about 33 million Americans watch it.  Did you watch any of it?  And what do you feel is the state of our country?  

Daily Dose of BS jan 20 speed limit

As Sammy Hagar sang about in his hit from 1984, One foot on the break and one on the gas there’s too much traffic I can’t pass.  You know the song I can’t drive 55.  I hate driving only 55 when that is the speed limit in fact I don’t like the interstates in my own state because the speed limit in Wisconsin is only 65.  The states around us have a higher speed limit I googled Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan and Illinois and they each have a higher than us speed limit of 70.  I remember when the speed limit went up from 55 to 65 and am now ready for the limit to go from 65 to 70 hell let’s move it up to 80 but make it 80 not 85.  I feel as though we feel the need to push the envelope and if we raise the limit 70 you know that it will mean 75-80.  We have the technology for safety right?

Daily Dose of BS Jan 19 packers

For Packer fans the result of yesterday’s game was heart breaking, I was bummed by the outcome especially since the Packers were underdogs heading into the game and really dominating the first half.  Coming in and getting a few interceptions, a few field goals and a touchdown, I felt pretty good, in fact I felt amazing up until the last interception of the game when we got the ball played the 4 downs, only took about 25 seconds off the clock and then gave the Seahawks a scoring opportunity that they took.  I am not a coach nor do I play one on the radio but I wonder if cockiness came into play for the Packers with the game yesterday.  I am guessing that they were thinking we are heading to the Super Bowl and in reality they are just heading back to Green Bay to clean out their lockers.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 16 learning

I graduated high school in 1987 got my first Associates Degree in 1989, have taken many adult learning classes and a Dale Carnegie class since but then, but that is about it.  Two weeks ago I started the next phase in my life and became a full time student at Western Tech College in La Crosse, taking the Sales and Management Associates Degree.  So far so good, I am not the oldest learner in the class room, but am probably the most talkative; I guess something’s don’t change.  I believe I have always been a talker, an out of turn talker, and as a youngest it got me in trouble, I hope that with this new adventure that I am able to remember that I have two ears and only one mouth.  Things are going great so far, I feel as though I am a better learner and a much better student now than I was in the past, building on the learning blocks from the past, with an eye toward the future. 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 15 waste of food

We waste a lot of food.  I always feel bad about the amount of food that goes wasted at the Schmidt house from leftovers that are forgotten, to bagged lettuce that goes bad before its time, to other veggies and fruits that get started but saved for a later time to the doggie bag from the family’s favorite restaurants.  We waste food.  I make most the meals at our house and I try to use the ingredients that are in the fridge from left over rice mixed with a protein to make todays meal to the creation from today mixed with some frozen veggie for tomorrow’s meal, I do try.  But for some reason we waste food.  Any sure fire ways that have helped your family to avoid throwing food away? 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 14 kids today

Yesterday I talked about customer service; today I want to touch on the younger generation and work ethic.  I had the chance to BS with a friend yesterday about the different generations and a theory was thrown out saying that today’s parents have screwed up the kids.  I wasn’t sure what was meant but we hashed it out and went on to talk about the fact that today the younger generation feels entitled to the best rather than working for it.  That the generation of kids that are entering the work force were never forced to win or think on their own that kids now a days are part of the quote ribbon generation that by just participating that they feel as though they need to be compensated by either a ribbon or with the carrot that was dangled in front of them to get them motivated.  I have to say I have seen this with each generation that I have been a part of from mine to the next and to the generation that is growing up now.  What are your thoughts on the generation that is being brought up now and is it the parents fault? 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 13 customer service

I know I  have talked about customer service before and I also know I have talked about my Tivo in the past, but never did I think that I would mash the two together, but I am.  I ordered a Tivo Mini a week ago as to allow my Tivo to connect the two tv’s in our house.  I ordered it and it came, I didn’t read the small print and failed to order a Moco Adaptor that allows my home to network via coax cable.  I wasn’t happy, I wrote a friendly note to the company and explained my failure to read, but touted my love for the Tivo, and their customer service responded with a thanks for your tenure and the sending of the adaptor at their cost.  Totally unexpected and graciously accepted, thanks for stepping up to the plate and hitting it out of the park.  Have you had a company that has fixed a problem with a home-run? 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 12 weekend

I got to work this morning and tried my door code and the door wouldn’t open.  I tried it again and again, a total of about ten times.  Oh oh I thought what if this is there way of saying, um you don’t have a job anymore.  I called one our afterhours line and John answered, I asked is the code the same, he assured me it was I tried it a few more times with him on the line, it wouldn’t open.  He came and got me.  Over the weekend I had the pleasure of going to my son’s basketball tournament at Cochran - Fountain City High School.  Funny I have lived here for the past 22 years and have never been to or through either of those communities, I am going to make it a point this next year to visit more the of the small communities around La Crosse.  What diamonds in a rough can you suggest?  And what needs to be seen in these communities?  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 9 upskirting

I am shocked to hear that an upskirt photo or video wasn’t a crime.  That makes zero sense to me.  One of the first measures filed in the Wisconsin chamber, would criminalize upskirting which is essentially taking a picture of someone’s genitalia without their knowledge or consent.  I don’t get why this wasn’t already a law.  It would make doing this a crime punishable by up to 3 and a half years in prison, a felony.  As of right now it is only an invasion of privacy.  It is nice to see the Wisconsin legislators working together to make this happen, now let’s continue this working together to better our state. 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 8 bad clock

I bought an always right clock with an outside thermometer gauge.  Well after brand new batteries and being placed where I wanted it placed, it was over 40 seconds off in 24 hours, and with the temperatures being well below zero yesterday and again today the reading for the current temperature is just a couple of dashes, I don’t know about you but I need to know the right time and the current temperature throughout my shift to make sure I say the proper time and temp.  With that being said, I am going to be returning my time and weather station.   So what is your ideal ambient temperature?  I prefer warm enough for shorts but no air conditioning.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 7 sledding

Here’s a great idea let’s do something for our kids that will force them to stay inside even more, let’s take away an activity that gets kids out and exercising lets take away sledding.  Sounds like a great idea doesn’t it?  Nope not on my watch, sledding was the one activity that my brothers and I agreed on when I was a kid, the only argument was who got which sled, and that was figured out by age then turns, I am sure it was the same thing for each family.  There is a push nationwide to start banning sledding on public hills.  This is to stop lawsuits against municipalities because there are over 20 thousand sledding related accidents a year.  To me this makes as much sense as banning tag or dodgeball.  

Stress relief

• Give yourself an ear massage. Huh? Just trust us on this one. Massage your ears from lobe to top, using gentle pressure. Think of it as a needle-free acupuncture session.
• Take a posture break – Sit up tall, focus on your shoulder blades, trying to get them to touch each other. Then shift them down as far as you can. Hold for 5 seconds, relax and repeat.
• Release tension headaches. That pounding in your head could be due to an unlikely culprit … your jaw. Focus on unclenching your teeth and allowing the jaw to relax.
• Think of yourself. During the holiday season it’s easy to get caught up in wanting to please everyone. Try making a little room for yourself by being selfish. Even if it’s just for an hour.
• Stretch it out. Yoga experts encourage regular stretching to relieve your body of stress. That can be as simple as lifting your arms above you and stretching your fingers toward the ceiling.
• Just breathe. When things seem uncontrollable, breathe in and out of your nose using slow, deep, steady breaths. This calms the parasympathetic nervous system, which lowers stress.
• Don’t say yes, say maybe. If you’re feeling over-scheduled, there is nothing wrong with taking some time to see if you really want to commit to something.
– Condensed from @nydailynews

Daily Dose of BS Jan 6 congress

A new year, will it be the same old same old in the Senate and in Congress, and local government?  Our Governor took his oath of office again yesterday, congress and the senate are getting swore in today, are we in for the same stuff here?  We have made the calendar change but are things really going to change?  To me it is funny that we all get our hopes up at election, hoping that our candidate will win, if they win they are going to change the world, if they lose the world is going to hell.  In reality how much is really changed with the changing of the guard?  Are all the world’s problems solved, are things that are good all of a sudden bad and all the bad in the world is good?  I don’t think so, I try to be a realist and hope that all of our elected officials can work together for the common good – us, and not the special interest groups that are pushing their agenda through.  To all in government, good luck, to all us constituents hang on, I am guessing it will be a wild ride. 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 5 cops

On the day after Christmas I posted on facebook the simple sentence “All this anti-cop B.S. around our country needs to stop.”  I thought that it was pretty self-explanatory, I didn’t expect anyone to disagree with it, didn’t post it to make it a race or economic statement, I just posted it because all the anti-cop rhetoric all around the country needs to end.  I don’t care if you are black, white, green or orange.  It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor or somewhere in-between, this type of anti-police behavior needs to stop.   I have friends who chose this as a profession and it is funny to watch cops in public when someone asks what they do, they rarely ever say I am a police officer, it is more I work for the city or  the county.  It is too bad that these men and women, who protect and serve, can’t without ridicule say I am a police officer and I am proud of what I do.  To all those who do the job of protecting us, I will say it loud and proud, thank you for putting your life on the line to make sure that we are safe.