Daily Dose of BS March 28 expectations

Have we become a nation of people who expect mediocre, I think that we have, because if we ever have anything meets or comes close to what we expect we are happy.  Have your expectations ever been exceeded?  This past weekend my family joined another family for a mini vacation in Milwaukee we made it to a Bucks game and didn’t really have any other plans except for have fun.  I had seen a picture of a huge Bloody Mary, one that had all the fixings including a whole chicken, it was called the Beast, and it lived up to and exceeded its name.  I think that it is amusing that when we have good service or have something that is superior to what we expected we are blown away, but with the Bloody from Sobelman’s we were blown away.  Have you ever had something that far exceeded your expectations?  If so what was it?  

Daily Dose of BS March 25 Love

I ran across an article yesterday that had a list of things you should do for your kids every day.  Pretty far down on the list was the say I love you.  To me that was shocking.  I would have thought that you would say I love you regardless to your children.  I have been a dad for coming up on 21 years and a son for 47 years and I have said to my children every day that I love them, and every time that my folks and I end a conversation we pass on our feelings of love.  It was funny even when I was a kid and things didn’t go my way and I would have a fit yelling at my Mom and Dad that I don’t love them, I can still hear them saying back I don’t love the way you are acting but love you.  With Easter coming up on Sunday and families getting together, if you didn’t have the chance to say it in the past, there is no time like the present to say or show I love you. 

Daily Dose of BS March 24 small world

We live in a small world.  Yesterday I had the chance to interview the Governor of Guam an American territory and during conversation I mentioned to him that I didn’t know anything about Guam except that my cousin lived there, he asked his name I asked if he knew David, and he said that everyone knew David, to my shock, he really did know him.  Which made me think of the other people that I have run into that I either knew or knew someone I knew.  I was in Madison and ran into Morrie Enders after he moved away, I have ridden an elevator with someone I knew long ago in Milwaukee and while at a concert in the Twin Cities I ran into high school class mates.  Who have you run into in weird spots?

Daily Dose of BS March 23 sidwalks

In our couple of weeks of reprieve between snowfalls, lots of people have literary taken to the streets in all forms.  I have seen more people out and about walking, running, skating and biking in the past couple weeks than I ever recall.  I am glad to see people out moving, which brings me to my concern.  We were out walking yesterday enjoying the afternoon before the expected snowfall later today and a woman came running up behind us, then passed us on the grass but at the same time as she passed she shot my wife and I a dirty look, my wife apologized and that apology changed our conversation, we then started talking about the rights of the sidewalk, and the passing of people.  The woman jogging didn’t say to your right or left, she just assumed we had eyes in the back of our heads and were to be on the lookout for her, so we could move and give her the right of way, um sorry - not.  I guess what I am trying to say today it to look out for everyone one the road even the ones not looking out for themselves. 

Daily Dose of BS March 22 drugs

A couple of local police departments are looking at a new approach to the addiction problem.  The agencies in Campbell and Holmen are looking at a program that has had success in Massachusetts that helps an addict kick the habit, by offering treatment rather than jail time.  I am all for this, as we are seeing more people headed to court for possession of heroin and other drugs but only having them turned back to the streets.  I really think that something needs to be done and done sooner rather than later.  My wife and I have been going for walks lately and taking different routes to mix it up, we have been down just about every street and alley in our neighborhood in the past few weeks and there are lots of discarded syringes laying on the streets and alleys of La Crosse.  I have even seen them in a couple of the business parking lots.  With the amount of needles that have been handed out I guess I am not surprised that there are so many unattended needles. 

Daily Dose of BS March 21 voting

The smart phone companies announce in plenty of time that they are going to be releasing a new phone, the tease the new features, they bring out the pomp and circumstance and many are fighting to be first in line to be the first consumers to have the new widget.  I wish that people were as pumped up about voting.  It is funny that even though there are a million people posting each and every day that this candidate and that candidate are the best, they bad mouth these people and talk up these, there are still going to be people who even though they are waving the flag loudly for a particular candidate I will bet that they don’t get to the polling place to vote.  I used to know a person like that, she would wave the flag and then not vote.  I don’t get it.  Back to the phone thing I guess that Apple is introducing something today, I can hardly wait – just kidding I really I don’t care. 

Daily Dose of BS March 18 trees

The landscape at Riverside Park is a bit sparse.  The city of La Crosse eradicated 12 of the Ash Trees from the fabric of Riverside Park.  I am guessing that there will be a feeling of sadness and emptiness when we drive through Riverside this spring and summer, and of course the trees will be missed at Rotary Lights.  It saddens me to think that all these trees are gone from our beautiful city, and that our lovely canopy of leaves will for a long time be missing from the park.  I grew up in the Twin Cities and remember when Dutch Elm hit that area and the landscapes of the older neighborhoods changed.  I hope that something can be done to bring back some trees to Riverside Park.

Daily Dose of BS March 17 parking

A couple of years ago the city of La Crosse was talking about alternate side parking year round. I’m glad that that fell by the wayside. On Tuesday, La Crosse Councilman Gary Padesky proposed legislation that would end alternate-side parking on March 1 rather than April 1, and for many in La Crosse that is a welcomed relief. This really doesn’t affect me because we have off street parking but it is the principle of the thing in my mind. The fines aren’t enough to kill ya but at 10 bucks each and double then double again over time just for parking in front of your house for the season is enough to make a dent in your life’s savings. Looking back to last year the City of La Crosse Police Department issued 13,095 alternate-side parking tickets that at ten bucks a pop generated a minimum of $130,950, and that is if they were paid on time. To me it seems like a money grab, where does that money go to?

Daily Dose of BS march 14 time change

If you missed it you’re early, Saturday was one of my two least favorite days of the year.  This past Saturday at 2am we were supposed to change our clocks to 3am a little trick that helps it to be light later.  Obviously whom ever thought of this magical trick didn’t have kids.  I always loved it when it got dark earlier so I could put the kids to bed earlier, nowadays it doesn’t work that way as my kids stay up later than I.  I have been bitching about the changing of time since anyone would listen, guess what people hear it but no one is doing anything about it.  In the year 2016 there is really no need to move the clock.  They originally did it because of kids going to school and work in the fields, back before there were such good quality lighting, heck they even work on highways in the middle of the night as the lighting sources have gotten so good.  Let’s be like Ron Popeil and stop the madness we should just set it and forget it.  

Daily Dose of BS Mar 10 protect your home

There are more and more drugs making it into our society and with increased drug use, comes increased criminal activity.  What are your thoughts when it comes to defending your home?  Should you be allowed to defend your home at all costs?  If someone breaks into your home for whatever reason, do you have the right to defend to the death your house?  I ask because there is a case in Minnesota that had happened and the man is in prison.  The man has had his home broken into many times and was sick of it, defended him home by killing the two teens who broke in.  He is now in jail for 1^st degree premeditated murder for life with no parole after being convicted in killing the teens with no chance at a new trial.  At what point in a break in do you feel your life threatened?  For me, I think as soon as someone uninvited is in my house.  What are your thoughts?  

Daily Dose of BS Mar 9 lessons

Ever thought back to the lessons in life that you learned from your first job?  For me it was long ago, when I was in the Cub Scouts then the Boy Scouts we did a lot of volunteering at various places including the nursing home that was a block from my house.  That is where I landed my first real job as a maintenance guy.  I was rolling in the money making a decent wage of $4.25 an hour when all my friends were at minimum which was $3.35 an hour.  My have things changed.  You could almost add those two numbers together to reach minimum.  I think at that first job I learned how to work, I mean get my hands dirty and do the jobs I didn’t want to do.  I did learn that doing that wasn’t something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.  I do look fondly back at the memories, and experiences that I picked up at that gig and I am sure I use them to this day.  I was taught to give it my all, to think, and to get along with co-workers.  I am sure there were other lessons learned as well.  

Daily Dose of BS Mar 8 erin andrews

When you are in your hotel room you have a certain assumption of privacy, right?  I think that you do, however I don’t feel like the hotel should be held responsible for Erin Andrews’ payment of 55 million dollars.  Hear me out, most of us have had something happen to us because of a product that we have used, right.  I lost my fingertip because of a dog leash, people get cancer from smoking, there are car accidents each and every day.  There are people who have taken pictures of people picking their nose and posting that picture online, there are pictures of people doing all kinds of weird and inappropriate things on the internet, either by choice or because someone took a video of them without their knowledge, do you think that the goofy pictures of the website the people of Walmart wanted to have their pictures taken and shared?  It is a fact of life.  Back to Erin Andrews, I think the stalker should go to jail for a long time, what he did was wrong, but I don’t think that the hotel should have a fine for someone altering a peep hole in a door. 

Daily Dose of BS Mar 4 music

Even though I work in talk radio, I love live music, live loud music, live loud 80’s music.  Yesterday I bought tickets to Def Leppard with REO Speedwagon and Tesla.  The show is October 7^th at the La Crosse center, and the tickets are the highest price I have ever paid for a music ticket $82.50 for the show.  Which is ok since it breaks down to just $27.50 per band and as I said I love live, loud, 80’s music.  Here is the kicker, I used Ticketmaster to buy my ticket.  There was $10.35 fee for each ticket bringing the cost per ticket to $92.85 and then on top of that there is an additional fee of $4.15 for the order for processing fee.  Wait a minute, am I the only one who finds fault with this?  Isn’t there a truth in pricing law out there?  I am all for live music, and for people to make money but aren’t these fees a bit much?  

Daily Dose of BS Mar 3 coffee

On Tuesday I didn’t have any coffee, and I had a splitting headache by the time I went to bed, about 85% of all US citizens use caffeine every day. I usually get my high octane caffeine from coffee, I used to be a huge pop drinker in fact when I first started out in radio I was a 12 pack a night person, of sugary caffeine filled bubbles (blah), I don’t know how I did it, I am not a fan of it these days. When I was a kid we didn’t have pop around the house except for a special occasion and that was on Mom’s bridge club day and a holiday when the relatives would come over and they would bring it.  A breakdown of the 85% of the population that drinks caffeine, pop is the most common source of caffeine, followed by tea then coffee. Funny how now caffeine is even in foods and other drinks as well. We are seeing it in some jelly beans, marshmallows and some gums too, it is no wonder we have a society of jittery jumpy people.

Daily Dose of BS Mar 2 hunger

It really doesn’t matter where here is, unfortunately there are hungry people here.  This past Sunday the LaCrosse Radio Group had a food gathering event for the Hunger Task Force, as part of Family Fest.  This Saturday will be another fund raiser for the Hunger Task Force, with Rockin out Hunger.  They are the food pantries food pantry, supplying over 60 different pantries and meal sites.  Whenever there is a Hunger Task Force event I encourage you to help as you can.  I have been lucky I have never been hungry nor do I ever want to be.  I try to think of these food gathering events as what would l want to eat rather than what can I clean out of the cupboard.  Please try to remember that if you don’t want to eat it or wouldn’t eat it why would someone else? 

Daily Dose of BS Feb 23 sidewalks

I grew up in Roseville, a suburb in the Twin Cities and in my neighborhood there were no sidewalks.  Since my formative years I have lived in 3 different states and 4 different communities in every one of these other communities there have been sidewalks, I have complained about my front sidewalk only a few times, usually after a heavy snow fall or when my wife suggests that I do the edging, otherwise I am a fan.  I think that sidewalks are the great neighborhood unifier, hear me out.  When you decide to go for a walk you head out to the sidewalk, there are others around walking, you see your neighbors, you say hi.  Life is grand, why because of a sidewalk.  La Crosse is continuing to invest in the neighborhood concept with the possibility of up to 12 new sidewalks.  Let’s all converge on the cities sidewalks.

Daily Dose of BS Feb 22 transportation

I have only been in a cab about 10 times in my life, I have never taken an Uber ride, and public transportation isn’t taken too much.  If I lived in a big city I believe that I would use the above more often, however working at 5am when the busses aren’t even out of the bus corral is a huge hindrance for me.  When it comes to cabbing it I have done so when I have flown into big cities.  The last time I took a cab was a few years ago when it cost my brother and I $250 to cab it from San Francisco to his home in Livermore, because we missed the train back.  I guess I bring this all up because we put a lot of trust into people we don’t know to get us from place to place.  Uber has been making a splash making news with problems that drivers have.  Do you trust an Uber driver or a taxi driver to get you there safely?  

Daiy Dose of BS Feb 19 songs

We all have those special songs, the ones that get you up and off the couch, gets you in the mood for action, the Rocky song if you will.  For me I like a lot of the old school Beastie Boys, Pantera’s Walk, Kiss’ Cold Gin, and just about anything from System of a Down.  What are your Rocky songs?  Speaking of music have you ever had that song or jingle roll through your head at the moment you are ready to sleep, talk to someone, close a sale or just about any other activity?  There has been the same couple of songs going through my head over the past few days.  I don’t know why but that Taylor Swift song we are never ever getting back together keeps rolling through my head at the weirdest times, its weird cause I think that is the only part of the song that I know and it’s like on a loop.  UGGH stop the madness.  These types of songs are called earworms.  What are some of the songs that are the earworms for you? For me these types of songs are enough to give you heartburn, I know a relief, plop plop fizz fizz oh what a relief it is.

Daily Dose of BS feb 18 privacy

I have always been under the assumption that nothing that I text, email, or look at on the internet is private, that someone can always go back and check it out, someone locally or remotely.  I have come to the realization that our information is out there, just hanging in midair being ready to be plucked when they want it, and I am not even sure I know who they are.  In the news lately is that the federal government is asking Apple to unlock a phone that belonged to a terrorist, I always just assumed that the government had the ability to do this.  I wonder if they are asking Apple out of a ruse that they are pulling over our eyes, claiming that they cannot get into someone’s phone.   In a situation like this, I can honestly say that I believe that Apple has an obligation to help the government to unlock this phone, and here is why I think that, first of all the phone is owned by the shooters employer San Bernardino County and they have given permission and secondly I still think that all our information is just hanging out for the picking but most importantly I think that if they could foil some terrorist plot then it is worth it. 

Daily Dose of BS Feb 16 award shows

I have never been a fan of the award shows, none of them from the one that crowns the Miss, to the ones that have the Actors, to the biggest musical stars.  I have never been a fan, and guess what that hasn’t changed.  I have worked with people in the past that have had a party for this show or that show, but for me a no go.  I think it goes back to my childhood and that my folks didn’t watch them and now I don’t.  I also think that it is because even though I am in radio I don’t know the artist or the songs of the music I like I am always like you know that one song that goes dum, da, dum, de, de, de drum, by that group that sang that one other song that I like.  Or when it comes to actors it was that guy on that show with that dog and the funny lady, you know.  Then I would get mad if you didn’t know what I was talking about.  And the beauty shows, don’t get me started, for beauty it is in the eye of the beholder, I think that all people are beautiful, especially that one, you know. 

Daily Dose of BS Feb 15 tipping

We ordered pizza last night for Valentine’s Day because nothing says happy Valentine’s Day like a heart shaped pizza.  We ended up getting 3 pizzas and some bread sticks, a 4 dollar delivery fee was added to the cost.  I still tipped the guy, but is it necessary to tip a delivery person even when you are already paying for them to drop off your food?  What about tipping at a buffet?  How about any other place that looks for tips?   Maybe what places are tips a necessity? 

Daily Dose of BS Feb 12 valentines day

Love is in the air, Sunday is Valentine’s Day. Funny how guys think that this is the one time a year to be romantic, the one time a year to gift flowers, or something special the one time a year - to show our love.  Guys, we can be romantic and loving and still be men ya know. There is nothing wrong with going the extra mile anytime of the year to say something nice, drop off a little gift or just let your loved one know you love them - after all a year is 365 days long.  For those who are new to this way of thinking, you still have the weekend to get a special valentine treat, but remember you have 364 other days to show your love as well.  What is the most romantic gesture you have ever given or received?  This year, I am going to stimulate the local economy and take my wife out for dinner, and maybe a movie, if not its roller dogs and Netflix.  By the way what’s good on Netflix these days?

Daily Dose of BS Feb 11 heroin

Do we hand out too much Narcan?  Narcan is the drug that reverses the effects of heroin and other opiates.  I have even heard that as part of the needle exchange at The AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin in La Crosse, that not only are needles handed out but also Narcan training is available.   According to the La Crosse Tribune that in the first 40 days of 2016 26 doses of Narcan was used on 16 patients.  Is handing out a lifeline the right thing to do?  Should there be a certain number of times you can administer it?  I am like the rest of the community and wonder out loud when the news reports say that bad heroin has hit the streets wonder isn’t all heroin bad? 

Daily Dose of BS Feb 10 wash hands

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, I don’t want to touch their filth…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.  I wash my hands every time I use the restroom, not because I splashed on my hands but because it’s the right thing to do.  No one wants your personal germs and waste on anything that you touch when you are done, and when you don’t wash your hands you are spreading germs.  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 Feb 9 be seen and heard

I am guilty of it, I think that most of us fail to be seen.  I have a black jacket, I wear blue jeans and sometimes I have on a dark hat.  It is hard to see people who are wearing dark clothing, especially when the person walking isn’t paying attention to their surroundings because of texting or talking on the phone, look where you are going and don’t walk out in front of someone on the roads, remember your mom taught you that.  Speaking of being seen, why is it that so many people don’t use their fog lights when there is fog, my friend Diane reached out to me yesterday and said it was hard to see so many of the cars out there when they are driving around without lights when there is fog, heck turn on your lights when driving period, it will help you to be seen, I just have to remember to do it, on two of our vehicles it happens automatically but my everyday car, not so much.  Speaking of being seen, it is an election year this year, we should practice on being heard as well. 

Daily Dose of BS Feb 8 ID's

Last time I was at the cell phone store I had to sign in and show my I.D., even though I knew the guy working.  Hard to believe but when buying a case of beer a few weeks ago I had to show my I.D.  I got pulled over a couple of months ago, guess what, I had to show my I.D.  Check writing, which I don’t do much of but still I.D., get on a plane, rent a car, a hotel room or a house, you need an I.D.  When I bought Sudafed I needed an I.D.  It is pretty clear to me that you need an I.D. for just about everything you do, oh wait everything but to vote, that changes this year in Wisconsin.  Do I think it is a bad idea?  No.  Why would I?  There are people who will complain that showing an I.D. will stop certain people from voting, now personally I wouldn’t want that but I did some research and you need to have a photo I.D. to apply for food stamps, welfare and unemployment.  I am just saying that I would guess that most adults have an I.D. and if they don’t there are programs out there that will help someone get one.  

Daily Dose of BS Feb 5 waffle bowl

This coming Sunday is finally Waffle Bowl 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 Bowl Sunday since. I love Waffle Bowl 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.

Daily Dose of BS Feb 4 cultural sensitivity

Has cultural sensitivity gone too far?  There is a school in St Paul that is kissing off Valentine’s Day and other holidays as a way of being more culturally sensitive and inclusive.  Some of these schools around the country are teaching our kids to not have any beliefs, how are we going to raise this generation now if they cannot celebrate holidays, or other beliefs, I know let’s have a culturally generic celebration 4 times a year, spring, summer, winter and fall.  But we cannot call it anything because we don’t want someone 50 years or 100 years down the way to take it away.  Heck I am surprised that we are still able to celebrate our birthdays and that someone hasn’t complained that it is Johnnies special day today and no one can be special everybody has to feel the same.  Well if that is the case do you have a sore ankle today because mine is bugging me? 

Daily Dose of BS Feb 3 smile

Ever heard smile and the whole world smiles with you?  My mom used to say that to my brothers and I, there is now some studies out there that support this.  These studies show that during conversation we tend to mimic those around us.  I guess that this makes sense as if you watch a salesperson they will nod and smile when you are talking with them, inviting you to sign on the dotted line.  It works with others as well, note when you are in a classroom setting or a work event heck even in your own home and someone is happy you want to smile with them, same goes the other way as well, if someone is in the room angry they tend to bring the rest of the group down, it guess what I am trying to say is turn that frown upside down, and make it a great day.

Daily Dose of BS Feb 2 snow day

Am I the only one that thinks it is weird to cancel school the night before for the threat of the shoe dropping?  I woke this morning to 25 degrees and no snow, the weird part is every school in our area is closed.  Today is ground hog day and I am wondering if kids want life to be like the movie and relive the no snow – snow day.  I haven’t seen that movie in a long time, I should find it to watch today with the kids.  Ever thought about the history of the first ground hogs day?  It dates back to the 18^th and 19^th centuries, however the first documented time in America is 1841.  I hope that the ground hog sees his shadow, or is it not sees his shadow.  Anyway I am hoping to enjoy a bit of ground hog at the Moose Lodge later today, the Lions Club is serving a Ground Hog dinner.  All I gotta say is it is yummy.  

Daily Dose of BS Feb 1 trains

When I was a kid I always heard that if you put a penny on a train track that it could derail a train.  I am not going to lie, as a rebellious teenager I tried it.  As soon as we ran away the feeling of guilt overtook the thrill of doing something bad.  The sudden urge to run back toward the oncoming train to rescue the Lincoln from the oncoming train, only to be reminded of the almost certain decapitation of an arm or worse.  Thank goodness that the derailment didn’t happen, in fact a quick google search shows that it has never happened, but as an adventurous boy it could have.  Again, thank God that it didn’t happen.  With more trains moving through the country, there have been more and more derailments there has even been a couple close to home.  Shouldn’t the railroads be required to make the manifest public as soon as a train jumps the tracks, I for one would like to know.  Especially since there are tracks about 100 yards from where I work. 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 29 luck

I have heard all too many people say you are lucky.  I am not sure that I believe in luck do you?  I think that we make our own luck, sure great things happen to all of us, but does a 4 leaf clover, a fuzzy troll or a horseshoe make or break your day?  I think that those work because you think that they will work, I am not sure that some people are luckier than others.  Here is why I think that, the people that lots of people think are lucky have worked harder or longer on something, not making them lucky but just more versed.  I think that the same goes for bad luck, I get it that we have bad things that happen to all of us some of us choose to have that derail us others look at it as a step and others just look at it as the cost of doing business.  Which person are you?

Daily Dose of BS Jan 28 school

What an awesome email I got from Western Technical College the day before yesterday, I found out that I received two different scholarships for my schooling this year.  I am humbled by the fact that I received these.  When I was a student in High School and then in radio school I wasn’t the best student, I guess I really didn’t care about school so much, I had other things in life to do, like go out and hang out with friends.  As an adult I still have things to do, more things than I did as youngster, like support a family, go to work every day, run a small business, and hang out with friends, but now have the drive to succeed and find the way to make it happen.  Besides getting the scholarships I also made the Presidents List all three trimesters, ending up with 11 A’s and 1 B, not too shabby.  This past year of school has not been easy but I made it and also made some really great friends as well.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 27 debate

I guess if you don’t want to do something you don’t have to do it.  I get this from Donald Trump backing out of the debate in Iowa.  Whether you like him or not he is garnering tons of free publicity, and it seems as though he is getting the publicity for doing the unheard of standing up and being a bully.  I was bullied when I was a kid but I think that all of us were to some extent.  I decided quite a while ago that that wouldn’t put up with bullying.  We still have 10 months and honestly out of the candidates that we have running for President I am not sure that I like any of them.   As for the bullying and the child like behavior of not doing the debate because you don’t like the commentator, shame on you, if you are running for President you should be able to deal with something you don’t like.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 26 sick

Seems as though just about everyone I know has a cold of some sorts.  I am hacking up a lung and feel run down, some of my fellow employees are doing the same, in fact yesterday it was like an echoing sneeze effect as I started it in the studio, it moved out to the front desk then I heard it ricochet right on down the building.  What are your opinions of calling in sick or coming to work?  I am not a fan of calling in sick and have done so only a few times in my whole career where some people have a hang nail and call.  Also are there any home remedies that work for you?  I am a fan of a hot totty made with brandy, water, honey and lemon, I am not sure if it helps but after a couple I really do sleep well.   

Daily Dose of BS Jan 25 snow

For the majority of my life I have lived in the upper Midwest.  I often complain about people not being able to drive, I am guessing that this is a common thread for most of the country.  The east coast got belted with snow this past weekend, and they basically shut everything down.  I recall a few big storms in the upper Midwest that slowed somethings down, and there were times when some of the roads were suggested not to drive on but, a few years ago I remember driving across the state of Wisconsin to get home from a hockey tournament when 20 plus inches of snow fell and there were drifts about 4 feet high on the sides of the road.  The thing is even when that much snow fell there were still stupid drivers on the roads, I guess including myself for risking it, but at the time I didn’t even think of it. I guess I am trying to say I am glad that the snow that fell in the east didn’t fall here, so we don’t have to deal with idiot drivers in the snow, just regular idiot drivers. 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 22 friends

Back in August I proved to myself that I could step away from Facebook for a week, I made it 9 days.  I took the app off my phone and it is still not back there.  I do however look at Facebook on my phone online, but there are more steps to it than the app.  I read today that even though there are tons of people with tons of friends on their “friends” list that we really only have about 4 friends.  Do you know who your four are?  I do but it is funny even though we are friends we really don’t flaunt our friendships on Facebook.  From the 4 real friends we have about 15 we can confide in and about 50 who are close from there we go to our casual friends and then acquaintances tops out at about 500.  Do you who all your friends are? 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 21 school

It is funny the difference between a child starting school and an adult starting a new year of school.  As the college students head back to LaCrosse and college classes starting all over the country, myself included.  Yesterday I started year number two as a student at Western Technical College, working toward my Associates Degree in sales and sales management.  While driving to class last night I was laughing to myself as I thought about the pomp and circumstance that goes into a child’s first day of school you get a new backpack, have new clothes, maybe Mom and Dad will take you out for breakfast, you most likely will be measured with your back up against a door jam.  At least that is the way it is for my kids on the first day of school, and it didn’t matter if it was the first day of kindergarten or your senior year, every year the same routine.  I guess when you start college the second year you get none of that, come to think of it I didn’t get any of it last year either I guess.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 19 not fast sandwiches

You need a password for just about everything these days, long gone are the days when you can use the word password as your password.  In fact they are now suggesting that we use 12 characters to keep our things safe, using symbols and numbers and caps.  As we are moving toward a more person-less and paperless society with more and more businesses offering apps for us to order, in fact I used a sandwich ordering app yesterday to show my kids I am hip, and know how to use my phone, we ordered sandwiches online, drove to the store, told the people working we were there to pick up the sandwiches, watched 4 other customers come in and order and pick up their sandwiches, and wonder in amazement how that could be freaklishly fast.  It wasn’t, on top of having to wait we got a wrong sandwich and I now have to remember another user name and password to order a sandwich that was proven I could order there, and pay for it in about a third the time.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 18 cold

As I drove in this morning I was worried what if I get a flat tire, or what the freezing point of rubber is, what if my tires hit a pot hole and just blow out. Then I thought nah it won’t happen, guess what it didn’t. It is weird how our minds sometimes start building up scenarios in our heads then we end up convincing ourselves that that may happen. I knew in the back of my mind that there was no way that this would happen but there was the shadow of doubt that it may. I guess what I am trying to say that even though it is 10 below outside that my mind is still active and being active on a day like today is great. Get up and do something, inside, it is way too cold outside to do anything.  By the way do you warm your car on a cold winter’s day?  I do for about 15 seconds.  Stay warm.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 15 customer service

All this talk nationally about Zulily and how they told a customer to give their wrongly ordered item to someone who needs it is all good and gives me hope for customer service into the future, but we didn’t have to go nationally to hear a story like this.  My friend Kenny’s wife had the same issue happen to her, she accidentally ordered three extra items from Zulily. When she called to return the items, the customer rep said, "No problem, we will credit your account and please give the extra ordered items to someone who could use them or donate." I find this to be outstanding customer service.  I have also had super customer from Amazon, and quite often the customer service at many of the big box stores is great as well.  Now not everyone has great customer service, but I believe in order for companies to grow, great customer service needs to be present.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 14 lottery

Imagine my surprise this morning when I didn’t win the lottery.  I am not much of a lottery player and I thought that the guys that never plays wins, sure- I throw in my two bucks every time that work has a buy, just so I am not left out when everyone else gets to quit.  But yesterday I asked my wife to do something that she had never done in her life, I asked her to pick up a few lottery tickets.  During dinner last night we talked about how our lives would change if we did win.  Funny how the first thing that the majority of the family said we would move.  I love where I live and don’t think I would have moved from the city, I don’t even think I would quit my job.  Any way it was fun to dream for a few hours and it actually influenced my dreams last night.  I didn’t win and neither did you, so off to work.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 13 sportsmanship

Poor sportsmanship was the theme of an email that went out to all WIAA schools last week. April Gehl a student at Hilbert High School had an opinion of her own about the email that said the schools need to step back up in enforcing what the WIAA sees as disrespectful fan chatter.  Aprils response was “Eat shit WIAA” and she was subsequently suspended by her school for 5 games, the same amount of suspension as a player caught drinking or smoking pot.  The email suggested that the typical banter that is commonly heard at games is detrimental to the players of the opposing teams - chatter such as “You can’t do that,” “Fundamentals,” “Air ball,” “There’s a net there,” “We can’t hear you,” “scoreboard,” ‘Warm up the bus’” and “season’s over” during tournament play.  I am all for respect of all players and teams but suspending a player for her right to freedom of speech is, in my opinion, BS.

Daily Dose of BS Jan 12 pet peeve

I am sure I have my faults, and I do things that annoy others, there are days that I feel as though I do some of these things just to do them.  Sometimes though they just happen, like forgetting to close the cupboard after getting a plate, or not hanging up my coat in the closet when I get home, I am sure that my wife can come up with hundreds of things that I do wrong, or that she finds annoying.  None of us are without our faults, not a single one of us.  What is your biggest pet peeve?  I have a couple, when someone leaves the roll without toilet paper and when there is only a little bit of coffee left in the pot, because someone can’t be bothered to make more.  When someone annoys you do you point it out or are you Teflon and don’t let it bug you?  For me it depends on where I am, and who I am with.   

Daily Dose of BS Jan 11 sneezing

God bless you, gesundheit, bless you or don’t acknowledge it.  What do you do when some sneezes?  I have always said either God bless you or just bless you.  It is funny but I think that there is some sort of protocol for saying something after a sneeze.  I think it is weird when someone doesn’t say anything, for example have you ever been in a group of people and someone sneezes, my first inkling is to blurt out the quick blessing, but time has shown me that you must give the person that that person is with ample time to give their blessing, if you don’t then you have committed an improper sneeze etiquette, or a sneeze foul.  And no one wants to have that on their permeant record, now do they.  I guess what I am trying to say is if someone sneezes give the proper amount of time before acknowledging it however you acknowledge it.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 8 credit cards

My folks always used to say those that understand interest make it and those that don’t pay it.  According to polls 71% of us have credit cards.  When I was younger I thought I was rich I got a credit card with a large limit, and I spent it, and spent it, I was maxed out by 21 and it sucked.  I took out a loan paid it off and have been a smart credit user since.  When my bill comes I pay it and at most only carry a little balance.  That brings us to Walter Cavananagh otherwise known as Mr Plastic Fantastic he has 1,497 valid credit cards, with a line of credit at 1.7 million dollars.  I have 3 cards myself one reward card, my business card and one issued by our bank.  In your mind how many cards are to many?

Daily Dose of BS Jan 7 Netflix documentary

I have not watched the Netflix series “Making a Murderer”, well not yet.  It seems as though every person out there has an opinion on the series.  My dad told me when I was a kid a couple of different things about opinions first of all that everybody has got one, and a couple times I was told that my opinion was wrong, that is a story for another day.  Back to this series, the thing about this “documentary” is that it casts doubt yet again on the media and the media that covered the story in the first place.  As with many documentaries the makers have an agenda, and I am guessing that the film maker of this piece also has an agenda that they want to push.  Think about it this way, anyone can go in after the fact and twist things to fit into the framework of what they want.  How many times were you able to explain away something that you did? 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 6 e-cig

I used to be a smoker, I look back at it now on it and wonder why.  I see many young kids picking up the habit and think the same thing, why.  I heard the other day that smokes are going to be even closer to ten bucks a pack real soon. One of the smarter things I have done was to quit.  I have a few friends who still partake in the habit but for the most part they have all quit as well.  I have been seeing the e-cigarettes more and more and in the weirdest places, like while walking through the grocery store and in the movie theater.  I am now hearing that these are causing cancer similar to regular cigarettes.  Why is it ok to smoke these in public but not a regular cigarette?  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 5

Too many people have the entitlement mentality, the I deserve it, and the you owe it to me mentality.  How do we break free of that?  We have the affluenza teen, the kid that has had everything handed to him and he doesn’t know right from wrong.  Whatever happened to teaching your kids right from wrong, whatever happened to the stand up and fight for yourself, what happened to take responsibility for yourself?  I am not sure I like the way that the world is going, and I am sure that my kids are looking at me the way I looked at my parents when they said that, but I really do believe that we are growing a bunch of kids with the sense of entitlement, and it doesn’t make me happy.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 4 fight for it

As we settle in to work in the New Year, and think about the up and coming year, get our goals set and our budgets ready.  We think about the things that we want to change and the things that we did pretty well over the past while, it is the time for us to reset our priorities.  I read an article over the weekend that hits on this exactly an article that invites us to look at it in a different way, rather than what do we want for the New Year but to ask ourselves what would we fight for?   This is a whole different way of looking at the same ol same ol.  Maybe a chance for us to reexamine our life and existence.  I know what I want out of life but do I know what I am willing to fight for?  That is question I have been pondering since I read that article.  In 2016 ask yourself what are you willing to fight for?