Mad Macedonian

Prompting Yourself to Write 21: 101 I Am's

I first brainstormed this exercise, in a 1 hour, timed, writing prompt on the evening of January, 27, 2004.

I posted it on my first blog on February 1, 2004.

This was years before most of my readers, and Facebook Friends met, or re-connected with (Especially my old High School Classmates!), me. ;-D

This new version has updates marked in red. ;-D

Have you ever sat down, and tried to describe yourself?

If you take the time to think about what makes you, YOU, in your own mind, not what others might say about you, it can be an eye opener, and provide food for thought, and incentives for the future (The picture below, of Nikita, and I, is from 2002!).

1.  I am a 43 3/4 year old man. (I am 50 3/4)
2.  I am single man (Father of two - Cats, that is...Hee, hee!)
3.  I am a Macedonian-American.
4.  I am a bookworm.
5.  I am a movie buff.
6.  I am a Writer.
7.  I am a Poet.
8.  I am a Storyteller.
9.  I am a Journalist.
10.  I am a Family History Researcher.
11.  I am a former Violinist for 10 yrs. during my youth.
12.  I am a published Star Trek author.
13.  I am a much published Comic Book Letter hack from the 1980's.
14.  I am a person with many published letters to newspapers, and magazines.
15.  I am a Bicyclist.
16.  I am a bus rider.
17.  I am a walker and a hiker.
18.  I am a High School Graduate.
19.  I am a College Graduate. The 1st in my Family, and have a BS in Criminal Justice.
20.  I am a product of a single parent home from 10 years old to adulthood. 

21.  I am a former Bookstore Manager of 11 years experience.
22.  I am a friend to many people, all online.
23.  I am a man with many friends, all online.

24.  I am a man with 2 sisters, headstrong, and beautiful, whom I helped look after in my youth, and early adulthood, and whom I still care, and worry about, today.

25.  I am a man with a bright and charming adult Niece (Plus a 5 yr. old Nephew, and 4 year old Niece).
26.  I am a man with Uncles, Aunts, and cousins all across America, and on the other side of the world.
27.  I am a caring person.
28.  I am a man with a peculiar sense of humor.
29.  I am a smart man.
30.  I am a cautious man.
31.  I am a thoughtful man.
32.  I am a man who likes to sometimes be alone, but fears being all alone in the world.
33.  I am a sensitive man.
34.  I am a virgin. (Quick! Someone call the Guinness Book of World Records! Um, hee, hee!)
35.  I am a music lover who favors Classical, Jazz, Swing, and Big Band.
36.  I am a protective man.
37.  I am a man capable of anger, and willing to fight for what he believes, and what is right.
38.  I am a man unafraid to sometimes speak his mind.
39.  I am a Woman's idea of a dreamboat, if only the fog over the ocean would recede so she could see my magnificent sails blowing in the breeze.
40.  I am a worrier, sometimes, but that doesn't worry me, too much.

41. I am a real man who admits he loves Cats.
42.  I am a somewhat decent cook of some things, and am looking to do more (See picture above for proof!).

 

  

43.  I am a Classic Coke drinker.
44.  I am a recovering, 4 cups a day, coffee drinker, who has been dry for 26 years.
45.  I am a non-smoker.
46.  I am a man who has never tried drugs.
47.  I am a man trying to develope a Social Life, just needing to find time to work on it.
48.  I am a man with no medical, or dental benefits, and the good fortune to still be alive and kicking despite that difficulty (I've had both for 6 yrs. now, and hope to keep them).
49.  I am a man with no savings, who lives from day to day, and week to week (I may be unemployed, but I now have Savings, and a 401K).
50.  I am a man with dreams and aspirations.
51.  I am a man who doesn't snore.
52.  I am a man who doesn't walk in his sleep.
53.  I am a rubber stamp collector.
54.  I am a Blogger (As is my Cat!)
55.  I am a Republicrat who votes (I am a Republican, Moderate Conservative, who drinks Tea (Decaf, of course!).
56.  I am a Demopublican who votes (What was I thinking?).

Venturing Forth into 2011, and a New, and Better Future

 The last 12 days have been busy ones.

Still learning to use Word 2007, but doing other things as well.

I've Googled my own name to see what's out there lurking on the Internet, and found that quite interesting, and even amusing, at times. ;-D

More on that tomorrow. ;-D

I've been reading several books:

What Color is Your Parachute 2011, and The Job-Hunter's Survival Guide, both by Richard Bolles, and How to Find a Job on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and Other Social Networks by Brad & Debra Schepp.

There is something called The Flower Exercise, in the First Book, that I plan to work on, and I've also gone into my 2 year old LinkedIn Account, and finally begun to figure out how best to use it.

You will no doubt have noticed the LinkedIn Badge in the sidebar of my, and Nikita's, blogs, and I invite you to pay my Profile a visit.

Oh, and, yes...that's me, in the suit and tie, in the yearbook mug shot to the left of these words, but more on that in a bit. ;-D

Yes, yes, the young Kiril Kundurazieff parted his hair back then, and my glasses were humongous, and my hairline was beginning to recede, just a tad, though I was only 22 years old.... ;-D

I'm 50 years old, and recently unemployed, as I've written, downsized from my most recent career as a Directory Assistance Operator.

Is this a good time to try to figure out my purpose in life, my calling, my vocation, my "dream job"?

In THIS economy? In THIS state? Or should I just settle for anything just to get by, and survive?

Shouldn't I have sorted this out in High School, & College? ;-D

 In the late 90's, when I got a computer,  I came to accept that a BS in Criminal Justice might not have been the best idea, and maybe I should have taken up Journalism, and Writing, in High School, and College, and that it was time to move on and look toward the future.

The last 12 years have been good ones, and I've became a different, better, person than I was before.

I'm not as alone as I used to be, though all my friends are ones developed online.

I proudly call myself a writer, and journalist, all be it one of the online, PJ wearing, "New Journalism", variety, and one that few know has been out there breaking stories for 8 years now. ;-D

(Just today I noticed  a 5th person hit the Facebook Like Button in the sidebar of this blog (Nikita's blog has 6 Likes!), for which I thank whoever it was (Now, if only more people will "Like", and Tweet, individual posts on our blogs!). ;-D

I don't pretend that many people will even read this post.

I want something, career-wise, that fits me, and gets me excited to get up in the morning to do more than just feed Nikita, and Elvira their kibble! ;-D

But, how to discover that career, train for it, and get it, that is the question.

To paraphrase Richard Bolles...the world has never seen anyone quite like me before, and never will again, and I have something to contribute to this world that the world needs FROM ME no matter how small, or unimportant I sometimes may think I am in the grand scheme of things.

I'm here for a reason, and something with my style, character, and stamp on it, is needed in some way..

To get to that point I have to learn how to better engage with the 21st century world of the computer, social networking, skills retraining, and job hunting.

Can I afford the time, and effort, it will take to learn so many new things?

I believe that I have no choice but to try as best I can.

One step is to try to become more involved in linkedIn.

I don't know if I'll be able to get my Profile up to 100%, with 3 Recommendations of people I worked with because I have no way to know for sure how many, if any, are on the site, but there are other things I can do.

I joined the Alumni Group of my college (Cal State University Los Angeles), on the site, and began to explore the Alumni website to learn more about it, and what I might get from joining it.

I also joined the Facebook Page as well.

By Monday I had decided to pay the annual membership, and yesterday I went to the campus for the the first time since graduation (I don't count the brief jaunt made, years ago, to get my transcipts, as I went to one building just long enough to do my buisiness, and that was that.).

When I arrived I didn't recognize the place except for the Transit platforms on the freeway where most of the busses pick up, and drop off, passengers, and the Library Building. ;-D

I made more than a few people, students, and staff, laugh, during my few hours on campus with my observations about various changes. ;-D

 I wandered around, seeing all that was new, discovering that the Criminal Justice, and Forensic Studies, Schools were in a new building, on the outer fringe of the campus, across the freeway from the McDonalds.

Maybe a Donut Emporium had opened up over there in the last 20 years, and that accounts for the change in location, I don't know, but I didn't go traipsing over to find out. ;-D

I had to laugh when I saw the "Food Court" across from the fancy Student Bookstore: They still won't let McDonalds come across the freeway, but they welcomed a Carl's Jr., and a Starbucks on campus. ;-D

I think students today have all gone soft. ;-D

Back in "My Day"...if we were hungry our choices were brown bagging it, campus vending machines, McDonalds, or going even further afield to East LA, Downtown, Hollywood, or Pasadena.

Everyone was real impressed not just over how well preserved I was, but my Class Yearbook, and Diploma also were that I had brought along with me. ;-D

The Student Union building is huge, now, compared to the one in my day, and there, and in the Library, there are row, upon row, of Computers for students to access, compared to back in my "Stone Age" days of using pen, pencil, and paper for everything. ;-D

In addition to various discounts, an alumni library card, and other things, including getting involved as a volunteer if one chooses, membership gives access to the career center, and help with job searching, and career retraining.



Thank You Mr. Kuhn, and Kopp's Cycle, The Oldest Bike Shop in the USA!

It has been almost 3 months since I retired my 7 year old Bike Blog, The Cycling Dude, to little notice, or fanfare...

I never intended to post here again.

But God, Fate, or something far more complex, had other ideas (That's why a version of this post also appears there.).

Earlier this week, on this blog, and Nikita's, I revealed to my small, but growing readerships, something that has been a part of my life since 2 weeks after I announced the closing of this blog:

50, Alone and Newly Unemployed in Ca., With the Rest of My Life Ahead of Me: Now What?

This morning a comment was posted, to a 5 1/2 year old post on Cycling Dude, that brought tears of pride to my eyes, during this very trying time in my life.

This comment is the single greatest Honor that I have ever received for my efforts with this site...and makes all of it worth the effort.......

Nov. 12, 2010:

Thank you for honoring the shop I have grown up in and love. We are still an old time shop but are trying to keep up with the times with the Kopp's Cycle Website

Charles Kuhn - Owner

The Comment was left here: Kopp's Selling Bikes since 1891 - A story I posted in March 2005.

Thank you Mr. Kuhn...I am grateful, beyond mere words, for your kindness. ;-D

As a History Buff there is one aspect of the Kopp's site that makes it very special, and extremely important:

The History Page.

Mr. Kuhn has written an absolutely wonderful essay, and included a few amazing, and beautiful, old photos that will blow you away.

The most important of the photos is the one of the store (1901!), on the main page, that entices you to read his essay.

There are other photos of some of their vintage Items for sale and other things including a letter from the 1930's, that can be seen on a seperate Photos link.

I hope he plans to share more of the store history on his site in the future.

Such a past should be proudly shared for all History, and Cycling, Buffs to enjoy, and not hidden away. ;-D

 One more thing... As long time readers, of Cycling Dude, know I made a special project of highlighting the oldest cycling shops still in business, and that had an online presense, and had a list in the sidebar (Now found in the sidebar of this blog), and wrote a series of blog posts about them, which you can explore at your leisure ( Meet The Elder Statesmen ( and Women! ) ), and it pleases me no end that, at long last, that list can finally, finally!, have a link to a website for the Kopp's Store. ;-D

Out of respect for Mr. Kuhn, and his comrades on my list, I plan to keep the series going on Musings.

***UPDATE - 11/13/10***

I wrote Thank You letter to Mr. Kuhn, and he very graciously replied.

As well as telling him about this post, I wrote:

Dear Mr. Kuhn:

 

Lord knows that I tried, this morning, but mere words can not do proper justice to the very great honor you do me by your comment to my 5 1/2 year old post.

 

Your missive brought me to tears...tears of pride, and gratefulness that 7+ years of Bike Blogging really, truly, mattered, and was not done in vain.

 

Hardly anyone has even noticed I quit Bike Blogging, and mine was probably the oldest such blog in the USA. ;-D

 

The last 3 months have not been easy ones for me, but you absolutely made my day today. ;-D

 

I had given up all hope that Kopp's would ever create a website, to tell you the truth, hee, hee! ;-D

That photo on the main page, of the guys in front of the store, is a beautiful, and priceless, bit of History.

 

I do not know if you explored my blog, aside from finding my post, and am curious how you found it, but you may have noticed that the place had been retired, in August, and most of the extensive links in the sidebar moved to one of my other blogs.

 

I have done several things: 

 

I wrote a post on The Cycling Dude, that shares your comment, and serves as a sequel, of sorts, to my original review, as well as a sincere thank you.

  

I posted a variation of the same post on my other blog, and added a link to the Kopp's website to the "Bike Shops: Pre- 1941 - The Elder Statesmen [ and Women, too! ]"  List in the sidebar of that blog ( Musings of a Mad Macedonian  ).

 

I also am re-dedicating myself to keeping an eye out for more such stores to write about, and add to the List.

 

As you can tell you just may be the oldest surviving such store in the world (Only a company in Italy, so far, even comes close!). ;-D

 

If you know of, or ever find, others, with online presenses, that qualify for this List, please let me know. ;-D

 

I have no plans to continue the news, and activism, side of what I did on The Cycling Dude, at Musings (Even though I broke some major stories over the years.), because others, with bigger audiences, more knowledge, connections, time, and resources, than I (Including some who got their start by being inspired by my early work) serve that need very ably, however I will continue writing about, and share photos of, my bicyling adventures, including what I do via the blog my Cat writes (Over there we have 2 ongoing Photo Series about Cats, and other critters seen on my Bike Rides.). ;-D

 

Archives:

 

There Once Was a Mad Macedonian on a Bicycle..... 

Street Seens: Cats Outdoors, Thru the Daddy Cam 

Seen & Heard: Critters With Cats on the Brain 

Sincerely yours, Kiril Kundurazieff

His reply:

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.
 
I use google to alert me of new posts that mention Kopp's and your blog post got flagged so I checked it out as well as a little of the rest, I will have to check out the links you sent.
 
I ask anybody that stops in the shop to let me know of any older outfits and so far none have.
 
I can tell you love bikes, cats and life and wish you the best of luck.

You seem to be someone who experiences life while the rest of us just live.
 
Best,
Charlie

***END UPDATE***

50, Alone and Newly Unemployed in Ca., With the Rest of My Life Ahead of Me: Now What?

In July my job of the last 6 years let our office know it was downsizing, and gave employees the opportunity to choose to accept a Severance Package (Whether you were among the chosen, if you applied, depended on Seniority) with a last day of work being the end of August (100 were eventually let go).

 

I was a Directory Assistance Operator for Verizon Ca. for 6 years, 2 mo..

 

I spent weeks pondering what to do, and chose, knowing what funds I would get in the Severance, and secure in the knowledge I could move my 401K into a Bank IRA.

 

I also heard the rumors that the office might be closed in 6 months, and there was no guarantee the same Severance would again be offered.

 

I live alone, with 2 Cats, no car (A life choice), with my few friends, and contacts, being ones made over 12 years of being online, and 8 years of blogging.

 

This year has had its plusses, and minuses, the most trying year I've had in quite a while.

 

On the minus side I had a Seizure in May, and a broken bike in late July (Strained & Sore shoulder!).

 

On the plus side: We're both better now. ;-D

 

I'll even be off the Pill ( No, silly, not THAT one! Mine is an Anti-Seizure Pill. ) in a few weeks (No seizures since the first one is a Good Sign!), finally!

 

Also on the Plus Side: The amazing, slowly growing, success, extremely small scale though it is, of Nikita, & his blog, Meowsings of an Opinionated Pussycat, plus the coming of Elvira into our lives in July, & I've read my poetry in public, again, to great acclaim. ;-D

 

Let the Good Times Roll, hee, hee! ;-D

 

The question now is...What Next? Where do I go from here?

 

With an unemployment rate at 12% (Including yours truly now among them) this just in..."California's fund for paying unemployment insurance is broke."

 

Despite a story in todays Orange County Register trying to claim that employment will return to the state sometime this quarter, what reason is there for me to want to remain here?

 

Texas, Idaho, Nevada? Hello...Can I move in? Timbuc, um, hee, hee! ;-D

 

 

 

I am at a crossroads.

 

Here I am, 8 months into my 50th year and, with a cloudy, and stormy, future ahead of me, seemingly surrounded by obstacles to the continuance of The Good Life, I'm tempted to ask myself "Why in the Hell did I ever want to grow out of those diapers in the first place?"

 

I am not sure what I want to do, careerwise, though re-training is what I'd like to do.

 

I am reluctant to get into the same exact career I just left, for fear of the same fate befalling it as at my last job, but in order to forge a new career path I need to figure out what path to take, learn new skills, and get into some sort of retraining that will eventually lead to a new career.

 

I also need to try to save money by finding a much cheaper apartment to live in.

 

On my wall, over my desk, are 5 plaques, including the Desiderata.

 

They provide comfort, and inspiration, in moments when I feel down.

 

Difficult times may be ahead, but I've also got Nikita, & Elvira, at my side, as Best Buds, Creative Inspiration, Cheerleaders, and Study Buddies, which is all a great comfort to me. ;-D

 

The first 2 months unemployed have not gone the way I expected them to.

 

I applied for, and got Unemployment, and went to a Job Center for assistance.

 

In order to get the chance to see someone about Retraining I had to take 4 one day classes: An intro to the center class with a transferable skills assessment  ( The assessment test asked me to choose 35 skill sets, out of 72 choices, then rank them by how important they are to me....then the program spits out a bunch of career options that it says should be right up my alley, and interest, many with supposedly bright futures. ), a hidden job market class, a resume/cover letter class, and an interview class.

 

That skills assessment was amusing, though how helpful it is I am still undecided:

 

I had to group the 35 under 3 headings...

 

My choices:
 
VERY SATISFYING: Investigating, Explaining, Writing, Reading, Precision.
 
MODERATELY: Performing, Persuading, Decision making, Serving, Using Facts, Questioning, Integrity, drive, Flexibility, dependability.
 
SOMEWHAT: Co-operating, Tact, Synthesizing, Analyzing, Using experience, drawing, Visualizing, Conveying Emotions, Editing, Operating, Stamina, Rapid Reaction, Following procedures, Attending to details, Alertness, Caution, Emotional Control, Tolerating Repetition, Tenacity, Efficiency.

 

 

 The test then analyzed the above, and spit out a bunch of Occupations to match, with a score of 30, or above supposedly equaling a Good Match. ;-D

 

Looking at the results I just sat there, and laughed because many of the matches were suited to my skills as a writer.

If I'd had any sense, and proper guidance, I would have gone into writing, and journalism, activities, programs, and studies, in High School, and College, instead of what I did. ;-D

Supposedly I was "building a solid foundation BEFORE looking into re-training, if needed".

By mid September I was assigned a WIA Career Coach (Workforce Investment Act Grant Program is the name of the retraining assisitance program).

 

All fine and dandy, right? Not so fast!

 

After a month of taking the classes they wanted me to take at the career center while waiting for a meeting with my Coach, being assigned another one instead, then re-assigned back, and forth, I finally meet her, in early October, only to have her show me how my meager resume needed revising, then telling me the best chance for getting help, and maybe training, would be to go to the job center in my home city where residents get priority...

Bike Links in the Sidebar

As I update my sidebars in light of the closing of Blogrolling.com I have taken the opportunity to move most of my Cycling Links from my old Cycling Dude Blog to this one.

If you think this is a lot of links...let's just say that this is just a fraction of what can be discovered on the internet if you know where to look. ;-D

With Nikita Cat as Bodyguard I Went and Voted!

 

I hope that, whatever your preferences, you vote today.

Doing so is the most important thing a citizen of the United States of America, the Freeist nation in the world, for well over 200 years, can do.

 

For the full report by Nikita, with 4 more photos, go here:

Voter Takes Pussy to Polls as Witness, and Protector! ;-D