Week one report: beardless, listless, lost in the world.

My beard was like a security blanket...for my face.

Having been without it for a week now has been interesting to say the least.

I keep touching my face and being shocked that there is not a ton of hair there.  It used to be that I could stroke my beard like one of those pretentious assholes who was pondering some "deep" philosophy (but Kierkegaard simply couldn't have meant *that*!)...only I did it while reading the funny pages or testing software.  Now I don't have that.  It's just instinctive - I reach for the face.  Now my face is stubbly and rough. 

Folks seem to have noticed, too.  I went to the local gun shop to pick up a gun I took in on a trade and was asked where my beard was.  Hell, my ID has my beard *and* my mohawk.  They told me I was one for two.  50%.  Suppose that's acceptable. 

I'm reminded, however, of the last time that I completely shaved my face.  I was still working at Target.  I don't remember what the impetus to shave was, but I was completely hairless on the face.  I walked in to start my shift and one of the front lane managers, Miranda, shot me a double take.  I think it went something like this:
"Oh, hey Miranda."
*double take*
"Nick?!"
"....yeah...."
"Oh my God!  I thought it was cute that we brought on a little 13 year old AP worker until I heard you talk!"

I can laugh about it now.  It's hilarious.  But I feel like a little 13 year old again.  A listless little 23 year old stuck in a 13 year old's body.

Making such a drastic change did awaken the desire to make more changes in my life as well.  So that's a nice side effect.  I have started the one hundred pushup challenge.  I've somewhat neglected my body recently.  Working a desk job all day really wears on you after a while.  Man was not meant to be sedentary for 8+ hours.  I feel that it's important to note here that dressing like a lumberjack, while awesome, will not help you stay in shape simply by the act of dressing like an active person.  Damn.  There went that idea.  Well, I'm still wearing my flannel and anyone who has a problem with it can take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut.

Oh, I should probably post a picture, shouldn't I?  Here's a week later:

I suppose I can't bitch too much - I have some growth.  Hopefully next week brings more.

-Nick