Steve Helmer

@srhelmer (7029)

Beaver Dam, Wisconsin • Age 49

Joined myLot 18 years ago

A part-time freelance writer, poet and author, Steve has published several internationally-selling books. When he's not writing, he enjoys his family and movies

www.facebook.com/stevenhelmerpublications

Comments (1093)

Steve Helmer's Comments

What is the Proper Wait Period Before Posting a Death on Social Media

Steve Helmer @srhelmer (7029) • Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 21 Jan 20

This happened recently with my wife's side of the family. There was a death and people were posting about it not a couple hours after it happened. She found out about it that way at work. Maybe it's just because I'm older, but...

death

social media

facebook

9 responses •

9 people

Steve Helmer I'm fine with something like that after a short wait, just because it's not always easy to reach or even know everyone that person may have known (my dad was a great example of this). But, I am simply uncomfortable with a close relative or friend finding out...

21 Jan 20

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3 people

What is the Proper Wait Period Before Posting a Death on Social Media

Steve Helmer @srhelmer (7029) • Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 21 Jan 20

9 responses •

9 people

Steve Helmer With my dad, there was a need to do it because we figured it was the most efficient way to inform people we may not know about (he knew A LOT of people). But, at least as far as close family goes, I never liked that as a method of communicating bad news.

21 Jan 20

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1 person

So Far, So Good On the Homeschooling

Steve Helmer @srhelmer (7029) • Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 17 Sep 19

My oldest daughter's freshman year of high school was a disaster, to the point we felt the only way for her to bounce back was to pull her from the school (which was about 50-60% of the problem) and home school her via a virtual...

5 responses •

6 people

Steve Helmer It was. I'm not saying my daughter didn't share some of the blame last year (she's always been terrible about homework). But, there was definitely something wrong at that school. She had a boy quite literally stalk her the first semester and, even though the...

17 Sep 19

So Far, So Good On the Homeschooling

Steve Helmer @srhelmer (7029) • Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 17 Sep 19

5 responses •

6 people

Steve Helmer The funny thing is, I kind of wish this around when I was in college because I probably would have gotten my teacher's license/a job at one of these. The teachers also seem to enjoy their jobs a lot more than the teachers I met when she was going to a...

17 Sep 19

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1 person

What is your secret for having a Long Term Relationship?

Jandie @tech40 (23121) • Philippines 24 Jun 19

Most of us have long term relationship, some of us are married for many years but some of us are failed to keep the relationship. What is your secret to stay in a relationship for so long? Maybe this discussion will help someone...

10 responses •

9 people

Steve Helmer @tech40 I've been married 16 years and have been in a relationship with my wife for 19 years.

25 Jun 19

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1 person

Am I the Only One Who Disagrees with Researchers About Dodgeball?

Steve Helmer @srhelmer (7029) • Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 18 Jun 19

I was reading an article today about the game dodgeball and how some schools are banning it and researchers are describing it as something that "dehumanizes" and "oppresses" people. Am I missing something here? Did they change the...

dodgeball

sports

gym class

10 responses •

10 people

Steve Helmer It's a game where you form two teams and try to eliminate your opponents by hitting them with a rubber ball.

18 Jun 19

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2 people

Why Is It So Hard for Me to Find a Doctor I Like?

Steve Helmer @srhelmer (7029) • Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 15 Jun 19

OK, to be honest, I really don't care if I like the doctor. But, it would be nice to find one that at least fits my personality. I haven't had a physical in nearly 4 years because of this struggle. I'm not a big fan of taking...

doctors

medical

physical

7 responses •

5 people

Steve Helmer I'm pretty sure that's not the case. I may be a bit picky but I'm old enough to remember having doctors who took the time to talk to you and am determined to find one like that.

15 Jun 19

Started Counting My Steps and Calories

Steve Helmer @srhelmer (7029) • Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 15 Jun 19

So far (knock on wood) I haven't had any serious health issues. But, I could stand to lose about 30 pounds. And, after my dad passed away last week, I realized I should make much more of an effort to do so, partly to make sure my...

weightloss

exercise

000 steps

6 responses •

5 people

Steve Helmer My brother did that and, admittedly, I'd probably drop 20 pounds in a month if I did the same. But, I need my Mountain Dew so I'm opting to just work around it.

15 Jun 19

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1 person

Suggestions for Fortune Cookie Fortunes

Steve Helmer @srhelmer (7029) • Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 14 Jun 19

This is actually something I started doing for my daughter when I packed her school lunch. I always slipped in a "fortune" like she'd have if she went out for Chinese food. Sometimes they had "real" advice. Other times, I'd just...

fortune cookies

sayings

quotes

3 responses •

2 people

Steve Helmer Thank you. I worked really hard coming up with them.

15 Jun 19

Song of Yesteryears #4: "Those Were the Days"

Nocturnal Writer @Nakitakona (56486) • Philippines 14 Jun 19

During our high school days, my male classmates used to sing this song, "Those Were the Days" as we spent our vacant period under the shady tree near our room for the next class. Mary Hopkin popularized this song in...

mary hopkin

russian song

2 responses •

1 person

Steve Helmer Well, at least a song with the same title. Obviously, it's not quite the same song.

14 Jun 19

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1 person

I Am a Childless Bachelor for the Next Few Days

Steve Helmer @srhelmer (7029) • Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 13 Jun 19

My wife and my two daughters flew out east yesterday so they could visit her side of the family (I stayed behind because, at the time we were making the plans/buying the tickets, my dad wasn't well and I figured it was best not to...

6 responses •

7 people

Steve Helmer Tuesday

13 Jun 19

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1 person

I Am a Childless Bachelor for the Next Few Days

Steve Helmer @srhelmer (7029) • Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 13 Jun 19

6 responses •

7 people

Steve Helmer 6 days total.

13 Jun 19

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1 person

Am I the Only One That Thinks Netflix Needs to Improve its Movie Trailers?

Steve Helmer @srhelmer (7029) • Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 11 Jun 19

I, as a rule, don't judge a movie by its trailer to begin with. But, Netflix, in my opinion at least, just doesn't seem to get the point of a trailer/movie preview. Many of their trailers, especially of lesser-known movies, don't...

3 responses •

2 people

Steve Helmer It actually makes me skeptical whenever I see one. It's as though they are trying to hide the fact it will be a terrible movie.

13 Jun 19

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1 person

Said Goodbye to My Dad Last Week

Steve Helmer @srhelmer (7029) • Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 10 Jun 19

He had been sick for a while and this wasn't completely unexpected. However, after he defied doctors for the past 5 years, it was definitely surprising just how fast he faded. Monday, they were talking about getting him some rehab...

parents

funerals

family death

5 responses •

4 people

Steve Helmer @amadeo When he was first diagnosed with COPD, the doctors gave him 6 months, at most, to live. He lived nearly 5 more years. Last year, he ended up with lung cancer and the doctors advised him not to seek treatment for it because he would probably not survive...

10 Jun 19

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1 person

Going to Be Moving Our Daughter to a Virtual School Next Year

Steve Helmer @srhelmer (7029) • Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 3 Jun 19

This was a tough decision. Even though I have always been intrigued by the whole virtual school concept, I've been reluctant to make the move. But, after a long discussion with her and her guidance counselor, we are going to pull...

7 responses •

8 people

Steve Helmer @parpande The rules of a virtual school are pretty much the same as a regular one. The kids are still expected to attend class daily and on time (they just log into the classroom via a computer) and are required to take any mandated standardized tests. They...

6 Jun 19

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1 person

What Are Your Library Habits?

Steve Helmer @srhelmer (7029) • Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 3 Jun 19

This is, of course, assuming you use a library but, when you go, do you go after a specific book or movie? Or maybe you have a favorite author? For me, I kind of split things up a bit. I usually wind up getting 2 books at a time....

books

reading

library

7 responses •

5 people

Steve Helmer I'm not sure what we'd do without ours. My daughters love to read (which is a good thing) and it would cost us a fortune if we had to buy the books.

4 Jun 19

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1 person

One of My Pet Peeves When It Comes to Movies

Steve Helmer @srhelmer (7029) • Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 4 Jun 19

I came across this again last night, when my wife and I were watching a horror film on Netflix. The movie was decent up until toward the very end, when it just ended. And, when I say ended, I mean it. The engaged couple that had...

movies

movie flaws

bad movie traits

3 responses •

3 people

Steve Helmer I don't that is the case with this film. It was more of a one-and-done type movie.

4 Jun 19

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1 person