An effort in writing

This poem will stay at the top, as a reminder that I once really wanted to be a writer and even after all the confidence this poem gave me, it may have taken 21 years to become a writer. The poem was published in the graduation ceremony program for the Los Amigos Class of 1988. Unfortunately, in the final published program, they deleted the word, "damn", so as not to offend anyone.

This is my first blog entry. I'm conflicted about publicly writing about my life. However, in an effort to start writing again, I think this is the best way to practice and get better. I realize the public part is a double edged sword. I welcome constructive criticism and I'm wary of random comments of meanness but I'll manage. And already, my English Professor's voice is in my ear, "NO run on sentences". Well, for some reason I love a comma, periods are to finite and I think with commas, endless thoughts, not so much periods.

Also, rather than list "things to know about me", I'm going to try to write stories as a way to get to know me. I can guarantee that the initial postings will be boring and rough, so be warned.

I am currently unemployed. It is actually the first time in my life where I am not working for an extended period of time. I was initially excited about the possibilities but given the current economic situation, my excitement has turned to worry and desperation.

My first job was at the ripe age of 13 years old, working for the Orange County Register newspaper. I worked in a garage in Fountain Valley, stuffing the inserts into the newspaper sections for the Saturday and Sunday edition. It was monotonous, fun, boring and paid very little but enough for me to buy albums and my own clothes! This is 1982, so yes albums and cassettes.

I've never gone longer than 3 months without a job. The last time I was unemployed was back in 2004 and the market was full of many possibilities.

After the OC Register, was Burger King, then there was Miller's Outpost in the Westminster Mall. I vaguely remember working for a flower shop after this, somewhere on Harbor in Santa Ana. This was with the ROP program, through the school district.

Finally at the young age of 18, I started working at Sam Goody in Costa Mesa. Had a long run at Sam Goody, too long probably; 4 years. Then there was Blossom's a Florist, another flower shop. After that was Bayliner boats in Newport Beach. There was an exchange company I worked at briefly but vaguely remember it. Next was Executive Express in Newport Beach.

I'm 27, no college degree (after 3 years of community college) and no idea what I want to do with my life. Well, I knew I wanted to have fun and be rich (don't we all) but there was still a nagging voice in the back of my head that kept me from reaching my full potential and I wouldn't listen to that voice until I moved to San Francisco in 1997.

NOTE to Eddy: fill in missing info on each job, some interesting story, memory, if any.