Our Generation

Background:

This week, I found out that at least three, and likely six, of my guitar students are quitting in two weeks. This is difficult, as that represents a significant chunk of my income. And because I no longer work for a music store (GuitarZone being another victim of the recession) I have little ability to quickly fill the lost time slots.

Furthermore, I was hoping that I would get a position at another company that I applied for, and I found out this morning that I'm not getting it.

So here I am, reduced to under twenty hours of work per week starting in September, and I'm hitting the pavement everyday looking for new employment. Unfortunately, like so many of you, it just isn't happening.

Here's where I have a problem with this, and here's where we all should have a problem with this: I did everything right.

I ran my own enterprise, so that I could work thirty hours a week while going to school. I worked hard, and have a degree now. When I graduated from high school, I was told that going to college would ensure my future.

Look at that future now. Here we are, after four hard years, and I know more college graduates waiting tables than I know who have jobs. Our entire generation, pushed to the brink, while the greed-mongers of the prior generations still maintain control.

No, I'm not picking on everybody over the age of thirty here. I'm picking on the ones who, for the last twenty years, saw risk as surmountable by duping the poor into thinking they could afford more. I'm picking on the ones who, for the last twenty years, lived a lifestyle of decadent opulence. I'm picking on the ones who, for the last twenty years, saw outsourcing as a solution, and as a result, forced the value of a college education down, while telling us all, "you can't get anywhere without a college degree."

Well, because that generation sent all those great jobs that you "didn't need a degree to do" overseas, now I'm competing in a tight job market with hordes of good students. It used to be that the schooling would set you apart. Not anymore.

I truly believe that once we, our generation, gets into power, after having worked ourselves to bone during this recession, we are going to push things in a different direction. And yes, it will be a scary direction for those who let this happen.

If I were a middle aged politician right now, here is what I would be thinking (or should be thinking): here we have a bunch of constituents (18-30 year olds) who did everything as we told them. They went to school in bigger numbers, and now they have huge student loan debts that they can't afford, because of the recession that we accidentally helped create. If we don't help them, they are going to turn on us.

Funny, didn't the party in power push the youth vote? How are those same youth going to react to their situation stagnating, or getting worse? Think that same party will get as many youth voters next time?

You see, I'm mad because I did everything right. My generation did everything right. And here's the point: if we don't see some help from politicians, if not some outright concessions, our generation isn't going to like them anymore. Our generation won't want to play nice when we are in power, and they become the aging population. And honestly, THAT should scare every person in this country.

Tie

Today I learned how to tie a tie.

Interesting, no? Put it around your neck. Loop once, twice, up through the neck hole than down through the last loop you made. Tighten.

I guess I never learned before, any time I needed a tie I was a small child, so my mom would do it, or it was a clip on.

There was something strangely unfamiliar about the feeling. The fabric around the neck. The tightness at the collar. It's been five years since my last prom, which I think is the last time I needed to wear one.

I guess what was weirdest about it was that I was actually enjoying it. For me, I think it represents a chance to start something new. Also, it represents a chance to crack my way into a new population that I've never been a part of: the urban professional.

It isn't hard. Two loops and pull it up, then down. I could have done this as a kid.

I really could have done this as a kid.

It always seemed like it would be so hard. You go through the motions as a child, and it seems so far away. Yet, here I am, looking at that image in the mirror.

And, I'll admit it. I'm afraid because it wasn't so hard.

I could have done this as a kid. Really.

I need a job. Unfortunately in all likelihood, so do you.

I am an avid writer, and I'm told I write well.

I understand new technology better than most.

Successfully self-employed 6 years.

No debt.

Have a vehicle that almost always works.

Able-bodied.

College graduate, B.A. from the University of Minnesota in Sociology.

Lives in Champlin, Minnesota, and is willing to travel 20-30 miles for commute.

Meticulously organized.

I'd love to be hired. If you're looking for someone that'll do whatever needs to get done, please, PLEASE contact me:

email: ronnycary@gmail.com
skype: ronnycary
twitter: twitter.com/ronnycary

Thank you, and enjoy your evening.
Signed,
"Desperately seeking the future" in Champlin, MN.

New album... unofficial announcement

So, I've been working on a new album this week. Finishing up with my degree has left me bored, so I've been hard at work.

This album will not be a Cary or Magellan's Folly work, so I guess it would be a Ronny Cary piece. Keep that in mind as I tell you this: this album is different from what I've done before.

I'm hoping to leave behind loud overdubbed guitars. I love them, and they aren't going away forever, but this album is a different sound.

I have 10 songs completed thus far, incorporating suspended chords, a few minor 7ths. Also (gasp) I'm synthing (new verb) some 808s on this album, at least at the demo stage.

I'm blending a lot of styles here, as I am in life. The word "epic" is thrown around too much these days, so I will refrain from using it here. No news on album name, song titles or other things. I'll give you that later.

Off to keep working!

Up and writing.

Here I am. 1 am.

I don't sleep well anymore. It just doesn't seem to want to work.

It is not that my life is falling apart. Rather, I view it as falling into place. It's a tough view to have.

My vertigo is getting worse and worse now. As soon as darkness happens the spinning starts. I think it's the asthma, but my inhaler will just keep me up all night with the shakes.

That's ok though, right? I have my paradise by my computer light. My 19" LCD screen gives me a window to the world. My Ubuntu 9.04 frees me from the grip of corporatocracy.

---

It's a sad world for someone who doesn't fit into the categories. Since finishing the paper all I can think about is my postgenderist ligature.

You probably don't get it. If you do, I'll hug you. Until then, ask me. It's been my obsession since I was 4 years old, dejected from the realm the binary left behind. Like paradise lost, chasing a dream of perfection that climaxed before I was in elementary school.

I'm writing songs for all of you again. Two songs are already finished. One I wrote when I was 15 and the other I wrote 3 years ago.

I'll free myself by freeing you, thank you very much. The greatest reward is the smile on your face when you see light on the cave wall for the first time.

Tomorrow, I'll change a life. My hope is that it is yours. You are in my thoughts, and believe me: I'll be here to save you.

My honey won't come out of the bear

I have been alive 23 years, and in my 23 years I have occasionally come across a major problem or two in my life. Family illnesses, crippling economic circumstances, horrifying school experiences, et cetera. But few perplexities have perplexified my life so much as this:

my honey is stuck in the bear.

A Google search hasn't delivered any responses.

Explanation? Certainly. A few days ago, I purchased some honey at Target. Not the crappy honey, but the "pure honey", whatever that means. I returned to my domicile and placed said honey, which is lovingly stored inside a beautiful decorative bear, inside of my refrigerator.

My attempt a few days later to make a peanut butter (also natural) and honey sandwich was completely unsuccessful.

The honey is stuck in the bear. It occurred to me that it is possible, despite the unmistakable purity of the product, that it does not have to be refrigerated.

So I seemingly solved the situation by sending my sweet monosaccharides from the refrigerator to the cupboard. Problem solved... except it's still too thick to come out effectively from the bear!

What will I do? I have no plans to decapitate this wonderful honey bear. I'm cautious of microwaving the container. I'm assuming that I will have to wait until summer to obtain this sweet nectar!

Or maybe wait a few more days. I need to do some more shopping anyway. A Wikipedia search on the subject resulted in some great meal ideas for honey. English muffins, here I come... if my honey will come out of the bear.