January Blog
by David "Cat" Cohen
Published: 2010-01-04
HAPPY NEW YEAR GREETINGS TO ALL,
2010 STARTS WITH WARM WEATHER EVEN IN THE HIGH DESERT
After a very chilly end to 2009, the new year is warming up nicely at its start, even here in the high desert. It was so warm last night I didn’t even need to make a fire in my wood burning stove for a change. The blue skies and warm sunshine are greeting our visiting throngs in both high and low desert with fine weather. I spent New Year’s Eve and Day in LA with friends in similarly warm weather. We all can use a respite from El Nino’s wetter and stormier than average season so far.
The warmth is too late for any of my dozen or so fruit trees to stop losing their leaves, but as this is my first season towards my goal of being the fruit peddler of Morongo Valley, I’ll need to learn patience as my trees go through their dormant period. I’ll also have to resist getting a shotgun and riding sentry with it to look for a couple of pesky gophers that have been chewing on the roots of my trees. This spring I’ll need to put netting over the trees or install artificial owls to retard birds from picking at my harvest. I’m also planning to build a greenhouse this spring to increase my growing season as well as protect my veggie garden from critters. As a rancher-in-training I have more than a few lessons to learn.
CAT TO TEACH A SONGWRITING CLASS AT THE SONGWRITING SCHOOL OF LOS ANGELES IN FEBRUARY
I’ve been slotted to teach a songwriting class at the Songwriting School of Los Angeles (which paradoxically is in Burbank). The course description for my class as listed in their catalog is included below. It will be an intimate class with the opportunity to work with me and a select group of other motivated songwriters on your songs in depth. If you haven’t visited the school yet on Magnolia Blvd. in west Burbank, I would encourage you to call them at 818-848-7664 and set up an appointment do so. Rob and Ashley Seals have created a wonderful positive-vibe well-put-together sophisticated teaching and recording space for the songwriters of tomorrow. They offer a variety of interesting courses including a special community chorus workshop by my colleague Lis Lewis. You can find out more about the school at their website - www.thesongwritingschool.com.
WRITING SONGS FOR AN ORIGINAL ACT
Tuition: $329 (There is a special $25 off promotional special for all who sign up by Monday 01/04/10. If you sign up online use the Code goodbuy2009 to get the discount)
To register: http://tinyurl.com/y93d5ay
To learn more about the class: http://tinyurl.com/yc3pyu2
WWW.CATCOHEN.COM IS DOTTING ITS I’S AND CROSSING ITS T’S
This month Cat will unveil his long-awaited rebuilt website at www.catcohen.com. As soon as his webmaster finishes the CAT COHEN STORE with credit card purchasing opportunities there will be a formal unveiling. In the meantime, you can browze over 100 Bios of Cat’s Alumni and Colleagues (check yours out) and 40 Anatomy Of A Hit reviews of the top songs of the past ten years. In addition he’s put up the first of his op-ed columns in the Songwriter’s Soapbox. You can submit your own tell-it-as-it-is article about our country’s direction, or pop music or the entertainment industry. Op-Ed is opinion oriented, not necessarily 100% factual, so air your views and submit your ideas for publication here as well. Or write a rebuttal if you wish.
CAT’S CHICKEN SOUP BOOK IS SELLING LIKE HOTCAKES (ALMOST)
During the holidays I brought copies of the new books I self-published last year everywhere I went. This includes CHICKEN SOUPS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, MY DESERT BLOG CABIN and WHINE CONNOISSUER’S GUIDE. It is obvious from the response I’ve gotten so far that the chicken soup book is the biggest draw. Thumbing through the three books, many people said that they simply had to have the cookbook. I even sold several copies where people saw me casually reading it in cafes and stores. I left a few copies strategically placed at a few holiday parties and got some immediate sales there as well. Without any real marketing effort, I will have sold over 100 copies by the time you read this. I am now officially well in the black with this tasty, creative, nutritious, economical and practical soup book. I’ve sent a copy to Rachel Ray’s people which was acknowledged by them and will send one to Oprah as well. It is available at Amazon and it will be for sale on my website as soon as I get my credit card connection worked out and installed there.
IT’S A GOOD TIME FOR US ALL TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND WORK TOWARDS OUR GOALS
If 2008 was a year of hope and dreams, and 2009 a year of downturn, struggle and disappointment, I hope 2010 will be a time where we can consolidate our wishes, work steadily, and make good progress towards our goals. I intend to ride the economic recovery, such as it is, as far as I can with new books, new songs, new musicals, new classes, and other new creative projects. I also plan to plant a few new fruit trees such as a pomegranate and a pear tree to add to my peach, cherry, apricot, apple, plum and fig trees. MAY ALL OF OUR EFFORTS LEAD TO A FULL HARVEST THIS COMING YEAR!
CAT COHEN
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