Barry's Life in Napa Blog

You know how one year for a human is the same as seven years for a dog? So that makes a dog year about seven and half human weeks. Turns out the Year of the Beard was a Dog Year of the Beard, and that puppy is all gone. I was continually amazed by the level of interest people showed in the beard, wanting me to stand there in front of them while they took it all in and pronounced whether they liked it or not, or made some comment about how it's "coming in well." As if I was producing some kind of object of art. It's just hair, people. For my part, I knew it had to go when it reached the stage where all the time I was saving not shaving had become time I was spending trimming. That, and the fact that it just starts to feel nasty after awhile. Here's the payoff. There was general agreement that the beard made me look a lot older. No argument from me. Last night I stopped at Whole Foods after work, and my basket included a couple of bottles of wine. At the checkout th...

I just hate it when people copy me, but when you are a fashion trend setter - well, it's a burden that I have to bear, you know? Here's the deal: Read the story here. Once all these follow fashion monkeys start aping my cutting edge ways, it just ruins it for me so I guess I will have to go invent the next hot new trend. Remember that Flock of Seagulls hair...?

This just in - the beard has passed the "scruffy" stage is approaching the "gnarly" point as we end week six. I continue to receive a steady stream of comments. Most people say something like "it looks good" which is questionable. Other are more direct with a comment like "it's really coming in" which tells me we're reaching that gnarly stage. Also interesting that men tend to see it as a challenge of sorts - many will say "I can't grow a beard like that" as if I am performing some kind of trick. There is clearly a manhood issue - guys who have spotty beards feel they have been denied some aspect of maleness, I guess. While the nasty thing is keeping my face warm on these "cold" winter mornings, I don't know how long I can stand it. Chances are the beard has about 4 weeks to live.

The Year of the Beard rolls on! After a full week back at work, I think I am past the point of people asking "Are you growing a beard?" I want that question to stop, because I won't have to resist coming back with "No, I am just showing up at work unshaven day after day because I am a loser." So far the most honest remark I've heard was from my friend Doug who asked "Do you realize how much older it makes you look?" I told him I was tired of getting carded at bars all the time anyway. I wasn't really aware that there was a "grow-a-beard-until-the-writer's-strike-is-over" thing going on when I entered whisker initiation mode. And so the answer to the question is no, I am not unshaven in solidarity with the writers, although I imagine their cause is just. The two most high profile people with writer's strike-related new beards of late have been David Letterman and Conan O'Brien. But Dave got a shave a week ago, so his YOB is...

It's official. I have proclaimed 2008 to be the Year of the Beard. So shall it be written, so shall it be done. I have had some prodigious beards in the past, including the bushy bastard that earned me the nickname Grizzly in my freshman year of college. ( Grizzly Adams was a popular TV show at the time and he sported a big bushy bastard beard as well.) And I have also featured my share of goatees (long before they became required) as well as some sideburns that threatened to become mutton chops and more than one cheesy mustache. But it's been a lot of years since I last committed to any facial hair - so long I can't remember that last time. So I guess it's time. Having a couple weeks off work I have, of course, avoided shaving as much as possible, so at this point I have a good week invested in Beard '08. Early indications are that the portions of earlier beards that came in so very red are now so very gray. Fitting for a man of my advanced age. I think this new f...