"I Don't Always Watch Youtube..."

But when I do it's rarely Masterpiece Theater clips (except maybe those featuring Diana Rigg as the hostess).

I also sparingly drink alcohol, and have yet to sample Dos Equis beer (a terribly watery and weak beer if my acquaintances are to be believed), I, like many, find myself at least moderately entertained with the faux over-the-top machismo of "The Most Interesting Man In the World." Surprisingly, the roguish adventures depicted by Jewish-American actor Jonathan Goldsmith, as "The Most Interesting Man In the World," are in fact narrated by a different... uh, man: the exclusive narrator of Public Television’s long-running Frontline, Will Lyman. The commanding, exotic voice, along with the devil-may-care visuals, are part of what make the ad's "Man" among the "World's Most Interesting."

In a recent moment of blind boredom, I found myself watching Dos Equis commercials on YouTube and was tickled to find a few mentions of the one distinguishing feature I share of Goldsmith's hero: a grey(ing) beard. As one who is occasionally "thrown headlong" into beardedness, it is sometimes neat to come across depictions or interpretations of beardedeness in the media. (Clearly, I have A LOT of time to think on ridiculously insignificant--and wholly uninteresting--matters.)

Some of the favorites I did hear (which are also tailor maid for memes and Facebook/Twitter status updates) include:

• "His organ donation card also lists his beard."
• "His razors never get dull."
• "His beard alone has experienced more than a lesser man's entire body."

It is easy to suggest that his elegant bearded facade alone is the key contributor to his claim of being "The Most Interesting Man In the World"...

Ultra-beard or Babyface?

”There is always a period when a man with a beard shaves it off. This period does not last. He returns headlong to his beard.”~Jean Cocteau

I know, you're saying "who cares?" and I'm inclined whole-heartily to agree with you... but it's a slow moment at work so I hope you'll forgive this moment of vanity.

Now that the 50k is successfully completed, and following the culmination of the past few months of training (and not shaving), when it comes to my "ultra-beard", I have come to the same crossroads I often find myself at regarding facial hair: should I or shouldn't I shave?

I guess this kind of thought process is symptomatic of someone with either too much time on their hands or too little initiative for more important pursuits, though I don't spend the time considering it I used to... just ask my wife. (Who comes down on the side of either "do" or "don't," just "quit obsessing about it.")

So it is on these recent rainy, muddy, yet refreshingly natural days, it is far easier to shower, dress and be on my merry way, than to take the time and effort to shave each day... and to not give it another thought (honest!). Call it laziness or merely responding to the clarion call to beardiness, but for this week, at any rate, I'll reckon it stays.

Embrassez votre été invincible!

BotB: Beards for Peace

When I first started dating lo those many moons ago, I was given the advice that when meeting a girl's parents there a certain subjects you stay away from, namely, religion and politics. While I am in no way addressing any particular young lady's mother, I am going to enter the previously uncharted (for this blog, anyway) country of politics.

While not a political blog (it's primary focus is "running," for goodness sake!), I do occasionally like to touch on topics spiritual; in nature, especially as I often regard my running as meditative. I thought I might venture into political territory under the guise of discussing an interesting Internet find while trolling for fodder for my Brotherhood of the Beard (BotB) posts.

Recently I came across a little site called Beards for Peace. The site has a unique suggestion for those (like I) who are unhappy with the current direction of United States foreign policy in Iraq... STOP SHAVING NOW!

Growing a beard is also a spiritual and cultural symbol of manhood in some cultures and faiths including Islam and Judaism. By taking this step, you are declaring solidarity with peoples of all faiths around the world, including the one the American leaders would label our 'enemy'.

As a member of the BotB, and proud cultivator of facial hair, I cannot fool anyone into believing that I have grown this beard purely out of activism, but if it can send the message of our disapproval, and the need for a more peaceful resolution, then good...

Fear not ladies, there is a sister organization for Beards for Peace, Women for Beards.

Breathe in, breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!

BOtB: Introducing... The "Ultra-Beard!"

For the record, I haven’t shaved in about five (?) weeks, a reminder of which recently turned up in my school mailbox in the form of my complimentary package of school pictures, a photo in which I had not shaved that morning. This past week my in-laws came over for dinner. Following the meal, we took out my stepson’s recently received school pictures, at which point I “doubled-down” and through my pictures on the table. “Oh,” my mother-in-law remarked at the babyfacedness of the pic, “these must have been taken a long time ago!”

In thinking about “why” I have recently (again) let my facial hair “go,” and thereby, grow, I’ve rationalized it all as, in a way, borrowing the playoff beard strategy from the world of professional hockey. For those who don’t know, the playoff beard began as the superstitious practice of a National Hockey League player not shaving his beard during the Stanley Cup playoffs, it has since spread as one of sports greatest superstitions, to the point where even tennis (Bjorn Borg), football (Ben Roethlisberger) and basketball (LeBron James) are getting in on the act. The only requirement is that a player stops shaving when he or his team enter an important competition (like the Stanley Cup, Tennis’ Grand Slam, or NBA Playoffs) and does not shave until he or his team is either eliminated or, preferably, wins.

So what is it I am “not shaving” for? I would suppose it is the 50k I am training for which will be run on November 10, an event for me whose “winning” or “losing” of will be measured not in my overall place, but in my (not so) simply finishing.

Breathe in, breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!

Return to The Brotherhood

"He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man." William Shakespeare

As I surf around the blog I am always happy to find a niche blog... one that speaks to a subject (unlike "mommy blogs" or sports blog or even running blogs, for that matter) that has a level of uniqueness. While I'm not sure there is much online, suited for family viewing, that has not been "done" before, once in a while something surprises me.

This whole silly "niche interest" started during my (second) Master's in Educational Administration program when it occurred to me that many of the men in my class had something in common. Not every male in class, though. Everyone enrolled in the program, men and women, are dedicated professionals who hope to make a difference in our particular corner of the world. What occurred to me though, had little to do with our individual missions in life, but rather with grooming... among the men in attendance, a number of us had facial hair.

Real facial hair. No Van Dykes. No mustaches, or soul patches, but full fledged beards. Beards of varying lengths ranging from two-day-old stubble to full lumber jack style growth. Surprisingly (given the day's fashion trends) there was (thankfully!) not a goatee in the bunch.

Stroking (what was at the time) my own beard, I noticed that both the professors also had beards... one actually had mentioned previously that he had never had a beard before this past year, as it was not "professional". Now, as a retired educational big-wig, and nautical aficionado, the beard had suited him well. Heck, he suggested, as a college professor it is practically part of the uniform.

In that moment I felt the call to join an exclusive brotherhood, one which I continue to occasionally accepted membership and at other times, abstained... while I had not yet "earned it," I felt the unspoken approval necessary from my elders to take my place to return once again to the the Brotherhood of the Beard!

Breathe in, breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!

Beard Today, Gone Tomorrow

Butt-head: (reading glue warning) "Hey Beavis, it says 'Use on wood'."
Butt-head: "We're so smooth, we have beards on our hands!"
Butt-head: (blacked-out: got cut with a razor by Beavis) "You a**wipe!"
Beavis: "Whoa! You look really cool now. Damn you're smooth."
~from "Beard Boys" Episode from Season 5

Once again I've come to the point in my "weekly-beard-growing-cycle" where I am not sure whether to retain the hair or shave it all off my face completely. My wife, can attest to my thoroughly annoying, ritualistic growing-shaving-growing-shaving pattern, as well as, the constant questioning ("Does this look good? How fat does it make me look?") and self-doubt which comes along with it.

Like most folks, I suppose, I find shaving to be a drag. Of course, although I dislike shaving, and feel somewhat more "macho" and "shabby chic" when the chin hair does grow out, however so slightly, my facial hair comes in very gray-ish and gives my "look" (I think) a sort of "Santa-Claus-cum-hobo" flavor. Of course, as you can read, I obsess way too much about this subject, but surely you can grant this blog-nut, just one (tame) vice?

While I hope someone has a comment or thought about the societal place for beards, I have come to anticipate little response from anyone, but... if you happen upon this little e-venture, and you've come this far, why not leave a thought? At any rate, by next week, if I've shaved I'll wish I hadn't, and if I don't, I'll be whining that I should...

Par les cheveux sur mon menton chinny de menton!