#howa.rd confessions

[howardtuniverse]

There is no logical reason Adam Jones has to dodge peanuts and racial slurs in his profession. No logical reason #JordanEdwards did not go to school today. My logical reasoning says someone doesn't want us to succeed. #WhoseAmericaIsThis #WhatYearIsThis

~ Howa.rd

#pained

[howardtuniverse]

B4U.Go Are we still in this place?! I've been toiling over lives mattering in society for years now trying to figure out the algorithm to determine when a color matters more than a life. All I know is families are hurting.  The sobering thought that I could be the next casualty is constantly haunting me and my family. This song is what I imagine all those taken too soon would want to say to their loved ones before leaving home for what could be their last time.

Also: https://soundcloud.com/howardtuniverse/b4ugo

[howardtuniverse]

I’m glad to be working a job where you can name your own salary. I named mine "Jethro"

~ Howa.rd

[howardtuniverse]

Words that make me cringe:

Abhor. Chipotle. Scrumptious. Huge (when said with silent h). Mesquite. Bequeath. Moist. Crux. Verklempt. Stymied. Parsed. Ornery.

[howardtuniverse]

Ok, bear with me. This is another eerie story regarding the death of a music idol of mine. Just yesterday after a long day of teleworking, I decide to play some music on the TV for my kids to groove and dance to before dinner. This is not common. (Sidenote: I regularly procure a daily youtube music video playlists for them to dance and wind down to just before 8pm bedtime. This list typically involves a mix of sesame street, wiggles, pinkfong/babyshark, gonoodle, super simple songs and current pop hits with some throwback classic pop videos thrown in.) Well, I'm in a strange mood yesterday and go searching through my old playlists for something different for their ears. In my mind I'm thinking Stevie, but I come to Bill and stop. I pause and say "give it to me sir" and hit play. Something strange happens. A groove/dance party breaks out with the entire family going in! Wifey watches as the girls circle their Daddy, dancing commences, wifey gets up, August even jumps in it. The list goes seamlessy from Aint No Sunshine to Use Me to Who Is He to Grandma's Hands to Lovely Day to Lean On Me. I'm observing the prolonged unforced spontaneous jubilance going on in my living room and then Kissing My Love and the 7 minute version of You Got The Stuff turns it into a freestyle dance battle!! Everybody takes turns cutting up my rug. WHAT?!! The kids finally go eat dinner and a pride washes over me because I just randomly yet triumphantly schooled my offspring on some Bill. Cut to today while teleworking, I'm hit with the Headline: Bill Withers dies at 81. My mouth drops, I'm speechless. I yell for wifey and show her the headline, she immediately gets it. The chilling unrealness of the timing floored us both. What. Just. Happened? If you don't know, Bill Withers was everything, soulful, pop, deep, simple, blues, fonk, light, heavy, inspiring, iconic and humble all at the same time. He is my spirit animal, I strive for anything remotely close to this dude when I write. So inspirational yet so unsung. We just lost a king and I'm going to need coronavirus to take a backseat this weekend while I take this slow walk to bask in all things Bill. Thank you sir for your influence and your existence. #StillBillForever #ICantRightNow #2020Tho

~ Howa.rd

[howardtuniverse]

I like work. It fascinates me. I sit and look at it for hours.

~ Howa.rd

[howardtuniverse]

Praying for my city. #NashvilleBeStrong #JesusBeAFence

~ Howa.rd

[howardtuniverse]

Songwritin' is like wrong rightin'

~ Howa.rd