Daily Dose of BS January 19

We have all done it, made a line in the sand and said I am not going to cross that line.  I promise myself I will never do..fill in the blank.  I wonder if it is a sign of the times, the society or that we are weak or maybe we make the lines that can’t possibly be kept.  There are some that are hard and fast rules that we should not do, but some do.  Every day we hear of people who have killed someone or robbed a bank or even embezzled money from you name it work, club, church, school..the list is as long as my arm.  When I was young and would get disciplined by my Dad I remember saying I will never yell at my kids.  Guess what if you have kids sometimes you yell.  Does this make a failure?  No way.  Sometimes we make the “nevers” in our lives unattainable.  If you say you will never lie, speed, kill someone, etc.  You can have each of those things happen, at the blink of an eye, with out even realizing you did it.  For example kill someone seems the harshest of the 3 I listed, lets say God forbid, someone runs veers their car into your lane to avoid hitting a deer and has a head-on collision with you, not even your fault.  The line got moved.  As the movie said, maybe we should “Never say Never again”, but instead say I don’t ever plan on doing that.

Daily Dose of BS January 17

I know looking at me I may not come across as a fan of shoes and comfort, but I am.  I am a huge fan of "clog" type shoes.  My love for them began about 15 years ago with a pair of Airwalk's that I bought, I ended up going back to the store and purchased 3 more pair that day.  I was in love, in the past 15 years I have burned through those pairs of Airwalk, when I couldn't find the same show moved on to the Keen slip on (didn't care for that one) then began wearing the the Merrell a few years ago(I wore them so much my friends started calling them my potato shoe, because of the color, they look like potato skins), this has been a good shoe, but can't find that shoe anymore, I happened across an ad on facebook for the shoe “The Todi Original” I looked over their site. (The Todi Original looked to be exactly what I like about the "slip on, comfortable shoe")  Could it be have I stumbled upon the next great shoe?  I ordered a pair, waited with anticipation, when the shoes finally arrived, I was about to burst with excitement, was I going to be in shoe heaven or shoe hell?  I wore them one day, then the next, and continued to wear these foot hugging backless wonders.  From their website “The Todi Original offers insole with the support to help the foot relax and the versatility to gradually conform and accommodate to the wearer’s unique foot shape..a roomy toe box enhance comfort, fit and style”  Could it possibly live up to the hype I built up in my head?  Well if you like the non-tie, slip on built for comfort, with great foot support and looks good as well, I would suggest picking up a pair of the Todi Original.  From www.todiusa.com I am looking forward to checking out the Todi Shane when they are rolled out mid year.  

Daily Dose of BS January 13

When I get a wild hair and want to get a few projects around the house done, it usually requires a trip to the hardware store, 9 times out of 10 one or more kid likes to go with. And when they do go I get called over to the candy shelf it started out as my kids saying hey Dad can we get this box of this or bag of that..as a Dad you say sure cause that is what you do. What started out as the kids asking, became me wandering by those shelves looking to see what caught my eye..even when they weren’t around. The kids started my addiction that I thought was put to bed long ago, the addiction of candy. I like chewy Spree, there I have said it, and admitted to it, that I think is the first step in concurring an addiction. I am not sure if you have ever tried these chewy discs of sour goodness. They come in Five bold fruity flavors: Strawberry, Grape, Orange, Lemon and my favorite the lime..weird since when it comes to candy I usually like the red ones. With a candy coated outer shell with a tasty chewy center. These are awesome, and they leave your mouth watering. That brings me to the reason for this writing. I believe that these candies tried to kill me, they are so good that they leave your mouth with excessive saliva production, so much so that it can be used as a form of water boarding. Now remind me why I like these again?

Daily Dose of BS January 12

You’ve heard of the 411 that is the info, named after the phone call to information.  411, I dialed that a bunch of times when it came out because of my poor spelling.  My parents got mad..it is not free to call 411 at least it wasn’t.. I am not even sure if it is even still an option as almost everyone had a computer or a smart phone and phonebooks really aren’t used anymore.  Today we had our first snowfall of the year..not of the season mind you but of the year.  We have had a few inches of the stuff before today but none that measured to much, in fact I think I only shoveled 2x so before this morning.  Today we will run in to and see multiple instances of idiot drivers we live in Wisconsin we should have the winter driving season ingrained in our DNA, unfortunately it is not.. we forget what that white stuff is every year and every year we think we are driving in perfect conditions with the perfect roads.  Well my friends that is not the case, we have snow and blowing snow today and we also have people that shouldn’t be driving, out there..driving.  So when you are out today make sure to give yourself plenty of time to stop, and turn, don’t tailgate and don’t ride the bumper of the person in front of you.  Also if you are going to be doing any traveling, don’t forget the 511, that is the Department of Transportations info number (and this is a free call), find the road conditions before you travel.  Remember snow means slow.

Daily Dose of BS January 11

Yesterday I combined two of the Schmidt Christmas gift for one big mess. We got one of the brew by the cup coffee pots and some travel mugs for Christmas. I really like the coffee pot, I can have a fresh cup of coffee when I get up, and when I want one later in the day…during the day I am tethered to the coffee pot at work while putting in my hours there. The one thing I don’t like about the coffee pot is that the individual coffees are kind of spendy, and they don’t quite fill up my to go mug that I have with me at all times. It takes about 1 ½ cups to fill the mug, so I run the water through the k coffee filter 1 and a half times to fill my mug and it turns out great. The travel coffee mugs we got are white and have the no slip grip, they are similar to the ones we got last year. You would think that a white cup with a white lid from the same company would have the same lid, not so much…the lid fits and I thought it was a tight fitting lid. It worked all the way to work, when I took off my coat and started drinking coffee at work, damn if I didn’t spill on my shirt, I re set the lid, and a few minutes later another spill. I am blaming it on the lid…too bad the lids don’t interchange. And I hope that coffee stains come out of my Drinks well with others t-shirt.

Daily Dose of BS January 10

Clamshell or blister packaging… the packing stuff that stuff is packed in these days.  You know the heat formed kryptonite layer of impossible to open plastic that stands between you and pretty much anything you buy these days.   I bought a part for my front door the other day and went to open the package with a scissors, I started by cutting around the edges, figuring that cutting three sides should be good, I can then pry the plastic off the brass piece that was engulfed in the wrap.  Guess what, not good enough, I then had to use the scissors to pry the pieces of magma welded plastic apart, finally a small tear in the wrap, success, I can get my finger in the slit and can now rip the rest of the plastic off the piece, well the plastic ripped all right just not off the part, somehow it managed to rip a gaping hole in my thumb and if you think a paper cut hurts, imagine a cut 3x wider and as deep, who ever heard of a plastic cut?  I never have till the other day.  Since we are on the topic of packaging, who is the lucky person who packs boxes these days, ever bought anything in a box with Styrofoam, then tried to get the same stuff back in to the box…impossible.  Or since Christmas has now come and gone, any kids toy is shackled to the cardboard box it comes in with twist ties, not one or two but 30-40 metal shackles like the manufacture was thinking that the toy would try to make a run for it, I am guessing that the toy won’t…I’ve seen Toy Story and toys live to be played with.

Daily Dose of BS January 9

Why is it once you reach a certain age that you think you can say anything to anyone you want? I think that this line of thinking is rude. I ran into a guy that used to call me on the air years ago at Menards last week. We exchanged pleasantries and talked for a bit then he felt the urge to put his hands on my belly and tap it while saying it looks like you’ve packed on the pounds. I told him that was rude and walked away. Well if you know I have lost weight, and been working on staying healthy by doing Boot Camp Classes with LaCrosse Park and Rec. This isn’t the first time that I have had people from an older generation blurt something out that was rude, and when I shared my story over the weekend with a few of my friends they too have had unfiltered comments from people their grandparents age. When did it become ok to be rude to someone? Is it once you reach 80+. Could you imagine if you said what you thought to everyone that you came into contact with? Not only would I get slapped but also kicked and punched …but I am sure I would get a few thank yous as well. Lets all try this, filter out the hurtful observations and share the positive ones…it would make a better place for us all.

Daily Dose of BS January 6

Your going on a trip overnight somewhere….doesn’t matter where next door or across country.  Picture what you have to bring.  Why is it as Americans we feel the need to bring everything we could ever think of for the trip?  You have to pack your toiletry bag, a book, a swim suit, a change of clothes, a laptop,  some snacks, my cpap machine, an extra pair of shoes….what else did I forget?  Oh yea camera, charger for my cell phone, the gps, coffee mug, winter hat, gloves, oh my goodness.   Why do we need to bring so much crap then if there is more than just you, you need to multiply all that by however many are traveling with you, and if kids are along you need toys, videos, games more snacks etc.  We have too much stuff.  I feel bad for the people with those little cars, how do you get all your stuff for your overnight in the vehicle?  I think this is why airlines started charging by the pound either downsize or buy lighter stuff.  Downsize, now there is a novel concept, would you NOT like fries with that? 

Daily Dose of BS January 5

In my 43 years of being on this earth we have seen a lot of changes from our cars, and houses to the things we buy and eat…heck about 10 years ago I would have never bought bottled water, now water is one of my favorite drinks.  I would have never thought I would be able to have a phone with me at all times let alone a computer attached to my belt, heck when myspace came around I jumped on it as a chance to promote my radio show to the  “new crowd” and thought what could ever be bigger and cooler than myspace.  When facebook came into existence I avoided it like the plaque now I post on facebook everyday, It is kind of weird when I don’t.  The reason I bring this up is because I was thinking I don’t know any kid named Bob, when I was growing up there where about 15 of us in my class from Rob, to Robby, and Bob to Bobby and don’t forget about Robert.  I was born in 1968 and then the top names were Michael, David, John, James and Robert….for the boys and Lisa, Michelle, Kimberly, Jennifer and Melissa for the girls.  Number one for 2010 was Jacob for boys and Isabella for girls and Robert was no where in the top 50.  Michael is still in the top 5 for boys and none of the girls names from 1968 made it to this generation.  To see where your name ranks check out the Social Security Administrations website http://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/

1968

Rank	Male name	Female name
1	Michael	Lisa
2	David	Michelle
3	John	Kimberly
4	James	Jennifer
5	Robert	Melissa

2010

Rank	Male name	Female name
1	Jacob	Isabella
2	Ethan	Sophia
3	Michael	Emma
4	Jayden	Olivia
5	William	Ava

Daily Dose of BS January 4

Losing is not an option.  2nd place is the first loser, if you don't win it, then whats the point.  That is what the conversation was this morning with a guy at work.  We were talking about the Badgers and how the Badger lost the Rose Bowl...I was saying they did well even though they lost, after all they made it to the Rose Bowl.  Some people not so much a loss is a loss as I mentioned in the first sentence, the first loser.  You are playing to win and if you don't then you failed.  I guess I like to win but to me winning isn't everything, for some it is the only thing.  With the outcomes of so many things win or lose, I guess that I have come to the conclusion that we will lose some and  we will win some, I prefer to have more wins than losses but it is not the end of the world for me.  I guess that why I don't let things bug me when my team loses...when their opponent makes a great catch, has a great hit, a super block an awesome pass, I will say great play.  I play to win but if I don't it isn't the end of the world.  Right or wrong, upbringing or competitiveness...I wonder if when you need to win all the time if you are playing darts, pool or tic tac toe with your kids if you walk around pissed the rest of the day.  I guess be a good loser and even better winner.  

Daily Dose of BS January 3

I remember my first job and not being able to get business cards unless I bought them myself, I declined buying them cause I was just starting off in radio and didn’t have any money and I am glad I didn’t cause I moved up and on from that job within a half year.  I didn’t get them when I worked in Nebraska because they weren’t offered and when I finally got into a management position and my own cards I had thought I made it.  Since that time I have had many different cards from different radio stations and for my own businesses.  I don’t remember ever handing out all the cards before something changed.  I remember being warned not to buy too many cards especially for my own business because something will change, and it did from email addresses to cell phones to addresses, to the name of my business.  I think the cards I have now are the longest running cards I have had, and they will need to be changed again as I LLC’ed my business recently.  I just read a story of how business cards are now a thing of the past that people will look for you online, but I am all for the handshake and the passing of the business card.  After all how is someone going to remember your url?  In my opinion the business card is not dead maybe just the boring ones are.  Here is a link of 100 really cool cards.  http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2009/05/100-really-creative-business-cards/

Daily Dose of BS December 30

OH NO!!!! It’s going to be 2012, the world is coming to an end.  According to the Mayans the world is going to come to an end in December of 2012.  What should I do?  Get all my ducks in a row, by stock in Rolaids, and bunkers are us?  Do you think that worrying about the end of the world is going to do you any good?  Do you really think that the world is going to end in December 2012 because the Mayans got tired of putting together their calendar 5000 years ago?  Are you going to be surprised when you wake up on December 22 next year?  I mean in my lifetime there have been many dates that have come and gone where the world was to end, and guess what, it didn’t happen.  I remember as the year 1999 was coming to a close, there were many who were worried about the world crashing around us and the preverbal stuff hitting the fan, with computers crashing and the world starting to rotate backward, and people taking shelter in bunkers with pallets of bottled water and boxes upon boxes of mre’s.  Guess what they never needed them.  I don’t think it is bad to have a plan for emergencies but to change your life and waste your time worrying about the impending doom and gloom of 2012.  Someday your life will end, and it may well be in 2012, but is it worth the worry and wasted time when you could be doing something more productive? 

Daily Dose of BS December 29

We live in a pretty safe area, why do so many people lock and alarm their cars?  I very rarely have anything of any value in my car and if I do what is to stop someone who really wants what I have from taking it?  The reason I bring this up is a few weeks ago, I locked my keys in the car.  Stupid right?  I had to walk back in to the store where I was shopping and ask for a wire hanger, I luckily had the window open a crack so it was easy to get in.  Awhile back a co-worker had locked her keys into her car, so I did a bit of internet research to help her to break into her car.  No luck, I did find lots of bad advice on the internet and lots of myths that are out there to be busted.  She ended up calling a tow truck to break into her car.  Lesson learned….at least till the next time.

Daily Dose of BS December 28

Are you ready for your yearly lie? Lots of us start the year ready for failure. How often have you said to yourself this is the year I am going to...it doesn't matter what the ... is since many of us have filled in the blank with some unrealistic goals. Like this year I am going to Start Exercising, Eat Better, Spend More Time with Family & Friends, Quit Smoking, Enjoy Life More, Quit Drinking, Get Out of Debt, Learn Something New, Have a positive frame of mind, Be Real, Think to the future, Smile more often, Respond to all emails in a timely fashion, or do things for me....I am not buying that in your mind you think you are going to do those things, but lets get real. How often have you made those little promises to yourself? When I was a smoker I made that new years resolution countless times.  I finally made the decision to quit and haven't had a cigarette for over 4 years.  I didn't do it as a New Years resolution.  I did it as a birthday gift to myself and was good for one year, each year I have given myself the same gift.  To make your resolution better obtainable I would make it realistic, plan ahead, reward yourself, talk about it, remember that most people think that if you make a mistake that you've blown it...use your setbacks as a stepping stone or a learning experience.  Don't beat yourself up and understand that you will have set backs...it is not the end of the world to take a step back when your eye is on the end goal...basically quit lying to yourself and set realistic goals and have a plan of attack.  Good luck in your endeavor to become a better person. 

Daily Dose of BS December 27

Now that Boxing day is done, I have a few observations of the past few days.  Lets start off with last Friday, my mother came for a visit, I love my Mom and enjoy spending time with her...but she likes to sleep in and when they come for a visit, they sleep till at least 8, by 8 I have 3 plus hours of my day in the bag...that and when they come they sleep in the front room which is between the rest of the house and the front door.  I enjoy reading the paper on weekend mornings.  Christmas Eve was Saturday, we went to church as a family, amazingly the kids offered to do the dishes for Christmas Eve dinner...I think the last time that they offered to do dishes was last Christmas.  We then unwrapped gifts, it is amazing that 2 months of planning and a years worth of saving for can be done in less than 30 minutes...30 minutes to unwrap all those gifts...WOW, and this year we went slow.  Kids went to bed in hopes of a visit from Santa.  He arrived with bells on...no really I heard them.  The kids were happy when they came down at 6:30 Christmas morning.  Got the goods hooked up, played in harmony for about an hour when the screams of unfair could be heard from downstairs and then the tattling of he's doing this and she's doing that...Christmas breakfast was served and not one of the 4 kids offered to do the dishes.  I guess that they got what they wanted.  Mom left Dad then came, I love my Dad but he is opinionated and we clash at times (I guess I am like my Dad)...Christmas dinner and then back to the rotary lights with Dad, open more gifts and watch the Packers.  Bringing us to yesterday and again the kids arguing from the basement about who knows what.  Went to a couple of stores to get a few things with the kids...you know gift cards need to be spent right away after all.  I now know why yesterday is called Boxing Day, as the parking lots at the stores you feel boxed in and in the big box stores you are overwhelmed with people...back to work and no boxes and no "Dad would you tell him to share!"  Happy back to work Tuesday.

Daily Dose of BS December 23

Merry Christmas, there I said it.  I hope to not get shot over my wishes for a great season.  When I grew up everyone said Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  Now we need to ask if it is ok to say Merry Christmas, and which New Year are you celebrating?  Call me old fashioned or naïve, I am wishing you good cheer for this time of the year, for me it is the holiday season.  I am not trying to push Christianity down your throat.  I was raised saying Merry Christmas, and I believe in the Christmas season.  I know that this time of the year is difficult for some and joyful for others, I am also aware that this time of the year is also a Holy time of the year for people with other beliefs, and if someone wished me Happy Chanukah I would not be offended, in fact I would embrace the fact that someone had good wishes for me.  I think that we as a whole have been too into the political correctness of the day.  It runs from those who won’t budge on the Merry Christmas and saying it’s Christmas damn-it and you should say Merry Christmas, to those who refuse to say or recognize the birth of Christ and the reason for the season.  Even the people who refuse to take part in any of the celebrating that is going on this time of the year.  Is it bad to enjoy the joy, the lights, the camaraderie of your friends and family, the smiles on Christmas morning when Santa delivers his goods?  I will continue to say Merry Christmas, for those that are non-believers please don’t take it as me trying to be political, it is a wish for good cheer, and by the way Happy New Year. 

Daily Dose of BS December 22

The guys I play cards with and I have a Christmas party and we exchange gifts and these gifts are the worst of the worst.  I think some of the guys lay up at night trying to think of the worst possible gift ever.  Last year one guy gave a padded toilet seat that he decorated with corn and chocolate bars.  It was hilarious...every year we try to out do the worst gift ever.  I found the perfect website for the white elephant gift person on your list.  Check out stupid.com, some of the stupid gag gifts that they have are a pooping reindeer sweater, a toilet coffee mug, a remote control whoopee cushion, a countdown clock, a doomsday calendar, a dashboard pole dancer and so many more stupid Christmas or white elephant gifts.  If you are looking to get the crowd to laugh at your January company Christmas party or to give the best gag gift for your gift exchange, I would check out stupid.com.  Back to my card playing friends, we have bah humbug friend, I will call him Tom...he hates Christmas, the whole Christmas season.  Well a bunch of my buddies decorated a 16 foot Christmas tree with lots of lights and a string of red solo cups, a huge Noel sign and put it on a timer all while Tom was out of town....I wonder if he'll send the electric bill to the card group....scrooge.   

Daily Dose of BS December 21

Hi my name is Bob and I have a hearing problem...I never get sick of hearing the jokes...what or huh.  The past 4 months have been great thanks to Beltone Hearing Center.  Last night I was watching tv with the volume at eight, when all of a sudden there rose such a clatter...I jumped from my recliner to see what was the matter, I opened the front door and to my surprise there was a small car with their hearing close to demise.  The bass was pumping so loud and so true...it was so loud I knew not what to do.  I wanted to run out and say turn it down, but was in fear that my voice would have been drown.  The kids were in the car, doing what I don't know.  I am sure that their ears were soon were to blow.  I wondered aloud and said to myself those speakers didn't come right off of the shelf, they scripmt and their proud...of the thumping of bass...it's too damn loud I wanted to yell in their face.  But thought once again about being young when I could hear, if they keep it that loud, they could be deaf by next year.  The season is among us to celebrate and be glad...having them turn it down would have them thought me their Dad...Merry Christmas to all and to all lots of cheer....and turn down the sound so that we all can hear.  

Daily Dose of BS December 20

My family and I made quick trip to Eveleth Minnesota (where the US Hockey Hall of Fame is) this past weekend, we left on Saturday morning and got back Sunday evening.  We went for a get together for my wife's family, for Christmas and such.  It was kind of fun as a couple of my brother in laws opened up and started telling stories about the trouble that they caused when they were kids.  I guess the statute of limitations ran out, that and their kids are old enough now to not try the stupid things that they did ( I am still holding a bunch of stories waiting for both those things).  The hotel where we stayed wasn't bad as they had a bar, and not on the windows.  The weird thing about the hotel is that they had ear plugs next to the beds and a card attached to them that read, please enjoy a quiet nights sleep, use these ear plugs to stop the trains noise.  It worked for the train but not for my kids snoring.  I Tivo'ed the Packers Game not Teeboed the game, meaning I DVR'ed it so that I could watch the Pack once I got home...my brother ruined my drive home and my Sunday night enjoyment of watching the game buy texting me this...It's all about the Chiefs...they beat the Pack.  I had avoided my buddies texts up to that point since they were at the game.  I figured my brother wouldn't be texting about the game right????  I was wrong.  

Daily Dose of BS December 16

Having friends is a good thing, there are so many ways to meet new people from the old school way of....school, to work to other friends to meeting people at a bar to online and all the ways in between.  I am very blessed I have many good friends, people who would do anything for either me or my family or other friends.  It is funny if you think about the way that we become friends, it all starts with the simple task of just saying hello.  Making eye contact and the ability to carry on a conversation.  This basic art of conversation is often lost with the way we are all now connected via the internet and texting.  What happened to the sit at the bar with a friend and being introduced to some of their friends and then carrying on conversation with them?  I got the chance to do just that last night.  One of my buddies who is an entertainer that travels the world has a friend who is an artist the two of them a retired guy and I got together for a few Downtown Browns at a local tavern last night.  We didn't solve any world issues, but did talk smart, told some stories and learned some about each other.  The art of conversation may be lost with modern forms of communication, but set me down with just about anyone and a beer and there will be conversation.