Weather, Dates, Scruffiness

As I stood washing my hands after using the restroom at work yesterday, I happened to take a look at my appearance in the mirror. I am not a vain person so usually don't do much more than make sure I don't have some dirt on the face, and make sure my cowlick isn't sticking up. But I paused while looking. I think the grey in beard caught my attention. Or maybe it was how long the beard is getting. I have been growing it out (again) for around 3 months now, and in my opinion it is starting to take on some character now. I have had a few compliments about it this past week. Maybe that's what made me stop and look. But while gazing on my amazing chin-hair, I noticed the 'wings' I had by my ears, being pushed out from the sides of my hat. I need a haircut.

With the Daughter's wedding coming up in May, I had thought I would just let my hair grow until about April, then go get it cut, giving it a good couple weeks or so to "grow in" so it doesn't look fresh-cut for pictures. But I don't think I can wait that long. It is getting long enough now that even with gel, I can't get it to stay in the style I keep it. Just too thick and heavy. The barber I go to, John, always botches about cutting my hair because it is so thick, it takes him twice as long to cut it. I tell him it helps him earn the tip I give him.

Desert temps are extreme. Over the weekend, we were having freezing/near-freezing temperatures for the outlying parts of the Valley, with daytime highs in the low 50's. I know, for you in the colder climes, you mock my bitching about the "cold". Monday was mid-60's. Tuesday high was 71, and today, last I heard, the expected high was 73. RM posted on her blog that PT said it was to be 80 today, but I don't see it, and surely do not know where he heard that weather report. I would stop listening to that one for sure. It's been nice with the warmer than usual temps for AZ, considering we still have snow in the high country just 2-3 hours from the Valley. No, I have no plans of going to "see the snow" though we have been invited on any given weekend to visit a BIL's family that lives up north. I do enjoy wearing shorts more than long pants, and have not yet had to wear jeans to work.

A couple weeks or so back, the Wife was looking at calendars on one of our short trips to the store. She was trying to think ahead and get a couple for 2015, and since we were at the 99 Cent Store, it was worth the price. Of course, being the woman, she had to go through EVERY SINGLE ONE to make sure she like the picture theme. OF course, there is at least one (of the 3-4 she bought) that has cats on it. Could be used for target practice later, I guess. But while she was flipping calendars, I came across a skinny, book-sized monthly planner that I decided was going to be for me. Simple. Efficient, Portable. No damn pictures of cats.

Anyway, I was just sort of flipping through the months last night, putting in the kids' birthdays, marking the Daughter's wedding date, days off from school for the boys, etc. Then I sat for a minute, and realized how empty the year looked. There were no days marked for a family trip. Nothing for just me, like a vacation day. Nothing specific for the Wife planned out. No schedule of meetings/events/classes for anything. I have seen the wipe-board calendar that RM keeps on their fridge, and it seems they have something put down for damn near every day, between church stuff, grandkids stuff, birthdays/anniversaries .... they seem busy. Too busy if you ask me.

So maybe not having so much filled in for the year is good ... or, I can just take it as it comes. Surprise trips are kind of nice. A random day off for no reason could be enjoyable, though I would probably spend part of it thinking about work. Maybe I will talk to the Wife about doing a 3-day weekend to Cali for a family trip ... and do something there less expensive than the trip to Disneyland was when we went last.

Eh. Who knows?

PeacE

The Art of Bearding (or How to be Lazy and Not Shave For Awhile)

It has been about four months since I started letting the beard grow again. It has reached a nice 1-2 inches by my guess, and I have been receiving quite a few compliments for it's appearance. Just earlier this past week, I even colored it with a sample of Just for Men that I had received as a test product (another story). I missed some of the greys in the beard, but got most of the thicker spots. I did not do the coloring for vanity. It was a test product review thing. When the grey grows back out, I will let it.

I forget why I originally even started growing the beard. I think mostly it was because I got lazy and just didn't feel like shaving. Usually I have a mustache and goatee, but every few months I decide to grow the beard out. What can I say, I get lazy often I guess. Either way, it usually only lasts a couple weeks before the itchy stage drives me to shave again. This time I decided I was going to get past that stage, and I have. I just am not sure where I want to go with it. Toying with the idea of at least handlebarring the mustache, as it is getting to some good length, but just am unsure about it all.

Think I am off to McDonald's - pick up some breakfast for the oldest son and I as it is his turn at home today. Work for the next couple nights, yee haw.

PeacE

Something is Different Around Here

Not much to write about today. My life has been somewhat boring of late - which is nice. No drama, no soap operas. Just clean boring regular day to day stuff. It's gotten so boring, I don't care about my punctuation anymore. Well, at least I may not always correct it....


So let's play a word game today. I don't know the name of the game, but I give a word, and you see how many words you can make from it.


Today's word is : BARED


One clue - bread don't count. What the hell does that other word have to do with anything? Well, it went bu-bye this morning. I couldn't hear the "Taps" playing over the sound of the hair trimmers, but that is okay. It got a fitting 'lay to rest' in the bathroom trash.


In case you wonder why this was such a deal, we have to go back several months. The families had gotten together near the end of January to celebrate the Sis's and her son's birthdays. Stuman and my BIL had both decided to grow beards, and had both started about Jan. 1st. I had only a goatee, so I jokingly asked if it was a contest as to who could grow the most the fastest. Laughingly, the answer came back yes.


Being of the somewhat competitive natured person I am, and it would be even lazier to not shave, I started to let mine achieve it's desired potential. Here is a picture of me July 4th after 5 months of growth.





Well, I did my Indiana trip, and had many comments about looking like 'Grizzly Adams' or how I reminded some of certain family members when they were younger. But the combo of facial hair, being fat, and sweating a lot in the Arizona heat (and dry air) created the effect of Monster-Sized dandruff and raw skin from scratching. My cheeks look reddened by rouge, but it is from irritation - and I haven't broke the razor in to 'baby-smooth' the cheeks.


My kids are so attentive. They didn't even notice this morning. But the were concerned about how leveled up I got my WoW character. Go figure.


Okay, I wasted enough of our time together today. Think about this while you are enjoying today....





PeacE