The Currency of Happiness

(Question asked by one happy person)

If Happiness were a currency how would you get rich?
A good question to ask
To someone who is up to the task.

I would have answered your question in-person,
but I think it's better in a written version.

If happiness were a currency I believe we humans would be a much simpler society and being our true selves would be the determinant between who is rich and who is poor. The people who can make people happy would turn out to be the wealthiest people in fiscal, emotional and spiritual wealth. Why?

Simple! They would have an endless stream of currency...happiness! These happiness gurus would also intrinsicly increase society's happiness because of their keen ability to pay off a home mortgage with a large gift of happiness, which would be determined by the seller. The possibility of buying a home for really big hug, may actually happen. Unlikely...but possible. True, this system must exist without any other form of currency to be effective, because then we could say, I will sell this house for $250,000 and that will make me happy...in that case not much has changed.

I propose in such a system that there is no shown or marked price for anything, but the buyer must determine what will make the seller happy. Hence, why the most empathetic and understanding people would become quite rich.

The currency of happiness is not something that we can define completely because to everyone, there is a different definition. Therefore, if I were to use happiness as a currency I would dazzle people with charm and humor to make them happy all the while getting exactly what I desired in return. The currency would be a fluid and undefinable transfer of emotion that would clearly benefit the wisest and happiness-producing people. So...How would I get rich? I would be myself because being myself makes myself and others happy. It is a natural occurence that is just an outflow of personality. What else can I say???

Here is a simpler & better question:
Does honey make a bear happy?
Yes!! Until the bees come back and chase it away!

Does that answer your question, happy person? Would you be rich in such a society?

Dissection

Love is not a commodity
Not commerce but an oddity
Laugh at the rarity
And wonder why the disparity.

Doesn’t come with a price
Yet for some a bowl of rice will suffice
Consider it a surprise,
If seen before your eyes

Let’s talk about functionality
It’s simply a change of mentality
From a negative sarcastic comedy,
to a beautiful relentless jubilee.

To say it is not nearly enough
Act…Do…Be a diamond in the rough.
Face the facts of love,
Believe it reigns down from above.

Humanity cannot plea insanity
A war of vanity or a careless triviality.
Not a lucid fantasy or raving travesty
A simple failure to see originality invented by His Majesty.

This may be difficult to comprehend…understandably.
But love comes to us organically.
It sits in our souls and waits patiently
to be used as an everyday reality.

We don’t love without condition.
The math isn’t difficult, it is simple addition,
One God plus One heart equals love,
which multiplies and cannot divide us apart.

Practice love, know God, and His affection,
Point your hearts and minds in the right direction
Or Heaven forbid I will repeat this dissection.

For Gogo

Defining flow and ebb,

He sees me and shoots his web.

I shoot back like Spiderman

He blocks as no one else can.

He says thing like "I am not your friend!"

But I know he is at day's end.

Fun and joy define his face,

Soon again he will needs God's grace.

Gogo is my same maturity,

Even though I am closer to 30.

11 years old and lived so much,

he is never one to withhold a loving touch.

This boy is truly a miracle,

people around him seem so typical.

A laugh that is unstoppable.

A smile that is fiery and lovable.

An operation must take place,

to keep that smile on his face.

By faith, grace, and prayer,

God may your healing hand be there...

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.

A Great Success

By request...A true story...

Tropical sun was beating down on my face as I ran across the black sand beach towards the Pacific ocean, crashing its waves like a rhythmic $10 "Sounds of the Ocean" CD. With my bodyboard in-hand, my new sleek rashguard shirt sticking to me like cellophane, I was ready for my first adventure in my new Hawaiian home.

My two buddies and I were straight off the plane from the "mainland", and about as awesome any three guys from Montana could be. ;) We had decided to move to Hawaii to attend school on an exchange program. Hilo, Hawaii, would be our home for the next three and a half months. We were intent on studying and getting the best education we could while we were in here...except not.

Within the first week we had ventured to the local Wal-mart and bought ourselves new, made-to-look-expensive bodyboards and headed out to the local beach called Honoli'i. (See top picture) Of course we rode in style in our cheaply bought and poorly insured gray Grand Caprice. Pulling up to the beach we could see that the "Waves Were Pumpin'!!!" Pure excitement and nerves arose in all of us as we looked at eachother and tried to act as macho and stoic as possible. Except, how do you look macho and stoic when you are standing next to a 1982 gray Grand Caprice?

As we approached the beach I could see some locals about 100 yards off the shore catching what looked to be 12 foot waves. Insane, right? I gauranteed myself that I would stick to the less-certain-death size waves a bit farther down the beach. We made our way past the showers and a few hotties sunbathing on the small patch of grass behind the thin strip of beach. Well, here we were three "haolis", that means "white people", standing seemingly ready for this new adventure. I took my t-shirt off. I could feel the stares piercing my skin. "I know I am white but geez, at least try to make your stares less obvious," I said to myself under my breath. Was I missing something? Did I have my boardshorts on? Were we really that obvious of newbies?

I turned at looked at my buddies Jim and Shane and said, "I ain't standin' around just to get stared at! I'm running in!"

In a Baywatch-esque scene the three of us pasty, inexperienced, adventurous, mainlanders ran barefoot across the beach, down into the water.

"SPLASH"

The water was at least warm, but the waves sure looked at lot bigger from my flat position on top of my bodyboard. I had watched some people out in the waves already swimming around just fine on their boards and navigating the waters like they had a motor attached to them. But I have to say, swimming with a bodyboard is like trying to swim with a coffee table between your legs...impossible.
The waves kept coming and we kept paddling, doggy-paddle style, to essentially no end. I looked behind me and realized we still only about 60 feet from shore. This was ridiculous. It was like trying to run up a descending escalator, but even worse, every step/paddle I took the escalator/ocean just kept getting infinitely the same size. 20 minutes of struggling later we made it out past the waves. You see the key to bodyboarding and surfing is being faster than the waves and therefore being able to catch them from behind. How were we going to be faster than the waves if it took us 20 minutes to paddle 50 yards? I was already huffin' and puffin' and in need of some Gogo-gadget webbed feet and hands.
Then I see my buddy Jim catch a wave, well more like a wave caught him, but either way he was speeding along a wave, looking like he was Kelly Slater on a bodyboard.
I had to match that so I gave it a try. I looked behind me and saw a good size wave coming. I paddle hands and feet as fast as I could. I thought I was going faster than the wave but apparently not. The wave crest caught me and tipped me face first into the water. It had to have been quite a scene with legs flailing in the air and a wave smashing towards shore. I don't know because I was trying to find which way was up after being rocked by an innocent "baby wave". Maybe this was a MISTAKE. I found my way to shore coughing up water and dragging my board behind me. I hear a "local" voice yell to me, "Hey haoli! Where yo fins bra?"

Confused by the question I thought to myself. My fins, huh? Does he think I am merman? Am I missing something? I yell back, "What?"

"Your fins bradda?" as he holds up a pair of special rubber fins that you wear to propel yourself easier through the water. "Wow! We are a bunch of idiots!" I scream silently.

I yell back nervously, "I forgot them at home....."

"That's stupid bra. Big MISTAKE, you coulda been killed"

Really? I realized that, after being tossed like a rag doll underwater for a good 30 seconds.

Needless to say I didn't end up going back into the water that day. I wouldn't go back in until I had my "fins". What strangers we were, thinking we could conquer the waves without proper, necessary equipment.
Yes, it was a big mistake on my part. I was almost killed. I overcame it though with the advice of a local, and now a friend. He kindly showed us where to get the best and cheapest fins and offered to show us the ropes of bodyboarding. I now can say that my big mistake has turned into a even bigger success. I have found another passion in my life and one that I may never be really good at but one where I know I can be mistake-free...kinda...because that wasn't the last wave that made me ponder life and death. My advice...first time bodyboarding, go with someone who knows what their doing. I have been bodyboarding since then and I can say for certain that if you don't wear fins you could end up like this guy (See Below).
The End.
Can you just imagine what happened to this guy? OhMyGUSH!!!

Clutch timing

This weekend in Bansko marked the start of the ski season. The weekend's events included a legends ski race, concert, and VIP only silent auction. So much hype, so many Greek college students, so little snow, and only 2 Americans.

Those two Americans, myself and Matty "Ice" Sierra. Ever felt like you were in a foreign country with no language skills. Ya, right, we are in Bulgaria. Except by this point we have a decent grasp of the language. Well, while standing in line for the gondola ride up to the ski season party at the base area, I had that same feeling like I was back in PST, mute & unable to communicate. Nope, I didn't lose my Bulgarian. Matt and myself, found ourselves smothered in hoards of Greek tourists flocking to the ski hill, like the Salmon of Capastrano. (Dumb and Dumber reference)

Once at the base we both were underwhelmed with the site that we witnessed. No snow underneath my feet to make me feel like it is winter. No concert that was worthwhile to stare at. All there was a maybe 200 yard long field of man-made snow stretching up the hill. This was the track for the dadanunaaaaaa!!!! "LEGENDS SKI RACE"....ummmm not all legendary and frankly forgettable. The afternoon however was not a complete bust because we did find a sledding hill to practice our....cardboard box-sled-riding skills. This was actually quite entertaining, albiet quite cold and rocky, eeek.

Oh, and what do you know....It snows for the first time on Monday....clutch!!!

You Cheaters!!!

Shouts of Bulgarian slander ringing in my ears. Ne pipai! Byagai! Mooshenik! Luzhets!

What am I doing here?.......Oh ya I am playing a board game that has absolutely no skill involved. Simply rolling the dice to see who is luckiest. I should try my luck in Vegas the way I am playing tonight.

6, 6, 5, 1, 6, 4, 5. The high rolling doesn't stop. I am making this game my......ugh ya! The excitement doesn't stop there. My unofficial partner in crime, Radi, and I are ganging up on the girls. You see, when you play board games, friendships are forgotten and gender alliances form only for the benefit of watching the others become frustrated with our tag-team efforts. I almost felt bad, then I realized how much I hate losing. Not saying I am a sore loser, but hey lets face it, winners (at least with board games) get all the glory. However miniscule that glory may be.

The night started with the intention of me teaching an english lesson to my new friends at the, what I refer to as, house next to the police station. But really it is an transitional facility for former orphans who are too old for an orphanage but still do not have the means to be out on their own. Either way, the formal english lesson was scrapped for a cooking lesson.
Why not learn english and cook at the same time. It worked and it definitely was better than me sitting there pointing to a worksheet and saying the word over and over. We cooked, we learned food items in English, we tested cologne, and we cleaned. And then we tryed not to cheat......sure, right O!!

If you play with Bulgarians you better know the words, cheater, liar, don't touch, and get the hell out of here! Thankfully I did.

"Wan, tu, tree, fow, fife, seex." I don't want to sound condescending but at least we learned the numbers one through six really well. In fact, I love these kids. They actually enjoy learning english and it is nice to have an informal class room of a home. I know they loving have me around too, based on the smell of my clothes from the cologne testing. My favorite kid (he is actually 21) goes around saying "You are" all the time, and whenever it most inapplicable. Haha, now if I can get him to just finish that sentence.......

Okay now back to the game. "No cheating!!! You mooshenik!!!" I plan on winning or at least helping my ally defeat the evil feminine empire.

This is what you do when you win.

Jump for joy and land softly!!!! (and take a blurry picture)

Here's Some Advice For You.

I haven't blogged in so long my fingers are stiff and I need to once again re-tap into my "train of thought" which creates much of the blogging brillancy you read. Today's train = _________ hold on...I'm thinking. Ah yes, advice.

I have always been one to offer advice whether the advisee wanted it or not. I can't control myself sometimes. I have also been told that I am a good at reading people. So far, so good. Advice, is not really something anyone wants to hear unless they specifically ask for it. Americans especially don't like "un-asked-for" advice. It takes a special trust to ask for and also receive worthwhile advice.

Recently, relationship advice has been a topic of discussion between myself and one of my great friends in the states. So far, we have basically called each others shots from afar and predicted what was going to happen eachothers lives. We also have offered eachother advice that was trusting and productive. The funny thing is...we don't even know the person that we are advising about. I mean I know my friend and she knows me but the other factors in the equation are unknown to either of us, other than a brief description the people and a bit of the situation. What is really cool though, is that we both knew exactly what to say to eachother. And this leads me to my point.

Advice is really helpful. (Wow, Right? Deep!!!) Instead of living through life thinking that we can handle any situation that comes our way is really....well....stupid. Life is meant to be lived together and shared. Here is the real kicker though. While my friend and I are exchanging advice, we are seeking more information about but the whole time we really are focused the person we are advising not the situation at hand. Knowing that person better and better and finding out new peculiarities about their personality is unexplainably addictive. Discovering new and fun facts about our friends that, even though they may 6,000 something miles away, is something that I have enjoyed in my life recently.

So this brings up another point that I mentioned briefly earlier. I mentioned that we both have a very little information about the situations we are both in. But, what is fascinating is, that we both have been really good at calling the shots in these respective situations. You know why? Because we know eachother. We know eachother well enough to know how these situations will most likely end up. I don't credit for being a fortune-teller but I do take credit for being a friend, and vice-versa for her.

We did not need to know the entire situation to know the truth, the outcome. We knew eachother, our tendencies, personality.

-Do we need every fact about everything before making a decision?
-Do we know enough about ourselves to make a decision? If we don't, are we confident and trusting enough to ask someone?
-Do we have to be doctors to lend someone meaningful advice?
-Are we bold enough to give advice that hurts? Not, just be a "YES" man.
-Are we bold enough to act on someone else's advice and not our own intuition?

Give me some advice on what I should write about next. Funny, sad, poetic, artsy, deep, story, real life, etc.

Lord of The Rings in Bulgarski

Forrest Gump once said, "Stupid is as stupid does." That quote rang so very true last night at my bulgarian language tutoring session. My tutor is trying a new learning strategy with me and, well, needless to say, it is really tough.

Together we are reading Lord of the Rings - Fellowship of the Ring. Now...I have read this book and watched the movies several times during famous Lord of The Rings marathons. Throw all that previous knowledge and understanding out the window when trying to read novels in bulgarian.

Bilbo 'Torbins' (not Baggins) is the main character of the first part of the book. Don't ask me why Baggins is not a direct translation. Must be because the word for "bag" in bulgarian is "torbichka", therefore Torbins. Haha I got a laugh when I actually figured that out too. Either way, we all how the story goes and so did I when I read it...back in high school...in english. Yesterday however, it was like I had amnesia and just forgot the entire plot. Or maybe because it is such a familiar text to me that when I saw it distorted in bulgarian, I became confused about what I was reading. Maybe I am not as good at bulgarian as I thought. Or maybe, because I haven't had a tutoring session in 3 weeks, eeeeekkk.

However, this humbling experience is teaching me way more words than a silly grammar or vocab lesson. The prose of the book uses words that are really useful...and then again some not so useful, for example НЕИЗЧЕРПАЕМА (inexhaustible) and ГРАФСТВОТО (shire). I will probably never use either of these words again, but hey it is actually kinda fun learning things indirectly like this. After only 4 paragraphs we stopped. Tired from one hour of reading, translating and re-reading we called it quits.

Bilbo Torbins hasn't even had his birthday party yet. Gandalf hasn't been introduced. And I await to see how may days it takes us to actually set out on our journey to Mordor! I am not sure two years will be enough time to even finish the first half of the first book in the trilogy. Ugh, but if there are more unuseful words like неизчерранамфнаосдгиагкнг;ахг, then it may take even longer.

Last night I never felt more stupid in my life. But I think that will be a one time event ;)

I'm saying goodbye and leaving it behind.

Is he leaving Bulgaria? Is he quitting Peace Corps? Is he depressed? After reading the title of this post I am sure that you are a bit interested in what it is I am talking about. Well, I will tell you.

There are some things in my life that are beneficial, useful, fun, and even necessary. No, I have not decided to leave PC or Bulgaria or Life. I just have decided to disconnect my TV. I really see it as a hinderance and distraction to my life hear in Bulgaria. Sure, it has it perks. I can watch CNN in English. I can watch discovery channel in Bulgarian or catch every soccer match...EVER. I can even catch up on the lastest Romanian Lifetime channel, which is in English surprisingly.

However, the upside of a TV does not outweigh the downside of it. I find myself glued to it when it is sunny and beautiful outside because there is some great episode about sharks coming on in 30 minutes. Don't wanna miss that! No, really, the TV is taking away from my experience here. The everpresent ability to turn it on and watch something is a real distraction, not only from Bulgarian life but from my life in general.

The worst part about it is the "late night programming". I am not gonna go into it because I know we all know what I am talking about. This distraction has hurt most of all and therefore it is time for the TV to go. It will now sit in the part of the house that I rarely access. Out of site out of mind!

For all of those PC volunteers that don't have a TV...please don't ever want one during your service! Forgive me for you not being able to relate to the reality that TV, is a major distraction and hinderance.

Due to all my free time now I will devote more of my time to learning my guitar, reading my library, and becoming the next chef-boyardee! I will probably write more on my blog too.

I know I won't regret this decision. I promise. I just regret that I didn't do this about 3 months ago.

I am saying goodbye and leaving it behind!!!