Dirk Hayhurst's Blog
Words and thoughts still trying to make it to the big leagues...My Grandma’s Ass Just Wont Quit
My brother-in-law, Captain Peter St. John, flies Apaches in the army. He’s deployed in Afghanistan right now and will be there for a year. I write him stories to keep his spirits up. Here is one of my recent ones Dear Pete, I'm sorry to be the one to...
A-Rod: Putting the “Tool” In Five Tool Player
Face it; you’re not mad at Alex Rodriguez. You’re not even shocked. You might be, like some sad eyed father, “a little disappointed”. But in a way, you’re kind of happy this happened to him. Why? Because you like it when A-Rod screws up. We all do. Even Yankee fans...
Excerpt from Rays Rough Draft 4. Maddon’s Office.
Rough Draft Excerpt. Errors are Okay. The next time I’d talk to Joe was in that private meeting. It actually wasn’t between just Joe and I, it was most of the top level staff, including Andrew Friedman. They wanted to get to know me, talk about why they brought me...
Dear Angry College Pitcher Who Hates His Coach…
Dear angst ridden young college pitcher, angry at his coach. Ah yes, the public call out. Those always go over so well... Nothing says "pick your head up" like being called a coward in front of an entire team of peers and friends. I'll bet it shook you up. I'll bet it...
Rays Book Excerpt 3. Meeting Maddon
Unedited excerpt from Rays Book Pitch first draft. Errors are OK. We all sat in a huddled half moon on outfield grass, Joe Maddon at our core with a few coaches and staffers in a deep orbit behind him. He wore white rimmed sunglass with a designer inlay and held a...
Dumb
“Your mom called me while you were out.” Said Bonnie. “Did you tell her I was dead?” “No, I told her you were at the gym.” “What’d she want? No. No, don’t answer that. I know what she wanted.” I took near drum sized canister of protein from a cabinet in the kitchen...
Excerpt 2, Jan 22. Rough Draft Rays Book
What I really needed was a reason to get up and hit the gym. A better reason. My agent would advise me to keep training as if I had a job. Coaches would say a prepared man creates his own luck. But my heart, that silly, skittish, vessel of illogic kept telling that if...
Excerpt 0003
Ever since the surgery I wake up stiff in the mornings. Strange since sleep is supposed to help you recover. Why is it I feel like I got the hell kicked out of me when I when I wake up? My back is tight, neck hurts, shoulders is frozen. Forget the performance gains,...
Goodbye 2012. Hello 2013!
Happy New Year from the Groovy Garfoose! And thank you for an awesome 2012! So many great things happened this past year, I thought I would share a few highlights and give you a sneak peak as to what's in store in 2013! *2012 started with a fundraiser for our Under...
Song Of The Month: December
Over the course of the next 12 months I'm sharing original songs for piano that correspond to the current month. Each composition will include nature sounds to enhance the piece and reflect the season (thank you handy, dandy iPad!). My goal for this series is...
Groovy Guest Post: Merry Christmas!
Today and on the 25th of every month of 2012 I have invited 12 of the most influential people in my life to share a blog post with you! Each has influenced me both professionally and personally. My hope is that the knowledge, kindness, creativity, and compassion they...
Thoughts On Adam Lanza’s Mother
I just got done reading that popular internet post, "I Am Adam Lanza's Mother". It's a powerful chunk of writing, written by an incredibly brave mother of a child with Autism Spectrum and behavioral issues. She really puts herself out there and If you haven't read it,...