Looking Forward

There are a few things we have to look forward to this holiday season.

First, Monkey has been on her special (and very annoying) no iodide diet to prepare for her latest scan to check her thyroid. She has been eating roasted vegetables and oatmeal since the day after Thanksgiving. She is very excited to be able to eat whatever she wants. That begins tomorrow afternoon.

Also on tomorrow afternoon, winter break starts. I look forward to two weeks off, and having only a few things to grade during the break. It will be good not having a lot over my head while I enjoy the festivities.

A third big event planned for Friday is the earlier than usual removal of the beard. I started it early this year, and it is clear that Monkey is quite tired of it. I, as usual, am growing ambivalent about it. I enjoy it sometimes, I am bored with it at others. The beauty of it is, if I want to grow it back, I don't have to do anything. Literally.

This weekend, the Ambassadors are heading into town for the holiday. They will be staying at the Monkey House. We all get along really well, so Monkey and I are really looking forward to their arrival. It will be fun, for sure.

Monkey and I are also looking forward to heading down to KC next week to enjoy the decorations and eat at Lydia's again. We tried to go to KC two years ago for the same reason, but the weather and the roads were so bad, we turned around about halfway there and scurried on home. This year, we hope for better weather.

New Year's Eve will most likely maintain its low key traditional tone. We have no plans, and we are not searching for any, really. An old boss used to call New Year's Eve "Amateur Night," referring to the increased number of intoxicated driver's. He was only half joking. I try to stay off the roads on December 31/January 1.

So, one more day of work, and all this will begin. Kicked off with one last 2009 Happy Hour. Happy Friday, everyone!

The Hair of November

As I furiously try to catch up from my unproductive (writing-wise) weekend, a fortnight ago (I hope to sail past 40,000 words tonight and continue until I am at least on schedule, or ahead--time is getting short), I thought I would take a short break to update you on the one thing that I am able to do simultaneously with writing--growing facial hair.

This picture was taken yesterday. I decided to go with the smiling picture. The other one makes me look too much like John Bell Hood.

The Growing Season

It's time, ladies and gentlemen. The Great Beard Experiment of 2009-2010 has begun. The question is, what is this experiment setting out to prove?

Is it a test of my endurance? How long can I go without shaving? How much self-doubt can I consume as I stare into my furry face each day, asking if I am simply making a spectacular mockery of myself? How much time can I contemplate exactly what haircut should be matched with my ferocious facial attachment?

Or is it a test of Monkey's endurance? How many prickly kisses can she take? How many times can I press my damp chin whiskers to her cheek before she screams, "Enough!"?

Or is it less of an experiment, and more of an exhibition?

These, and countless other questions, can only be answered through more investigation, contemplation, and hirsute existentialism. Let the growing begin!

Shedding

As the season has officially changed (a week ago), I have officially shed my winter coat. As of Wednesday, I am a clean-shaven child of nature. The great beard experiment of 2008-2009 has come to an end. All fans of hirsute me will have to wait until at least Labor Day for that version to show up again. Monkey is quite pleased.

And so ends this transmission.

A Shocker!

In order to procrastinate grading a mountain of papers I swore I would have done by tomorrow (fat chance!), and per a special request, allow me to make you privy to some semi-important (and some completely unimportant) news of the last few days.

The return from winter break was a hellish one. I hit the ground running at full speed and have only slowed slightly this past week. Finals begin after tomorrow, and I hope to be able to put some ducks in a row, or fish in a barrel, or eggs in a basket, or something like that, just prior to The Dawn of a New Day, otherwise known as Inauguration Day. For that reason, I have been stingy in my posting, and then only focusing on irrelevant things (to most) such as Baltimore's NFL franchise. But, here's the real scoop: the beard got a trim. It was unintentional, and I have no photographic proof, but, that fierce man bush I had billowing under my chin is far less unruly today that it was a week ago. Here's the story: I intended just to shape it up a bit. I don't even know why I wanted to do that. I was getting antsy, and maybe a little bored with it. I am fickle like that when it comes to facial hair. Anyway, I went a little deeper than I wanted to at first, and, next thing you know, it was all professional-looking. However, it is still there, and it will grow back. At least that is the plan. Accompanying photo, however, probably not the plan.

I also got new glasses on Saturday (not that I want to steal any of comoprozac's "new look" thunder). So, the cephalic region has gotten quite a make over the past few days.

Now that I mention the cephalic region, let me also mention that during a round of basketball this past Sunday, I took a twenty-something's elbow to the temple. I tried to stay upright, but, my knees wobbled and I descended in slow motion to the hardwood. I think a couple of guys thought I was having a heart attack; they ran over with grave looks on their faces. After a few moments, I got up and tried to play, but after a couple of trips up and down the floor, I knew it was a bad idea. I hit the bench, and then wandered woozily home. Still today, it's pretty sore. Especially when I chew...and I LOVE to chew!

What excitement!

Happy New Year!

Allow me to now wish one and all a belated Happy New Year. This is meant to balance out the early Happy New Year that was hinted at prior to the actual holiday. In my mind, this somehow balances out to a traditional and on-time greeting. Enjoy!

Monkey and I spent a low-key evening with the puppy dog, enjoying a tasty steak dinner, watching Anderson Cooper and Kathy Grifiin / Ryan Seacrest, bravely staying awake long enough to see the Central Standard New Year enter, and then heading off to bed. Reasons for this include a lack of any planning for the evening, a general lack of enthusiasm for the holiday, and a genuine East Coast head cold that we each received as a post-Christmas gift that we brought back with us.

The trip home was mostly good. It was great to see my wild men nephews (now five and three (and a half)), my bro and sister-in-law (a fun trip to Vaccaro's and Hampden after dinner at Tio Pepe's (sorry I was a jerk for those forty-five minutes or so...)), mom and dad. It was awesome to be treated to tenth row seats at the Ravens-Jaguars game Sunday night by Monkey's bro and sister-in-law! Good to see my in-laws and other family! And, in a drive-by, a great lunch with La Fashionista and P.

Beyond those highlights, I enjoyed putting together and playing Hungry Hungry Hippos with the kiddos, setting up for and taking the annual family photo by the tree, scrapple for breakfast, and Mom's cookies and pie. By the way, monthly beard check = getting kind of freaky long.

Update Three: The Dude Abides

Last weekend's visit by the Boys of Atlanta (I was gonna call them the Baha Men, but they're from Miami) led us to the fabulous Parkway Lanes for some rolling, some oat soda, and (we thought) some burgers. Alas, the grill closed early, so we had to settle for some last minute pizza (they sure do roll up the streets early here in PoP (it was only 10pm, and the pizza joint was a-closin'!)).

Beside the unbegotten burgers, the night was a joy. Bowling is that past time that is a great deal of fun when you do it. And you say, "Hey, that was fun. We should do that more often." And then six years go by.

But, we had a good time, and Monkey snapped some pics. Time for a beard update. A sideways view, this time.

Thanksgiving Review

We will post a two-fer today, finishing up our decade of song after a brief description of yesterday's festivities (and an updated look at "The Beard").

Monkey and I spent yesterday preparing a meal for just the two of us. However, as we have experienced Thanksgivings for multitudes, we cooked enough food for about ten of us. Our pumpkin pie was finished on Wednesday night, prior to a Mexican extravaganza with the North-side Ambassadors (where I was dubbed "El Lechero"--there's no need to explain why).

On Thursday morning, we had a short cup of coffee and then launched into the preparation of an apple pie and cranberry sauce. After the pie was finished, we walked the puppy dog, and then settled in to watch a few snaps of the first of three really uninteresting professional football games. Around two o'clock, we were in full cooking-up-a-storm-swing.

At five, when it was all over, we had mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, corn-bread stuffing (from scratch, baby!), cranberry sauce, gravy, pork chops (no turkey), and roasted brussel sprouts. And it was all awesome.

We took a pause, watched the Maryland Terrapins men's b-ball team put a whoopin' on the #6 Michigan State Spartans, and then dove into a double slice of pumpkin and apple pie. I must say, the pumpkin was wonderful. The apple was a bit too tart and too mushy--I won't use Rome apples again. Bad choice.

Once the pie was consumed, Monkey and I began to fade. It had been a busy day, considering it was only a meal for two, and we needed our rest, in order to tackle the mountain of leftovers we would have to face in the coming days.

The Bearded Truth

As you may know, I occasionally use the approach of winter as a good excuse to stop shaving. I have grown a beard several times over the last few years (once, precariously close to my wedding day, according to Monkey, but that was for a show, not the weather; and, I shaved it (and got a haircut) before the nuptials). I usually try to keep it trimmed neatly, rarely letting it grow beyond 1/2 inch in length (except for that time before the wedding, but, again, it all worked out).

This year, I got a jump on things, choosing the Labor Day holiday as the weekend to begin my shaving moratorium (much to Monkey's dismay, really; I think she has stressful memories of that beard I had before the wedding (it was something to behold)). I also resolved to allow my beard to grow to whatever length it might reach before a) the weather warmed in Spring, b) I tired of the beard, or c) Monkey cut it off as I slept. Thus far, our plan is in full effect.

I would like, before the next several months are out, to be sporting the 19th century shovel beard look, but only time will tell if I am able to pull that off. Monkey, not being much of a history buff, is hoping for other things, like a return to those days just prior to our wedding, when I emerged from the bathroom as smooth-faced as I ever have been.

Stay tuned.