Corse --- Robbie and I have started working out together. We'll be going to the YMCA two or three times per week. It's sexy. and crowded. and funny.


Went out to lunch with Whitney today. She is definitely very cool! I had forgotten how good Indian food can be! Tanya had recommended it some time ago. Our whole team is moving from the second floor to the first over the weekend. It'll be a welcome change for me, especially that we can finally look outside again. I'll have a decent view through two glass panes (though from some distance).


Bjork's live albums are now available on Rhapsody. It makes me so happy!


Rumi:

"There is a strange frenzy in my head

of birds flying,

each particle circulating on its own,

Is the one I love everywhere?"

Walk --- went on a beautiful hike with Martin and Shin out at Newport Park (I think). Peace and beauty all around, and pleasant company. It did not, however, satisfy my desire for silence. This desire waxes piercing with each passing month. Soon. Soon I will satisfy and be satisfied.




"Sushi & Go Night"!!! We had our first on Monday evening, and what a marvelous time! Robbie actually enjoyed sushi! (don't think he had really ever had it before). I performed terribly in the one full-size game we played, but feel I learned maybe just a little bit. Robbie will have to give me more of a handicap next time... Peter couldn't make it, but should be there this coming Monday.


SNOW!!! it snowed today, and it was beautiful


I received the book "Critical Consciousness" by Elena Mustakova-Possardt, and I am psyched to get started on it! especially that I just finished reading her 15-page presentation that she gave at the Social & Economic Development Conference, as well as Husayn Almart's "Cosmopolitanism" paper - all of which is contributing to my World Citizen Project (a rather nebulous project so far).

Anger --- I was listening to Joni Mitchell last weekend, and after a while of being infused with her emotional bouquets of reality, it hit me how powerful her music is. Then I got angry: I had so benefitted from her music in less than an hour - yet, none of my friends had ever told me, "danio... danio, you _need_ to listen to Joni Mitchell". Why? many of my friends listen to her, I'm sure. And some of them are truly moved by her. And a couple of them are bound to know that I too would be susceptible to her beauty. This experience quickly transformed into insight into the experience of some Baha'is, who have said they've gotten angry at other Baha'is they had met previously, only to later discover their Faith, which they had kept to themselves. And here I stand, guilty of withholding the Baha'i Faith, failing to convey the all-embracing Message of Baha'u'llah, which contains the cup which will saciate the thirst of each soul! I then connected with the suffering of so many people on this planet, who would certainly obtain greater ease in this life if they could benefit from the soft-flowing Word of God. God grant that I may yet embrace my purpose and potential. "God grant that the light of unity may envelop the whole world, and that the seal 'the Kingdom is God's' may be stamped upon the brow of all its people."

Cabin --- Hey! I read a new poem at the Just Poetry Jam on Monday, called angel, partly inspired by a track by Lamb, called "Gabriel". Later that night I wrote yet another, called "Everything is Everything". I hope to enter the Just Poetry Slam in two weeks with this new piece. Eric finally ran out of licorice from Germany. I tried out a new kung fu school tonight. I don't know if I'll continue there yet.

Introducing --- Leigh Katherine Polomat, my sister's new baby, born January 1 - 8.5 lbs. and about 20" (52cm). I am now twice uncle, and maybe you kind reader will send up a prayer for her joyful and spiritually rich growing and developing.

Fool --- Is it true that you can get a cold sore from lack of sleep? The new Gregorian is, as usual, actually a significant time, despite its cosmic near-irrelevance. As I have to some extent encapsulated my goals, plans, dreams and vision for the next period of my life, I am now (still summarily) attempting to scrye how things will all come together. In any case, it's a most exiting time...


I just got back from tutoring Ruhi Book 6, on Teaching the Cause (of Baha'u'llah), and I had just outline my personal teaching plan the week before - so that's a big motivation to finalize that process.


This is a big month for me, and I'm spending this whole week figuring out how the next several months will generally be scheduled.

Again --- Well... it will have to be another series of events, until the flowing of sweeter words once again will course through my fingers: left Thu for Baltimore, where I joined Omid to surprise Sarah and to meet her three amazing friends. We had a spledid, almost gaudy dinner and discussed various fun and meaningful topics, such as the meaning of life and the direction in which humanity is heading.


Then Omid and I went to visit Ganeh, a most spirited, deepened and experienced Baha'i scholar, with whom we studied the opening paragraphs of "The Golden Age of the Cause of Baha'u'llah", a letter from the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith to the believers in the US and Canadia. We also shared other precious moments, beyond telling!


Omid and I spent the day together on Fri, doing all kinds of cool stuff two friends might do together at such a fun time of the year. Then I left on Sat morning to meet up with Jason, Rebecca and his family in Freehold, NJ. We had a big lunch together, and most of the rest of the time was with Jason and I catching up with each other from having not seen each other in person for over two and a half years! It was a most glorious, joyous and magical reunion.


I'm back in Richmond now. Having put some 3,000 miles on my car in the last 4 weeks, between conferences, visiting friends, sharing the Baha'i Faith, etc., and the exciting prospect of tutoring Ruhi Book 6 this coming weekend, along with working full time, I think to myself, maybe this is the kind of schedule an Auxiliary Board Member of the Faith has year-round... and then some...


What a life! What a world!

Happy --- Well, I just got off work, and I went to work straight from driving back from South Carolina, and Florida the previous day. I spent a few days in Orlando at the amazing yearly Baha'i conference on Social and Economic Development. I feel happy, grateful and inspired beyond measure. More on this later. Now sleep!! Sleep is AWESOME too!

Martin --- I have a rather new brother: Martin. I went to visit Martin over the weekend. Martin showed great love and hospitality. Martin has friends in the theatre department at ODU (Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA), and he took danio to watched a short film they had made, to eat their food at a party, and socialize with wonderful theatre folk. Martin invited danio to prepare a devotional program as part of a community feast - to which Martin also invited danio. Martin introduced danio to members of his Baha'i community at this feast. Martin played the guitar and sang beautifully - as Martin is much much wont to do. Martin drove danio around town. Martin brought danio to a fun-filled party with some of his friends from the music department(s) at ODU. At the party, they played board games ("Wise or Otherwise", "Taboo", and "Charades"). At the party, they also socialized and had snacks. Late that night, Martin provided a resting place for both danio and another friend, Tom. Martin prayed with danio and Tom before retiring. Martin woke danio and Tom in the morning. Martin even prepared some breakfast for them - and some tea too, did Martin make! Martin took danio to "Rise and Shine" Baha'i school, where danio met many Baha'is from the area. They were all very nice. Martin served as a tutor for a study book. Martin and danio had lunch together and talked for a very long time, just as if they were brothers. Martin is a wonderful friend. Martin.

Canvas --- I feel like I say things like this a lot, but I really feel like this last week has been just about the most amazing of the year. It's been a very very hard week, but for every trial, every difficulty, I have tried to, and in most cases succeeding in praising and thanking God, furthermore, I have received numerous confirmations that my efforts and challenges are meaningful. All praise be to God! for in addition to bestowing upon me these amazing experiences, he has even given me souls with whom I can share them - people with whom I can "build a skeleton of trust, bone by bone, stone by stone", people whose very being allows me to answer the question "Who is it that never let you down? Who is it that gave you back your crown?" people who can "Carry my joy and on the left; carry my pain on the right." And if I think of the spiritual energy in the universe, then the rest of Bjork's song that I've been quoting comes to fulfilment: "and the ornaments are going around; now they're handing them over... handing them over."



This blog is my best reminder that most of my experiences can never truly be related, and even more of them will never fit on words. Therefore, you, reader, will not have the bounty/challenge of bearing these experiences of which I am speaking. Some things can only be share heart to heart... (not that these are necessarily in the category... but I'm just saying...)

Undulate --- a couple more things from last week: Brent, Orion and I joined Peter at his father's house for a delicious pre-thanksgiving dinner. Farmville was dark, so we didn't really get a sense for it, but we were definitely there! On Thanksgiving, my parents and I joined my grandma at my uncle Mark's family home. What a fine, splendid time we had! I was immediately called upon to play something of an uncle's part to my cousins (they're between about 4 and 10!). We ran around the yard for quite a while, and I heard them talk about all kinds of things! Plus they did a puppet show for us! Then they asked me to do a puppet show - an invitation I gladly accepted! We also had desert at the Falconer home - though I didn't have much room for it. We played a large-group game of Tabou, plus socializing, and I also danced for my friends (this may become a more common practice, considering the success that ensued!)

Eleventy --- I just got back from a 3-day Baha'i Youth Congress in Wachington DC, the 21st of its kind, and vastly improved over the already vitalizing gatherings of the past. I am full of ideas, energy (though exhausted nonetheless), goals, inspiration, new understanding, new rhythms (the musical performances were utterly hip, delectable, and memorable) and social & spiritual satisfaction. It will serve me very much in making progress in my service to this Cause and the world of humanity. I am already suffering from a little conference-withdrawal, but my life in Richmond is busy enough that I won't be allowed the time to dwell on that morose feeling. Tomorrow night I perform a poem and I have auditions! wish me luck!

Me and a Gun --- there's a haunting Tori Amos song by this title, which is a song about rape. It's soft and heart-wrentching, and it says how funny some of the things you think about are in these situations, like "I haven't seen Barbados, so I must get out of here."


I usually do pretty well with being fine when I can't get something from someone else (like attention, etc.) but when I'm told by this party to expect something (like an e-mail, call, etc.) - that's a bit harder to let go when it doesn't happen... Oh well.

Brent's been here for several days, and I've gotten to spend lots of time with him and "the guys." Freestyling, discussing, video games, gettin' out, etc. I have a great group of friends here in town. Oh! and Taboo - it's such a terrific game. The perfect game for our group, really (I hope they have expansions, with more words!)


I outlined my new paper. It's looking pretty good! Tomorrow we have a meeting with a whole bunch (as in 2-5) VCU students to talk about possibly starting a Baha'i Association on campus!

DC Baha'i Congress this coming weekend!!! I'm so very very excited! It'll be great spiritual food, and amazing social opportunities - I'll be seeing a bunch of friends from different areas all at the same time! Plus rooming with a bunch of guys in a hotel! I'll even get to see my "brother" Marten again. He spent a day here, and played some music at a devotional gathering we had. He's a terrific musician and a splendid volcalist, with lots of energy and remarkable charisma, that will grab a whole crowd's attention! He's also great at Taboo.

I called the University of Sydney, Australia, and it was SO EXCITING! I really want to go there. If I get accepted to even just two of the three programs I'm applying to, it will be a very difficult decision...


Sometimes, I tie my shoelaces, sometimes I put on my socks, sometimes I eat sushi... Just now I had a glass of apple juice. It used to be my favorite juice. Still one of them. I like the juice more than the apple, but I prefer the idea of eating the apple - I guess 'cause it's closer to "the real thing." I sometimes miss the cold of Alaska. It's just so very exhilirating. I think it actually boosts my energy level. So many things... so very many things in this world... I can't begin to imagine the afterlife. With so many things here, I still manage to feel like it's just a palm-full of sand, when I get spiritually in tune with the "Universe." So in the next life, it probably seems even smaller. Actually, it's not that everything is small. It's that what I'm _able_ to see in things is small, so when I close my eyes and look out to spiritual truths (I might even call them philosophical) - then I can somehow see more. Anyway, I figure that all of this that I'm saying and that I've ever said will bear on everything, but will appear infinitessimal, and there will be worlds of existence that will baffle and exhilirate me - maybe a little like the cold of beautiful Alaska...

Sifting --- Highlights this last week: lots of progress on my research paper, provisionally named:


What Truth?


Diagnosing the Need for Performance in Diverse Societies




-Choir sang a couple of songs at a beautiful celebration of the Birth of Baha'u'llah.


-We had a great meeting with Baha'i artists around the idea of creating Baha'i-inspired enterprises - a meeting I had planned on having exactly the way this one went a whole year ago.


-Had a very very long conversation with the beautiful, always-inspiring Joleen! I love her and miss her dearly.


-Worked with Shawn and Helen on a new short film project - called:


The Mysterious Life of Ordinary People.


Went out for icecream with Tanya!


We got a whole new workplan at work, presented by a new supervisor. It's overly ambitious and rather unrealistic, but it's a welcome new energy to our efforts!


I subsitute-taught the youth class at Baha'i School - a bit of a challenge.


Met a new Baha'i youth in the area, and re-met another! More energy for our Richmond spiritual endeavors!

Albeit --- I've had it easy. It's quite clear to me now. I've had it easy this year. I've had a great job, straighforward community opportunities, and too much to do to have to think too much about much else. Well, that last clause is definitely not true in most ways. I've thought about almost everything, it feels like. The process of relating most things back to the Seven Valleys that the spiritual traveler traverses has almost become second nature. There are a number of such good habits that are becoming more natural. Anyway, the reason I feel like I've had it easy is that, dedicating all day yesterday to Performance Studies research, and half of today to college applications, I feel like this is where the hard work begins. Maybe it's just that everything else that I'm involved in now was just as challenging in the beginning, but it flows of its own now.


Anyway, I've got four schools to which I'm applying, and I'm considering various travel possibilities as alternative routes to grad school. Once I receive results from my applications, I'll consider what will best serve my goals and vision.


I did perform that poem mentioned in my previous post. It was an immense hit - very welcomed by both the audience and the poets who were putting on the show. It was so perfect that I got to practice the piece with my acting class, and right after I was given the opportunity to present. Orion and I will be working on a joint piece to perform at the next slam - plus I should be performing at every slam at the Firehouse theatre on the last Monday of the month.


Robbie and I had another opportunity to eat out with our new best friends Christian and Mishkin. We ate at the news Cheesecake factory. Great times.


Volleyball team one another game! Had a blast today at open gym. I got a call back from Joshua, the guy who's part of a Capoeira group. I got the call the next day after I decided to give up on it. I'll check on them again in Jan, after all this grad school madness.


Got me some nice Outkast playing on my earphones.


Have I mentioned these are probably the best days of my life? I am so fortunate. Had an AWESOME chat with Eric (in Chicago area) yesterday - very deep conversation. He's off to do some really good stuff for our little Earth.


Robbie and I (re)started our Ruhi Book 4 study circle. We have an amazing group! Plus we've scheduled our next several meetings almost through January! A rare thing among nearly a dozen busy Baha'is! Plus, Robbie and I have been exploring the amazing worlds of joined prayer. We spend long long moments reciting, singing, chanting, supplicating our Magnanimous Lord, searching to liberate ourselves from the fetters of this lowly world! He's a most precious blessing in my life.

This --- I got AWEsomepictures from Sandai - some of his beautiful daughter and some of his new office on the 39th floor, with a gorgeous view on the rest of Paris (including a perfect view of the Eiffel Tower!).


Had an interesting conversation about violence and crime and the condition of our city of Richmond, and of our society, with my good friends. It's so overwhelming. We shared some nice ideas. Prayer is greatly need. Prayer and good deeds.


Just spoke with Jamie - she's getting married! I'm hoping to make it down to FL for the occasion. Speaking of which, I might be heading down there to go canoeing with Toad and Jason at the turn of the year.


I met a new brother. He too has red hair and white/clear eyebrows! He's an outstanding artist (guitar and voice). I have his CD (Martin Kerr, "just another man"). I can't wait to see him again!


Had an awesome conversation with Husayn! He's leading a wonderful weekend for Baha'i college students from various areas up at LouHelen Baha'i School. Robbie and I had a powerful prayer session, sending some energy up their way. I definitely miss Husay and Suzanne. I can't wait to meet their daughter Amia.


Our volleyball team finally won a competition game! It wasn't important to me to win any games, but since it's important to the rest of the team (the Flaming Flamingos) - it becomes so for me!


I finished a poem I had been working on for more than a month. I'm hoping to perform it at the next poetry slam in town. I've received excellent feedback. I'm thinking of calling it "The Message"...


Where are all most noble beings. Let us arise to this station, as we are meant to.

What it is --- Wow! I feel great!


Summary: Tuesday we had our celebration of the Birth of the Bab (Prophet of God and Forerunner of Baha'u'llah - founder of the Baha'i Faith!), which was very nice, and I met some Baha'is from the Toronto area. On Thursday, the two of them got together with Robbie and I, and we had an absolute BLAST, stuffing our stomach (more our whole _bodies_), talking philosophy, and generally being geeks. This night, also, I was introduced to "The Mars Volta" - an excellent, if overwhelming and "busy" rock band.



Friday, I go to Baltimore!!! I arrived in the afternoon, and I spent the rest of the day and the next morning with my great friend, Sam Gallant. Such a cool guy! I also visited with his daughter Maia, his wife Molly, and her sister Amy. Wonderful, beautiful visit. We went to the BMA (Baltimore Museum of Art), ate nice food together, laughed, and reminisced a little. The other half of the weekend I spent with Omid (Allen Eghrari). He's in grad med school at Johns Hopkins (hot stuff, eh?). We prayed, freestyled, played DDR, drove around, had spiritual/religious discussions, etc. - the way good friends like us should do... I also got to attend a couple of Baha'i gatherings - with mostly youth and young adults. I met a ton of people, and was enlightened, entertained, and spiritualized.



A group of Baha'is from one of these events went to see "What the Bleep do we Know?" - probably the most fascinating movie I have ever seen. It has permanently changed my perspective on the universe and the meaning of life. (How's that for a review??!?) Please consider renting/buying it when it comes out on video at your local store.



I'm all over hip hop these days: Mos Def's new album ("The New Danger") is out, and is way, WAY too good for words. Omid hooked me up with a CD of French rap, including a track or two by my favorite hip hop artists - "I Am." Omid also hooked me up with a CD of instrumentals, so when I got back on Sunday, Orion and I were freestyling to some nice beats. Oh, and Omid hooked me up with "Fort Tabarsi" - hands down the best Baha'i Hip Hop I've ever heard (not that we have much...) It's vastly superior to the popular hip hop, and it's up to par with some of the better stuff I know - but since it's about the Baha'i Faith, its Principles and Baha'u'llah, it downright some of the best music I've ever heard!


I've started writing a poem I've been preping for weeks. I'm hoping to perform it at a poetry slam late next month.


Wish you were here.

Thither --- When all things come together, in the final consumation of their purpose, reason, and simplicity, they converge with such rapidity that in a blur, the empty space they leave behind becomes a swirling cloud, shaping into the very universe within a single point. Concommittently, the elements of life take on a shape of their own, diverging in infinite directions, expanding the borders of existence, and forming a freedom beyond conception, unfathomable - yet real, and abiding. Thus the macrocosm and the microcosm spiral beyond their own confines, allowing us to see beauty and truth in a single face, a pebble, or the vast ocean.


On another note, I recommend Christina Aguilera's "Stripped" (I'm not even kidding!)

Simple --- I had my first ever 'Abdu'l-Baha dream! ('Abdu'l-Baha is the Center of the Covenant of the Baha'i Faith - He was endowed with the Spirit and charge to carry forward the Message of the Founder of the Faith, His Father, Baha'u'llah). As the Prefect Examplar, I have always turned to 'Abdu'l-Baha for guidance on how to live, particularly on how to be of service to God and to humanity (His name means "Servant of the Glory"). I had heard a number of people speak of their dreams of 'Abdu'l-Baha, and often wondered if/when I might get one. My love for Him knows no compare, and since dreams have always been so extremely important to me, it's the ultimate blessing for me to receive a visit from Him. In fact, that's just what happened in the dream. He paid me a visit. There are a couple of aspects to this dream, which was in fact exceptionally simple. It is, of course, very personal, and failed to hide my sobbing and sniffling at work this morning, as the deep memory came back to me. In the end, I am very moved, and I miss Him terribly - even though I know He is with me right now.

Divider --- Where I End and You Begin. I sent a summary of my first whole year living in the same place. If you didn't receive it, let me know and I'll send it to you! Sherry and I are working on a couple of new songs together - two of them are beautiful prayers! I spoke to Suzanne yesterday, so I'm happy as can be. I added some stuff to my profile, if you want to take a look. I still haven't figured out how to post my picture in my profile (as opposed to a dated post). Also, I can't see where to post always-accessible links to my favorite websites... What a boring post!