Mad Macedonian

100 Word Musings 3 (A Revival): New Year's Resolution

Good Morning friends, and fans, of Musings of a Mad Macedonian.

Yappy Hew Near, one and all! :-D

How do ya like my portrait?

This caricature was done by a wonderful young artist named Oscar, at Knott's Berry Farm, in a 1/2 hour sitting, earlier this month, based on my telling him about my creative writing/journalism work, with Nikita & Elvira Mistress of Felinity, at Meowsings of an Opinionated Pussycat. :-D

I went to Knott's to relax, and be inspired creatively, and this image now hangs next to my desk as a reminder of who I am, and of my creative talent, and potential, as I head into 2012.

 Reviving 100 Word Musings as part of a more creative 2012.

In July 2010 I was inspired by the 100 Word Stories Series to try my hand at the form, and so wrote a piece called "What Thanks Do I Get?" :-D

Nearly 2 months later I became voluntarily unemployed when I accepted the Downsizing Buyout at my last job.

Somewhat distracted, for a while, I didn't attempt another one until last January: The Golden String.

Then I was distracted again, especially by something that happened at the end of May. :-D

It's been an eventful year, and yesterday I went for a walk in Clark Regional Park, to think, and write.

I soon find myself sitting at a picnic table, clipboard, and notebook, before me, pen in hand...

New Year's Resolution

In a quiet corner of the park the writer, unemployed, recovering from a broken ankle, contemplates the idea of change, and new beginnings, at the mid point of his life.

After starting the year learning new skills, reading for inspiration, and creating on his blogs, a summer of fear, and doubt, affected his life.

Turning to reading for faith, now, as well as creative inspiration, the writer began to think in new ways about the future, and where he wanted to go, and what he wanted to do.

He resolved that 2012 would be the best year of his life.

An occasional car rolled by on a road near where I sat, and I could hear children playing on the park playground, and ducks expressing their opinions in a nearby lake....

 

Musings at Christmas

Merry Christmas, everyone!

This scene, from my visit to Mission San Juan Capistrano, a few days ago, captures perfectly what the Season is really all about.

I bought this wonderful plaque while I was there...

 

As well as this pin that will be stuck on my hat as a reminder of my Cats, & our mutual love for each other, and for creative inspiration.

Speaking of Nikita, and Elvira Mistress of Felinity, here is their Christmas Eve entry, with photos, and remarks about their gifts.

I'll have more on my visit to the Mission, soon.

 

 

I Went to Knott's Berry Farm and All I Got was...

Creative Inspiration! :-D

I had not been to Knott's Berry Farm at least since some time in the 90's, maybe much earlier, and with the opportunity of free admission, with a $20 New Toy purchase & donation, I decided now was as good a time as any for a return engagement.

I have old photos of my Mom, and her brothers, visiting the place in the 1950's, playing dress up, and having a blast.

Last Saturday began clear, and a little breezy, but by the time I got there it had clouded up, and was sprinkling. It soon stopped, however, and held off until I was headed home in the evening.

It was a much needed, very special, day.

I went not to go on any of the rides (Roller Coasters, & I, are not compatable, hee, hee!), but to soak in the atmosphere, & take in the performances of fellow creative artists performing in the stage shows, and working various booths, and in the Christmas parade.

It was a fun, relaxing, afternoon, that sparked my creativity in several ways...one voluntarily, & one where I found myself "Drafted" into performing.

( And of course poetically...

Here Lies The Mad Macedonian

Writer, Poet, Humorist, Storyteller

He Lived to Tell Tales

With More than a Little Baloney In!

Hee, hee! )

I walked around the Ghost Town, and Old West Village, sitting, & resting my ankle often.

I experienced the hilarious Wild West Stunt Show, and the amusing, yet contemplative, Mystery Lodge Indian Storyteller Show, and the entertaining Aztec Dance Trio performance.

Oh, and there was the Calico Saloon Show, and my being "Drafted" into the performance... :-D

 

Air Poetry 2: Priority? You Can't Handle Priority!

 

Priority? You Can't Handle Priority!

You want to go Priority?

I can handle it.

I remember you!

I'm cold!

Sit the fuck down, already!

Thank you.

You're welcome!

You ALWAYS say that!

What?

I'd rather be half friends than have no friends at all.

Well, Happy New Year, to you, too!

Hold on!

Can you hear me, now?

If you want.

I'm sure.

THAT'S weird.

I try.

Alrighty!

( Overheard on his travels by Kiril Kundurazieff )

---------------------

Missed the first one? Wondering WTH is this? :-D

Air Poetry 1: I Swear, the Things One Overhears...

Air Poetry 3: It's Not Important

 

Merry Christmas and a Yappy Hew Near!

A Tip of the Hat, for the Helen Keller quote, to my friend Brenda Bowen!

A Creative Writer's Prayer

 Two months ago I bought the 3 Julia Cameron books in her Artist's Way Trilogy, the Morning Pages Journal, and the Artist's Way Workbook, and am beginning week 5 of the initial Artist's Way Program.

Artist's way is described as a Spiritual Path to higher creativity, a personal journey of discovery of a better, more creative, you, not just career-wise, but personally, as well.

Like other books I've read this year it has given me food for thought, especially by requiring me to think about a lot of things, and put my thoughts down on paper.

Cameron's writing gave me a collection of new "Thoughts to Start the Day" to add to a list I began after reading Norman Vincent Peale:

1. Creativity is the natural order of life. Life is energy: Pure creative energy!

2. There is an underlying, in-dwelling, Creative force infusing all of life - including myself.

3.  When I open myself to my Creativity, I open myself to the Creator's Creativity within me and my life.

4.  I am, myself, a Creation. And I, in turn, am meant to continue Creativity by being creative myself.

5. Creativity is God's Gift to me! Using my Creativity is my gift back to God!

6. The refusal to be Creative is self-will and is counter to our true nature.

7. When I open myself to exploring my Creativity, I open myself to God: Good Orderly Direction.

8. As I open my Creative Channel  to the Creator, many gentle but powerful changes are to be expected.

9.  It is safe to open myself up to greator and greator Creativity.

10. My Creative dreams and yearnings come from a Divine source. As I move toward my dreams, I move toward my Divinity.

It doesn't matter what I did in the past, it only matters what I do in the future...

I do not know what the future may hold, but I am doing my best to develope the faith, and skills, and ideas, that will guide me in the direction my life is meant to go next.

A year ago who would have thought that my ongoing efforts at learning new computer skills, and self-examination, and new creative stirrings, of the past year,  not to mention breaking an ankle, and trying to recover from it as best I can, would lead me to write a prayer? :-D

Over the last few days I first went and spent a morning walking around a Swap Meet, in Santa Fe Springs, then spent yesterday in Laguna Beach, visiting an art gallery, and a popular independent bookstore, Laguna Beach Books, ending the day, sitting on the steps above a famous stretch of beach, at the end of  nearby Brooks St.

It was while there, looking out at the ocean (Thank You to several folks, who also stopped to take in the view, for taking photos for me!), and reading the Artist's Way, & AW Workbook, as well as Julia's "Artist's Prayer", that I began formulating the rough draft of the piece below (An Artist's Way Task for Week 4), finished at my desk this morning.

A Creative Writer's Prayer by Kiril "The Mad Macedonian" Kundurazieff (Copyright 2011)

(With input, & approval, from my Cats, & fellow Bloggers/Creative Writers,  Nikita Cat, & Elvira Mistress of Felinity)

Oh Lord in heaven
I come to You, as a humble creator of words,
Before the Creator of all living things, & the planet we live on,
Asking that I may be of service to You, and others, in how I live, & write.
I offer myself to You as a vessel, & tool, for good.
I offer myself to Your Creativity in my life.
I humbly surrender to You my old ideas, concerns, and fears.
I welcome Your new, and more expansive, ideas into my life.
I trust that You will lead me down the right path.
I trust that it is safe to follow You down that road to a better life, and future, personally, and creatively.
I know that I am Your creation, and that creativity is Your nature, and my own.
I ask You to unfold my life according to Your plan, not my low self-worth.
Please help me to believe that it is not too late, and that I'm not too small,
or too flawed, to be healed by You, and made whole.
Help me to help others discover, and share, their own creativity, as You helped me discover, and share mine.
Help me to know that I am not alone, that I am loved, and lovable.
Help me to create as an act of worship to You, and an act of spreading joy, humor, news, and information, to the world.

Amen....

****I have no idea how many people will even read this, but comments are welcome and, if you like what you have read, please share, and spread the word to anyone who you think may find this food for thought.

Thank You for stopping by.

Air Poetry 1: I Swear, the Things One Overhears...

...You just won't believe how you can turn it to your creative advantage. ;-D

There you are walking down the street, through the mall, in a store, at a ball game, in a public rest room, on a bus, or sitting in your 2nd floor apartment with the window open, and people in the street below, actually just about anywhere where you are around other people...and can hear what they are saying...to their companion, to a clerk, on a cell phone, or yelling at a ball game, or in a bathroom where all the stalls are occupied, and someone is hopping up, & down, in desperate straights...

Have you ever thought to write down what you hear, and how those random scraps of overheard conversations, when strung together, in the order heard, often have an interesting sort of poetry about the result?

Patty Mooney did.

Of course, the notion came only after 40 years of writing poetry.

Hey, better late than never! ;-D

As she writes: "Now, suddenly, the skies have parted to reveal an unfathomably huge reservoir of poetry, a free-for-all of poems that are ripe for swiping out of the air with a virtual butterfly net.  Anyone can do it."

She first blogged about this new, fun, idea for poetry, on her personal blog, last July, and it's an interesting essay.

Experimental, quirky, funny, long, short, nonsensical, thought-provoking? All of the above, and more.

Don't try TOO HARD to overhear things; keep a notepad handy and just let it come to you naturally.

And, trust me, it's easier than you might think to know when you have the last line of a particular poem.

Visit Air Poetry, & it's Facebook Page as well. ;-D

While riding the bus, earlier in the week, I decided to givie this a shot.

The idea is to jot things down, thus creating a poem from snatches in the order "received", and these were the 3 results I ended up with the first time I attempted it.

Tell me what you think in the comments. ;-D

1. You are just in time,

The bus should be here any minute.

That's OK, I just sat down to light a cigarette...

Oh, man! I think I left my cigarettes at home!

Have a nice day!

 

2. At least in Orange they don't have high standards.

Excuse me, what is the zip code here?

I don't know, I live in the next zip code over!

Well, what is that zip code?

92706

 

3. Did your Mom get hurt?

I made extra.

She was fucking ugly.

Good!

( Overheard on his travels by Kiril Kundurazieff )

Air Poetry 2: Priority? You Can't Handle Priority!

Laguna Beach People's Council Too Stoned to Critique Poetry, and Stories?

In the city of Laguna Beach can be found what many call the Creative, & Artistic, capital of South OC, if not all of Orange County.

Art, and the written & spoken word, are things on sale, display, and performed, through out the year, and at special events during certain times of the year only.

As readers know I, as well as Nikita, & Elvira Mistress of Felinity, my 2 Cats, are creative writers, poets, storytellers, and amateur journalists, with hopes, and dreams, regarding our collective talents. :-D

After spending some time, the other afternoon, visiting The Poet's Table, in Huntington Beach, I decided to head on over to Laguna Beach.

As readers also know I've given a couple of Public Presentations (REI, & Riverside Bicycle Club), and performed twice at Poetry Open Mics (Including locally at The Ugly Mug), over the years.

I want to do more of both, as well as do more with Meowsings of an Opinionated Pussycat, with Nikita, & Elvira and, maybe, even someday become an article contributor (print, or online), or book author.

In order to do more with the blogs, & publishing notions, I have to find ways to attract audiences that are not made up mostly of visitors doing Google Searches, and the 2000 spam comments a day that Meowsings attracts. ;-D

When I heard about a small group of creative types, billing themselves as "The People's Council", who have hung out, daily, since 2006, on the same street corner, between the Laguna Beach Police, and Fire Depts., downtown, I decided to pay them a visit.

I figured why not share some of my, & the Cats, stories, & poetry, with these folks, and get their opinions, and advice?

So, off I went, on the bus down PCH, all full of confidence, and hope! :-D

When I arrived I discovered that the group actually consisted of 2 men, & a woman, & that one of the men was a Dog Person (A rather promising discovery, I thought.), and the woman had a way with Birds.

As I proceeded to introduce myself I couldn't help but notice how silent they were.

Maybe they were meditating, I thought.

Afterall, at their feet, in a circle, were the words Safety, Happiness, Strength, Victory, Wealth, Success, Love, Fertility, Peace, Freedom, Health, and Justice.

As I proceeded to read some of my work, and that of the Cats,  they just stared at me, not budging an inch, refraining from giving any sort of feedback, positive, or negative.

They didn't even call the cops on me for, um, occupying their space, & ruining their day! ;-D