Puckett's Rising Star Competition

Hey Everyone!

In case you don't already know, last night I won "Puckett's Rising Star" competition.  This was a contest held at Puckett's Grocery in Franklin among Nashville songwriters judging on song quality and performance.   The contest had three rounds; 8 separate opening rounds, a semifinal round of sixteen, and a final round of four writers.  (about 120 writers total)

Last night's final round was truly amazing.  The three other writers (Johnathon Hepner, Bill Diluigi, and Rebecca Correia) were so good.  You have to check them out!  We each got to play four songs and then the judges chose a winner.  My setlist was:

1.  Do Right With Your Heart
2.  Jefferson Street
3.  Some Things Never Change
4.  Everybody Wants to Fall in Love Tonight

Following the set, the judges deliberated while Greg Barnhill (amazing writer) played a few tunes.  When the time came to announce the winner I was freaking out!  I was literally shaking.  Then I heard my name and I haven't stopped smiling since.  For winning, I was given $500 and an opportunity to play in a round with some of Nashville's premier songwriters.  I'll be playing that show on April 6th.

It was such an awesome feeling to win...but the best feeling in the world is the amount of support I've received from my family, friends and fans.  I can't tell you enough how much your encouragement means to me.  Thank you for continually coming to see me play and inspiring me to sing, to write, and to love music.

Yours,

Tyler

A Valentime's Day Poem by Tyrone Flowers

 

This goes out to all the single girls

who didn't get no flowers yestaday, didn't get no pearls

I know what it's like to be all alone

Next Valentime's Day, better call on Tyrone

I'll come over to your place, give you company

I'll let you cook me dinner, while I watch yo T.V.

I'll be there for you lady, when no one else will

I'll take you out for cheesecake, and go dutch on the bill

we'll go back to my place--got a heart shaped jacuzzi

don't act all coy, i know you ain't no floozy

It's Valentime's day, the one day a year

you deserve some good lovin' and that's why I'm here

we'll drink pink champagne on my water bed

then i'll make love to you like boys to men said

this type of gift can't ever be bought

i'll do this for you without one selfish thought

I'm just doing what's right, like any humanitarian

I'll do this for you, you don't even ever have to call me again

seriously, don't call me again.

forced creativity--stream of conciousness.

for the past few days my brain has been turned off. i don't know why it is, but i go through spurts where i just turn off. maybe it's my brain's way of telling me it needs a break. my mind is very good at justifying breaks. no need to eat healthy ty, you just worked out. that's something my brain would say. it's a real bad influence on me as is my heart. they are always scheming of ways to make me look like a fool. i still like them though.

in case anyone was wondering, which at this point, i sincerely doubt, i have completed one of my 100 books that i have assigned myself to read. the great gatsby. this was at least the third time that i've read this book and i must say i am horrified at my retention level. it was as if i was reading a brand new book.

if you haven't read any of fitzgerald's work, you should check it out. i marked several passages with the intention of sharing, but my copy of the book is downstairs and i'm just too damn lazy to get it. maybe in the next edition of this pointless blog i'll enlighten a few of you. while reading i also learned a few new words such as supercilious.

my next book is the prince by machiavelli. i'm falling asleep just thinking about it.

What is a good man?

I've got an idea...

Typically, that is a dangerous thing for me.

Typically, my ideas can result in any number of outcomes...

Typically, embarrassment.

Typically, I do what's comfortable to me. I'm afraid to be atypical...to challenge myself...to expect more from myself...to be a good man.

Typically...I'm starting to hate that word.

Typically my means of satisfaction are quick and potent. I eat fast food. I chug beer. I watch television. Rinse and repeat.

Typically, I hear a voice in my head telling me I'm better than who I am at the moment. Life is more meaningful than I'm making it. I should be further along--more enlightened, successful, and happy.

And never, no matter how much I try to ignore it, does that voice go away.

Paul Simon said it best in his song "Train in the Distance." "The thought that life could be better is woven indelibly into our hearts and our brains. Like a train in the distance." Humankind expects more from itself, and is constantly reminded by some voice that is both distant, and unmistakably present..."Life is better than what you're making it!"

This is not a new thought. I realize that...but I'm struggling with it. I want my life to be better, and most importantly, I want to be a good man.

But, what is a good man?

Last night I stumbled onto a blog while searching for a list of "great books." At first glance I thought it was a joke. Its decor consisted of a wood paneling background with pictures of old-fashioned mustache clad manly-men. At the top of the page, in antique text, was the title: "The Art of Manliness."

"What could this be?" I said aloud with a chuckle, and spent the next hour scouring the pages within. After doing a little research I discovered that this was a blog authored by a husband and wife in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and designed to provide articles and advice to help men "be better husbands, fathers, and men." I've included a link to the "About" section of the page that describes their purpose right here.

Eventually, I made my way back to what led me there in the first place--a list of "great books." Not just any list however, but, 100 Must-Read Books: The Essential Man's Library. As I looked the list over, I started getting excited. Here was the answer to my question.

What is a good man?

Within the pages of these classic literary pieces are countless examples of successes and failures, virtues and demons, and lessons to be learned, as men, much wiser than I, have, one way or another, strove to answer this same question and find more meaning in life.

So my idea is this: I'm going to read them...gulp...all. With my trusty library card in hand, I'm going to read all 100 books on this list and chronicle my findings. (It's very Julie and Julia of me I know...)

It will be challenging/time consuming/boring at times and I may miss a few episodes of The Office because of it. I mean seriously, who reads anymore?

It's certainly not the way I would typically spend an evening. Oops, there's that word again.

Typically, the fear of failure outweighs the desire to try. Not this time. So, maybe when that voice comes calling again, like a train in the distance, I just might have an answer.

yeah, he said it!

new blog coming sooooooon........

MLK2K9