A Heart Filled With Ashes

Assignment Number One
by: Don

The very first thing I picked up was a little box of ashes next to my computer. Most times now i forget it’s even there. Many people might find that rather unusal but i don’t and that’s what matters – right?

iIt holds the remains of my beloved cat of 20 years. i remember the very first day I met her. She was the sickly one, but she made eye contact with me and forced herself to scratch her way up my leg. I didn’t care that she was not of good health; she was the one for me. She was a tiny Havana Brown. They never grow very big. I called her Chaka, not after the singer, but short for “chocolate.”

Throughout the years we were just inseparable. It was the purest kind of love I have ever felt – unconditional. There were times I found her incredibly obnoxious – she would follow me around everywhere. If I played piano, she was sitting by my side. If I was on the computer, she was by my side watching the screen…the same went for the toilet, the bathtub,etc. But the funniest thing wasat night when she would sleep with me oblongly with her little head facing mine as if she were human. I didn’t even need an alarm clock. She would wake me up with her little tongue licking my nose. Of course, she never got up!

But amazingly, she was there when I was deeply depressed – not moving from my side as she would lick my tears, like a mother consoling a child. Yeah it seems a little weird, but it was what I wanted. Obviously, in retrospect, she wanted it too.

I miss her so much, but so grateful I had her in my life. I have 3 other cats now, but every once in awhile i look at that little box on my desk and smile.

Replies:
——————————————————————————–

By:Your instructor

Don, this brought tears to my eyes. I am such an animal lover and so I can easily relate to your words and emotions. Fine start on the class. You’ve impressed me already. Eva

Comments Off

Ever since I was a young child I loved reading. To some extent adults found it disturbing that I didn’t want to participate in “reindeer games.” Many times I was caughr reading to the other children while they were on the swing set or monkey bars.

Although it probably wasn’t that normal ((I was the “Carrie” of every grade and school), it was my way of escape through a depressing childhood. However, as I grew older, I read Nora Ephron’s “Crazy Salad,” and fell in love with that genre of writing. Funny essays yet poignant at the same time.

Ever since I have wanted to write that way – like Ms. Epron, Erma Bombeck. and David Sedaris – I have been consumed by fear because I didn’t know how to get organized and start. Hence, that is why I’m here.

Thank you,

Don

Comments Off

WOODY BRADSHAW RIDES LIKE “LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE”SINGER/SONGWRITER HOPS ON A HARLEY V-ROD AND JOINS COUNTRY STARS AND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS FORTHE 4th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC CELEBRITY MOTORCYCLE RIDE IN LAS VEGAS

I Live Music
On The Road, In The Studio
May 18, 2007

On Sunday, May 13, rising country star Woody Bradshaw got to live his album title Lightning In A Bottle by jumping on a top of the line Harley V-Rod and joining nearly 1,500 other bikers—including dozens of top country music artists—for the 4th Academy Of Country Music Celebrity Motorcycle Ride in Las Vegas.

The event, benefiting the ACM Charity Fund and hosted by raucous duo Montgomery Gentry, has become a hugely popular part of the week surrounding the ACM Awards. Starting at Las Vegas Harley Davidson, the riders cruised through the city’s vast desert oasis and up along snowy mountaintops until reaching their final destination, the Canyon Club at the Four Queens Casino on world famous Fremont Street.

Recently released on Primoris Records /Universal Music Group, Lightning In A Bottle has thus far been available only via online outlets like iTunes, Amazon, Best Buy and Target. It will soon be available at brick and mortar outlets with a bonus song, “Burn Down The Barn,” which Bradshaw wrote after the online release.

Comments Off

American Idol In Retrospect: Office Style
Submitted by: Mister D

As I’m writing this I am in what one would call a mid-depressive state. Rather ironic when you consider I’m taking a comedy course. To be honest (please no pity…we all have our crosses to bear), I’m rather a young 51 just diagnosed with bi-polar 2 (not as manic as the one you always hear about), a rather debilitating disorder, at least for me. I’m on disability, but currently not social, and for sure not ready to visit health clinics and such. I hope to be able to do that in the near future. Now that that is out of the way, I’ll tell about what I did at the last job I had.

I worked with a motley bunch of guys on bank-job related websites where we designed and marketed for banks. There was no face to face interaction with the customers. There were about 5 of us, usually left alone to do what we do. We were called the “dark side” because we didn’t have to dress up and could basically do what we wanted as long as the job was done correctly. Our boss, who rarely visited us, is one of the richest men in Nashvile. When he brought visitors in he just laughed and said this was the rock and roll room.

You would think there would be a lot of interaction or bullying tactics, but we were all separated by angular walls; the kind you might see in an art show. It was a very modern looking room. Of course, some times to make the day go faster we’d play computer games, call each other up on the phones, and talked the way guys talk amongst themselves. I’ve learned my lesson about sexual innuendo in the class.

One day I just thought how bored I was and decided to bring a karaoke machine in the office. I mean we could literally do anything we wanted. Around mid-day, I lifted myself up out of the seat, pulled out the karaoke machine, turned it on and began singing the worst version of “Wind Beneath My Wings.” I had moved out of my little “weird” cubicle into the middle of the room to do the rest of the damage. Everybody started laughing and got up out of their seat to see my finale. I then told them to go through some of the CD’s and pick out something they would want to do. I didn’t think any of them would go for it, but they all took their turn. All the singing was pretty atrocious, but we had so much fun and the laughter was infective.

After that, we would do karaoke sporadically just to relieve the tension. And what a great release. I just think laughter is so important in every one’s lives. That’s one reason why I took this class. I really didn’t know if I could do it, but it has been loads of fun, except for that first essay. I knew if I could get through that one, I could do it. I hope this passes mustard and that those of you who read this didn’t mind my honesty. I have really gotten a kick (in a good way) from the other writers. Thanks for “listening.”

Your Instructor writes: That’s a great example of adding some humor to the workplace, Don! Granted, it takes an office like you described to do something big like that, but what it obviously did for morale actually made it a good business decision. We aren’t robots and having a little fun in the workday often pays huge dividends (a little banking talk for ya) in productivity. Great story!

I’m sorry to hear about the problems you’re having but I think it was very smart of you to combat them with humor. It’s such a healthy choice.

Comments Off

Woody Bradshaw
Local star to join Cat Country 98.7 for town tour, will play on Boardwalk for Memorial Day
Lisa Newell and Vici Papajohn, Splash News (www.splashpensacolabeach.com)

Friday, May 25 will be a big day for the Pensacola hometown of Woody Bradshaw. He will be performing twice that day – in the morning with Cat Country 98.7 and later at the Portofino Boardwalk at Bamboo Willie’s. The events will be held the Friday before Memorial Day weekend!

Live from McDonald’s on South Blue Angel Pkwy., the hometown boy will perform over the radio and to the crowd. Bradshaw will join Brent Lane, Dana Cervantes and Jim Sanborn at 8 a.m. Catch the interview and the live music on Cat Country 98.7 on the FM dial or join them live.

Woody will hit the Bamboo Willie’s stage from 5 – 7 p.m. Friday night. Head out to the Boardwalk early to enjoy this talent!

Mid-May release of his CD

“Lightning in a Bottle”

“One of my favorite songs on the new CD is ‘Friction,’ and I am pretty sure that we will be definitely playing that one. It’s a great song,” praises Lane. “I know he will want to share ‘The Last Day of Your Life’ so we’ll be hearing a few from him. He shared ‘Friction’ last fall and it was fabulous. Woody Bradshaw has the distinction of performing acapella for me on the radio the Friday before Christmas when he sang “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” with nothing in the background. It was stunning.”

Bradshaw is known for combining a country lyric with a melodic blend of country, pop, and rock. He conveys the sense that he’s a wild and rebellious spirit who shoots a grin at the challenges life can bring, showing an edgy yet playful side.

Comments Off