Auto-Insights - Keeping you on the road to better living

607 E. Los Angeles Ave Simi Valley, CA 93065 805-581-2340 October 2011

October 2011 Holidays and Events

Car Care Month National Chili Month National Sarcastics Awareness Month Self-Promotion Month Squirrel Awareness Month 2-8 Great Books Week 16-22 National Character Counts Week 1 Fall Astronomy Day 2 Guardian Angels Day 7 World Smile Day 10 Columbus Day (Observed) 10 National Kick-Butt Day 10 World Mental Health Day 11 National Face Your Fears Day 12 Columbus Day (Traditional) 12 National Bring Your Teddy Bear to Work Day 14 Be Bald and Be Free Day 15 National Grouch Day 17 National Boss Day 19 Evaluate Your Life Day 22 Make a Difference Day 23 Mother-In-Law Day 25 Sourest Day 27 Cranky Coworkers Day 28 Frankenstein Friday 29 National Cat Day 29 National Forgiveness Day 30 Create a Great Funeral Day 30 Haunted Refrigerator Night 31 Halloween 31 National Knock-Knock Day

Fall into October

October's the month When the smallest breeze Gives us a shower Of autumn leaves. Bonfires and pumpkins, Leaves sailing down October is red And golden and brown.
Author Unknown

Call it Fall, Autumn or Indian Summer, October is a month like no other. The air is silent and warm, its scent crisp and clean, ripe with anticipation. Groups of pumpkinsbig and round, crooked and tall, plump and shortall brighten front porches, welcoming guests or passersby. Then, of course, are the scarecrows. They stand tall and menacing; always on guard, knowing that ghosts and goblins will soon appear. October is a month to reflect on the past year, a time to ask yourself if youre satisfied with what youve accomplished. If your answer is no, then ask yourself honestlywhy not? Resist the urge to place blame on someone else. Ask yourself what you might have done differently and perhaps had a better outcome. Take responsibility. Understand the difference in situations and people you can control, and those you cannot (or should not.) There are three months left in the year. Its never too late to improve your own life or the lives of others. Take chargemake things happen. Dont be a scarecrow, tall and menacing; be a pumpkin. Bright orange, welcoming, joyful. And on Halloween, dont forget to treat the ghosts and goblins.

No Tricks Just Treats!

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Impress Your Italian Friends Manicotti

Splish, Splash, I was Taking a Bath

If you were taking a bath, or if you take more baths than showers, did you know you are saving an average of 40 to 50 gallons of waterthats with every bath you take! Most of us dont know how many gallons of water we use for all those everyday rituals of cleaning, cooking and bathing. For an eye opener, the following statistics are how much water an average person uses: Showers use 5 gallons per minutea 20 minute shower=100 gallons! Limit your shower to 15 minutes (use a timer) and youll save 25 gallons a day x the number of showers taken in your home. Another way to reduce water usage in the showerturn off water to soap up and or shave. Like any habit, it might take some getting use to, but keep yourself motivated by taping a copy of your water bill in the bathroom. Turn water off when brushing teeth or shaving or when washing your hands longer than normalyoull save 10 gallons a day. Peel and clean vegetables in a bowl of water rather than under running watera savings of 15 gallons. The average washing machine load uses 50 gallons of water. When washing just a few items of clothes, make sure your washing machine is set to small load, and youll save 20-30 gallons of water! Also, wait until you have a full load of clothes to washthe fewer loads you run will save you 30-60 gallons per load. (But dont overload your machineyour clothes wont be as clean.) These tips alone can save the average household 35% of their water usage which translates into 35% more money in your pocket!

Crepe: 4 eggs 1 cup flour 1 cup water pinch of salt Mix with fork (OK if it's lumpy.) Wipe a medium-size frying pan with oil (not olive.) Put 2 - 3 tablespoons of batter in medium-hot pan to make the crepe and quickly tilt the pan in a circular motion to spread the batter thin and evenly. When the top side is completely dry and the bottom lightly browned, the crepe is done. Remove with a spatula. Can be stacked on top of each other as you cook them, or place wax paper between crepes. Sauce: The best is homemade sauce, or you can use two 24 oz. jars of pasta saucebetter to have too much, than too little! Filling: 2 lbs Ricotta 2 eggs large ball of mozzarella, grated (reserve about 1/2 cup enough to sprinkle over the crepes after assembled.) 1/2 tsp parsley 1/2 tsp salt 3 Tbsp parmesan cheese Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread thin layer of sauce on the bottoms of two 9x13 inch baking pans, then mix filling with hand mixer on low. Place a generous amount of filling down the center of each crepe, roll it up, then place each crepe beside the other without crowding. When each pan is full, spoon more sauce over the top, enough to cover each crepe. Sprinkle with reserved mozzarella. Bake for 30 minutes. Let sit a few minutes, long enough to let mozzarella set. Serve with extra sauce and parmesan cheese on the side. Serves 10-12 people. ith shorter days just around the corner, it is important to try to keep the changing season from affecting your sleep patterns. One easy way is to synchronize your sleep with the changing daylight hours. Within five minutes of waking, try to get some exposure to bright, outside light. This should last for about 30 minutes. A morning walk or even eating your breakfast by a sunny window can do the trick. Your body will respond by becoming more alert. At night, avoid bright light in the two to three hours before bedtime. This allows your body to become sleepy more naturally.

Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story. Mason Cooley A grandmother is the person who pretends she doesnt know who you are on Halloween. Erma Bombeck

Schneiders Automotive 805-581-2340 www.SchneidersAuto.net

There are several words that come to ones mind when they hear the name Edgar Allan Poe: morbid, frightening, bizarre and gruesome. And while Poe may be known for his sinister, horrific stories, his own life was equally, if not, worse. Edgar Poe was born in 1809, Boston, Massachusetts, to David and Elizabeth Poe. Edgars mother, a beautiful, well-known actress, was only thirteen when her parents arranged for her to marry David, a stage dancer. But David, an alcoholic, abandoned Elizabeth after his sons birth. One year later, David is found dead in a hotel room, a victim of excess alcohol. Elizabeth, now fourteen, widowed and with a child to support, continues to perform on the stage. At the age of sixteen, Elizabeth plays the role of Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Eight times a week, young Edgar sits in the front row of the theatre, watching his mother in a dark crypt, stab a knife into her heart and die. Backstage, Edgar then watches his mother remove the knife and come back to life. It is easy to surmise that Poes exposure to the plays tragedy forever affected his life and certainly his

The Tragedy of Edgar A. Poe

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writing. The themes of Poes tales were consistently centered on youth, beauty, women and death. But tragedy does not end there for poor Edgar. When he is only three, his mother truly does die, but this time from consumption (tuberculosis), a Elizabeth Poe long, painful disease that fills the lungs with blood. Edgar watches his mother slowly die, but this time she does not come back. If not for a kind, wealthy woman named Francis Allan, Edgar would have been sent to an orphanage. Francis brings Edgar to her home in Richmond, Virginia and wants to adopt him. Her husband adamantly refuses, though he does allow her to bring him home and care for him as Francis Allan if he were her own son. Poe is enrolled in a church school in London, another horrible experience. The children are taught math by being sent out to the graveyard and determine the age a person died through adding and subtracting. The older boys, for exercise, were sent to help dig graves.
Continued on page 6

An Apple for Every Reason

Fall is apple season! It is the perfect time to enjoy apples, in all their varieties. Ever wonder which type of apple is best for pies? Which is good for applesauce? Use this list to help you decide: Best for snacking. Red Delicious, Fuji, Winesap, Gala Best for pies. Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Newtown Pippin, Rome Best for applesauce. Newtown Pippin, Elstar, Rome, Golden Delicious

Some Things to Think About When You Vacuum

In the "good-old days..." The first vacuum cleaner, invented in 1901 by British engineer Hubert Cecil Booth, was a giant, horse-drawn machine. This contraption parked outside a house and hoses were shoved through the windows to suck up the dust. today... Though vacuums today are considerably smaller, studies have found that 50% of vacuums tested contained fecal matter. They also discovered that 13% contained E. coli, and all of the vacuums contained mold. These germs can be transferred from contaminated surfaces to uncontaminated surfaces. What to do? Spray your vacuum brush with a disinfectant after every usebacteria can survive as long as 5 days in your vacuumeven after youve emptied the bag. Disposable-bag vacuums promote more bacterial growth, according to the study, so a bagless vacuum is best. Vacuums with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter filters out 99.7% of small particles.

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Thank You for the Compliments

The Client Spotlight

Herb Hatzold
I was thinking about the Client Spotlight yesterday as we were getting ready to put this months Auto Insights "to bed," when I received an email from one of our favorite people: Herb Hatzold. It was a thank you for the Crusty Baked Chicken Breast recipe that appeared in last months Auto Insights. I say it was from, Herb But, what I really mean is: Herb and his wife, Ludean, because clients generally come in couples and this couple has been coming in for almost a decade. Now, you have to admit its more than a little strange for a shop owner like me to get a thank you email from someone like Herb for something like this! The result? This month's Client Spotlight is focused on Herb and Ludean Hatzold: not because they really liked our "Crusty Baked Chicken Breast" recipe but, because they have always been a delight to work with. Herb is kind and caring, quiet and thoughtful. He treats everyone here with respect and is a shining example of how respect is returned when its deserved and not demanded.

"Everyone carries a Schneider's business card in our wallets." Elizabeth Bowers "We are FANS of Schneider's- everyone is super professional and courteous. The technicians are always right and we love ya'll." Mac and Jill Humphries Just want to let you know I couldnt be happier with your service and the way my car is running. Great service, Frank was outstanding! I will bring all of my cars to your place from now on. Thank you again. Sean Ahern Thank you Mitch and Frank for the service you provide. You are always so courteous and I could not think of a better place to bring my vehicle for service....only wish I had known you a long time ago! Thank you for all that you do! Claudine Singer

L-R: Bob, Alexis, Mitch, Steve, Frank, David, Javier. Ann is taking the picture and Sue isnt present.

ou probably recognize this picture from last month when Alexis was preparing to leave to go to school. We thought it would be fun to spotlight the employees. Here is a scrambled list of names, nicknames and states where they were born. Can you match the nickname and state with the employee? One hint: Mitch wasnt born in Mexico and dont ever call him Pickles!
Name Bob Alexis Mitch Steve Frank David Javier Ann Sue Nickname McGuiver Hakuna Matada Rabbit Cookie Wolf Gr'man (German) Blonde Flea Pickles Mir Born in So. Dakota California New York California California Mexico Mexico Arkansas Illinois

The Early Show on CBS was here to interview me as result of the L.A. Times article. The segment was supposed to air September 30, but due to important news items, it still hasn't been on as of October 6. I'll keep you posted on my national TV debut.

Schneiders Automotive 805-581-2340 www.SchneidersAuto.net

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Bring your little Trick or Treaters by Schneider's on Halloween. We'll have plenty of candy on hand for all those little monsters and princesses.

Trick or Treat

(1869 Royal Ave - Royal & Erringer) Be one of the first 20 callers with the correct answer to the Readers Quiz and youll be entered into our monthly free prize drawing. Someone has to win. Why not you? Heres this months difficult question: True or False? Bats are the only mammals truly capable of flight. Call us at 805-581-2340 with your answer. Last month, Sisyphuss eternal punishment was to push a rock up a hill.

Win A $20 Gift Certificate to Johnny Java

What's New With Mitch?

I know its October and I should be writing about Halloween or something that has to do with Fall, the leaves changing color and pumpkins, but I cant. I just cant! Not because I dont want to I do! It would probably be easier and maybe, even better. But, Im stuck. It seems that after more than twenty-five years of articulating my thoughts in print for just about every major publication in our industry, its become the way I process critical information and deal with important issues. Im just hoping youll see why Im sharing this with you now A few weeks ago I received the first of a series of phone calls from Andrew Khouri, an L.A. Times Staff Writer. He was doing a story on the automotive service industry and was given our number by a number of industry sources. This was not the first time Ive been asked for an interview. It wasnt the first time Ive said yes, either. This time, the article was going to be about automotive service facilities doing better during this down-turn in the economy. The slant was, people (That would be you) are keeping their vehicles longer and as a result, performing more of the needed services older vehicles require. In other words, we: shop owners in general, benefit, while our clients may, in fact, be struggling. Interviews are never easy because every reporter and every story has a POV (Point of View) the writer wants to champion, and there are times when that POV is championed at the expense of industry professionals like myself. A great example would be the storys lead sentence (Los Angeles Times Business Section, Section B, Friday, September 16, 2011). When motorists pocketbooks are light, Bob Littles wallet bulges. The article went on to talk about actually, Bob went on to talk about just how well he was doing; just how busy he is and just how much money he is making. In a way, I guess Im glad that someone is doing well in this economy. But, frankly, that hasnt been our experience and that was the message I was trying to convey each time I spoke with Andrew. Yes, volume is up slightly. And, yes, people you, our clients are getting more work done on the vehicles you have chosen to keep. But, unlike Bob Little, Im not bragging about how well we are doing because quite frankly, weve done everything we can to hold the line on price without passing on the continuing stream of increases weve had to deal with over the past few years and that means that while the volume is up slightly, profits are down. Dont get me wrong. Im not complaining. Were still here and were going to be OK. But, I realize perhaps better than anyone, we are all in this together and that means taking care of the people who have helped take care of all of us for the past thirty-two years. And, taking care of you means that at least one of the things you wont have to worry about frightening you this Halloween is us! All the best, Mitch Share your issue with a friend or call us at 805-581-2340 for extra copies

Scary in a Different Way...

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E.A. Poe, continued from page 3

When Poe begs to come home, Francis agrees. Soon young Edgar, now about thirteen, meets the mother of his best friend and falls instantly in love. When the women develops a brain tumor, Edgar sits by her bed every night, holding her hand, until the night she dies, screaming in pain. Bereft, Edgar goes to her grave every night for one year. And still the tragedy of Poes life continues.... When Edgar comes home from college, he learns that Francis, the woman who has been a loving mother to him since he was three, has also contracted consumption. Once again, Poe must helplessly watch a woman he loves die. And what does John Allan do after his wife dies? He throws Poe and all his belonging out, telling his stepson to never come back. Poe is now twenty years-old, destitute, alone and has no place to live except a tiny room with no heat. Consumed with grief, Poe decides he is going to write something beautiful for all the women he has lost. But try as he might, Poe is not capable of writing beautiful. Every story he attempts to write becomes a tale of death and people returning from the dead. What Edgar Allan Poe does not realize, is that he has created a new genre of fiction, stories that will become known as Tales of Terror. Poe continues to write his short tales of horror, even though no one buys his work. And then Mariah Clem comes into his life. She is his aunt, sister to Poes alcoholic father. She tells Edgar she wants to make it up to him, adopt him and have him

come live with her and her five children. The youngest child is Virginia. Edgar takes one look at her and sees all the beauty he remembers in his mother. Again, Edgar falls instantly in love. The problem, however, other than the fact she is his first cousin, is that Virginia is only ten and a half years old! Still, Poe tells his aunt he wants to marry Virginia. In todays society, a proposal such as this is not Virginia Clem only forbidden, it is criminal. Even in Poes time, this was too young. Mariah tells Edgar that when Virginia turns thirteen, she will give them a wedding. Poe waits and his aunt keeps her promise. Edgar and Virginia marry. But Poe still has made no money with his writing, and he and Virginia live in poverty. It was not until 1842 that Poes life seemed to be turning around. In that year, the most adored, famous novelist on earth, Charles Dickens, comes to Richmond. Poe had the wild audacity to send Dickens a letter of invitation to lunch. Remarkably, Dickens accepts. At lunch, Poe notices that Dickens had been crying, and Dickens explains that Grip had died. Stone cold dead, Dickens says. Poe offers his condolences, assuming that Grip was a dog, only to learn that Grip was a raven. Poe returns home and finds a poem hed written some time before. It had been titled Lenore. Poe changes the title to The Raven. Poe sends the poem out again, and this time it was published and became the most wildly
E.A. Poe, continued on page 7

Merv Griffin

"I won't be back after this message."

Boot Hill Museum, Dodge City, Kansas: Here lies the body of Arkansas Jim. We made the mistake, but the joke's on him. In a Georgia cemetery: "I told you I was sick."

Mel Blanc

"That's all folks."

Frank Sinatra

"The best is yet to come."

Rodney Dangerfield
"There goes the neighborhood."

fAmouS lASt wordS

Not So

In a Thurmont, Maryland, cemetery Here lies an Atheist All dressed up And no place to go. Silver City, Nevada: Here lies a man named Zeke. Second fastest draw in Cripple Creek.

Billy Wilder

"I'm a writer. But then nobody's perfect."

Schneiders Automotive 805-581-2340 www.SchneidersAuto.net

October is Bat Appreciation Month

Bats are the only mammals truly capable of flight. The smallest mammal in the world is the Bumblebee Bat from Thailand. It weighs less than a penny. The worlds largest bats live in Indonesia. These giant Flying Foxes have a wingspan of almost six feet. A group of bats is called a colony. Brown bats are the most common in the United States and Canada. One brown bat can eat up to 1200 insects in one night. The vampire bat is the only type of bat that is as good a runner as flyer. Vampire bats are indigenous to Latin America and are not found naturally in the Eastern Hemisphere.

E.A. Poe, continued from page 6

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Things a Burglar Wont tell You

Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, selling magazine subscriptions or delivering your new refrigerator. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook. I look to see if your trash cans are put out on trash day or Ill look to see if anyone has taken in the trash cans by nightfall a dead giveaway that no one is home!

popular poem ever writteneven to this day. Again, misfortune befalls Poe. Every newspaper and magazine publishes the poem, and by the time his book came out, there was no reason for people to buy it. He made no money and for Poe (truth is stranger than fiction) it is now his beloved wife, Virginia, who dies of consumption, leaving Poe, once again, alone and grieving. But Poe continues to write. His next poem, titled Virginia was well received, but the publisher insists he change the title to Anna Belle Lee. Finally, Edgar makes some money. On top of that, a publisher in New York asks Poe to come work for him. Poes dream had finally come true. Please remember, dear folks, before we finish our tale, this is a biography of Edgar Allan Poe. Poe is soon on a train, headed for New York and a new life. But he had to change trains at one of his stops, and when he got a bit confused which direction to take, he was waylaid by a gang of men hired by local politicians to find newcomers; get them drunk; then have them register and vote for their candidate. As soon as the hooligans were done with Poe, they send him on his way. In an alcoholic stupor, he falls into a gutter. In 1849, Poe dies. Though there are many speculations as to the actual cause of his death, it has been said that his last words were, God have mercy on my soul. Edgar Allan Poes life was one tragedy after another. And yet, despite the misfortunes that befell him, one hundred and fifty years after his death, he is still considered to be one of the greatest English writers of all time. His legacy is one of true greatness.

Authors Note: There are hundreds of biographies on Edgar Allan Poe, and most of them offer quite different scenarios of Poes life. After much research, I have compiled situations from Poes life, most likely a mixture of fact and fiction, but always with the main focus on the tragic loss of all the women he loved.
This article was submitted by Barbara McCauley, an awardwinning author whose novels have appeared on USA Today and Borders Best Seller Lists.

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607 E. Los Angeles Ave Simi Valley, CA 93065 805-581-2340 or: mitchs@SchneidersAuto.net

the needed work, done right, finished on time, and at a fair price

October is Car Care Month Water is too Expensive to Waste Edgar A. PoeIt Doesnt Get Much Worse Choose the Right Apple

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