Generalities: August 2005 Archives

So after seeing my face sans beard for the first time in five or six years I knew it was time for the moustache to come off as well. No one I currently hang out with, including my wife, has seen me without a moustache. The only person reading this, who might remember, would be the blogger known as "vegan chai".

I've had a moustache ever since high school so I am still a little spooked when I see myself in a mirror.

A few responses to the commenters from the previous shaving entry.

Q. Was this on purpose? (Pearl)

A. I did this on purpose. I planned it out in advance and checked with all the people in my life who kiss me. Now that I write that, I realize that I didn't check with my wife's grandmother. I assume since she made it through the depression and WWII she'll weather this change just fine.

Q. Was this because of the goat comment? (anonymous)

A. No.

Q. Why did you do it?

A. Cry for help, like everything else.

Q. Seriously why did you do it?

A. Not quite sure, it just felt like the right time.

Q. You did it to get attention right?

A. O.K. but didn't I already say it was a cry for help?

Q. They say men with beards are hiding something -- what were you hiding?

A. Traditionally men are hiding fat jowls & receding hairlines -- obviously those couldn't apply to me ;)

The best reaction after shaving just the beard and leaving the moustache was from my favorite co-worker who screamed and said, "You grew a moustache."

I also enjoyed my daughter telling me the next day, "Put your beard back on." It was as if she thought I had sent my beard out for drycleaning or left it hanging in the closet.

I've haven't written much lately so here are so I'll do a little catching up tonight.

I loved The Angels Retirement Speech, by Annie Farnsworth, which appeared on The Writer's Alamanac.

 ... now they've got
their own miracles, like cell phones
and videos - who needs a visitation
when they've got their own apparitions
appearing and disappearing, all night
on Extended Basic Cable?
With advances like that,
a voice from heaven is not all that impressive,
nor the sight of winged creatures hovering
in a golden shaft of light.

Food for thought.

Who Would Jesus Torture?. I've got no answer to that question. Good time to re-read Sister Helen Prejeans essay "Would Jesus pull the switch?"

Very odd.

Walking on water -- I still snort at the line in the article which said "Anyway, the pontoons are tethered to each other so the walker’s legs don’t spread apart and make him look like an idiot. Can’t have that happening can we?" There was a whole article in the NY Times covering this idea a while later.

Great random quote.

"In the future, everyone will be on the TSA's no-fly list", Coyote Blog -- My Follow-up to Andy Warhol.

Oddly compelling art from nuclear weapons testing.

One more poetry link for good measure.

The rest of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

And for the avid do-it-yourselfer in the audience ...

Build your own computerized etch-a-sketch. Man I wish I had the free time to build one of these.

before

after

So tonight I was walking across a parking lot, to my local theater. Someone in their car passed me and shouted "Man Whore!"

I understand the reference is likely from the movie "Deuce Bigelow, Ace Gigolo" or perhaps the newly released part two, "Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo". My question is why do I get the special attention? This is the second time people have shouted memorable things at me this year.

Last night I went to the Dakota County Fair. I was there to see Jeannie's cousin Jennifer perform at the Chautauqua. The music was great as usual and I really enjoyed the whole performance. I'm always stunned by the quality of the music and singing at the Chautauqua. I even learned a little local history about Dakota County while I was being entertained.

When I announce at lunch that I was going to the fair, someone asked if I was going to the fair to show my goat.

No, I do not have a goat. If I had my own goat I am sure someone would have gotten it by now.

I really enjoy the Dakota County Fair. Like most county fairs the scale is small and human. You can see everything in an evening and leave with money in your wallet. This is of course much harder to do at the Minnesota State Fair. I love checking through the arts and craft exhibits.

I usually don't quote from private email correspondence, as it pushes up against the barrier between private and public. Tonight I'll make an exception since it's about a lovely phrasing rather than the content of the correspondence.

A professional writer friend of mine was responding to me about a future date I had suggested for something or another. She indicated that one date might not work saying "We have plans that we haven't yet made ..."

What a great phrase that is. I'm going to use that one in the future.