Hello Beard Lovers!
I’m currently in the process of moving and getting my internet up and running / getting my computer to the new place, so I won’t be able to update as much. I’ll try to get in a few until the new set up is… well, set up.
In the meantime I’m going to try to get the ball rolling on the Year of the Beard T-Shirts!
Go Cavs!
The left side (my left, your right) of my mustache hurts. Any suggestions?
I’ve been watching this HBO show Carnivale. Generally I wouldn’t watch a show like this. Not because I have a problem with carnies or anything, but mostly because the absolute slightest things scare me beyond belief. I am a baby when it comes to anything remotely scary. Mothman Prophecies, couldn’t sleep. Candyman, couldn’t sleep or go to the bathroom for a week. Twin Peaks, forget about it. Homeward Bound, well no Homeward Bound wasn’t scary, I actually love that movie.
But I’ve been watching Carnivale regardless. And the reason? Because the show has a Bearded Lady! Most people would call her a freak! Or an abomination! Some sort of side show attraction to be ridiculed and laughed at! But here, at Year of the Beard, we love beards on anyone… man, woman, child. Turtles.
Now her beard isn’t that stellar. It’s sort of thin and stringy. She has nothing on the cheeks (sounds familiar) and no mustache at all. But far be it from me to comment on the quantity of anyone’s beard. If you’re any sort of steady reader of Year of the Beard you obviously know that I had my own troubles with beard quantity. But it’s quality that counts, and the beard on this lady, 100% quality if you ask me.
So beard on bearded ladies! Year of the Beard loves you!
So I was getting ready for work today and looking in the mirror and I was pleasantly surprised. The little gap in the middle of my mustache is starting to get smaller. The mustache is almost touching in the middle now, giving it a bit of legitimacy. Sure, I don’t have the “anti-Hitler” anymore, but hey, at least it’s starting to look normal.
I’ve actually gotten a few comments lately about how full the beard is, and how well it’s coming in. I think I’m finally past that point where I feel weird about it, and where people are just looking at it as a beard, and not some sort of weird experiment.
So let me ask you this… have you been waiting for a good time to grow your beard? Looking for a good excuse? Well guess what, I’ve got good news for you. In the hockey world, there is a little tradition known as the Playoff Beard where members of hockey teams in the playoffs will not shave their beards, thinking it’s good luck and with hopes to win the Stanley Cup.
Now I certainly don’t care about hockey at all unless it’s NHL ‘94 for the Sega Genesis, but this Saturday one of Cleveland’s greatest all time sports teams starts its own playoff run: The Cavaliers! The playoffs aren’t going to be a walk in the park. Detroit, Miami, the Lakers… to beat these teams the Cavs will need skill (check), determination (check), home court advantage (check) and most of all, the support of playoff beards from the fans!
So grow a beard. Or I will officially dub you a Cavs hater.
Day 100! Woo hoo!
I’ve officially made it 100 days without shaving. 2,400 hours. 144,000 minutes. What an accomplishment!
I knew when I woke up that today was going to be awesome, but let’s add in some facts: 1) One of my favorite bands is playing tonight. 2) I got to leave work early because I won a contest!
I mean it just can’t get any better. I would like to sit here and type a wonderful story about day 100, but honestly, just get out there and celebrate!
Here’s a picture from this morning (the ’stache is really starting to take over):
As many of you loyal readers are well aware, a major concern of mine lately has been “flying solo.” The initial thrill and wonder that started the Year of the Beard has long faded and I’m scared that I’ll be doing the majority of the rest of the year not only on my own, but also with less and less support. Yes, I am fully aware that the longer I let this beard go, the more like a freak I will look, and the less people will be thinking “hey that’s a good idea.” I’m guessing most thoughts will quickly turn to “he really needs to shave.”
But as Harvey Dent said in The Dark Knight, “It is always darkest before the dawn(TM).”
Well Harvey Dent must be a soothsayer because that statement couldn’t be more true. Three things happened in the last two days that have lifted my spirits. I will detail them below.
1) Words of encouragement were left in a comment on my last post. I won’t spell it out and if you are really interested you can go look, but Glenn, who was the major player in the Year of the Beard Fun(d)raiser, left a very inspirational and motivational comment to my last post. I think he recognized my hour of gloom, and was able to kick me in the butt and say “chin up, kid.”
2) I looked at my roommate and realized he hasn’t shaven yet this year either! Some may find this odd that I just realized it today but I want to point out the fact that my roommate actually stays at our house once, maybe twice a week. He works weird hours at his job so sometimes he’ll just sleep there, or he sleeps at his lady-friend’s house, and sometimes I have no idea what he does. Regardless, that’s his business. But I don’t see him very often. When I saw him on Monday though, I noticed his beard was looking pretty good. And then I realized that he hasn’t shaved either! I suddenly have a partner!
3) Year of the Beard is officially a family affair. Family can be your biggest critic. Some people in my family like what I’m doing. Others like the idea of helping the Domestic Violence Center but really don’t understand why growing a beard for a whole year is necessary (a criticism I can accept). I’m sure there are others who think I shouldn’t be invited to Thanksgiving this year. It’s great news, then, to hear that my cousin Seth has decided to grow a beard to support me… all the way out in California! That’s right, beard fans, Year of the Beard is now coast-to-coast! I guess it’s technically “midwest-to-coast” but I have a friend or two on the east coast who at least have beards so we’ll just say coast-to-coast. Plus we already went international when we found out about Beardie Weirdie over in the UK. None of that’s important, though. We now have a delegation in California.
So Seth, thank you for the support. Thank you for telling people about the Charity if they ask. And while you may find it frustrating to explain to curious bystanders why you have a dark brown beard and light blond hair, just be happy that you don’t have a neard. That’s an explanation and a half. (Oh, and if you’re wondering why he’s wearing sunglasses while he’s clearly inside, the answer is actually quite obvious – he’s a vampire)
Once I go the whole year I’m totally signing up at the National Beard Registry
Also, while I certainly hope to have other movies in the works, I just learned of a new project, titled “Mr. Year of the Beard Goes to Washington.” More info on that soon.
