Daily Dose of BS October 4

I think that bathroom doors in public places should swing out.  Here is the reason why.  How often have you been in the bathroom and the person in the stall next to you flushed opened the door and left the bathroom without washing their hands?  I find this sickening…this is also the reason I don’t eat popcorn at bars.  I know this is just another look into the weirdness that is me.  Have a great day and don’t forget to do as the sign says in most public restrooms employees must wash hands before returning to work. 

Daily Dose of BS September 30

I remember going to Q convenience store when I was a kid and getting fountain pop.  They had small, medium, and large.  One day they had a new cup the extra large cup…32 oz of my favorite pop.  I was excited.  I bought one drank about half of it and thought to myself how can someone drink all that pop.  I continued to try and finally was able to choke down that much carbonated sweetness…flash forward 25 years, I no longer drink that much pop, my kids do, but me…not so much.  I was looking last time I was at Kwik Trip and the 32oz extra large from when I was a kid is now the medium sized fountain pop, and we have all seen those insulated mugs that look like little garbage cans sitting on our co-workers desks.  It is no wonder that we are overweight, jittery and can’t sleep anymore.   

Daily Dose of BS September 28

The other day my dog started barking and wouldn’t stop.  I went to see what was going on.  This old man had walked behind my car past my garage into my yard to take, no make that steal the aluminum cans that my kids have been saving for about a month.  I yelled out what are you doing and he responded I am picking up cans and talked to Harters about this and they said it was ok.  I am going to call an audible BS it is not ok, because I called Harters and they said it is against the law to as they called it “dumpster dive” in the city of La Crosse.  Now I wouldn’t mind if I had the aluminum cans out by my garbage cans but to walk into my yard take the aluminum, take money out of my kids pockets, lie to me and then argue with me about taking cans from my yard….well I have a problem with that. 

Daily Dose of BS September 26

I have been in radio for over 22 years and for the most part have loved every minute.  I have been able to help out with different fund raising opportunities, come up with and execute promotions,  interview and meet many of my favorite bands, got to meet lots of famous people, even got to spend some time with President Bill Clinton.  It has been a real cool job.  There are some things about the job that I usually don’t like doing…most notably riding in parades.  I had to ride in the Oktoberfest opening day parade on Friday, and it really wasn’t bad.  The parade I really wasn’t looking forward to riding in was on Saturday the huge Mapleleaf Parade.  This is the first year I got to be a part of a float rather than just driving a station vehicle in it, and I really had fun.  Saw tons of people I know, got a few high five and a bunch of smiles.  Up next the Torchlight parade, see you Thursday night.  

Daily Dose of BS September 21

A friend of mine heard a comedian say that you should never think about what was washed last with a bar of soap while you are standing in the shower.  I have tried to live by that since I first heard that…however sometimes you got to wonder… I am a bar soap guy I hate the liquid soaps that are flooding the market.  I think it is because you have to use one of those weird scrunchie things to wash with.  I tried to get in this century and use the bottled soap but just can’t do it.  Give me a good old bar of soap and I will have a happy shower.  There is a point in which the bar of soap gets to be about the size of a hotel bar and too small to use, that is when a new bar gets brought out.  The reason I bring this up is that we had guests on Monday night, they all showered yesterday after I left for work, used the rest of the soap and didn’t replace it, so I had to use my teenagers liquid soap this morning, I guess what I am saying is that I am excited to see if AXE soap really works.

Daily Dose of BS September 20

I saw what you did.  Have you ever looked around to see if someone was watching when you did something from adjusting yourself to when you tripped over the sidewalk or on the carpet at work?  I know when I do something like that I always look around to see if someone is watching or if someone saw what I did.  Sometimes you get lucky and there was no one around, but that is not being the case in today’s society.  There are cameras everywhere, and I mean everywhere, I read that on an average day we are on someone’s camera at least 75 times a day in the US and over 300 times per day in London.  I am guessing that, that number is a bit lower in our neck of the woods, but there are still cameras watching your every move…and if the camera misses it I am guessing that someone saw, and is watching, someone knows your secret.  As a matter of fact, dude in the red car driving down Jackson Street early last night, right before the sun went down…I saw what you were doing, next time grab a Kleenex. 

Daily Dose of BS September 19

Weird weekend, I stayed home because my son asked me to.  I could have gone on a trip to Northern Minnesota for my Father-In-Laws 80^th birthday.  My son had to work…I ended up having to also.  I realized that I am not a good be at home by myself person.  I don’t mind being at home for short bursts of time, but give me a weekend and I am going stir crazy.  I got bored, I grocery shopped, I went out for a few beers, I had diner with a friend, I did some cooking, cleaned the fridge out, emptied the dishwasher, filled the dishwasher, emptied the dishwasher and refilled the dishwasher,  went to a movie (don’t see Drive by the way waste of time)  I cleaned my office, ok I moved some things around in my office and it took me 4 hours to do it, I get easily distracted, I pick up some papers to throw them away and end up reading those papers before throwing them away, do this times a thousand papers it ends up taking hours of time.

Daily Dose of BS September 16

These last few days it has felt like fall is in the air.  I refuse to turn on the heat in the house until at least Oktoberfest.   I was tempted to yesterday.  I took my usual nap after work and had to grab a blanket.  I also have the windows closed.  I don’t know if I am getting old or it really is chilly.  I turned on the car heat both yesterday morning and this morning to help with the moisture on the windows, but grabbed a jacket on my way out today.  I like the seasons we have here, but does fall need to start so early?  I am still planning on wearing shorts till the first snowfall….

Daily Dose of BS September 15

The La Crosse police department wants to do away with crossing guards.  They say that this will cut about 51 thousand dollars from the budget.  Isn’t this cost a necessary cost?  As a parent I am concerned especially since there are tons of vehicles on the busy streets of LaCrosse not paying attention, and having a crossing guard there is an extra pair of eyes for the excited child just finishing school.  What is the cost of a child getting hurt?  Pulling the crossing guards now????  Weird since the Childhood Obesity Coalition is pushing for kids to walk and bike to school with the safe routes to school programs, and there are different programs at the different schools that encourage kids to walk and bike to school.   These programs are working as more than 25% of the students in La Crosse County are walking to school and these numbers have increased over the past few years.  I believe that the crossing guards not only help with the kids safely crossing busy intersections but that they are also a “positive role model and a trusted adult” on the long walk home for many children.

Daily Dose of BS September 14

I haven’t worked retail since I was in high school.  I have a few friends that work it now as a second job.  I am surprised that with many retail stores have call-in shifts, where you are on the schedule to call in to see if you are needed.  I would think that as productive member of the community you would have better things to do than to schedule your life around the “possibility” of working.  Don’t get me wrong, having a second job is a good thing for the economy.  But having a “chance” to work at a job and not get paid to be on call….not being paid for the opportunity to not work and then scheduling or not scheduling a family event or a vacation or a get away in order to not work seems silly to me.

Daily Dose of BS September 12

This weekend was a weekend filled with emotions from the Steppin Out in Pink walk on Saturday where 5400 people walked for breast cancer, to the Freedom walk yesterday and all the emotions that, that brought up.  My middle son had home work over the weekend, he had to interview us about what we were doing and thinking on September 11^th 2001.  I was on the air with another radio station here in La Crosse and a listener called to say a plane hit the world trade center, we turned on the TV and like the rest of the nation we were in shock.  My oldest son was in first grade at Holy Trinity School, they pulled the kids into church after the terror attack, to pray for victims and to talk about what happened.  I like most, called all my loved ones and cried in disbelief.  In this past Saturdays La Crosse Tribune Kari Knutson wrote a column about never forget September 12…from how we reached out to friends, family and even neighbors, and how she chose to remember a nation united in it’s greif.  I am sad that we have lost some of the camaraderie that we had for about 3 months after the attack.  God bless America and as Kari Knutson wrote lets never forget September 12.  read it here  http://lacrossetribune.com/news/opinion/editorial/columnists/article_0a5af71e-db63-11e0-8444-001cc4c03286.html 

Daily Dose of BS September 6

Ten years ago this Sunday is a day that most in our generation will remember like the, landing on the moon of the generation before, and the death of President Kennedy of the generation before that.  Why is it that the networks think that they own it?  If you have watched any network tv in the past couple of weeks, they claim to be the best and the first.  I will be willing to bet that you don’t remember where you heard it or what channel broke the news to you but you remember the feelings you had…the patriotism that felt, the American Pride that you had for the days, weeks and months after the tragic 9/11 attack at the World Trade Center.  I was working on the radio here in LaCrosse when a listener called and said a plane crashed into the World Trade Center and then a few minutes later another caller and then even more callers called with the news.  We reported the news and the feelings of the people who were living it, experiencing it, seeing it.  It was weird to have all air traffic cease after that day and when it finally resumed, remember how weird it felt and sounded?  I hope and pray that we never have to relive another 9/11 type attack on America.  

oops..Daily Dose September 1st...forgot to post

My middle son is a teenager today, for many of the past 8 years he has started school on his birthday, this year is no different.  I give him lots of credit, I would have been upset going to school on my birthday.  I grew up in Minnesota and when I was a kid we never started school before Labor Day.  Now the kids start September 1^st and go till the first week in June.  I think that is a long school year, see my post yesterday, I don’t think it is bad just long.  If there are any snow days the kids get a “freebie”  then after one, they start adding days at the end of the year.   So in theory we could go to school till July if we have a bad enough winter…it is sad to think that this is a possibility.  Could you imagine going to school even past the first week in June?  Anyway happy birthday Zak and hope everyone had a great first day of school.

Daily Dose of BS August 31

Don’t blink…awe ya did.  For the kids in La Crosse and Onalaska today is it…the final day of summer.  Kind of funny the different perspective that is out there on this day, kids are bummed summer is over yet excited for the new chapter in their lives and parents are excited that the kids are headed back to school, and even more excited that the kids to be out of the house for the day…no more messes to clean up after work, there will be food in the cabinets.   But there will also be sadness around the neighborhoods as you won’t be hearing the kids playing catch and tag in the back yards or riding bikes in the alleys, or splashing in the pools.  The dogs won’t have anyone to play with them in the mid-days and the electric companies will have to find a supplemental income since the tv watchers, gamers and computer kids won’t be using their electronics during the days.  

Daily Dose of BS August 30

I celebrated number 43 yesterday…I don’t feel any older.  I notice the young guy with a baby face in a few pictures at home isn’t the guy I look at in the mirror anymore.  I wonder what ever happened to him?  All the hopes and dreams that I once had…had I realized them?  Have I accomplished all that I set out to do?  I believe that I have done most of what I have set out to do, but as you know things change, opportunities come and go, you are faced with different choices and the some choices are good and some are bad.  Changing your goals isn’t a bad thing….realizing that instead of someday working in radio in the Twin Cites that I love LaCrosse is not a bad thing it is choice.   Have you lived to your potential or lived your dream?   

Daily Dose of BS August 24

Today's Daily Dose of BS is adapted from the Beloit College Mind Set List.  It can be found at http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2012/ .  Every year in August for the past 11 years a couple of staffers at Beloit College come up with a list of things that have always been for the new class of College Freshmen.  This years list includes.  karaoke machines have been annoying people at parties, They have always been looking for Carmen Sandiego, Coke and Pepsi have always used recycled plastic bottles,Shampoo and conditioner have always been available in the same bottle. Gas stations have never fixed flats, but most serve cappuccino.,Haggen-Dazs ice cream has always come in quarts,WWW has never stood for World Wide Wrestling, Pee-Wee has never been in his playhouse during the day, Caller ID has always been available on phones,Soft drink refills have always been free,There have always been charter schools...it is amazing all the "always has been's" that are still new to us.

Daily Dose of BS August 23

Every year at about this time, I start to feel old…I guess it is because next Monday I turn 43.  I really don’t know what happened to the time, I used to be the young guy in the group.  Now I am one of the old guys.  I was talking to one of the college students that works part time at the radio station about the Poison, Motley Crue show a few weeks ago, and he looked at me with a blank stare.  He knew a song or two from each but didn’t know much more than that didn’t even know the band members names.  He then mentioned some band…it was my turn for the blank stare.  What happened?  I thought I was up to date on the new, I work in radio after all.  I keep, or so I thought I kept up on the latest trends, I do have 4 kids ya know.  My kids look at me like I am an idiot but aren’t they supposed to?  I guess it is like Steve Miller says…Time keeps on slipping….in to the future.  

Daily Dose of BS August 22

Summer is almost over for the kids.  Hard to believe that there is only one more weekend until the kids start school.  It is the first time that I can think of where my kids are not looking forward to the weekend.  LaCrosse and Onalaska schools open this year on September 1, which happens to be my middle son’s birthday, he turns 13 this year.  As the summer wraps up the kids are getting ready to take on a new chapter of their lives, parents are getting ready for the little celebration known as finally a clean house day other wise known as snacks can be in the cupard for more than a day…day, or the end I’m bored season.  Up next for the parents is oh yea I need to bring 2 dozen cup cakes to school tomorrow day…good luck.  

Daily Dose of BS August 17

Ever got one of the dreaded honey do lists?  I got one yesterday with a handful of things on it, it started out with going to the bank.  Usually not an issue but the checks I had to deposit were for my business and the bank changed the way they deposited business money.  Next on the list was to stop by a fast food place to bring back a gift card that was purchased as a gift because when it went to be used it was blank…I talked to the manager on duty got sent to the 800 number on the back of the card then called the local management company.  They looked into it and got back to me it got taken care of, over 2 hours of BS for a 10 dollar gift card (it’s the principal).  Next on the list was to figure out how to get music on the ipad….failed, then stopped by an office store to pick up usb drives for the kids for school, they wanted the turtle and the penguin ones they were out—wasted trip.  A couple of other negative things happened as well, but all in all it was still a great day.  I guess if you have a positive attitude it is hard to get you down.   

Daily Dose of BS August 16

I have an itunes account and do not know how to make songs play on my Ipad.  Is there a trick?  Why is it so hard to get an mp3 that I own play on the Ipad?  I have had mp3 players in the past and got the music to play on them just fine, however transferring the music over to an ipad, no such luck.  I can get the music to play on the computer in itunes but when you go to transfer to device no dice.  Any help would be great bob@wlxr.com