Daily Dose of BS October 31, Halloween

Let the donning of the masks begin.  Today is Halloween and a day that maybe we show the world who we really are.  Have you ever given that any thought?  Instead of putting on the masks the are meant to entertain, or scare and just be you.  Take off the mask that you put on every morning and be the person you are, it isn’t easy but after a while you will get used to it, and others around you will as well.  I truly try to be me, the same me whether it is around my family, my friends, my coworkers or myself, the Bob you see is the Bob you get.  Be proud of the person you have become, and if you aren’t then change, become the person you want to be.  A quick thought about Halloween, and I am guilty of it also, ever thought that with Halloween we go against everything we teach our kids, don’t beg, don’t talk to strangers and don’t take candy from strangers.  Hmmm.  Happy Halloween. 

Daily Dose of BS Oct 30 opioid

There was an interesting story in the La Crosse Tribune yesterday about the opioid crisis not being the first drug crisis in our history.  I remember the crack problems we had in the 80’s and the Nancy Reagan just say no campaign, followed by this is your brain and this is your brain on drugs egg commercial.  I wonder how many people had the craving for a good omelet after those commercials.  I really wonder what it is going to take to get our kids and our coworkers off drugs.  More than 64,000 Americans died from drug overdoses last year, and I bet we are going to be close to those numbers again this year.  And these numbers don’t include the numbers of people who were given Narcan to bring them back from an overdose.  This truly is an epidemic and I really don’t see an end to it.  We are also still fighting the battle of tobacco and alcohol.  However, I have noticed less people smoking cigarettes there are still a lot of people smoking and drinking, well I live in La Crosse and I like to have a few beers, as do most of my friends.  I guess moderation in the key.  Thoughts? 

Daily Dose of BS Oct 27 sleep

While scrolling through Facebook this morning I ran across a video of water beds and how in the late 80’s and early 90’s waterbeds were king.  The first bed that my wife and I had was a waterbed that we used for about a year, after that we to had given up on the sloshing around at night and went to a traditional mattress.  We had our first purchased new bed for about 20 years, then we got a single sided mattress that lasted about 5 years, my wife visited her sister a couple of years ago and she had just got a sleep number bed, and bragged about it, my wife tried it, we now have a mattress that should last for 25 years, we’ll see if it does.  So far so good.  I am constantly futzing with mine changing the sleep number usually getting the best nights sleep with a number between 60 and 85, depending on the day.  With the sleep number bed, and the my pillow, I sleep on two unconventional things, throw in my cpap machine and I rock a great sleep look.  How much sleep do you get a night?  My sleep tracker says I get about 6:27 on average per night.  Close to the 7-8 hours that are needed.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 26 heat

There is snow in the forecast in the next couple of days.  I haven’t even turned on my heat yet.  Have you?  I always try to push the limits of my house by counting on it to give me shelter, and by shelter I mean from the high costs of heating and cooling.  About 16 years ago we did a huge remodel on our home we added on about half and then reinsulated the rest of the house, that and the addition of a new high efficient furnace and an efficient central air conditioner and my house has been great at giving me shelter.  My thing is that I am cheap and I don’t mind sitting around the house in sweats and a blanket, my kids and wife on the other hand, they would like the heat on.  I still am holding out until November 1^st but if snow does come, I suppose I will break down and turn on the heat.  Are you a date person or when do you turn on your heat?  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 25 IRS Scam

IRS lawsuit.  Bahahahaha.  I got a call on Monday afternoon from the number 206-866-5761 with a cheesy recorded electronic voice telling me that the IRS was going to sue me.  The recorded voice was in broken English and had some grammatically incorrect speech in it.  I wonder how many people fall for these phone calls?  There must be enough of them for them to keep up with the scam.  I feel sorry for people who do fall for these types of scams especially since they do sound so fake.  I know for a fact that the IRS won’t be making any calls to you, they first reach out via the phone.  I also know that if they were calling you that they wouldn’t use a recorded voice inviting you to call them back.  Come on scammers if you really want to do this, use someone with a half way decent voice and have them call and talk with possible mark.  Actually keep doing what you are doing and I like the rest of the population will just quit answering our phones.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 24 nuclear war

Some top brass are saying that a nuclear war with North Korea is not likely, but the US is putting nuclear bombers on 24 hour alert for the first time since the cold war.  The threat of nuclear war posed by North Korea has grown to an unprecedented level according to a Japanese official, saying that North Korea’s behavior is getting worse and worse.  Kim Jong Un called our president a Lunatic for taking the United States and its poor puppet forces straight into ruin.   Around 22 thousand nuclear weapons can be found around the world today according to the United Nations and their reports so a nuclear attack is not a complete impossibility.  I am guessing if one pulls the trigger, the rest will as well, and if that happens will that be the end of civilization? 

Daily Dose of BS October 23 conferences

I heard a news story this morning about how at schools around the country they are trying something new, having the child lead the school conference.  I hate to say this but in La Crosse they have been doing that for years.  I remember the first time that one of our children was tasked with telling us his progress how scared he was and unsure of how to do it, but by the end of the process he was doing fine, this process lasted through all four of the kids, and now that they are in High School we no longer go to conferences.  One of the people in the story said that when the child is present that the “whole story” doesn’t get out.  Here’s an idea if you have something to say about the child, send them away or you and the teacher step out into the hall.  I think the confidence that it teaches the child as well as the instant accountability that is present because they must tell Mom and Dad what went right and what went wrong is a good thing.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 20 CMNH

Today marks day 2 of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals radioathon in La Crosse. With a goal of over one hundred thousand dollars to help families with kids, those kids facing health challenges. Last year over 8,000 local kids were helped by the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital and each and every child served has a story of courage and perseverance. Please dig deep in your pockets, your seat cushions and piggy banks and help the La Crosse Media Group reach this goal to help thousands of children and their families this year. The phones are manned 6a-6p today and tomorrow 8a-2p. Help the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals radioathon. The number to help is 608-784-KIDS, 784-5437. Please put your money where the miracles are.  100% of your donation goes to help the families.  Please Help!

Daily Dose of BS Oct 19 clutter

I am not the most organized person in the world but I am not worst ever either.  I read this morning that 20% of us have a room that can’t be used because of clutter or junk.  You know how they say that opposites attract.  Well my wife and I are the ying and the yang of clutter.  I have clutter and it doesn’t bother me, my wife on the other hand gets really bothered over clutter.  If I am tasked with uncluttering a room or the garage, I spend hours in that space, looking at everything, thinking about the story of where it came from and why it was there.  I get sweaty and anxious when tasked with that type of a job.  Weird how some can do it and some cannot.  Don’t get me wrong I know where my stuff is, it just may take me a minute to move this over to there and that to here, and well you get the point.  My space is clean just not that organized.  How about you?  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 18 live in the moment

There is a new poll that was just released that asked which decade of the 20th century people would most like to go back to, the one most people pick is the 1950s. It was an age of stay-at-home wives, novel household appliances, and suburbs.  Most people surveyed seem to yearn for their youth. Over 50% of those over 65-plus want to revisit the 1950s or 1960s, while those 45-to-64 look towards the 80s.  It makes sense to me as when I think of the good old days I yearn for the 80’s a time in my life where things were much simpler, a time when I didn’t have to worry about life as it was run by my folks.  I really don’t miss those days but look back to them as a simpler time.  I try to live in the moment and not live in the past.  It is funny that my 19 year old said that to me last night when we were discussing some issues from his past.  Live in the moment and do not dwell in the past, Dad.  I guess we can learn by listening.

Daily Dose of BS Oct 17 license plates

Can we give a little love to those in Wisconsin who are lactose intolerant?  There are grumblings about maybe it is time for a change of the Wisconsin license plate, and I think I agree, the head of the states influential business lobby says that the state should consider getting rid of the “America’s Dairyland” which has been on the bottom of the plates since 1940.  This does make since we are no longer the leading producer of milk, we fall in second behind California, however we are first in cheese, but I don’t think that Cheeseheads would go over on the plate.  They are suggesting that Wisconsin go instead with the state motto “Forward”.   I think that the new plate would be great on the back of the car but maybe put the word reverse on the front of the car so we know which plate to put where.  Do you think that we should change our license plates?

Daily Dose of BS Oct 16 obesity rates

Well we did it again we proved that we can go above and beyond, this time it isn’t so good, this time our above and beyond is our weight.  Nearly 4 in 10 of American adults are not only overweight but are obese, that number is a bit less for kids, that one shows that 2 in 10 kids 2-19 are considered obese as well.  These big numbers mean shortened lives, and higher incidences of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and chronic conditions.  It goes to show that life is short, too short in fact.  I have always said that life is too short to be married to someone you don’t love, work a job you don’t like or to drink shitty beer.  But I am going to change that up a bit and also add to that, that life is too short to eat the foods you don’t like.  What foods don’t you like?  For me not a fan of liver, brussel sprouts (however I used to like them), and pie crusts.  You can also add beets, anchovies, and circus peanuts to that list as well.      

Daily Dose of BS Oct 13 city council

How many times have you driven by an old farm and thought to yourself why didn’t they do the maintenance on that building and are allowing it to fall down?  I have driven by many of those buildings over the past umpteen years.  I am glad to see that the city of La Crosse is doing something to some of the structures around La Crosse before they get to dilapidated and beyond repair.  Yesterday I brought up the old Plaid Pantry, last night the city had a city council meeting and they voted to spend money on fixing up the Isle la Plume marina, also to spend some money to fix up the bandshell in Riverside park.  The city council also voted to allow Ron Pishke to tear down the old building on 3^rd street.  In my mind all good decisions. 

Daily Dose of BS Oct 12 Plaid Pantry

When I first moved to La Crosse I rented a place on 5^th avenue, it wasn’t the best neighborhood I ever lived in but for a couple years it was home.  While living there if I needed a few grocery items mostly canned goods at that time, I would walk a few blocks to the Plaid Pantry and buy them.  Most of the time I went to Quillins and once in a while I would go to Stritmatters,  and Cub for my big shopping.  Funny how none of those grocery stores are even around La Crosse any more, I guess that Quillins has a small presence but the others are long gone.  New life will be breathed into the former Plaid Pantry as the city of La Crosse will purchase that builing for 55 thousand dollars with the usage as a neighborhood center.  I like that our city notices a need like this and works to help a neighborhood rehab.  It is sad that it has taken so long for this to happen, but am happy to see something finally go in that spot.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 11 recall election

Today is the 9^th day after the recall papers were turned in to try to recall Onalaska school board member Jake Speed.  The organizers who started this drive ended up with 613 more signatures on the recall papers than needed.  I don’t live in Onalaska but if I did and I was asked to sign the papers I would have said no.  I never do sign them, in fact when they have a recall election I make sure I go and vote for the person who they are trying to recall, I think that a lot of people do this.  The person got elected by a majority and deserves to fulfill the term elected.   I really think that if this much effort would have been put forth in the general election then a different candidate would have won.  If the outcome comes back not the way the recall committee wanted this time around, are they going to want another recall?  A recall of the recall?  I am not a fan of this recall or any recall that requires a special election, we get the chance to recall every candidate every election cycle.

Daily Dose of BS Oct 10 new holidays

We didn’t get mail yesterday I don’t know the reason why.  So I asked, did you know that yesterday was Columbus Day?  Or you more likely know it is the newly renamed Indigenous people day.  Indigenous people what?  I don’t even know what that is.  I had to work did you?  I was thinking about this, not for very long mind you but what if we got rid of all the holidays that are out there, and just had a couple of random Monday or Fridays off per quarter giving us 8 3 day weekends a year.  That may make things easier for everyone.  We wouldn’t have to deal with people saying Merry Christmas if we didn’t want to hear it.  We wouldn’t have someone getting mad over the name of this holiday or that one, we would all have the day off and you if you didn’t get the day off you would make double time or you could choose the following Friday off or something.  If this idea went through we could name the 3 day weekends based on the quarter and which break it is for example quarter one one, and quarter one two, etc.  much easier don’t you think?  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 9 Pence

It seems like the Vice president leaving of the Colts game was a PR stunt from the get go, the political stunt that sent Pence went from the game to an evening fundraiser in Los Angeles, and flying Air Force Two to Indianapolis and back from the West cost taxpayers over $250,000.  I can think of plenty of other things that could use that kind of funds.  Just think all that taxes that your family and mine paid last year plus most of my friend’s tax dollars were spent to make a statement.  Hummm.  Waste of money.  I think that if you want to protest the games then protest the games, don’t watch them, don’t talk about them, just don’t.  My Dad quit watching baseball after the strike many years ago, and I believe that he still is a hold out.  I protested the way I was treated at a store by not shopping there, but I returned.  It is hard to protest something that you like.  I think that we want to offer second and third chances, I guess for the NFL we will give 16 chances and maybe more depending if our team goes all the way.

Daily Dose of BS Oct 6 are we free

In the wake of the shootings in Vegas do we want gun control?  I’ve read many headlines saying that Americans are calling for tighter gun control, but are they?  Not all Americans, I think that some Americans are calling for tighter gun control.  I am not sure that is the answer.  We have called for strict speed limits, no texting and driving, not talking on the phone in a construction area, have you driven without your seat belt, peed outside, jaywalked, or sang Happy Birthday in public?  If you have done any of those things you have broken the law.  At what point is a law only a law in the books, and when does it become one that you listen to?  They say that “Freedom is not Free”.  Do you agree?  Are our freedoms free?  We are free at what costs? 

Daily Dose of BS Oct 5 Christmas

It is not even Halloween and already we are seeing signs of Christmas. What the heck? I am wondering why we are seeing the commercial part of the holiday creep into our sights earlier and earlier each year, yet the religious part fade away? When is it too early to start pushing Christmas?  Also, what do you think the take away for Christmas is these days?  It certainly doesn’t have the same meaning as it did when I was a kid.  Christmas used to be enjoyed in December not pushed down our throats starting in October.  Are the people who hate Christmas going to not shop at these stores or is it a conspiracy for all of us to be so unsensitized to Christmas and everything to do with Christmas that we start to not pay attention to it? If you know please explain cause I am at a loss. Ho Ho Ho happy October.

Daily Dose of BS Oct 4 Joshua Coburn

A good friend of mine who is a motivational speaker posted on his Facebook yesterday that he was looking for videos of how he made a difference in people’s lives, how the things that he is preaching and teaching has helped his Facebook friends.  As soon as I saw that post I immediately thought of the smiles that he brings just by being in a room, the shunning of conformity that he displays, the nonjudgmental attitude that not only does he display, but the rush to judgement that I will be willing to be that he gets.  You see my friend is covered in tattoos from head to toe, he has gages which have stretched out earlobes, he has scarification on his face and implants on his hands.  My friend Joshua has helped me to not notice the art but to notice the man.  By having Josh in my life has helped me to open my heart and my mind to explore those that are not like me.  Manners and Motivation a couple of things that we all could work on.   

Daily Dose of BS Oct 3 Vegas

I always thought that we could be safe at work, church or school.  I thought we could go and enjoy a concert or a walk in the park.  Is there really anywhere that we can go and be safe?  59 people killed, over 527 injured, and a nation in shock.  When I woke yesterday to the news of the shooting in Vegas I was like the rest of us, I was in disbelief, wondering how something like this could happen and what kind of a monster would do something like this.  Serious question where can we go for safety?  Is there any place where you could go be out of someone’s line of fire?  This shooting also brings up the gun control question, how can we civilly have a conversation that includes both side?  I am not sure that this is even possible.  Not that you asked but In my opinion I don’t think that there is a good reason for anyone to own a fully automatic gun.

Daily Dose of BS Oct 2 Oktoberfest

Over the weekend the size of La Crosse swelled to about double the normal amounts of people, unless you were in a coma, you know that Oktoberfest swooped in on Thursday and left after the last band last night, I would be interested in knowing the economic impact on the area that this fest has.  I heard from at least one board member yesterday that the tapping of the golden keg on Friday was about 35% larger than it was last year, I wonder if it had to do anything with the weather?  The things that I love about Oktoberfest is that it is a chance for people to get together and laugh and have fun.  It is great when people flock to our city and then are excited to see all the sights and sounds.  The one thing that I hate about Oktoberfest is some of the people and the fact that they think of our city as a trash can, if you were anywhere along the parade route after the parade on Saturday you know what I am talking about and if you were on West Avenue between King and La Crosse Streets you also know, and don’t get me started on Vine and Pine.  Enjoyed another fest, disappointed in people not picking up after themselves.