sharing the mail again

Hey Dave:

I just ran across your Blues Bread at Fred Meyer and had to have it even if it sucked :-) Wow, really good bread; read your story, sure am glad you pulled out of such a bad life. I've never been a criminal or drug addict, but do have problems with anxiety/ depression and IBS, anti-depressants don't work on me, I must be wired wrong or something, but despite having to deal with anxiety on a daily basis somewhat I am very blessed in my life with a good woman, two incredible dogs and one awesome cat :-) What HAS helped me deal with anxiety and get over hurdles is EFT, or Emotional Freedom Technique, alot of IBS sufferers find it real useful as most of are the nervous types :-) Do a google search if you want to find out more, but basically its a simple technique that works with energy meridians through simple hand tapping on body points, you can do this yourself or through practitioners.
The reason I had to buy your Blues Bread is because music is my life.
I never became the guitar god I always wanted to but play pretty good and am super blessed to be living in the Portland area, all of my friends and social life are based around the jams around Portland, they are my "jam family" and wonderful friends. When we moved to Portland about 5 years ago I had no idea it was such an amazing music city, when I found that out I was in heaven, Portland is so unique and special , full of talented musicians in all areas of music. No place better. I've lived alot of places in my life too.
I make my living doing graphic design and mostly album packaging for the last 25 years, last five years I started making guitar pickups and alot of Portland's finest play my stuff now. I don't make much money doing that but its a love thing, check out my website and you'll hear alot of clips of guys you'll recognize. Life is
good :-) Dave

i couldn't have said it better

Dear Dave,

I read with interest your life story. For many years I worked in a psychiatric hospital in Adult Addictions and Dual Diagnosis. I have seen many people come in with their addictions doing all the talking and walk out thinking for themselves. It was eye opening to see how many of the dual diagnosis (that is addiction + mental illness) patients were really self-medicating as you did. Our staff believed that you can't even begin to work on and get understanding of the addiction until you work on the psychiatric problem.

I personally believe that we all have a time clock running in our lives and that a time does come when we are able to get a good look and say, "Enough!" By that I mean, we can say it, and really mean it and do it. But it's only a little door and not everyone opens it. Good, good for you. Congratulations.

Even though I'm an old hand at hearing these kinds of stories, I have to tell you, at the end I had tears running down my face. My good thoughts go with you for your continued health and success. I've seen your bread in the markets. Today I will buy some.

Best to you, Patti (last name withheld)

can anybody beat this one? (doubtful...)

Hi Dave!
I remember you saying the last time you were at the Corvallis co-op that you wanted people to cut up their T-shirts and send photos.
Here's a picture of my T-shirt, along with my favorite bread of yours:
Nuts and Grains.
I was thinking that you maybe you could make "DKB" bumper stickers like Dave Matthews Band makes "DMB" stickers. It could be a Northwest spinoff subculture. I don't know, just an idea.
Love the bread! See you next time at the co-op!
Sincerely,
Lisa

Got some stickers coming, Lisa. Hey, that's the best one of those shirts ever looked. Your-face-in-the-shot would be even better, but it's a great job of cutting the shirt, and an artistic shot. Well done! Please encourage others to do the same, 'k? Yours will really be tough to beat, but the more, the better. Thanks again!

a few more killer bread testimonials

I just purchased my first loaf of 21 grain Killer Bread at Corvallis First Alternative store ---I absolutely love it and will continue to buy it there as long as they carry it. Thanks for a superior product!

Marilyn

Hello,
I had to write to say, most certainly...your bread is excellent!! I like to eat all sorts in multiple meal situations! You are a great inspiration, and long live the home-grown business ethic brother! -Jerm

Dave, oh Dave. My husband and I were introduced to your break (Good Seed) by our bestest friends in Portland. We go to New Seasons every time we are there and stock up....but.. in between trips, we are jonesin' for your bread. Is there any intention to start moving your goods North? We have Whole Foods in Seattle!! I just can't get enough of PBJ's on your bread! Thanks, tracy

We're on our way! See other posts about Seattle.

Dave,
I love your bread. Thank you for not putting canola oil in the spelt bread. When I tasted it I was in canola free heaven!!!!!!!

Dave, I kneel at your feet. You are the God of bread. Other bread is now inedible.
Your greatest fan,
Stephanie

God of Bread?? I'm having a good day.

a whole lot of suffering (gives us common ground)

Hi Dave I read your story and it sounds familiar to me. Before coming
to Portland I rode motorcycles with the Oakland Hells Angels and I
did more than my share of crank and I also spent time in the federal
system. When living in California an associate placed a bomb in front
of my bedroom window and I was in bed less than 3 feet from it when
it went off. My partner (pregnant) and my 1-year old daughter were
also lying in the same bed with me. They said that they could hear
the blast in San Francisco which is across the bay about 20 miles
away. Plastic explosives. We all three went to the hospital and I was
the lucky one who was shielded mostly from the blast. My partner and
daughter were hurt very badly. I have raised my daughter ever since.
She was released from from a 6 month stay in children's hospital in
Oakland. I am a 63 year old single parent of a beautiful 16 year old
Quadriplegic girl and her mom has passed on. She is both physically
and mentally delayed but does walk a small amount and she is able to
talk . I would like to find a family to take her into adulthood as I
am getting old and tired. I would rather not see her go into the
system which is full of physical abuse. She a beautiful girl and I
looks very normal as she was injured at one year of age and it is
hard to tell by just looking at her that she is hurt. She has no
family available to care for her and honestly I am getting tired and
I have not been away from her overnight in 7-8 years now. She told me
to ask Oprah Winfrey to please help us find a new mommy and daddy for
her but they never even answered my email to them. I'm not sure why I
am writing this letter to you but I just need to tell someone and
after reading your post I felt that you might really understand where
I am coming from. Some times we just need to let off a little
pressure. I am going to send a picture of Ashley as well as one of
the two of us and I really want for you to know how deeply your story
affected me while reading it and I am so happy for you to have been
able to turn your life around and do so well with it. I also am doing
well and please don't think that I haven't thought about doing more of
the crank over the last 15 years but somehow I have been able to stay
away from it and care for my daughter pretty well. It has been tough
trying to make a living and to also care for someone who cannot do
much at all for themselves but it also has had its rewards. Sincerely
Tom & Ashley Hayes

Hey Tom,

It's a helluva story. I want to thank you for stopping by my booth, and for
bringing Ashley. Here is a nice photo of us.

Dave Dahl

hope this helps

Hi Dave,
My name is Sarah and work at KOPT radio in Eugene. I noticed your ad on our web site and watched your video.
My uncle is an IV meth user. Right now he's in jail awaiting trial for setting my grandma's house on fire.
I think he had been high for days and was completely out of his mind.
Although he did have the sense to call the fire department. No one was injured and my grandma was finally able to move back in after two months of repairs. She still visits him in jail every week and gives me money, but that's a whole other issue.
Here's my question for you. My uncle is -- or used to be -- smart, talented, and funny. He's a great artist, decorator and cook. But I'm worried that his mind is permanently damaged from 25 years of crank use.
Is there hope for him?
Thanks,
Sarah

Hi Sarah...I really can't say. I can tell you that my own mind is
probably the best it has ever been. But each person's situation is
different. I spent a lot of those bad years in prison, so it actually
kept me fairly "clean" a lot of the time.

I can tell you that for me, it was lots of loneliness and suffering
that helped me to change. If I had been enabled to continue down the
path I was on, I would probably be much farther down that path.

That's the only hint I believe that I can offer.

Best wishes,

Dave Dahl

powerseed's the best, she says

Hello Dave,
I absolutely love all of your breads, but my favorite is the PowerSeed.
Yours is the best bread I have ever had; it's soft, nutty, full of fiber, and has no high fructose corn syrup like big company breads have. It makes good toast, supreme grilled cheese, pb&j, and sandwiches. It doesn't taste like the icky whole wheat bread I grew up with, and it's softer and tastier than any other organic or fresh bread I've ever had. I am happy for you that you've come so far, even with the man trying to keep you down.
Keep up the good work, and please please please, don't change anything about your breads! They need no improvement! Maybe you could make a new line of Dave's Killer Buns? :)
All the best,
Laura