Life - simple but, always complicated!!

We , my wife & daughters, and I took up the offer by Marriott Resorts to stay at their Orlando location for 4 or 5 days free of charge. In exchange we (wife & I ) had to sit through 1.5 hour sales pitch for a timeshare. We had done a similar thing a few years back in Myrtle Beach in exchange for tickets to a show. We held our ground and  definitely said no to the sales pitch of some vacation offer. We went to Orlando for a final family trip to Disney & Universal before our daughters went off to college in the next couple of years.  We had a grand time, Disney & Universal were more fun as the girls were now older teenagers. The resort was absolutely fantastic, the pools provided cool relief when we returned from the hot August days spent trekking through the entertainment parks. The day of our sales pitch arrived. I told my wife to remember the words , NO NO. I was memorized by the salesman's presentation. Usually, I'm a person who resists this stuff, I said YES...

The linked article below is a  much better alternative than to complain, whine, about disruption in life due to coronavirus.  READ  , be thankful, implement, yes we may be inconvenienced some, but keep in mind some have died, some are very very sick, some are in bad financial situations. However , if you're not in an ICU bed, not on a ventilator, or have someone close to you in such a situation, count your many blessings and please don't whine.  I never did dare whine as a kid & adolescent when the days were hot & long on the farm, nor on the practice fields or courts when the practices were long & hard, nor when my mother was dying & suffering from leukemia...etc. Why didn't I whine ? Because those around me & those in charge wouldn't accept it.  I didn't hear those who had lived thru WWII or the depression whine. God Bless & stay safe. P.S. Patricia Schmitt didn't whine.  READ & FORWARD ON :  https://rbj.net/2020/03/27/ co...

I've learned in the past week the selfless actions of a few people that attended either the same high school or college as I,  to help others effected by the COVID -19 virus. Mr. Ed Stack, CEO & Chairman of Dick's Sporting Goods Stores, announced that Dick's will continue to pay the wages and benefits of all employees for the next two weeks that Dicks stores are closed due to the virus. Ed is an alumnus of St. John Fisher College. A very generous move. Mr. Christopher Baldwin is Chairman of BJ's Wholesale Club. BJ's will be open each day from 8-9 AM for senior shoppers only. That is a relief to many of those 60+ . They can shop without overcrowding , and the additional worry of contracting the virus. Chris attended St. Kilian's Elementary School and Holy Family Diocesan High School, a few years after I. Thank you for making the needs of your customers a priority. Finally, current students of St. John Fisher College are donating medical classroom suppli...

Corn farmers and cattle ranchers watch commodity prices drop, while produce growers fear labor shortages By Jacob Bunge , Kirk Maltais and Jesse Newman March 21, 2020 5:30 am ET The new coronavirus is dealing another blow to the struggling U.S. agricultural sector, driving down crop and livestock prices and threatening labor shortages for farms. Even as consumers clear food staples from supermarket shelves, Midwestern farmers’ prospects have dimmed. Agricultural futures on the Chicago Board of Trade have been on a slide since Feb. 24, when coronavirus concerns began to weigh on U.S. stock markets. Corn futures have shed nearly 10%, wheat futures have fallen nearly 2%, and soybean futures have dropped over 4%. In U.S. Plains states, prices offered for ranchers’ cattle have dropped over the past two weeks, reflecting selling by investment funds and fears that consumers will eat less beef as they avoid restaurants—and that meatpacking plants could suffer staffing shortages. Longer t...

It is very rewarding to read and hear about professional athletes giving to others. Too often the news we hear away from the arena, stadiums, and courses are filled with selfishness, lawlessness, and not about the good that the majority of pro athletes do. The late Kobe Bryant was known for making countless Make A Wish dream come true. Now we hear about many NBA players giving back to the staff of the NBA teams and the arenas in which they play during the shut down of athletic seasons due to the COVID-19 virus. Among them being, Kevin Love, Zion Williamson, Blake Griffin, and Giannias Antetokounmpo.  They deserve our admiration for such unselfish acts. Great basketball players, better men. My 👏 to them all. Matthew 25:40 And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Be humble... Be a humanitarian Teamwork Respect others Inclusion I may not have accumulated the most wealth, nor ascended to the highest levels in my business career, but I never lacked for friends or respect. I think as we start our educational life in kindergarten and then on up, we all want friends & respect (to be liked). Do not forsake friends & respect to obtain wealth & career success. I've seen many a wealthy & successful person who were so,  because of their friendly personality & were highly respected by others.  I've also witnessed in business life, personal life, public arena, and family life where people forego respect & friendship for wealth and power. It's ugly to see and witness. I'll always chose my friends and respect.  Be well, my friends. 

My last blog was about time, and not being promised a tomorrow. How appropiate & timely that in today's life celebration of Kobe & Gianna Bryant, Michael Jordan spoke of living in the moment in his eulogy of those two & the other seven individuals who perished in helicopter crash last month. Spend as much time as you can with loved ones, whenever you can. Michael didn't mention it but, his father was murdered in 1993 at the age of 56. Michael just turned 57.  I had a dear uncle who died suddenly of a heart attack at age 58, my mother died shortly after turning 63.  So don't say, next month, or next year if you can do it now. The old adage again, next month or year may not happen, those loved ones may be gone.  Watch Michael's powerful speech, and God Bless Gianna & Kobe. 🙏 ✝. https://youtu.be/-SEiGEbxv5M

TIME ⏰ ⏰ is not a given, It's not infinite,  More time cannot be bought, If not used wisely it will cause regret,  Time cannot be saved for a later day,  It's a precious gift from God,  Some get more,  Some get less,  We don't know when our time has expired,  So treasure your time,  Be generous with your time to others,  Don't bemoan the time gone by,  But, use today's time the best you can.  Tomorrow's time may never come ! 

I really don't have much to write , as the poster sums it up very concisely. We worked hard, but we also had lots of fun. Counted our blessings, if we didn't keep our promises & tell the truth, then the family farm wouldn't have survived. Unsaid , but we loved each other. ! 

February is the birthday month for all four members of AJ SCHMITT & SONS FARM .  On just two dates,  Grandpa  & Dad were born on February 24th. On President Lincoln's birthday, February 12th, Uncle Joe & Uncle Roger were also born. Maybe Grandma wanted to save on birthday cakes and was selective on the days she gave birth. 😆 My childhood home was on the farm , less than a football field distance from the barnyard. That meant in addition to my father, I saw these proud farmers mostly everyday, especially in the growing seasons, when I was in my childhood and adolescent years. They all had a strong positive influence in my life. I was saddened by all of their deaths.  I was also influenced by Grandpa Greiner and Uncle Bub (also my godfather). I saw them often during my childhood, and maintained a relationship throughout my adult years.  Finally, I had a strong relationship with my father inlaw until he died. We talked, played golf, discuss...

Simple, yet powerful !

It made #7 on Today's ESPN Top Ten . Irondequiot vs Webster Thomas. I never had the pleasure of ever making a buzzer beater. Although I did make a few walk offs at the YMCA. 😏 ( https://twitter.com/ aschmitt58/status/ 1226583811863044097?s=03 )

I'm not supporting the beliefs & actions of Ms. Pelosi. She was obnoxious & beyond spiteful on Tuesday night.  The Democrat leadership & her family should convince her to ride into the sunset & not seek reelection in November, or at least give up the House Leadership position .  I think our country is being led into a dangerous divide, never seen before. The pure hate being spewed by both sides of the aisle is not the type of leadership that our youth should yearn to aspire to. It's sad. 1  Timothy 6:9, "But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction."  We see Timothy's passage coming to fruition today. 😥 Sad state of our next generation , when DJT Jr. mocks a U.S. Senator on instagram. I thought in USA , we are taught to vote our conscience without fear of reprisal. 😲😲 Decorum?  not how I was raised or taught. The saying ...

Yesterday, I attended the Funeral Mass of Bill O'Rourke Jr. who died last week from cancer at the young age of 72. I often attend weekday Mass at St. John of Rochester RC Church where the Mass was celebrated. The Funeral Mass was well attended with family, Webster School district folk, Section V basketball community, & friends. I didn't know Bill much at all. I've always followed local high school basketball and especially Webster basketball, the town I called home for 20+ years. Mr. O'Rourke was a long time Webster educator as a Spanish teacher, basketball coach, and principal. I learned that he and I shared much in common. Loved the game of basketball as players & coaches, my coaching only at the youth levels. We both attended SJFC college, only had daughters as offspring, were faithful in our Catholic religion ( I saw him at both St. Paul's in Webster & SJR), and unfortunately both divorced.  His daughter, Erin, gave a touching remembrance of her Dad....

Shame that many judge me without knowing all the details of an illness that engulfed me & controlled me. Many friends & family forgot the real me , and my values & beliefs that sometimes were ignored due to a terrible & powerful illness. Yet, I clung onto my vow "until death do us part", I didn't quickly abandon when things got really bad or hard. In other words I wasn't the one who quit, I sought help.  I had struggled with illness a couple of times before, but on the opposite pole & much different symptoms. But, I had been in a medical health care center only a few months before for Four weeks, before my partner threw in her cards. Wasn't interested in it for the long run. I found out not the fighter I was. Unfortunately, the other person quit, couldn't stand by a few of the vows.  For better or  worse , in  sickness  and in health, until death.. I don't remember a free get out of vows card ever being issued. 😒😒 I tell you thi...

Matthew 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" In an incredible act of compassion, the brother of the black man murdered by white Dallas cop Amber Guyger hugged her and offered her forgiveness Wednesday as she was sentenced to 10 years behind bars. Victim Botham Jean’s brother, Brandt Jean, was reading a victim-impact statement in the Texas courtroom when he broke off and asked the judge if he could hug Guyge.

Nice to know , but I wonder if I die in a similar manner on a Sunday morning will it also be reported that I had attended Mass & received communion. The media gets a bit out of control, by reporting truly irrelevant facts about celebrities. My father received Holy Communion & last rites hours before he died. How do I know? Because I went into the hospital & grabbed a priest, I was only one who shared the Eucharist with him. Mark 3: 31- 35. Yet, less than two weeks later my actions that day did not matter to family, as I was locked out of a shared family home. No sorrow for those actions by many responsible. I do believe my actions were family love, not sure about being barred from a family home.  🙏 😥 But, guess what?  I did not communicate my Dad receiving last rites  to people at the funeral home , nor with the priest who officiated at his funeral. He was a man of faith, not a saint. Yes, it is a tragedy that Kobe , Gianna, & 7 others perished at ...

Ah, Raffi ! When my daughters were very, very, young; Raffi's music cassettes were usually playing in our home, or in the van on road trips. 🎶 😊 . His music & songs never got old. I'm happy to hear he is still entertaining many. Oh yeah, we also had his VHS tapes to watch. https://youtu.be/-CSxGHve60E https://www.cbsnews.com/news/raffi-songs-for-the-very-young-and-young-at-heart/

Parvas, Stone, Manafort, Collins, Cohen. Remember when your parents told you; When we were younger, we were most likely warned by our parents to be careful of whom we choose to spend our time with. They said this in reference to the way others would judge us in accordance to our friends, in addition to the influence our friends would have upon us. The type of people you surround yourself with speaks of your values and what you stand for. We have all heard of the concept of being guilty by association, the act of people associating your behaviors and thoughts with the people you hang out with. If one of your friends acts in a negative way, you will be lumped in with him or her. Despite if this is true or not, it is all based on perception. Regardless if you believe yourself to be an altruistic person, a time may come when your bad company starts to influence your good behavior. I heeded this advice, it's apparent not all who are in leadership positions do. 😲😲 What you leave behind...