The TRANSFORMATION

There comes a time in every man's life when he ventures into the realm of facial hair and presses the limits of how long he can go without shaving. Following in the tradition of "Oops I forgot to shave" October and "No-shave" November, I didn't shave my facial hair the entire two months. I must admit that I did shave my "Neard", neck beard for you lay people, but from October 1st until November 30th. I watched myself become more and more of a Grizzly Adams look alike. At one point I was told I looked like Keanu Reeves, not to my enjoyment. My mother told me I looked like a terrorist on several occasions; I blame that on the pixelated Skype video chat. I endured endearing insults like, "You becoming a preist" "You look like you are 40 years old" "Go wash that dirt off your face!", "You look like a Peace Corps Volunteer".

On the other hand I heard comments like, "It looks good on you", "I like you with a beard", "I didn't know you could grow that much hair, Congrats", and my favorite "It really brings out your eye color" Oooolala!!

So for 2 months I endured insults and compliments but I finally decided that I would shave because I was tired of not being able to see my beautiful chin and upper lip. NO, those weren't really the reasons. The real reason was that the month is over I wanted to shave. No harm done, I have a whole entire month until "Manuary" begins and the no shaving pact will ensue.

Below I have included pictures of the shaving process and the TRANSFORMATION from a 24 year old Peace Corps volunteer to a Keanu Reeves terrorist look-alike back to a clean-shaven 24 year old Peace Corps volunteer. It was fun while it lasted. While you are looking through these pictures please write a comment on which style of facial that suits me the best. That will be my goal for "Manuary."

October 2nd Market DAY!!

October 11th in Rome, Italy with my brother CollinHalloween October 31st (ish) with Vasko the Bulgarian Scotsman. I was a Facebook.
ThanksGiving DAY November 24th in Burgas at Kathleen James' house
November, 26th, Second Thanksgiving Celebration in Dragodanovo with Neysa!
November 30th (Shaving DAY), 40 year old Keanu Reeves Terrorist look-alike

Soooooo SAD!

Massive Goatee! Makes my long face even longer. The good-ole fashion Handle Bar mustache complete with "swagga".The Super Trooper mustache!
The hidden upper lip! Pedofile-esque. Not my fave.
Zee Hitler!
The clean-shaven 24 year old Peace Corps Volunteer.
Vote for which mustache you like the best and I will grow it for you all in "Manuary". I hope you enjoyed the TRANSFORMATION.

P.S. I will not grow "Zee Hitler" for "Manuary". I prefer to live.

The Book of Faces

This book of faces
has become a book of disgraces.
I've been a member since I could crawl,
Who just wrote on my wall?

I settle for an "update"
instead of a real date,
I see a picture of calamity
instead of her true personality.

Is she single?
Facebook says so,
How else would I know?
Maybe ask, maybe call,
I'll just stalk her wall.

I'll write that in my status.
My question to all of us:
Would life be the same,
if Facebook was only a game?

I wanna know because me, myself and she,
think it's a fake fallacy,
eventhough it's a true reality.

Thuuuuuumbs UP! "Like"

The Door

Knock, knock
Who is there?
The door!
The door who?
"It's me "The Door" come in!"

This ain't no kids joke,
no slight of imagination,
it is a true reality.
What, not your expectation?

Welcome, Welcome.
Please come in and sit by the fire.
I am just the door,
but I know the rest of the house,
it is full of unknown greatness,
seek it if you desire.

Do you plan to stay awhile?
"As long as I can"
Good, Good! Committment.
I see it in your heart,
A yearning for safety.
Broken down...dependent.

I am the door,
and yet so much more.
Enter
See
Decide
& BE!

Really?

Another addition to the:

SLAM POETRY SERIES

(Read aloud for the full effect!)

Hot! Too Hot!

It streams down my back.

In this room void of control,

this room filled with steam a mold,

a wet, watery grave.

What will it take for me to behave?...Obey!

The ups and downs and oops.

The incredibly harmful lack of thought,

Sorry, sad, my bad.

That isn't how i've been livin',

but how can I be forgiven?...Redeemed!

First thought of hiding,

but that is not worth my time.

Second thought of running,

seen everywhere I turn.

Stop here and cease the flow,

Are you watching me here below?...Submit!

Talk about it.

Scream about it.

Let it out.

Bring it to the light.

It will burn like a witch.

My track, can you switch?...Repent!

We can all live freely,

Really?...Yes Really!

The Will (Slam poetry)

(read out loud)

WILL...you lead me!
WILL...you freed me!
WILL...I need you!
WILL...I read you!

Free to live...I WILL!
Free to give...I WILL!
Free to share...I WILL!
Free to care...I WILL!

WILL!...I want to learn
WILL!...You make me yearn
WILL!...I want to fear
WILL!...You make me cheer

Listen to the chatter,
Don't let it matter,
spitter...spatter
WILL!...plans shatter...

Follow the endless crop,
Reaching for the top,
drip...drip...drop!
WILL!...can't stop...

It is the future or now?
A past present vow,
oh geez...oh wow!
WILL...please allow...

From you I hid
and from you I slid,
once...twice...bid!
WILL!...He did...

I am in the 2%.

As an American Peace Corps Volunteer my salary is around or less than $5,000 a year…of course, this is outside America where $5,000 a year is nothing. I am in the 2% because I chose to be.

I think I understand what the 99ers want and that they are seeking justice and fairness in the equity of money and to end greed and corruption. They feel that the government has left them stranded in this time of crisis and that only the super-rich have benefitted. But last time I checked the U.S. government was headquartered in D.C. Understandably, they are controlled by the money that comes from Wall Street, but if anything is going to change, it has to come from D.C., NOT Wall Street. The supposed "super rich" are not the ones granting you freedom of speech and probably are the least likely to care about our struggles. If you were obese would you cry to the fitness model and say, "Hey, give me some of your thinness and good looks! Stop your goodlookingness!" No absolutely not! You would want to go to the gym and petition for a free membership so you could become healthier and better looking.

Or if you were sick would cry out to healthiest people in the country, “You make us sick! Stop being so healthy! We want health…and healthcare. Stop taking it all!” No! You wouldn’t…would you!?! You would be pounding down the doors of the hospitals and doctor’s offices and asking for relief from your pains and illnesses. So then, why are we not petitioning on the Capitol steps in front of the people in the country who have made our super-rich even richer and allowed greed to run rampant? That is a more effective use of our voice.

I empathize with the 99ers, yet I will not take another hand-out or “The crisis could have much worse without one” bail-out failure from the government. I will also not ask banks to hear me. They won’t care. The ones who are obligated to hear us and do something need to listen. For over a month now they have been avoiding it because it is not in front of their faces and doorsteps. The steps of the Capitol should be full; full of men and women asking for change and asking for liberation from the tyranny of greed and corruption.

Can 99% change 1%? No, they can’t & shouldn’t try. There will ALWAYS be a 1% of super-rich! Can 99% change the face of how flawed American politics operates and controls our nation? YES! Although the 99ers may think they are barking up the right tree, there sits in D.C. an entire forest of greed and corruption that has a duty to listen.

I do not create my own wealth. My wealth is not cotton green paper. Oh how freeing it is to have little money and be content. I am in the 2%.

"ORGANIC" Human Humor

Yes, another post from "Grant The Volunteer". In 8 months or so I may not be "the volunteer"...but that is for another post. Today I wanted to add a bit of "organic" humor to everyones life who reads this. I appreciate those who do read it and I hope that all who do read it appreciate it.

After the English lesson that I taught tonight I was told to take some vegetables from the table of goodies that were left behind from the thanksgiving festival that was had last Sunday (Yes, in Bulgaria they celebrate Thanksgiving but a month earlier & not like Americans). There sitting on the table (among lesser beings)was somethingwhich I simply could not refuse to take with me.

I present to you "Starchy the Potato"

(see below)

Weighing in at .68 kilos or 1.5 pounds, I present to you the most unique, the most lifelike, the most intelligent-looking, and most friendly potato in the world. Yes, that is a full-size yogurt container next to him and that is a regular size toaster behind him. hopefully that puts into perspective the epic proportions that we are talking about. Not only is it one of the largest potatoes I have come across but definetly the cutest. Suuuuure he may have a bit of elephantitis on his right arm, which makes it bigger than his head...and no legs...but am I to expect perfection from an organic human such as himself?

Needless to say "Starchy" will remain uneaten for awhile. However forceful the temptation to eat him gets, I will refuse...at least for a week. You also may notice that he is sitting on a cutting board and a knife appears at the far bottom of the picture...his tomato, pepper, and onion cousins were less fortunate and not lifelike enough for me to care.

downs & UPs of Today (Just Today)

Kids are so predictable,

So much so that it is absolutely despicable.

Why we try to teach may be honorable,

but in the end they are unchangable.


This may be obvious to some but to me it was a clear reality that 3 unruly kids owned a class of 10 students and 2 teachers, myself included. Today I started aiding the students in the 3rd grade afterschool English class. I love them all and loathe only 2 or 3 from time to time. Today was the beginning of "time to time". My discussion with the teacher afterwards revealed similar thoughts. Why do these 3 girls come to class to learn nothing?

What can we do to change a mind?

Love and care from a different kind?

Ideas range from fun to none,

I am not satisfied until something is done.

On the way to the market after class my bike broke. How you ask? well...the bolt holding the axle to the frame decided to shear in two. How is that for broken... At least the weather is cold now and bike riding has become outdated.

I will miss the rush,

the flying down the mountains like a toilet flush.

Bump, Bump, crash

Summer memories in my mind flash.

As I pushed my bike home I was remind of what winter in Bansko is all about. In the last week the mountains received over 70cm of snow (2.2 feet for you non-Europeans). The slopes are white, the air is cold, my apartment is freezing, and yet I am excited more now than ever. Ski season is just around the corner and there is much fun in store this winter.

Winter knows where I am headed.

The mountains are waiting to be shredded.

With a carve and frozen kiss,

I hope this picture does some justice.

Clean

We define it like clay,
changing from day to day.
Never meaning what we want,
simply filling a need for the now.

Maybe it is after a spring shower,
or refusing to cower.
Standing firm above trouble,
holding on so we don't tumble.

Maybe it is a fresh aroma hanging in the breeze,
or the ability to live in ease.
Carefree life without a worry,
a fairytale-like story.

Maybe it is following all the laws,
or living without flaws.
If perfection would not be so difficult,
high on clouds do the angels float.

No! May it be washed white as snow,
Yes! or letting forgiveness grow.
Blemishes, blood, our wrongs covered,
flowing grace, which will always be offered.

Sigh No More

не казвам тоба поради оскъдност, защото се научих да съм доволен в каквото състояние и да се намеря.

I will sigh no more
Not get caught in this war
Surpassed by purity
I can't hear the lion's roar.

Was it a match?
The door, the key, the latch
Was it even fair?
Is there a bruise? a scratch?

I am on the other side
A battle won without pride,
We are all under attack
Bring it out, don't let it hide.

Every single word I say,
With everything I will pay.
Listen and hear while I speak
ЧАКАМ ТЕ.

It has blown like grenade
A clean mess it has made,
Nothing truly like it,
Content I sit next to the parade.

In chains they walk
As onlookers continue to gawk,
The attraction isn't there,
I've fled like south-facing flock.

At the grace I arrive
Only with faith could I survive.
What a flight is has been,
Out of pain, I am alive.

The taste is sweet
Better than a warm summer heat
Fresh cooked baklava,
The perfect long-awaited treat.

I will sigh no more
Here is the mercy to pour,
Surpassed by purity
I can't hear the lion's roar.

New Years 2011

What great friends I have.
What great memories we made.
A new year has come,
and the past will fade.

Food cooking and roasting
So many Persians in one room.
Jenga on the table,
waiting for the falling kaboom.

Mixed and mashed is the food.
Sitting at the table waiting to eat.
The fragrance is so good,
oh wait it is Persian cooked meat.

Sunny day not a cloud in the sky
Off to the market for some candy
Then a hike to the monastery,
followed by a dog we named "Sandy"

5 star class is what we like,
6 leva hot choclate is worth the price.
Free snacks are great
But they sure ain't Banitza with rice!
The bombs burst above us,
like flowers blooming and glowing.
The feet danced in a circle,
never stopping always flowing.
Typical New Years Day travel,
Unknown and foreign to us.
Should we take a taxi or train,
or maybe wait for the bus?
Attack, Attack, here come the bears,
not for blood but for money.
I am poor I need to run.
Get them away from me 'honey'!!

Front row seats to the show.
Not too close to be offended,
But it was the perfect spot,
for the pagan ritual we attended.

The night was one to remember,
skating, sliding, and staying warm.
We had the style we had the moves,
we had unforgettable form.



What a great new year we had.
Frozen fingers and smiling faces,
will remind us of friendship,
even though we aren't in the same places.