Valdez "El Plumero de la Galleta" Bravo

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Friends,<br> <br> Everyone knows that teachers have one of the toughest jobs around. Long hours, enduring patience, creativity and flexibility, and care are all characteristics of those who educate children. All of this and on very tight budgets, for salaries that aren't what they should be.<br> <br> HELP me make a difference. Let's help out the kids. This is how WE can do it.<br> <br> Coordinated and supervised by the benevolent ... more

Friends,<br> <br> Everyone knows that teachers have one of the toughest jobs around. Long hours, enduring patience, creativity and flexibility, and care are all characteristics of those who educate children. All of this and on very tight budgets, for salaries that aren't what they should be.<br> <br> HELP me make a difference. Let's help out the kids. This is how WE can do it.<br> <br> Coordinated and supervised by the benevolent organization Mustaches for Kids, I will be growing a mustache for one month. The kickoff was on Nov. 13th, my lucky day, which involved me being clean shaven and photographed in the smoky belly of one of Portland's downtown bars.<br> <br> It was reminiscient of that old Lee Marvin film, "The Dirty Dozen," a rag-tag band of misfits, all brought together under the most dire and necessary of circumstances -- working together -- NAY!, competing with one another to raise as much money for a charitable organization to benefit kids as possible.<br> <br> The individuals present ranged from the types of men you see on milk cartons and mailers associated with missing children (you know, the guys the kid was last seen with) -- to the guys you see near the entrance of your local post office. Check out this site to see what I'm talking about.<br> <br> http://www.flickr.com/photos/21111010@N07/sets<br> <br> They are inherently good men, if not questionable in character, their big heart and deviousness making them complex -- most heroes often are.<br> <br> It will be a challenge. Up until now, I have never realized how TABOO mustaches are these days (how could I have been so naive...). Growing up, all my heroes had mustaches – Uncle Gil, Uncle Mitch, my Godfather, my first grade teacher, my supervisor Vera from when I worked at the cannery … I was suddenly thrust into growing something on my face that could totally ostracize me in the eyes of society! The whole reason I got into this thing was because of my friend Chris Dunn. He sent me the link, then urged me to meet him at the pre-kickoff signup event at our local bar. Already pressed for time, what with caring for and spending time with my newborn; working full time; juggling three night classes; and spending time with my wife to boot, I made time for THE KIDS. Then, much like Drew Barrymore at the beginning of "Scream," Chris died before the action ever began, signing up but never making it farther than that, dropping out for personal reasons, but pledging to help me fight on. My wife and I both pleaded with him to THINK OF THE CHILDREN!, but it was of no use. I would just have to take up the slack and make even more money, with your help.<br> <br> Alone, I continued on.<br> <br> At the kickoff event, the rules were laid out, business cards distributed, pledge sheets assigned, beers drank -- all in the name of helping school children. It was tough.<br> <br> No shaving the mustache. No matter what. Until the final event on Dec. 18th, a pageant if you will, where we will walk down the runway modeling our staches and vying for the title of Best Mustache.<br> <br> You can help me. The premise here is that you will SPONSOR me, by making a pledge, no matter how small, that supports and encourages me not to lose strength, hope, or sight of the goal at hand. Your donations will propel me towards the finish line.<br> <br> My price? Growing the stache. You all know that I have never sported one. Frankly, I'm not quite sure I can grow one, or at least a fully developed, legitimate mustache. At least not in a month.<br> <br> But maybe! I've always been a bit baby faced, but once I hit puberty, sometime in my late twenties, my facial hair began to come in. Long weekends that would once produce a sort of CATFISH look on my face, now began to sport a fledgling cookie duster. I used to sport a goatee, but always, ALWAYS, kept the area above my lip clean and smooth as a baby's ass.<br> <br> Not anymore. Not this time. The stakes are too high. The call has come down and I have chosen to answer.<br> <br> I'm not asking you to believe in what I can do. I am asking you to believe in what YOU can do!<br> <br> Check out the projects that interested me and pick one you would like to help. All money goes straight to the kiddies, you get a form so you can claim it on your taxes, and you will help your friend, Valdez "El Plumero de la Galleta" Bravo (Valdez "The Cookie Duster" Bravo) kick ass, take names, and look like a stylin', swanky motherhugger.<br> <br> Let's do this. hide