Mad Macedonian

Prompting Yourself to Write 31: Write About a Ceremony...

Write about a ceremony...

(Set a Timer for 15 minutes, and write non-stop.)

High School graduation was a time of celebration, for my parents who never graduated from High School, and who reveled in the fact that their oldest would do so, and for me as it meant the first step taken, besides registering to vote, in my journey into adulthood, having recently turned 18, that spring of 1978.

It was a time of celebration for my school principal, Mr. Walsh, who had asked for instructions on how to properly pronounce my name, so he would not embarrass himself in front of the student body, their parents, and family, and the assembled members of the press assigned to cover the festivities. ;-D

The proud look of accomplishment, when he succeeded in his mission, and presented me with my diploma, was a wonder to behold. :-D

It was also a time of celebration, no doubt, for all my teachers.

I imagined them holding a major celebration, in the Teacher's Lounge, hoisting drinks in open relief that they had survivied 4 years of having to try to pronounce my name everyday, and failing miserably. :-D

The joy they felt was obvious, and palpable, as they cheered the notion that they would never have to deal with my last name ever again...

I didn't have the heart to tell them I had one sister 5 years younger than me, and another 8 years younger, in the pipeline! :-D

Let them have their fun...they earned it. :-D

NOTE: Prompt taken from A Writer's Book of Days (Original Ed.) by Judy Reeves.

If you attempt the prompt on your own blog leave a link in the comments. :-D

Visiting the Inland Empire, & connecting with the Old, & the New #2

After learning about the completed Muti-Use Trail (See part 1), I took a little ride, around the corner, off First Street, and Mills, and passed the old home where my Godparents had lived, which was near the apartments where My parents had lived when they got married, and returned to, a decade later, with a growing family.

As I did so I saw a Black Cat, strolling as bold as you please, along the sidewalk, and took a couple of photos. :-D

After a stop at an old used bookstore that I used to frequent, in the 80's & 90's, on Arrow Hwy., in Montclair, and a visit to the Montclair Plaza, I took the bus to old towne Ontario, on Euclid, north of Holt Ave.

My intent was to visit the only store left in a chain of bookstores that once ruled the Inland Empire book trade, from 1957 (when this store opened) to the 1990's, before Barnes & Noble, & Borders, came on the local scene.

I had worked for the family owned chain, Newsboy Books and Video, from 1984 to 2001, the last 11 of those years as a store manager.

When I arrived, and peeked in the door, Roberta Gingold, the wife of Jack, the owner, was behind the counter, with her back to me, and when she turned her now graying red-headed noggin around, the look on her face showed that she was genuinely glad to see me afte 11 long years. :-D

We spent an hour chatting about old times, and former co-workers, and catching up on the last decade of life, as I wandered around the old place, and the memories of good times in my very first career, came back to me. :-D

Newsboy has spent the last 20 years struggling to survive, and find its proper place, in a world of the internet, Amazon, huge chain stores, places like Target, & Walmart, and that it has done so, even if just 1 store, and not 6 as in the glory days, while the likes of Borders is no more, says something...just what, I don't exactly know. :-D

I met, and chatted with Pam, their loyal employee of the past decade, and was glad to hear that she knew who I was, and that the Gingolds thought enough about my career with the company to share stories of me in those years.

It truly meant a lot. 

Visiting the Inland Empire, & connecting with the Old, & the New #1

Yesterday I spent the day bussing, and biking, around my old stomping grounds of the Inland Empire, far to the east of Los Angeles.

It was a chance to pay my respects to friends no longer with us, and a friend still alive and well. :-D

It was a trip down memory lane, and a trip along a bike trail that didn't exist when I moved away in 2001.

It was a chance for photos, both serious, and amusing.

It was a chance to give my still recovering ankle a bit of a workout more strenous than the physical therapy I'm currently putting it through.

I began the day with a visit to Oak Park Cemetery, in Claremont, hallowed ground that is over 100 years old.

My Godfather, Nicholai Dieduch, was buried there in 1972, and I recently learned from the oldest daughter, Nina, that my Godmother, Frances, had passed away in 2006.

I arrived to find that someone had recently left some flowers, and I sat on a nearby stone bench, eating a packed breakfast, and remembering the wondeful voice, filled with laughter, and a joyous sense of humor, that was my Godmother.

The couple had been close friends of my parents since the mid-50's, and helped at my baptism, the year I was born, in 1960.

I grew up playing with their youngest daughter, Natalia, who was my age. :-D

Filling Up the Creative Well: Cafe Crawling in LA

Julia Cameron writes, in The Artist's Way, about filling the well, refreshing your creative reserves, by taking the time to nurture your creative consciousness, your inner artist, or writer, by doing something, or going somewhere, alone, just you, and yourself, once, or twice, a week, or more even if what you do takes just a couple of hours of your time.

The idea is that the experiences would open yourself to "insight, inspiration, and guidance".

Have fun, relax, find ways to nurture yourself, bond with, and build, or further develope, your creative side.

Readers of this blog, and Meowsings, have read of the things I've done, the places I've been, since the Summer, then early Fall, and my beginning to read The Artist's Way.

I've always gone places, and done things, when time allowed, from bike rides, and movie going, to zoos, and museums, and 3 trips out of state over the last decade, ever since I was a teen, but until I took up blogging never considered using those experiences for writing purposes.

And certainly never considered doing so in the ways I have the past 2 years, and begun to consider more recently.

On Saturday I hopped the bus, and travelled around LA, Brentwood, West Hollywood, Hollywood, and Studio City, looking to inspire myself by visiting, and spending a little time in, 4 Cafes with reputations for being Writer's Havens, and Hangouts.

Spending a lot of money on breakfast, lunch, and dinner, was out of the question, even more so once I got a look at the menus, and prices, at these places, but I actually lost 2 lbs. despite what eating I did do. :-D

I had breakfast at The Literati Cafe, in Brentwood, sitting at a small table in a corner by the front door, the most peaceful place in a packed, and noisy, establishment.

 

Then I grabbed a snack at Insomnia, a small, intimate, and quiet, little place on Beverly, near La Brea, in a heavily Jewish part of town, where it was not at all odd to see grown men in black suits, and hats, wearing long black beards, walking down the street, and 3 pre-teens, also Orthodox, and dressed in black, being silly with each other as they walked along, no adults on hand to make them behave.

Insomnia had a set of bookshelves, on a wall, set high off the floor, and on those shelves were a collection of very old books, many of them no doubt from the 19th century.

The place was also immortalized on The Bold & the Beautiful Soaps.

 

Prompting Yourself to Write 30: 666th Blog Post Promptapalozza!

Welcome friends, fans, and strangers, alike!

This is the 666th post on Musings Of a Mad Macedonian, since I begn this blog on October 8th, 2007, after retiring my first blog after 5 1/2 years. :-D

Nikita was there, alongside me, from the beginning, as he had been with the first one.

Nikita joins me, today, submitting one of the 2 Writing Prompts to be shared in this entry.

As regulars know, he can now be found, alongside his protege, Elvira Mistress of Felinity, over at Meowsings of an Opinionated Pussycat.

My offering...

Once, when no-one was looking...

(Set a Timer for 15 minutes, and write non-stop.)

I remember it like it was yesterday...

We had recently moved into our new home on Merrywood St., in 1969, and I was 9 years old.

Around the corner was a Shopping Bag Market, and we used to walk around the corner, my Mom, and I, so she could do grocery shopping, while Dad watched my muh younger sisters.

This was a year before he became ill, and all was hunky dory in our lives.

One day we went to the market &, as we ventured up, and down, the aisles I happened to spot an open bag of M & M's.

Woo Hoo! Jackpot! :-D

I picked it up, and as Mom continued shopping, oblivious, I munched away quite happily. ;-D

After paying, and loading up the bags, we headed out into the parking lot.

As we approached our street corner Mom suddenly noticed me, and my prize. :-D

She asked me where I got it.

I can not tell a lie!

I told her I saw the open bag on a shelf, and thought, finders keepers, losers weepers, or something along those line, typical of the thinking of a 9 year old.

She promptly marched me, and the bag, with only 2 M & M's left in it, back to the store, made me turn it in, and apologize for stealing it.

I was humuliated!

Needless to say I never, ever, stole anything again. :-D

 

Limericks of a Mad Macedonian #1

Consider the Limerick...

A light humorous, nonsensical (Or even sensical, even pointed, in its purpose!), or bawdy verse of five anapestic lines usually with the rhyme scheme AABBA.

Yesterday, I bought a book for $4, at a Used Bookstore/Newsstand, in West Hollywood (Also a location in Silverlake, too!), well known for its, um, risque, merchandise, aimed at a Gay, and even Straight, clientele (The places I'll venture into, for a good book, I swear!). :-D

Circus of Books, if you must know. :-D

The last time I'd ventured into the place was 20 years ago. :-D

The book I found? The New Limerick, 2nd series edited by G. Legman.

700 pages, and over 2700 Limericks. :-D

Anyway, while thumbing through it, this morning, inspirations suddenly struck....

1. Have you heard of the President name Obama
Whose hunger for more Government control causes true patriots much drama?
He pays no attention
Prefering Freedom prevention,
Over the wisdom of the Constitution, ha, ha!

2. The President named Obama was a smooth Cat,
Whom the citizens got riled up at.
He unveiled his policies with deception,
Fooling many who had no perception;
Getting the Press to report he didn't do, or mean, that.

3. An astonished electorate named America
Found its President abnormally wrong.
His policies from Banking to Sex
They were angered by their effects,
But with elections to come, believed dumping him wouldn't take long.

4. "All right, you Liberals, and Progressives!" cried The One,
'Of the Constitution there'll be lots of thwartin'.
My Republican opponent may be
A freedom loving capitalist--not me!--
So please help make sure my reign isn't a short'un!"

It May All have Started With Marx, But Is It Continuing With Obama?

Growing up in Pomona, in the 70's, & 80's, my peculiar Sense of Humor was influenced by many sources, often courtesy of the Dr. Demento Show, but writers also were influential.

One such author was a local legend, in Pomona, and Claremont, Ca.

Prolific, outspoken humorist, poet, author (More than 65 books!), and Porfessor of English, Richard Armour. :-D

I devoured any of his books I could rescue from local Thrift Stores for pennies.

Yesterday, at a local library, I discovered a book I missed. :-D

It was written in 1958, and is described this way:

"A brief and objective history of Russian Communism, the objective being to leave not one stone, but many, unturned, to state the theories of Marx so clearly that they can almost be understood, and to show how these theories and many old friends were carried out by Lenin, Trotsky, Stalin, Malenkov, Krushchev, and others."

IT ALL STARTED WITH MARX. :-D

The copy I picked up, for a $1, was the British Hardcover, published in 1959.

From the Forward:

"Once upon a time there was no such thing as Communism. People ignorantly toiled and saved, hoping to Get Ahead like the heroes in Horation Alger's books, which they forgot were fiction...

Lacking vision, many were unable to see anything shameful about accepting the rewards of industry and thrift...

There were also those who believed in some sort of Deity, or at least had an uneasy feeling that there was something bigger than the Head Man. They did not know, until it was pointed out by Marx, that religion is the opium of the people and should be sold only on prescription...

Conditions were dreadful, with so much freedom and family life and churchgoing and money in the bank. Something had to be done, and quickly, or the Decline of the West would be followed by the Debacle of the East, and the North, and South would come tumbling after...

This book, dedicated to the proposition that all men are created, tells how a new philosophy arose to fill the void and how it swept men's minds like wildfire, burning them to a crisp..."

Armour went through many original & unoriginal sources, and claimed to have interviewed many people who have never been to Russia. :-D

His scholarship is, as he brags, "not only beyond question, but beyond belief!"

Anyone seeking a trustworthy account of the History of Communism, and Socialism, and some idea of what we quite possibly might be in for in America, and the West, if Barrack Obama is re-elected, and Europe continues its leadlong dash down the Rat Hole of their own Socialist making, need go no farther than this book. :-D

NOTE: The Font used for Obama saying "Yes we Can!" is Vladimir Script...as in Vladimir Lenin. :-D

Prompting Yourself to Write 29: Write About Bathing...

Write about bathing...

(Set a Timer for 15 minutes, and write non-stop.)

Rub a dub, dub, 3 men in a tub...just not MINE!

SCRAM! Get yer own damn bathtub, dudes!

Now, where was I?

Oh, yeah...bathing. :-D

I'm 5'10", & haven't taken a bath since my college days, except for the time after my broken ankle, last year.

Had to switch to showering because it wasn't as comfy to stretch out in the tub, anymore, for a good soak, and an hour, alone, with a good book, or the latest issue of my favorite magazine. :-D

From the time I was around 12 years old, reading in the tub was a favorite pasttime.

It began when I Drew my bath, hopped in, & invited Nancy, Bess, & George to join me for a, um, soak... Ned Nickerson, and his pals, could kiss my ass!

Getting myself clean took 2nd place in my "To Do List", at Bath Time, hee, hee! :-D

Sadly, the Good Times had to end when I got too big for the tub.

Thye probably make bigger tubs, these days, big enough to accomodate 7 ft. tall basketball players, but I'll never see one. :-D

I learned pretty quickly that reading, while standing in the shower is just not the same relaxing experience as doing so in the tub, so gave up, surrendering to the purpose showers were intended.

My life was changed forever...

Oh, woe is me...

NOTE: Prompt taken from A Writer's Book of Days (Original Ed.) by Judy Reeves.

If you attempt the prompt on your own blog leave a link in the comments. :-D

 

Prompting Yourself to Write 28: A Year After Your Death...

A year after your death...

(Set a Timer for 15 minutes, and write non-stop.)

A year after the death of Kiril The Mad  Macedonian, at the ripe old age of 110, friends, and fans, of the Cat stories, poems, and more, originally published on the blog of his Cats Nikita, Elvira, and those that followed, and later collected into book, and other media formats, to great acclaim, gathered at the writer's haven he founded, at age 65, called The Litter Box Cafe.

Old style Cat Bloggers, and writers, and film directors, and those in newer media forms, inspired by the work of his Felines, gathered for a weekend of poetry readings, storytelling, memory sharing, and showing off of Cats of all varieties, all to raise money for his favorite local shelter.

Although he'd been unable to have Cats in his life since the last one died, when Kiril was 100, he continued to be active in the Cat Writing Community until the day he died.

Everyone laughed, when sharing the story of how he'd died, as it was just like him to go out that way.

Seeing a Cat on the banks of the nearby river, where the rest home was, and apparently concerned about its safety, he'd grabbed his walker, slipped past his minders, and went for a look see.

It was an hour before anyone noticed he was gone, and it took seeing a cat at the windows, and following it, before someone found Kiril's body lying peacefully on the shore with 3 Kittens at his side.

A Mother Cat, and her Kittens, the last recue of his life.

As the latest in the decades old  Golden Paw Awards, named after his Tortie, the legendary Elvira Mistress of Felinity (Died age 25), were celebrated, the last evening came to a rousing conclusion.

His writing, his messages, and those of his Cats, and his mission in life, were all in good hands...and paws.

NOTE: Prompt taken from A Writer's Book of Days (Original Ed.) by Judy Reeves.

If you attempt the prompt on your own blog leave a link in the comments. :-D

Prompting Yourself to Write 27: Write About a Day Moon...

Write  About a Day Moon...

(Set a Timer for 15 minutes, and write non-stop.)

Have you ever noticed that when a Full Moon rises during a clear blue sky afternoon...weird things tend to happen?

I know, me neither, until the day before yesterday, that is.

I got off the bus, at Mile Square Park, and just happened to glance up, and to the east, and there it was plain as the nose on your face.

As I walked along the path, in the park, I felt a cool breeze and, suddenly, felt like someone was watching me...

I turned around, and saw a large Squirrel in the path intently watching me.

 As I neared the corner I heard loud chattering behind me, turned around, and saw a dozen larger Squirrels in the path chattering at each otehr, and glancing in my direction.

Just a coincidence, I thought, your're tired after a long  morning at the Swap Meet.

When my next bus came, and I got on, I settled in for a little nap since I was going to the end of the line.

All of a sudden I was awakened by that chattering noise, and sat up to see that all the seats on the bus were full of very large chattering Squirrels, and even the bus driver was a giant Squirrel!

At the next light I got up, barged to the exit, and leaped off the bus!

I spotted a cop, at the donut shop on the corner, ran up to him, and told him about the bus, and Squirrels...

 

As I sit here, this evening, in a padded cell, writing my story down on paper, for the jail psychiatrist, I can only hope that someone, ANYONE, will believe me, since no-one here does...otherwise, I'm screwed!

 

NOTE: Squirrel photographed in the rocks, near the Richard Henry Dana Jr. Statue, at Dana Point Harbor, yesterday evening about 530pm. :-D

NOTE: Prompt taken from A Writer's Book of Days (Original Ed.) by Judy Reeves.

If you attempt the prompt on your own blog leave a link in the comments. :-D