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.  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 24 Merry Christmas

Traditions are big this time of the year lots of fun, and family and holiday cheer.  We get together and celebrate our times of together, we wish for snow and inclement weather.  We like the cold this time of the year, to don the sweater with the big ugly deer.  I don’t know who thought of this weird little trait, but by gosh and by golly it sure is real great.  The uglier the better, the more beautiful the sweater, when you put it on you know what to do.  You smile and you say Merry Christmas to you.  This now ends my holiday rhyme go forth with your family and spend lots of time....talk to you next year.  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 23 rail

According to an article I read in the La Crosse Tribune there are 16 million gallons of volatile crude that pass through our area daily via rail.  16 million gallons, that is a whole lot of crude that is a potential problem for the environment and anything that is in the way if the train can’t stop or tips over, that is a huge mess for any community to deal with, and we are doubling the tracks through the city.  Trains are moving through the country at a picked up pace, chugging through towns and if you listen to the commercials they are pretty darn efficient a ton of freight 423 miles on a gallon of fuel - huh.  What scares me is that they want to even make them more efficient for the rail companies and knock the number of people on a train from two employees to one.  Huh, there are only two people on a mile and a half train and they are both in the engine compartment?  What happed to the caboose and the breakmen and the others that were responsible for keeping that train on the tracks.

Daily Dose of BS Dec 22 gift cards

You know it isn’t too late to teach an old dog new tricks.  I used to be of the belief that gifts should be special – that you went out and purchased a gift that you contemplated for a time and then bought.  I used to not like gift cards, not at all.  Life is short and busy we don’t have time to go out and buy exact thought out gifts for everyone on our lists, we can for our spouse or kids but that is about the reach of it, right?  Unless you have a friend that you know will love that item isn’t a gift card just as good or even better because then that person will be able to get what they want.  We all know that the 26^th of December everyone who got the wrong size or the wrong item will be standing inline trying to either exchange or return that item that crazy aunt Ruthie bought for you.  This old dog has changed, have you?  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 19 gift of time

What do you really want for Christmas?  I was asked that a few times over the past couple weeks.  You know something I really don’t think there is anything that I really need.  I think the sometimes we get caught up in the getting during the holidays rather than the giving.  If I am asked again what I want for Christmas I think my answer will be for you to volunteer a few hours somewhere, it doesn’t matter where just volunteer your time helping someone else out.  This way we can pass on what skills we may have, or give someone a break when they need it.  The gift of time, it is funny that we really don’t know how much time we have so to me it is one of the most precious of gifts.  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 17 life too short

I was reminded yesterday that life is short. I think that all too often we take people for granted and just assume that they will be around as long as you need them. If you have experienced loss, you know that this is not the case, we lose friends and loved ones far too fast. I was saddened when I found out my neighbor for the past 19 years Mike Michael E Hansen Artie had passed, it opened my eyes as we have kids the exact same age, we live in the same neighborhood, we are close in age and we talked when we ran into each other at different events, around the neighborhood, and at school, and lended a helping hand when needed. I couldn’t imagine what his family is going through, the kids, Michelle Cooper-Hansen, Mike’s extended family. He was far too young to die. This unfortunate death makes you think, that we need to embrace those around us and really let them know how we feel. It also reminds me to live life, not to put off till tomorrow what I can do today, to experience all that is around and to enjoy those around me. In case I don’t get the chance to say it, thanks for being in my life. Now go live yours. 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 18 sony

I always thought that we are not to cave into the terrorists.  Isn’t this what Sony is now doing?  Word came down yesterday after the big movie chains backed out of showing the movie “The Interview”.  What I don’t understand is why they even used a real dictator name when making this movie, I think that just asks for problems.  Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney has suggested that Sony release the film online for free with a voluntary contribution to help to fight Ebola.  Did Sony do the right thing by caving to the terrorists?  I don’t think so, but if my back were against the wall like theirs would I do the same thing?  I don’t know.   Circling back to my first thought about not caving in, isn’t any strong negotiation for a raise or a new car kind of a smaller attack on a business?   And once we give in there have we lost? 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 16 Santa

A kid sitting on Santa’s lap goes against everything that we teach our kids. Yesterday I got to help with North Pole duties and saw first-hand how some kids are afraid to go sit on the big guys lap, yet other kids are up and ready for the challenge. We are constantly telling our kids to stay away from strangers yet here we bring our kids to sit on the lap on a big loud man wearing red proclaiming Ho, Ho, Ho Merry Christmas. The thing about being a fly on the wall at the North Pole was that the old school toys were the ones that kids wanted the most, don’t get me wrong there were lots of asks for an Ipad or tablet, but legos and barbies were the most consistently asked for presents, the weirdest ask that I heard was for a Hillshrie Farms Smokies, cause the kid wanted to make something he saw on Pinterest.  Also was nice to see a few kids ask for a surprise present.  It is also nice to see that kids still believe and they were there with a smile and I also noticed when Santa said Merry Christmas that kids and the parents smiled and said Merry Christmas back. If you have not been through the Rotary Lights yet this year, bundle up grab some canned goods, and take a stroll through the park to enjoy the sights, the sounds and the atmosphere of the Rotary Lights at Riverside Park- and don’t forget that Santa and the reindeer are there until December 23.

Daily Dose of BS Dec 12 gas

A few months ago you couldn’t buy gas 3 gallons for ten bucks, this morning you can buy 4 gallons for under ten bucks.  Personally I think this is great, however it makes me wonder why did we have to pay the inflated prices for so long.  How long will we be privileged with the lower priced gas?  Are these prices because the oil sands fields in North Dakota are starting to take a bite out of the opec nations strong hold in the oil business?  Are fuel prices being manipulated so to manipulate the American economy?  Are we being flooded with crude?  Can we save it for a rainy day?  When are the prices going to stop, when they do are the prices of other goods and services going to drop as well?  AND finally with the prices being lower are you living a more meaningful life?  Don’t get me wrong I love the lower priced gas, but what is the true cost? 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 11 spend local

I am assuming that you have a commute into work every day.  Day in and day out, in your car, back out of the garage, down the driveway and off to work.  I do this every single day.  On my drive in today I started thinking about the economy and how many businesses that I drive by each and every day, and for the most part I just drive by.  I don’t think about who is doing what inside each of these businesses that get thousands driving by daily.  Today my thoughts were on these businesses and how our local economy is tied to their existence.  If we spend money at a business owned by our neighbors it helps them out, their kids and their employees, in turn the money we spend at these local businesses gets spent here and there and there and we see these dollars turn many times.  On your way into work or way home from work today take notice at the businesses around you, stop in and say hi and spend some dollars local.  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 10 end of the year

We are fast approaching the end of 2014, at the beginning of the year I made the resolution to work out more and to eat better.  I can honestly say that I have followed through on both of these things, and I plan on doing the same for the next year.  My dad used to always say the getting old isn’t for the faint at heart, I didn’t know what he meant – at the time, it is weird how at 46 I am starting to understand.  I used to be able to sleep without a cpap machine or hear without hearing aids or not hurt the next day after having beers the night before, those things have all changed.  As the year wraps up and the Christmas cookies get set out, my goal of moderation is being pushed and tested, but I can really truly say that for the most part I have succeeded in my year long quest for better health.