Building a Better Dave

Today's show has the F word it. You've been warned. This is one of the "weird" episodes where I just wonder why things go into my mind at certain times. I happened to notice that Apple Jacks has no mascot while most children's cereals have a mascot (Tony the Tiger, Lucky for Lucky Charms, The rabbit for Trix, Count Chocula, Frankenberry, Boo Berry, The Bee for Cheerios). It turns out there IS a ma...

Today I talk about one of my life's most embarrassing moments. I made a huge mistake, and I thought about not talking about it on the show. However, the "teacher" in me took over and I thought "If someone can learn from my mistake, it's worth it." All signs point to me not passing a class this semester. While I've always had good grades, this semester I'm not going to be able to come in at the las...

Today I tell the story of trying to help my niece as she is in labor. The bad news is Hospitals make me physically sick due to some psychological reason beyond my control. It is very strange as my new great nephew was born on the same day my Mother died 19 years ago (in the same hospital). It made for a day full of many emotions. I also speak about how I regret not asking my Mother to quit smoking...

I've noticed that when you go to just about ANY restaurant these days, if its someone's birthday they bring the whole kitchen crew out to sing their "Hey It's Your Birthday" song. I've also noticed that after about the 27th time of hearing this song the performance needs some tweaking. I think this whole thing was started by a mexican food chain called Chi Chi's (which went out of business after g...

So my girlfriend and I listened to the book " Men are from Mars, women are from Venus in the car ride to Dayton Ohio where I was talking to the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop. I learned some new stuff as did my girlfriend. Men are like rubber bands. They have an intimacy cycle, where they get close, and then snap away. When they stretch as far as they can they will then snap back. If a woman tries...

Today I talk about being in a house that is 75% percent women most of the time (and how it makes toilet paper and endangered species). Also, this week's Cosmopolitan magazine has a headline that says, "Be a genius in bed." (or something like that). I mean sex has been around for a while. Don't you think we've got a pretty good grip on it (no pun intended). Is there really anything 100% new? So I t...

So my trust went left of center this weekend as I let some small circumstances get the best of me and get "in my head" making me act like someone I don't want to be. I'm not very proud of myself. In the end, my "suspicious" attitude showed "The Nurse" how much I TRULY cared, and that made her happy (not a recommended practice). In the end we put all the cards on the table, and came back with "Rela...

Today we welcome a new listener - and then piss them off. Wonderful. This podcast is kind of "my diary." But not really the truth. You only get MY side of the story so you know there is another two-thirds of the story. So my last podcast where I got to be a "Dad" for a day. It was a joke. It was a strange moment, and a great memory as the "Countess" won her talent show. Well, double agent 0017 som...

Today I talk about how "The Countess" and I performed in a talent show. It was amazing, and I am so proud of her. It was great to make a memory with such a great kid. Then I thought about it. As much as we know parents can influence their kids. Does that mean as adults we influence our parents? I mean who can drive you more nuts than your kids (or your parents). So as much as parent should take ad...

I went to a Casting Crowns show last night. It was amazing. I had never heard of them (I went to see the opening band), and they just blew me away. Check out their latest CD from iTunes and AMAZON.COM I've always thought about sponsoring a kid. In the end, I never did. Well, its time. Sure its not in the budget, but just like having an actual kid, are you ever financially ready for a kid? We get s...

I'm trying to learn new things as I try to "better" Dave. The one thing I think I stink at is quitting. I've been thinking about quitting things. You can only take so much right? I was watching the movie "Rocky Balboa" (not horrible). There was a great scene in the movie. In the movie, Rocky is talking to his son and says, "It ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and k...

OK, it's official. I don't understand women. Today I return to one of my favorite topics which is how men and women are so different. Here are some topics: Nails: I don't know a guy who picks a woman based on their nails, but women love to do their nails and comment on other women's nails. Listening: Guys are used to fixing things that are wrong. We are used to taking action. For a guy to listen t...

Before we even set foot in Fat Fish Blue in Downtown Cleveland, I knew what to expect. You see a large female soul singer (who happened to be African-American) was going to be on stage. I told the nurse (my girlfriend), "This woman will follow the large soul singer formula and sing about grinding it to a nub. We weren't there 10-15 minutes and she starts a song about "Sleeping with one eye open be...

This year it was interesting as the conductor at the High School said "Happy Holidays" and someone from the audience shouted out MERRY CHRISTMAS. The audience laughed. Today we have a very special guest who chimes in with some tips for NEXT year around the holidays (or really ANY day). 1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love...

Today I tell the story of Christmas Eve. For a child this was known as "Hours of Torture" followed by some presents. The "finish line" of the waiting for presents was Grandpa (better known as POPO – "poe poe") reading the Christmas story. So when my Grandparents left of to go live with relatives in Texas I had my Grandfather read the Christmas story into a cassette tape. I had lost this tape for y...

My Grandfather was one of the first people to have an artificial tree. He had a unique way of decorating it. It sticks in my mind even though it was so many years ago.

Today is Day #9 in the Twelve DAVES of Christmas. Today I talk about how we turned the tables on our parents and had a Surprise for them when they woke up. This is a tradition that would take a horrible turn in the near future (tomorrows show). But it did teach me that it doesn't take much to stand out in a crowd.

Welcome to another installment of "The 12 Dave's of Christmas" (#8 for those keeping Track) Today I'm going to do something I've NEVER done in any of my 100s of podcast episodes. I'm going to SING. It's a Christimas song about the true meaning of Chrstmas. It's me, a guitar, and a microphone (and a touch of reverb).

Yesterday I talkeds about Surprising your parents on Christmas. As I got older I took this to a new dimented level. I would talk pictures of my parents as they took their first steps out of their bedroom (yes that's really my Dad). Nothing like facing a flashbulb at 6 in the morning.

OK, We all have stories of odd gifts. However, looking back these many of my "unique" gifts came from family members who lived out of town and saw me once or twice a year. I could've won an Oscar for my performance "Best Faking of Appreciation" role. MUSICWhat Child is This from Jimmie Bratcher ( www.jimmirbratcher.com ) from the Podsafe Music Network (music.podshow.com ) This podcast originates a...

Welcome to day #6 of the "12 Dave's of Christmas" When Santa's line got too long the genius staff of Chapel Hill Mall in Akron, Ohio decided to invent "Archie" this 3 stories tall snowman to talk to kids (who would then relay all information to Santa). Hmmm... back to the drawing board. Music from Jimmie Bratcher from the Podsafe Music Network at music.podshow.com This show originates from www.bet...

http://www.betterdave.com/ is the home page of the Podcast. Welcome to another installment of "The 12 Dave's of Christmas" I talk about the spooky basement with the hand grenade, the shell, and the doorway to hell. A great place to play on Chrismas day. Music: "what child is this" by Jimmie Bratcher from the Podsafe Music Network ( www.jimmiebratcher.com and music.podshow.com )

While my Grandmother was sharp as a tack into her 90's, the woman could not pick out a Christmas tree to save her life. One weekend every year my cousins and I would get together to "Decorate the Christmas Bush." It had old lights, old ornaments, and an old toy soldier that we found to be quite fun. Music "What Child is This" by Jimmie Bratcher from the Podsafe Music Network

Welcome to Building a Better Dave "12 Dave's of Christmas" where today I talk about the joy of waking my parents up when myself (and my brother and sister) had found out that Santa had come! Music "What Child is this" from www.jimmirbratcher.com and the Podsafe Music Network.

Today I talk about the excitement when Dad would bring home a new LP of Christmas music. For me, I love warm, cozy music. The albums would have different artist but eventually, someone would bust out the horn section and blast my head off. Happy Vegas Christmas - no thanks My favorite Christmas album of all time is Harry Belafonte "To Wish you a Merry Christmas ." It's so good it was remastered an...