Spring Shearing

[stoutfellow]

With the return of warm weather, I have performed my yearly ritual. What was a mane of shoulder-length hair has been cut back to an inch, inch and a half, and a five-months growth of beard has gone into the trashcan. (I kept the mustache; I always do. I've had that mustache, except for two brief intervals, continuously since I was thirteen.) The "before" picture bears a distinct resemblance to Karl Marx, though with rather less gray; the "after"... doesn't really remind me of anyone. (Sue Reynolds once suggested a resemblance to Emperor Gregor Vorbarra, but ol' Greg is described as being tall and thin...)

For some reason, Murphy gets very excited every time I shave, especially the first one of the year; he insists on giving my freshly-bare chin and neck a thorough licking. Ben gets into the act too, but he doesn't quite understand what the fuss is about; he settles for licking a free hand, a knee, or whatever else is in reach. I don't understand Murphy's reaction, either; is it oils, or perhaps a faint trace of blood that attracts his attention? (Lord help me if I'm ever badly cut while he's around, if that's the case...)

Classes tomorrow. We'll see how they react. That's always fun.

Comments

[oilhistorian.livejournal.com]

Y'know, I do more or less the same thing -- though I do trim the beard more than once every five months.

My mom's first words to me whenever I visit are almost invariably some variation of "You need a haircut."

[hornedhopper.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Then maybe it is a professorial thing.

Stoutfellow, let us know some of the fun comments you get!

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

No reaction at all in DiffEq. My DiffGeo students are a livelier bunch, so I should get some reaction from them.

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

I do trim the beard more than once every five months.

Mind you, I go beardless for seven months. The beard will not make another appearance until late October or early November.

[toraks.livejournal.com]

Hee hee! I make Tom trim his beard/mustache more often than that.

Mostly because after a while, his mustache hairs start going up my nose and tickling me when I kiss him!!! More than you wanted to know, but really pretty funny if it's not you it's happening to.

I've got him convinced that once a week is good now. But he never shaves it all off. Besides, he is soooooo much cuter -- I get much more affectionate. Positive reinforcement is good!! ;-)

[oilhistorian.livejournal.com]

That's exactly the reason why I have to trim my beard/mustache more than once a year -- Joyce gets peeved, otherwise. And I miss out on that positive reinforcement ....