Building a Better Dave

I lost my cousin Shawn Steinmetz this week. He was 33, and has two very young daughters. It was a freak bike accident. He was here a few weeks ago for my niece's graduation party, and now he's gone. I don't have all the details, and in reality, it doesn't matter.

Hug your kids. Call your parents. Love the one your with.

Speaking of Love...

On the way to Podcamp Ohio the Nurse (my girlfriend) and I drove to Columbus and listened to a book (something like saving your marriage before it even starts). Once again I hear how a man needs to make the woman feel cherished. To do this he has to give up anything she asks for. Then because she loves him, she will give it back. This seems inefficient. Why not just believe me, and we can bypass the giving and giving back. I guess it doesn't work that way.

UPDATE Please note: At the end of this podcast I mention how you "have to give up everything." This is NOT what the book states. This is the "warped" version in my head. The bottom line is a relationship is give and take. My whole comment was its funny how you may need to give up something to show a woman that she is special, and important - and then she will give it back (and that this seems like alot of work to end up where you started).

Here is the Book Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts

Today I introduce you to my new Great Nephew. He sure is little. It really drove home the point of how absolutely life-changing kids are. I can honestly say that at age 43 I'm glad I don't have this kind of responsibility that is soooo 24/7.

I talk about how "The Countess" has made the "Show Choir." This scared me as if she had not made it, I would've been there for the meltdown, and I want the best for all of "The Nurses" kids (and I'm not sure I could take watching the meltdown from the front row). Luckily I got to be part of the celebration.

One thing as I "Hang out" with children of all shapes and sizes, I can see where the role of the parent really comes into play. Kids have their own personality. It sure seems like they are preprogrammed to go in a certain direction. It reminds me of "Electric Football." A game my brother and I got for Christmas (pre-Atari). This game had some vibrating device on the bottom and a flat (or supposed to be flat) surface that the players would stand on. You could adjust some stuff on the player, and point them in the direction you wanted to go. You had the perfect plan. Then you would turn on the electricity and half the team would fall over, another 20 percent would go in circles, and many of the players would end up in the corner driving straight into the wall because the surface wasn't flat. As a parent (coach) you picked them back up and pointed them back in the direction you wanted to go, turn on the electricity and hope things turn out for the better.

Music "He's My Baby!" from www.donaoxford.com (phenomenal pianist/singer/songwriter). From the Podsafe Music Network at www.podsafemusicnetwork.com

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 mascot that was launched in 2005, but apparently, it never caught on.

Does anyone remember Euell Gibbons and his crazy "Eat a pine cone" commercials for Grape Nuts? What marketing person thought this made me want to eat this cereal.

Also, did you know there was a fourth Crispy Brother? Roy. (OK, I stole that from David Letterman).

NEVER USE THE WORD CLUSTER when talking about food.

Brownies are the bastard son of the cake family. If we didn't have the word "muffin" we would all be eating cupcakes for breakfast.

Music today by the band Gecko 3 www.gecko3.comfrom the Podsafe Music Network at www.podsafemusicnetwork.com????????

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 last minute and save the day. While most politicians don't understand the concept of accepting your responsibility, I'm here to say "no excuses" and say this was ALL MY FAULT.

I'm very upset that I somehow lost my mojo, I took on things I shouldn't have, and I should've said NO when I said yes. I kept thinking I would get back to school and get caught up. I wonder if subliminally that when I go so far behind, if I just didn't give up. I think I always could get caught up eventually, and I just flat out ran out of time.

I have done nothing but examine this semester over the last few days trying to figure out what went wrong and why. The biggest thing was I needed to print out the syllabus and put it into my calendar so I could keep track of assignments and know when quizzes were scheduled. Who's fault is that? MINE. You might say, "But Dave you're too busy." I need to learn the word "NO" and USE IT. School and graduation is now priority number 1. That will never change.

So bad things do happen to Dave Jackson. I'm not a super hero who can save the day. Its one thing to get wounded in battle, and it's another thing shoot yourself in the foot. I don't like to suck. I hate being average, so to FAIL a class makes me want to die. It's like Dave Jackson died. I – David Jackson – don't fail. Well I used to be able to say that. This sucks.

If you don't learn the word NO, you will learn it when people say it to you as in "No you can't graduate," and "No, the class is not offered again this year."

So now it's about learning from your mistakes (the only thing positive you can do at this point), and take action. I've got a few weeks till Summer session starts. I'm going to come out of the gate like a steamroller from HELL. I know years from now this won't matter, but right now I'm pretty disappointed in myself. The good news is this has awakened the "real" Dave Jackson.

He has risen – Halleluiah

MUSIC

"NO EXCUSES" from the Band Braquet ( www.braquetband.com ) courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network (www.podsafemusicnetwork.com ) buy their CD from CDBaby.com

LYRICS - " No excuses for us. Time has come to do what we must."

Other Sites Mentioned: www.gaincontrolofyourday.com

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 more frequently. Quitting smoking is very hard to do. My ex-wife tried every method and the only that worked was the quick key system (when she used it it was called something different).

This system slowly weens you off cigarettes using a computer that fits in your hand, You can but it at Amazon.com

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 giving many people food poisoning). THANKS CHI CHI'S!

It may be a bit before my next episode. I'm behind in school (been a bad boy) and I need to get caught up. Keep those emails and comments coming! 888-563-3228

So my girlfriend and I listened to the book "Men are from Mars, women are from Venusin 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 to stop them from "stretching" it causes problems.

Women are like waves. They go up and down. If you try to stop the natural cycle of women. If you try to stop this cycle, it causes issues as well.

So you can see where if a woman is "crashing" and a man is "Stretched out" it could cause a a problem if both parties don't understand that they are just being male/female.

I found it interested and it has given "The nurse" and myself some valuable insights.

P.S. The song "Rubberband Man" is from The Spinners. Buy it in iTunes using this link

or

Buy it at Amazon.com

P.S. Yes I know there is a typo in the album art. .... sigh....

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 talk about some of the things I expect to see if and when I read a Cosmopolitan magazine.

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 "Relationship 2.0" Its stronger, faster, and built to last.

Guys if you find yourself suspicious, its best to get the information directly from the source, instead of finding bits and pieces and trying t connect the dots.

MUSIC "I Believe in Us" by Marc Doiron off of the Podsafe Music network (music.podshow.com)

Buy his music at cdbaby.com you can also buy the download of the single in itunes

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 somehow accidentally played that episode for THE BIOLOGICAL FATHER. NICE. I understand her loyalty, but if she had not shown him, he never would've known. Now we have a lovely bowl of DRAMA STEW. Am I mad? No. I pretty much expected it. Besides, she loves cheese (an inside joke). It's not like we didn't know it was going to "accidentally" get back to him.

So why was it such a big deal to be Dad for a day? Because I don't have kids, and won't have any. That door has closed. I spent 10-15 thousand dollars trying to bypass the natural obstacles my ex-wife had. So I understand how children are a gift. They are not things you can buy at Wal Mart. So any time I get a glimpse of what it's like to be "Dad" it's an honor. The other night I was a hero getting printer paper at 10 PM.

So while it's fun to play Dad, I will never be. There is no competition. I don't have the right genes, and I lose every time. All the Father's Day cards will go to you. All I can do is love the kids like they are my own, try to guide them to success and to be the best people they can be. So they can avoid any mistakes I've made.

It could be worse. I know someone who had a good relationship with their ex until they remarried. Then the new spouse didn't like the kids and made them feel unwelcome in their new home. It put a large strain on the relationship between father and children. I still don't understand it, or my friend. The good news is your ex-wife is dating someone who adores your children, so while others worry at night (my Brother's ex-wife's boyfriends were a treat ) you do not. I am not trying, or can I ever, take your place.

On a less dramatic topic, the nurse and I had a great weekend of communication. I had been busting my butt, and it turns out that everything I was doing was appreciated, but not really wanted. It sounds stupid, and it took a while to figure out, and it has left the nurse and me even stronger.

Guys don't try to understand the female brain. Women realize guys are knuckleheads. Guys try to do something for your significant other that leaves evidence. Stick a post-it note in their car. Leave a note in their purse (but no snooping). Maybe you can leave them a voicemail if they are at work. free nokia tracfone ringtonescellular customer free ringtones usnextel music ringtoneshow to get free alltel ringtones,ringtones for alltel mobile phone,alltel ringtonesdownloadable cell phone ringtoneschristian free info remember ringtones,free christian music ringtones,free christian ringtonesfree real ringtones sprintinfo personal polyphonic remember ringtones wwe,info personal polyphonic remember ringtones sprint,info personal polyphonic remember ringtonescheap music ringtonesphone ringtones,ringtones for prepaid phone,send ringtones to your phonefree yahoo ringtonesfree ringtones verizon wirelessinfo phone remember ringtones,free info phone remember ringtones,info phone remember ringtones sent24 fox ringtonessamsung polyphonic ringtonesdownload free verizon ringtones,ringtones,free nokia ringtonesphone ringtones tmobile,t mobile ringtones,free ringtones for t mobile phonenextel i730 ringtones,i730 info nextel remember ringtonescingular download free ringtonescellular download free phone ringtoneschristian music ringtonesdownload midi ringtonescingular free music real ringtonesdownload wwe ringtones for freeverizon wireless compatible ringtones,ringtones from verizon wireless,ringtones verizon wirelessmobile ringtones converterfree ringtones for alltel phonedownload free cricket ringtonesfree composer ringtones,nokia 3310 composer free ringtones,free sony ericsson ringtones composerdownload free mobile ringtones tfree info personal remember ringtones,free info personal remember ringtones telus,free info personal remember ringtones treodownload boost mobile ringtones,mobile ringtones download,download info mobile remember ringtones24 tv show ringtonesmusic ringtones unlimited,unlimited music ringtonesinfo panasonic polyphonic remember ringtones,info polyphonic remember ringtones,info mp3 polyphonic remember ringtonescheap mobile ringtones virgindownload free ringtones yahoofree nokia 1100 ringtonescingular ringtones shope315 motorola ringtones24 theme ringtones,24 ringtones themeringtones for lg wireless phone,lg phone ringtonesfree ringtones software,free ware ringtones software,free ringtones creator softwarekeypress motorola ringtonescricket free phone ringtones100 mobile ringtones virginmusic real ringtonesinfo nextel personal remember ringtonesfree tv theme ringtones,tv ringtones,ringtones emergency tv showverizon lg vx6000 free ringtones