Yes, I was bald (expounded)...

I made a quick post over on my tumbl blog today, about the weirdness of people noticing that I am letting my hair grow out. You can go there and read the quick version, but I wanted to expound on those thoughts a little here...

First, some background... When I was in fourth grade dad was getting his hair cut at Weaver's Barber shop on Water street in Chillicothe. I guess Josh and I must have been getting our hair cut there as well.

One time we were in there, and I really wanted to get my head shaved (bald). I don't remember what the motivation was, or why I wanted to get it done but mom and dad said they didn't care, so when it was my turn to hop up in the chair that day and Mr. Weaver said, "What'll it be" my response was "shave it off".

I seem to recall that he chuckled, got the clippers out, attached the number four guard, and gave me a "buzz". After that he spun me around to the mirror and said "How's that?"

"Can you make it shorter?"

Glance at mom. She nodded. Number 2 guard.

"Can you make it shorter?"

Longer glance at mom. Grin and nod. No guard.

"Ummm.... Can you make it any shorter?"

Question to mom. "Is it really ok with you if I shave his head?".

Smile. Nod. Head shaved. Spin to mirror. Tentative feel.

Satisfaction!

If I recall, Mr. Weaver didn't even charge us for the cut because he was so taken back by having a fourth grader wanting all of his hair cut off.

After that, Dad bought some clippers and from then on he just shaved our heads at home with the clippers as short as they would go. Once a week or so, the whole time we grew up dad cut our hair.

When I got in college, I bought my own clippers and every Saturday morning I went down to the bathroom and just clipped my hair (again, as short as the clippers would go) right into the trash can.

Sometimes, in order to make it more neat, I would use shave cream and and a razor to actually "shave" my head after the clippers had done their job.

Ok... Enough background. I'm bored and I'm sure you are.

Sometime back in late February or early March, someone in the Youth group challenged me to see if I could grow my hair long enough to put it in dreds before our summer mission trip in mid-June.

I don't remember if it turned into a bet, a wager, a dare, or exactly how it panned out, but by the time the discussion was over I had agreed that until July 1 there would be no cutting of the hair.

This coming Saturday (June 7) will be 12 weeks since I've cut the hair.

About two weeks ago Jenn got me some stuff to make my hair stand up. Now it doesn't look like a shag carpet is stuck to my head.

Here I am pre-hair, and currently.



Some interesting observations I've made since the hair started to grow, and people started to notice.

• Many people tend to assume that if you shave your head, you must be naturally bald and/or unable to grow hair... They seem to be shocked to discover this is not the case.
• Many of my friends claim that I look friendlier, am more approachable, am not as intimidating, blah, blah, blah, since I've let my hair grow out.
• Jenn prefers the me with hair, as opposed to the bald me.
  

I guess the hair is growing on me, pardon the pun.

I've decided not to get it cut after the mission trip, and just to let it keep going until I simply can't stand it anymore.

I think it would be really cool to let it get long enough to pull back in a short pony-tail.

Anyhoo... This post has gone on far too long.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the hair, no hair issue?

My Other (Other) blog...

Ok. So you already know about my other blog, right ?

http://eli.roogles.com is where I post those things that just don't really go on a "real" blog, whatever that means. You know, web surveys (What kind of fish are you? What is your super-power? How many three year olds could you take in a fight?) That sort of thing...

It is also the site where I test concepts, toss around blog design ideas, and don't worry about how it looks, how it feels, or who looks at it. Nothing that goes there is really important. If you 're not already reading it, you're not missing anything.

BUT...

Now I have another blog...

I know, I know.. I don't post often enough on this one to warrant one more, but hear me out.

A couple of weeks ago, Mark Lee introduced me to the concept of a Tumblelog.

The W defines a tumblelog like this :

A tumblelog (or tlog) is a variation of a blog that favors short-form, mixed-media posts over the longer editorial posts frequently associated with blogging. Common post formats found on tumblelogs include links, photos, quotes, dialogues, and video. Unlike blogs, tumblelogs are frequently used to share the author's creations, discoveries, or experiences while providing little or no commentary.

See full article here - Tumbleblog on the W

There are a variety of sites (like http://www.tumblr.com) for setting up tumbl blogs.

Mark Lee's tumbl blog (which again, is the first one that I ever saw ) is located here - http://markleerocks.com/

-----

Now, I really like this idea for a couple of reasons.

1. I love blogging. I like reading them, writing them, commenting on them, and getting comments on mine.
   
2. I don't have the time to write great blog posts, and I'm obsessive about them when I do write them. This particular post, which was meant to be a quick ad for my tumblr site, has been in process for 30 minutes...
   
3. Numbers 1 and 2 on this list are in HUGE conflict with one another.

So... without further ado, let me point you over to my very own tumbl blog.

This is where I (s)tumbl(e)... http://tumbl.roogles.com/

If you do the whole RSS reader (or Google reader) thing, then you can simply add the RSS link to your reader, and you'll know when I post to it.

They will likely be short, random, and possibly silly.

Looking forward to the journey,

-E