Bearded Bretheren

What I will miss about USM:

BEARD CAT

3 Months Strong

Chris Lauer, love of my life, grew me a beard. I havent seen him in 2 months, not even on Skype! So this was just what I wanted to see when I picked him up in Boston November 20th. He has been growing it for threeeeee months! Thank you Lauer! He was here for 10 days and got to see what my beard obsession was like when he wasn't around. I recall him saying "You could change the world."


From www.thedailywhat.com

Finally,

La Fete de Moustache

Held a Moustache Party on Saturday, November 21. It was moushtastic.

Minus the Bear, Plus the Beard

November 18, Wednesday
Port City Music Hall
Minus the Bear

SO MANY BEARDS.

Beard of my Life

I will be seeing my very bearded boyfriend tomorrow. And I am more than excited. I'll post him here.

He sent me this today, stating that the man should be wearing a crown. This is amazing. I want a poster of this.



Finally, Moustache Party (la fete de moustache!!!) on Saturday @ my home. Come.

Mopstache

From my friend Kelsey,

"I can't even drink anymore! Most of the liquid soaks in my moustache. Ugh."

Also,

There is a big brown cut-out moustache on my big window on the corner of Forest and Congress. Under the stache reads, "All's Fair in Facial Hair." I'm surprised it took me this long.

Finally, a friend linked this to me:

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

HAHA!

That's all for now!

Kearsarge Tower

Last Saturday, November 14, I hiked Mount Kearsarge with three of my friends/The Outdoor Adventure Club from USM. It was a drizzly day, and the ride to New Hampshire involved one fender bender and two wrong roads. But we finally made it to the base of the trail and started up 3.1 miles.

This being my first New England hike, it was pleasantly straightforward. A mix of covered trail, open slabs of rock, and moss covered rocks at the summit, the hike was interesting at every turn. The overcast sky caused photographic lighting to be absolutely keen. We reached the summit somewhere between noon and 1. Ahead in the distance was a tower, standing strong in the sweeping clouds, beckoning us toward it. When climbing the tower stairs, I almost blew away from the wind and rain. I entered the tower and pushed the door shut behind me against the howling weather.


Inside was cozy. No heating, no chairs, but four magnificent walls of windows to see the absolute nothingness that surrounded us. Even the banister outside was partly hidden in the clouds, which were almost running past our still shelter. We opened our packs of food and reloaded ourselves with calories. I was glad to have saved my hot Americano in my thermos to now warm up on. Nice call. Here is Johnny Wise eating while my lens drowns in raindrops :(.



While discussing what to write in the guest book kept in the tower, a man walks up the stairs and into the tower. My facial-hair-feelings kick in. He's got a moustache! Lightbulb! About 5 minutes later, his friend walks in, and HE has a beard. We talk about where we're from, all of us from Maine. We eat, exchange thoughts. But as I sense their readiness to depart, I can't keep my mouth shut any longer. I refuse to pass this up!

So, still on a high from the hike, I gregariously ask them about their facial hair. Throw them off with my abruptness? It was a risk. But, thankfully, they play right along. Smiling, Mr. Moustache says, "A lot of hunters won't shave until they get a deer." This is similar to the idea of the "Playoff Beard," a beard kept for good luck during the hockey playoffs. I was very amused when I discovered this. After they learned about my outstanding fetish for facial hair (with the help of my knowing friends), they asked me why I moved to Maine from Alaska. "Well, to meet you guys!" I replied.

Only a short array of questions were asked as we were all ready to head down the mountain. The basics; such as how long they have each held onto their facial hair of choice. Peter Gillingham, with the 'stache, is a Mainer from Standish and teaches seventh grade social studies (to which I thought but didn't mention, pogonology, the study of beards, is technically a social study, too"). He has kept his moustache for ~twenty years. He'll trim it, but only shave it off every year or so.

Neither Peter or his friend, Russ, have any problems with facial hair at their job. Mr. Beard, or Russ Brown from Waterford, is a school psychologist. He has recently grown his beard back after years of being clean shaven. The last time he had a beard was in 2005, and he says his current length of ~1/2 inch is his usual. I asked Russ why he grew a beard, and he asked me what other people say to this question. I explained the usual answers; to prove manliness, to keep warm, to change the shape of one's face. He seemed amused at the answers, but admitted his beard to be a product of sheer laziness. Finally, I said to Russ, "I was going to ask if you ever get anything stuck in your beard but I'm pretty sure I saw some trail mix in there earlier." He said the only time he gets things stuck in his beard is every time he eats.

While offering thanks in the form of Hershey's Dark chocolate with Pomegranate (WHICH IS DELICIOUS), I asked them what brought them up to Mount Kearsarge for a hike in the middle of November. While accepting a piece of the best chocolate ever, Peter grinned and said, "To meet you!"

Meant to be? Absolutely.

Thank you Abby!

thanks to abby for this. it's great!!

Lor Likely's Extra-Ordinary Inter-Active Moustache-O-Rama

ALSO,

my chiropractor is starting a website to raise awareness for cancer through his mustache. i cant believe i was sent to him through a referral and he's growing a stache...unbelievable match.

anyways, stay tuned for updates. new short interviews coming up soon..

RENA

understanding

just so you know where i'm coming from with this whole "adoring beards" thing, check out a photo of a couple friends of mine and their friends in front of the "Into The Wild" bus in Alaska:



BEARDS.

(missed connections) #7

first Friday art walk
portland m4w 11.7.09
beard


I thought I caught your eye in the gallery at MECA last night.
You were: Cute! Shortish brown hair, brown shoes, brown leggings, brown pattern on your skirt. But your eyes were blue (like your friends jacket).
Me: Scruffy with my beard and woolly sweater. Tan suede jacket. Dark rimmed glasses.

Was it just me? Would love to talk, not just exchange glances across the room.

Lamp Beard

eric favreau, lampbeard.

(missed connections) #6

Gorgeous blue eyed CBD barista
w4m 10.30.09 portland
beard

You have a beard, a great smile & those sexy blue eyes! I just want you to know, you make my day.

(missed connections) #5

una cervasa mustachio por favor - 21
?4? 10.18.09
mustache

To the QT with the drawn on brown eyeliner mustache (sorta sparkly), your fiesta couch dancing is like no other. I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate your advice that I too can find a sunny patch to sleep in, like a cat. Thanks, call me sometime!

Skittles

Dear Mason,

You were amazing, and so was your beard. Thank you for coming to Portland!!!

Also: my boyfriend's beard is coming right along. I don't get to see it until November when he visits. I will be plenty thankful.

Chris says: You're going to want to shave it off and keep it for yourself
Chris says: Just warning you

Beardjamin Franklin

ROAD TRIP!

I went to Boston this weekend! I can tell you one thing about that place. NOTHING compared to Maine's furry men! But, a hefty amount of history. My goodbye-Portland gift was a moustached taxi driver who was totally down for a photo and short interview for $4.90.


Meet taxi driver Tom Ludwig. He's lived in Maine for 40 years and had that 'stache for 10. That sucker used to be brown! Tom says the weirdest thing about his furry mustache is a dark patch of brown that stays put in the middle.


In Boston, I met my mother (missed her!) at the airport and we snagged a few busses and the T to the Marriot @ Copley Place in Back Bay. Beard sightings? 2. BOO!! Quacked on the Duck Tour, strolled in Boston Common, shopped hard at Prudential Center. I'm new to New England, so I enjoyed all of the old buildings and statues and sections of town. BRONZE BEARD!!

I was hoping to run into one of the beautiful Boondock Saints but unfortunately I was herded like cattle on the Freedom Trail instead. Drove to "P-Town" Cape Cod on Colombus Day and walked on a beach in October. Pretty spectacular. Met this guy in Orleans:

He was probably the highlight of my day. What a babe!! Then in the shopping center connected to the Marriot, I found this bullshit store-> What a load of CRAP!!

Fun trip, but man does it feel good to be back in Portland. I'm moving downtown tomorrow so I'm hoping beard-watching from my Congress Street apartment window will be on the rise! Here's a genuine Santa-Sighting from Exchange street today. Look at that 19th century style!
That's all for now. I'm gonna get back to sleep, school, mom, the outdoor adventure club, and moving moving moving!

(missed connections) #3 & #4

#3 rainy day companion or adventurer
m4w 25 portland
10.7.09
beard

#4 lowes scarborough
?4? 34 scarborough
10.8.09
beard

Missing Caleb's New-Manchu

YOU, TOO!

CAN HAVE A FU MANCHU!

One of my closest friends back in Alaska is also one of the reasons I love facial hair. He grew himself a tasteful "musketeer" mustache and entered himself into the World Beard and Moustache Championships in Anchorage, AK in MAY09, which of course I went to as a fan, for support. And he rocked it. Didn't win according to the judges, but a hunk of hair in my eyes. Those championships overwhelmed me with facial hair at every turn, and it was there that I fell in love with the entire idea. Pride for Caleb didn't hurt.

After the shocking termination of ol' muskey, he has decided to grow again. Currently, he is working on a Hulk Hogan fu manchu, and I feel the pride welling again. Maybe I'll keep an update of my furry foreign competitor Caleb (Norway 2011!).

(Photo by Dave Mead)

facial Feature: Beard Surplus

Name: Bruce Roberts

Title: Professor of Economics at USM  

Style: Classic Box Beard

Beard Age: since 1971

HAIRY MAINE: What's your professional title?

BRUCE ROBERTS: Professor of Economics

How long have you been teaching overall? at USM?

Since 1995 at USM.  For sixteen years before that I was on the faculty in economics at William & Mary.  I got tired of Virginia, and my wife (Susan Feiner, also a USM professor) and I were happy to take advantage of the offer to come back to New England at USM.

What are some accomplishments that you are proud of?

I've taught thousands of students over the years.  Many quite memorable and successful  people.  Some tell me that they actually learned some things that stick with them.  I think I've written some articles on the nature of different varieties of economic theory that have had an effect on how others think about the field.

So now about the beard. How long have you had your beard, in year terms?

Since spring of 1971, when, after college, I put down the razor and thought "enough of this -- never again."  Didn't like shaving at all.  Plus, of course, if you were youngish in 1971, having a beard was ... not so unusual.  It's been a while (neither my wife nor my children have ever seen me without a beard, which makes for some interesting conversations at times).

How often do you trim or re-shape your beard?

Reshape?  Basically never.  But trim --two or three times a week, I guess.

Do you wear different styles of beards or do you generally keep it the same?

Same shape (which is the shape of my face, basically).  Never seriously thought about the ZZTop or Santa Claus or Satanic goatee or... any other style.

Do you ever wish to rid of the huge bunch of hair on your face?

Nahhh.  It gives me something to stroke, pensively, while looking and feeling thoughtful.  Plus, again, the thought of daily razoring is enough to make any other options fade away fast!

Do you find that there is a stereotype associated with the beard?

Walking around as a faculty member at a college, and seeing all the other graying male baby-boomers with briefcases and whiskery chins... yeah, sure.  In retrospect, I suspect that being a member of my generation with an urge to do something thoughtful and worthwhile but no great desire to be in a regular 9-to-5 environment, I grew the beard before I figured out that I wanted to be an academic.  Later on, I realized all the benefits of being an academic worker, in a job setting where no-one much cares how whiskery you are as long as you do what you do well -- you don't get rich doing this, but as a (tenured!) professor, I don't know another job that's as close to being self-employed while still earning a paycheck.  So ... yeah, there are a lot of professors with beards.  Makes sense to me.

Do you notice many college students on campus with beards?

I do.  Seems like somewhat less than the campuses I remember from the 60s and 70s, but yes (definitely more beards here than in the off-campus world!).

What does your beard mean to you?

Less profit for Gillette.  Plus I get to feel virtuous by resisting the urgings of the "Just for Men" commercials.

Finally, because I have to, do you see the USM campus as having a beard surplus or a beard deficit?

As an economist, I've been trained to look for equilibrium....

There you have it, my first facial Feature! 

Please get ahold of me if you'd like yourself or a friend featured.

Thanks!

Sarena

(missed connections) #2

dark haired cutie w/ goatee on danforth st on an August morning

posted 10.3.09

W4M

GOATEE!

Free Press MONDAY!

I did an interview of my MacroEconomics teacher at USM and am very excited to reveal my first "facial Feature." His portrait will be in the USM Free Press this Monday, with full-length interview! Look for it in the News section.

I will be posting it Sunday night for earlybirds.

Sarena

Bro Beard

I talked to my older brother yesterday for the first time in about a month. He went to my family's "homestead" in the middle of Alaska's bush and finished building a cabin with my dad. When we talked, I asked him how his beard looked after that month in the middle of nowhere. He said he had just tamed it, to which I sighed, then said, "WHOA WHOA WHOA, you didn't shave it off, did you?" Matt, being a dear brother of mine, replied with disgust.

"F*** no!!"

With pride and relief, I told him thanks for keeping it real.

Here's a side profile of Matt's beard when we were in Nepal. He left our planned 3-month trip after a month due to the heat. Would not get rid of the beard in order to cool him off. :)

Bee-ard

Name: Freeman Richardson III

Occupation: 4th year at Res Life for USM, Gorham

Beard length: Approximately 7 in

Beard age: 30 years

When I walked into the Brooks Center in Gorham to get myself some much-needed coffee, I didn't expect to have a beard-sighting, but this guy was hard to miss. His white, full beard caught my eye and I stopped in my tracks. The second thing I immediately noticed about Freeman was that his hairy ensemble was missing a moustache. His omish-style full beard was too fantastic to pass up, and, strapped with only my moleskin and an iPhone, I prepared to conduct a spontaneous interview. 

I continued to check him out and wonder how old the beard was. "GREAT beard," I said with a beaming smile when he noticed my staring. "30 years!" he replied, apparently already on the same level. After explaining myself and my blog, I learned he was a USM employee (I've been trying to focus on USM students and staff). I asked him a series of the normal questions; how long he's had it, how often he trims it, it's low point, it's high point, it's original color (DARK RED! I love Ginger beards), etc. I learned that, like my macroeconomics teacher, his wife of 21 years and 3 Maine children have never seen him without a beard. This is something I can appreciate, since I've never seen my dad's chin either (does it even exist?). I also learned that he shampoos his beard to keep it a clean shade of white that obviously draws attention. Before this interview, I thought I knew everything about facial hair. But not once did I think about the shampoo-age of beards. After I post this I am googling 'beard shampoo', and if they don't have it I AM MAKING IT.

Freeman explained that he has never had any social problems with the length or style of his beard. He sometimes changes the style, usually by removing the mustache, but removing the entire beard is out of the question. "I'd freeze to death," he said. Yes, he has been mistaken for Santa. Yes, he has been offered the job and NO, he has never been a Santa. He let me in on a couple horror stories, like when the dentist "buffed" his beard instead of his teeth, winding the tool around his tiny, sensitive hairs (OUCH?). Finally, I asked him if he has ever gotten anything stuck in his beard that he had not noticed. "Why yes," he said, pondering a good memory. "One year at Cumberland Fair a woman came up to me and asked me if I normally kept bees in my beard." (At this point I was picturing it in my head and almost burst obnoxiously into laughter). "I said no and she pointed out the bee stuck in my beard. She told me that if I had the patience, she would sift through my beard and get the little guy out." 

Freeman allowed me to take a photo with my iPhone, which is now my new favorite spontaneous beard interview tool. He's got three kids out there in Maine, 2 of which are male and may possibly read this. Word of advice to Freeman's sons: Get on it. If your father can grow a beard like this, I know what to expect from you.

*If there is anyone out there with good "stuck in beard" stories, let me know. I'll put you up here (as long as you have an awesome beardy photo). ANIMALS stuck in beards are double points. 

Happy Friday!

Upcoming in Hairy Maine

•  Movember

This is an annual, month-long moustache growing event. It's known for its "celebration of the moustache," AND it's amazing amount of charity work. Go to this link to learn more! I'm hoping to see a Maine chapter this November. Possible team name: Moose Stache? :)

• Bearduary

Growing beards for charity AND for warmth. This is focussed more on beards and only in the months of January and February (hence the -uary suffix). I think it's definately something Mainers can handle, since beards are great scarves and charity is always good.

• Facial Features

I have upcoming interviews/portraits with a current teacher of mine and a wonderful man named Joe who I met at the Common Grounds Fair in UNITY, ME last weekend. There will be more interviews to fit in between but these are going to be more features. 

• The official launch of Hairy Maine

Eventually I will make this beardy blog available to the public of Maine hopefully through the Free Press at USM. Cross fingers. (USM Free Press)

• First Friday Art Walk (Oct 2, 2009) Downtown Portland, Arts District

Bringing the camera. I saw a ton of beards last time and I am expecting to hit the streets for some short interviews and snapshots. Expect Beard Shorts next week. 

(missed connections) #1

legs, hands, and a beardposted 9.28.09unknown ?4?

I am going to start listing missed connections including anything about beards. This is number one!! Maybe you'll find that you were fancied?

I love craigslist. 

Common Grounds Fair: Unity, ME

Just got back from my first time north of Portland. Headed to Unity for the MOFGA Common Grounds Fair last night really late, stargazed with some friends and wine, camped out in a tent and woke up with frost on my sleeping bag. Looked outside and there was frost EVERYWHERE! Grass, tents, the wine bottle, cars, etc... I wished I had packed more layers and was a bit disappointed by the quickness of the chill.

But-I got coffee and oatmeal and the sun came up and the frost melted and I had a blast. I met a lot of great people and "beard-watched" the whole day. One word to sum up the facial hair at this fair: OVERWHELMING. I was flustered with the length, fullness, and commonness of the beard. Some photos include the MUSTACHE RIDE that I ran into on my way back from the tent (above), Morgan trying out a "sheared beard," and beardy men waltzing at the final dance of the night at the Fiddle Camp. (I suggest clicking on them for a larger view!)

I met a great guy named Joe who is going to be a fantastic feature a bit later in the fall. Look forward to the "I Know Joe" post!

I'm off to bed in my sleeping bag WITHOUT the frost :)

The Ultimate Scarf

We're transitioning from Septembeard to Octobeard here in Maine. The leaves are falling and the temperatures drop farther each night. Winter is only a month or so away! Now, I know the first frost may scare you. You may think, "Oh no! I should have prepared more for this chilly air!" I know. I understand. And you're not alone. So men (if you really want to be a MAN), don't be left in the cold this winter. YOU CAN PREVENT IT.

Grow yourself a big, thick, cozy beard.

Germany hosts 25th anniversary B/M comp

So apparently there's a difference between the WORLD beard and mustache champs and the INTERNATIONAL WORLD bmc. The WBMC, which I attended in Anchorage, AK this May, is biannual. 

But the International World BMC is another competition held separately, conveniently on the first day of Oktoberfest, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the beginning of the beard club of Germany, created in 1984.  This year it was held in Gruendau, Germany on September 19th. You may have seen photos of it on the news this weekend. The overall winner of the World Beard and Moustache Champs in AK competed, so I'm assuming most overall winners attended as well.

There were 160 competitors in Germany and 17 categories of beards and mustaches. If you want to see photos follow this link:

Yahoo! Photos

That's all for now!

Sarena