ASK A BUSINESS PERSON
I ran into the Editor of the Southern Voice recently at a GLBT Travel Expo.
"..how does one become a Columnist?" I asked "...I have an idea for a column."
He was gentle spirit. He slipped me his card. "Well, send me an email," he said "...what's your idea for a column?"
"It's a cross between Dear Abbey and that feeling if you don't get advice soon you're going to bash the competition ---or better yet a Co-Worker---in an upcoming business presentation."
The Editor smiled.
"I write all the time, and would bring in re-enforcements to make sure I was giving the best advice."
"Shoot me an email," he said, "...we'll talk."
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
Long Strange Trip
Thanks for sticking with me. Since we've last talked I have been involved with a bunch of projects!
The biggest news...my softball team traveled to Seattle, Washington and won 2nd place at the GSWS.
More news to follow!
The biggest news...my softball team traveled to Seattle, Washington and won 2nd place at the GSWS.
More news to follow!
Friday, April 4, 2008
Blog Sabbatical
I have taken a "Raise..." Sabbatical to create and publish "Manley...with horns!"
In December of 2007 my Editor, Judy Bozarth, suggested:"...write something from experience, something you totally believe in."
"...I've been through brain surgery. Hell, I believe I'm lucky, in a sense." I had whispered.
For a brief moment, she and I looked at each other. We exchanged the silent familiar heartaches.
"WRITE about IT." Judy said. "You may have to start over. But write it."
Here is the Prologue to my story, about a 7-year old boy who awakes one day with antlers. It's a story for anybody who is still a kid, and on the inside fears the old game, OPERATION.
------------
PROLOGUE (Atlanta) Under a birch tree during a freak rainstorm I looked-up from my winter cap to see two protruding branches going forward about seventeen feet!
It looked like I had antlers.I wondered what it would be like to wake up and have a pair of horns---like antlers?
I moved my head from side-to-side as if the tree branch antlers above would move with me! Ridiculous.
As I stood there in the rain, under the trunk's protective branches I thought about how one morning I had awaken to antlers, of sort.
That October 2005 morning during a normal visit to my doctor, I learned that I had a brain tumor.
Lucky---mine was the most common non-cancerous tumor, a Pituitary Adenoma. The doctor said it was a mass on my pituitary gland, inhibiting it from producing (important body hormones such as, in my case), testosterone.
As a Blanket Statement my mother always said "...men never go the doctor unless it's about their You-Know-Whats" and in my case, well...that was part of the reason.
I felt like my energy level was very low, and I rarely wanted to work-out at the gym. I just needed testosterone--- yet had a tumor that "wasn't life threatening but WAS libido & vision threatening,".
It was scary.I worked my way through that problem, with the help of many people, including Ron Leathers. THANKS to everyone for that.
So under the limb of that tree I began to create a synopsis for a children's book: Manley---with Horns! ...which would be a metaphor about the entire tumor experience.
Imagine:
Something is identified as being there, and needing to be removed. Surgery would await and all the scary micro seconds that entailed including hours of laying in a hospital bed. Dealing with crying relatives and others who seemed to think the surgery meant certain death!
Recovery, and all the strange dreams that went along with being drugged so one can heal. Actually learning to walk again, and hold your head up without feeling so dizzy your head might fall and burst like an melon on the floor! Reflection, and whether that was even done, or done properly.
The story sounds heavy,but it is told with humor and a light tone.
However unique the experience was to me, the event is not mine to own. ---RR
For a Preview, visit: http://www.raymacon.blogspot.com
In December of 2007 my Editor, Judy Bozarth, suggested:"...write something from experience, something you totally believe in."
"...I've been through brain surgery. Hell, I believe I'm lucky, in a sense." I had whispered.
For a brief moment, she and I looked at each other. We exchanged the silent familiar heartaches.
"WRITE about IT." Judy said. "You may have to start over. But write it."
Here is the Prologue to my story, about a 7-year old boy who awakes one day with antlers. It's a story for anybody who is still a kid, and on the inside fears the old game, OPERATION.
------------
PROLOGUE (Atlanta) Under a birch tree during a freak rainstorm I looked-up from my winter cap to see two protruding branches going forward about seventeen feet!
It looked like I had antlers.I wondered what it would be like to wake up and have a pair of horns---like antlers?
I moved my head from side-to-side as if the tree branch antlers above would move with me! Ridiculous.
As I stood there in the rain, under the trunk's protective branches I thought about how one morning I had awaken to antlers, of sort.
That October 2005 morning during a normal visit to my doctor, I learned that I had a brain tumor.
Lucky---mine was the most common non-cancerous tumor, a Pituitary Adenoma. The doctor said it was a mass on my pituitary gland, inhibiting it from producing (important body hormones such as, in my case), testosterone.
As a Blanket Statement my mother always said "...men never go the doctor unless it's about their You-Know-Whats" and in my case, well...that was part of the reason.
I felt like my energy level was very low, and I rarely wanted to work-out at the gym. I just needed testosterone--- yet had a tumor that "wasn't life threatening but WAS libido & vision threatening,".
It was scary.I worked my way through that problem, with the help of many people, including Ron Leathers. THANKS to everyone for that.
So under the limb of that tree I began to create a synopsis for a children's book: Manley---with Horns! ...which would be a metaphor about the entire tumor experience.
Imagine:
Something is identified as being there, and needing to be removed. Surgery would await and all the scary micro seconds that entailed including hours of laying in a hospital bed. Dealing with crying relatives and others who seemed to think the surgery meant certain death!
Recovery, and all the strange dreams that went along with being drugged so one can heal. Actually learning to walk again, and hold your head up without feeling so dizzy your head might fall and burst like an melon on the floor! Reflection, and whether that was even done, or done properly.
The story sounds heavy,but it is told with humor and a light tone.
However unique the experience was to me, the event is not mine to own. ---RR
For a Preview, visit: http://www.raymacon.blogspot.com
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Manly---with Horns! by Ray Macon
Imagine waking one day with a pair of antlers!
...You sleep on your back, don't you?
http://www.raymacon.blogspot.com
...You sleep on your back, don't you?
http://www.raymacon.blogspot.com
Friday, January 11, 2008
Synopsis: Manly---with horns!
Under a birch tree during a freak rainstorm I looked-up from my winter cap from my forehead to see two protruding branches going forward about seventeen feet! It looked like I had antlers!
I wonder what it would be like to wake up one morning and have a pair of horns like antlers? I moved my head from side-to-side as if the tree branch antlers would move with me! Ridiculous.
As I stood there in the rain, under the trunk's protective branches I thought about how one morning I had awaken to antlers, of sort. That October 2005 morning during a normal visit to my doctor, I learned that I had a brain tumor.
Lucky---mine was the most common non-cancerous tumor, a Pituitary Adenoma. The doctor said it was a mass on my pituitary gland, inhibiting it from producing (important body hormones such as, in my case), testosterone.
As a Blanket Statement my mother always said "...men never go the doctor unless it's about their You-Know-Whats" and in my case, well...that was part of the reason. I felt like my energy level was very low, and I rarely wanted to work-out at the gym. I just needed testosterone--- yet had a tumor that "wasn't life threatening but WAS libido & vision threatening,". It was scary.
I worked my way through that problem, with the help of many people, including Ron Leathers. THANKS to everyone for that.
So under the limb of that tree I began to create a synopsis for a children's book: Manly---with Horns! ...which would be a metaphor about the entire tumor experience.
Imagine: Something is identified as being there, and needing to be removed. Surgery would await and all the scary micro seconds that entailed including hours of laying in a hospital bed. Dealing with crying relatives and others who seemed to think the surgery meant certain death! Recovery, and all the strange dreams that went along with being drugged so one can heal. Actually learning to walk again, and hold your head up without feeling so dizzy your head might fall and burst like an melon on the floor! Reflection, and whether that was even done, or done properly.
The story sounds heavy,but it is told with humor and a light tone. However unique the experience was to me, the event is not mine to own. ---RR
---(for complete story go to http://www.raymacon.blogspot.com/
It Begins
One warm spring morning Joseph Manly awoke with a pounding in his head! The pain was mainly on his forehead. "Momma," he called "...I need an aspirin."
He upped from the bed and ran into the bathroom. For several minutes, he ruled the family- sized mirror.
The image showed a boy.
A normal boy in pajamas.
A normal boy except that he had HORNS!
They were small antlers, but horns nonetheless.
Manly's mother, a woman who never missed the small moments in Life, came into the bathroom. When she saw Manly, she screamed! "Darling, what has happened?"
"I dunno!" Manly shrugged and ran back to his bed in a flutter of socks and blankets.
(continued: http://www.raymacon.blogspot.com/ )
I wonder what it would be like to wake up one morning and have a pair of horns like antlers? I moved my head from side-to-side as if the tree branch antlers would move with me! Ridiculous.
As I stood there in the rain, under the trunk's protective branches I thought about how one morning I had awaken to antlers, of sort. That October 2005 morning during a normal visit to my doctor, I learned that I had a brain tumor.
Lucky---mine was the most common non-cancerous tumor, a Pituitary Adenoma. The doctor said it was a mass on my pituitary gland, inhibiting it from producing (important body hormones such as, in my case), testosterone.
As a Blanket Statement my mother always said "...men never go the doctor unless it's about their You-Know-Whats" and in my case, well...that was part of the reason. I felt like my energy level was very low, and I rarely wanted to work-out at the gym. I just needed testosterone--- yet had a tumor that "wasn't life threatening but WAS libido & vision threatening,". It was scary.
I worked my way through that problem, with the help of many people, including Ron Leathers. THANKS to everyone for that.
So under the limb of that tree I began to create a synopsis for a children's book: Manly---with Horns! ...which would be a metaphor about the entire tumor experience.
Imagine: Something is identified as being there, and needing to be removed. Surgery would await and all the scary micro seconds that entailed including hours of laying in a hospital bed. Dealing with crying relatives and others who seemed to think the surgery meant certain death! Recovery, and all the strange dreams that went along with being drugged so one can heal. Actually learning to walk again, and hold your head up without feeling so dizzy your head might fall and burst like an melon on the floor! Reflection, and whether that was even done, or done properly.
The story sounds heavy,but it is told with humor and a light tone. However unique the experience was to me, the event is not mine to own. ---RR
---(for complete story go to http://www.raymacon.blogspot.com/
It Begins
One warm spring morning Joseph Manly awoke with a pounding in his head! The pain was mainly on his forehead. "Momma," he called "...I need an aspirin."
He upped from the bed and ran into the bathroom. For several minutes, he ruled the family- sized mirror.
The image showed a boy.
A normal boy in pajamas.
A normal boy except that he had HORNS!
They were small antlers, but horns nonetheless.
Manly's mother, a woman who never missed the small moments in Life, came into the bathroom. When she saw Manly, she screamed! "Darling, what has happened?"
"I dunno!" Manly shrugged and ran back to his bed in a flutter of socks and blankets.
(continued: http://www.raymacon.blogspot.com/ )
The Page Family Influence
Those of use without vast resources for college must circumvent the Masters degree and MBA by finding a real "winner" to model. One can learn a lot by truly listening to the minute-by-minute conversations from a person we see or observe as "truly successful".
Some families breed success. One such family are the Pages, with four sons.
I work for one of the Page brothers, David Page, owner of Page Enterprises Printing Solutions. At 36 and 200 pounds of bodybuilding muscle, he is a good person.
According to him, he has no enemies. Who really says that?
I have seen him "...take the high road" too many times before to know less!-- David Page has great character.
I owe much of what I have become the past 6 months, since the Cotillion, to David Page. I was tired of being a follower. One day last summer, I awoke resolved to be a leader!
David has been very patient with me, and seems to like me "...without borders". My Life is better today because of his friendship. Thanks to David I have learned a whole new industry and am on my way to being a successful businessman as well.
In his Honor---and as a Token of Thanks, I offer the following poem to everyone who is in the middle of a career change:
The Litany Against Fear
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.I will permit it to pass over me and through me, like a reed on the wind.
And when it has gone past I will turn to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer...
(Taken from DUNE by Frank Herbert)
---------------
*=Puck is often thought of as a mischievous nature spirit. However Puck is also a generalized personification of land spirits. Puck is known in throughout some lands and regions by other names and titles such as the Irish animal spirit.
Some families breed success. One such family are the Pages, with four sons.
I work for one of the Page brothers, David Page, owner of Page Enterprises Printing Solutions. At 36 and 200 pounds of bodybuilding muscle, he is a good person.
According to him, he has no enemies. Who really says that?
I have seen him "...take the high road" too many times before to know less!-- David Page has great character.
I owe much of what I have become the past 6 months, since the Cotillion, to David Page. I was tired of being a follower. One day last summer, I awoke resolved to be a leader!
And what a better role model to follow---David was a brave individual, and a self-made man.
David has been very patient with me, and seems to like me "...without borders". My Life is better today because of his friendship. Thanks to David I have learned a whole new industry and am on my way to being a successful businessman as well.
In his Honor---and as a Token of Thanks, I offer the following poem to everyone who is in the middle of a career change:
The Litany Against Fear
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.I will permit it to pass over me and through me, like a reed on the wind.
And when it has gone past I will turn to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer...
(Taken from DUNE by Frank Herbert)
---------------
*=Puck is often thought of as a mischievous nature spirit. However Puck is also a generalized personification of land spirits. Puck is known in throughout some lands and regions by other names and titles such as the Irish animal spirit.
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