Building A Better Dave

I decided to put up my Christmas Tree, and at times when I do this solo, it makes me a little melancholy. So when I did it tonight, I didn't do as good a job of "spinning it" in my head.  But I'm not dating anyone. So I guess that means I do it solo.  I'm not sure why, but I know someone who loves old traditions and is easy to entertain.  I had plan C sitting in front of me the whole time but my tunnel vision left me decorating a tree alone.  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Harry Belafonte Christmas Album on Spotify Harry Belefonte Christmas on Apple

I was interviewed for a show about not being able to have kids. That's not a door I open often.  I was just interviewed to talk about #metoo and how guys can understand how to talk to women without being creepy. I'm not creepy, but I'm worried I might say something that I feel is nice, but it could be taken as harassment. In the end, never comment on someone's appearance.  I've always been the night in shining armor. She pointed out that maybe somewhere I learned that "love is when Dave helps someone" and I thought that might've been my Mom who was home alone a large amount of time during her marriage as my Dad was a long-distance truck driver.  I love to dissect me to see why I do what I do, so I can be a better person. Have you ever taken any time to better understand why you do what you do and see if there is a way to do it better. Mentioned in this Episode Weight loss app Noom 9save 15% off with this link

have you ever been so mad you can't fall asleep? I can't believe they are replacing another Akron Ohio landmark Stricklands Ice Cream with the chicken shack. This is insane...

While its fun to pick on your little brother, little brothers don't stay little forever. We remember the times when we got hit in the head with your class ring, the swirlies, and more.  You know what they say about payback...

Scott and I went to Al's house. He put on this song and we looked at each other. How is he doing that? Wait, play it again (and again, and again). Clueless. Like put a gun to my head and I couldn't tell you how Eddie Van Halen was playing eruption. Now every seven year old at Guitar Center can play it with their eyes closed.  Eruption, Ain't Talking About Love, Jamie's Cryin, Ice Cream Man, my favorite was Atomic Punk in which David Lee Roth makes noises that much like Eddie's guitar it had me going, "Wait, how did he do that?"  Another great memory from this album is my mom walked in and heard Ice Cream Man (an electrified Boogie) and said "I could jitterbug to this" so we moved the coffee table and she taught me how to jitterbug. The best part is I could see my remembering what it was like to be in her 20's in the 1950's and just have fun. It's one of my top 10 memories.  This album is so good, I don't play it. I save it for days when I need a pick me up. It never fails to put a smile on my face Van Halen I

I was three years old when my brother called me into the "Rec Room" and put an album on, turned out the lights, and locked me in the room. I was three, and this was easily the most scared I had ever been in my life.  The album was Jimi Hendrix Electric Ladyland and the "song" was ...And the God Made Love.  This contains one the guitar tone that was so rude, so angry, I didn't understand what I was hearing.  Electric Ladyland on Spotify Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) on YouTube Electric Ladyland on Apple

I walked into my basement to shoot some pool in 1978 and the sounds of Ted Nugent Double Live Gonzo and where you hear some guy say, "Anybody wants to get mellow you can turn around and get the F*ck out of Here."  About the time I recovered from that he said, "This is a love song. I'd like to dedicate it to all that Nashville P*ssy."  Besides the potty mouth, there is some AMAZING guitar work on this album. The song Wang Dang Sweet Poontang has a great solo where Ted has the rhythm guitar come in and out of the solo and it builds up.  I also learned that Ted didn't do ANY drugs (and hence neither would I) and yet he was CRAZY. Over the years I've learned every Ted Nugent Lick.    Ted Nugent Double Live Gonzo on Spotify Ted Nugent Wang Dang Sweet poontang Double Live Gonzo on YouTube Double Live Gonzo on Apple

While all the other songs on the radio were soft and fluffy, I found an album that had some of the heaviest music I had heard, and they were unapologetic. Yes, we play heavy music - it's no Fragile - Straight at you.  The Band was Bachman Turner Overdrive and the album was Not Fragile.  I think the album made a special impact on me as it wasn't second had music. It wasn't my brother or sister's music. It was mine.  Not Fragile on Spotify Not Fragile Album on YouTube Not Fragile on Apple

While Queen's a Night at the Opera has hits like "Your My Best Friend" and "Bohemian Rhapsody " but the AMAZING song is The Prophet song and it somewhat gets overlooked because of Rhapsody, and it's a musical masterpiece in my opinion.  Here is a YouTube video of the prophet song.  A Night at the Opera on Spotify A Night at the Opera on Apple Here is a video about the making of the Prophet Song The fun part is I have no idea what the song is about besides a prophet who has a vision.  I dreamed I saw on a moonlit stair Spreading his hands on the multitude there A man who cried for a love gone stale And ice cold hearts of charity bare I watched as fear took the old men's gaze Hopes of the young in troubled graves I see no day, I heard him say So grey is the face of every mortal Um Sure...  You HAVE to listen to this song with Headphones

It's weird as a person in his fifties who loves technology. I find it cool, and it scares me to death.  Today I share a story about picking up a package the day after I delivered it at the Amazon pick-up center.

I have found when you start doing math to see if you can eat or afford something. When this happens you may be very close to doing something that you regret.  I saw the peloton bike and then read about the NordicTrack S22i which is "cheaper" but still an arm and a leg. However, if I cut out so many of the monthly payments I make to different sites and figured  I can now "afford" it.  The good news is I'm down 2.3 lbs. My legs are on fire cause I went a too far and now I'm using Soak Fitness Spray (which it turns out went out of business). This makes me legs feel liek they are on fire so I forget that they are sore. 

This is the album that introduced me to Randy Rhoads. Randy WAS MY DUDE. I LOVED the mixture of classic and heavy metal, and I learned every note on every record. It took me hours, but I did it.  When Randy died in 1982 it wrecked me. My hero was dead. I wore a black armband to school to show I was in mourning.  I found a clip on YouTube with Randy explaining how to play Revelation mother Earth, and that was the song that I was like WHAT? as well as Mr. Crowley.    Randy Rhoads clinic on YouTube Randy Rhoads isolated guitar Mr. Crowley Blizzard of oz on Apple

I'm 11 years old in Mrs. Lewis' class who was the coolest teacher ever. Everyone had gone out to recess but me and my best friend grabbed the little record player and cranked it up to 10, and through the distorted speaker I head these things on the guitar called "Artificial Harmonics" come out of Ace Frehleys guitar.  We just kept playing the song "She" over, and over, and over.   Kiss Alive I on YouTube Kiss Alive I on Spotify

My first concert was the World Series of Rock July 28, 1979[24] Aerosmith Ted Nugent Journey Thin Lizzy AC/DC Scorpions But I saw Angus Young and was like WHAT? and that lead me to buying a Gibson SG. I bought everything they did, and LET THERE BE ROCK where every song is great, and I just played the grooves off this album.  Let there be rock on YouTube Let there be Rock on Spotify

I saw a band open for Ozzy I had never heard of, and MAN WERE THEY HEAVY. I immediately went out to buy their album.  There was only one problem. My ears could not comprehend what I was hearing. At times it sounded like someone making fun of heavy metal.  It was so fast and the guitar solos sounded like a fax machine in heat. Metallica's Ride the Lightning was like nothing I had ever heard before.

In looking at 10 albums that changed my life, starting at number 10 is British Steel by Judas Priest. It was like nothing I had never heard of. It was HEAVY and it wasn't by accident.  The singer was amazing, and I loved the song Steeler that had about 90 seconds of the band playing one note at the end of the song. I loved that (in listening to it tonight, it's VERY hard not to play air guitar).  Tomorrow, a band I heard open for Ozzy who had music that was different I couldn't comprehend what I was listening. 

Fear is a reaction - courage is a decision a fluke of getting up early is my catalyst. Planting your flag can make it easier to move I'm playing with Healhtywage Start your own wager Join my team challenge for $20

Attention: There has been a shaving accident.  You gotta me kidding me.... Oh Geez... Hmmm.... Here we go.....

I had a second family in my early twenties. Post Mom, they were my cheerleaders, my support group, and all-around second family.  Over the years different insecure girlfriends steered me away, and we lost touch. With divorce number two under my belt, I had nothing stopping me from reconnecting. I had thought about it. I'll do it next time I'm in the neighborhood. I should call first. Why do we feel so awkward when we lose touch with people. Then we reconnect and you pick right up where you left off. I know if I had done this, and reached out we would've picked right up.  I can't do that now. It's not an option. A blown opportunity that put a mirror in my face and I can see how I was a really sh*tty friend in the name of love, I left people who truly did love me.  I feel ashamed, and not to happy with myself. 

Thinking of the rubber bowl, and remembering some interesting times there.  It was a huge (for Akron) stadium