Lamenting Life

But you and I now

We can be alright

Just hold on to what we know is true

You and I now

Though it's cold inside

Feel the tide turning

Challenges Met

Every Day my life is evolving
taking turns while making life a challenge.
Isn't that true for everyone though?
People go through a struggle
all of the time in life.
The question is, how do you take
that struggle and work on it so that
your life is a success.
Today, I was sitting in on a teacher's lesson
and she was discussing time order
and sequence, while connecting similar ideas within
their writing.
I came across a student's writing and noticed
a wonderful example of a way that she
could improve her writing sequence.
She wrote, "You can sit around and complain about
your bad luck, on the other hand you can look for a way to solve
your problems." WOW !!!!
That is coming from a fourth grader.
She sees the challenge and found a way to work towards defeating that challenge.

These are the key points that I want to be a part of as the students perception
of education matures into a very important reality.

Someday

Someday I will be able to not worry every day about picking up a job just to scrape by.
Someday I will be able to buy my son Eagles onsie's and toddler outfits.
Someday I will be able to express my generous heart to someone in need.
Someday I will be able to not live life vicariously through others.
Someday I will be able to love another once again.
Someday I will be able to reach out to others as I once did.
Someday I will be able to share my heart with my true soul mate.
Someday I will be able to laugh as I once did for so many years.
Someday I will be able to paint you a beautiful piece from your inspiration.
Someday I will be able to live medically free.
Someday I will be able to touch an entire class through the means of my educating.
Someday I will be able to make everyone happy that I entered into their life.
Someday I will be able to enjoy every moment with you, just like our beginning
Someday I will be able to live as I was meant to live.

J.R.

Beasties

Choose one band (out of the many!) that would represent my high school years, it would definitely be the Beastie Boys. These guys beats were infectious from the first time that I heard them. I could never forget the first time I heard Licensed to Ill. It was a staple at every. single. house party and dance since the early nineties. But while that album might have put the Beasties on the radar, I really connected with them on Paul's Boutique. It seems like yesterday that I bought my tape at City Records in Pleasanton. Ahhh.... the good old days of cassette tapes! Those silly Beastie Boys decided to produce them in different colors. Do you remember? Mine was green -- what color was yours?

But more importantly, I had my first real kiss to "Hey Ladies!" While I've never been a real fan of the tapes, I'm still a proud owner of Paul's Boutique on tape!! Anyway, enough with the reminiscing! I will continue to support AD Rock, Mike D and MCA until they are grey and rockin' walkers. I'm committed, yo!

Their latest album, Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 1, is due for release sometime this year. It was supposed to come out last year, but was put on hold after Adam Yauch (MCA) was diagnosed with throat cancer. Release dates seem to be vague -- maybe September, possibly December? Either way, I just wanted to make sure you knew about it.

Do you have a band you've followed since high school?

I need a new Life

Emotionally yes.
Physically, even though it wouldn't hurt to start a new life Chronic disease free and void of after effects of Head Trauma, I'll just stick with the life that I have. I've vented in forums before about the different gifts that have been dealt to me over the past few years, whether amazing or downright sucky. The thing is though, my thoughts have to be told somewhere, and to someone. When my Father decided to do his little flip flop a few years ago it took me by surprise. I mean I'm usually never taken back like I was on that night, back in October of 2008. Some of us know that he would have probably been content living the life he was living moving forward if he was not found out that blistery fall night. However, it really is difficult for me to sit and watch the deterioration of a once prominent man that I so longingly looked up to along with many, while his life is spiraling two new lows. I have not found a commonplace where I can meet him yet. Yes he is my Father and the only one that I will ever have, but I have still not reached that place yet. I am trying to find a way to figure him back into my life, but his sin is pushing him farther and farther away from me. I would love it if I could turn back the sands of time and been able to have that conversation again. He knows that talk. The one in 2008 while the Phillies were clinching the NL East just before entering the playoffs. It really would not have changed the outcome of what would occur a few days later, but it would probably had given me time to talk with him one on one, before he decided to take off from our life. It's just really difficult for me to figure that it's not only such a difficult lifestyle that he chose over us, but the downward spiraling effect that he has endured the past few years and in turn I have felt that burden on my heart. I just really wish that I could have that man that loved God so very much, that wanted to be in touch with every nook and cranny of his 4 kids lives and was devoted to their future welfare back in that form. The thing that is so disheartening to me, is that it will never happen. My new life, starting soon will entail a new adventure. Looking toward the positive and not adding to the negative points in life. A new emotional life to go with my scarred, physical exterior could start taking me places. Emotions can always be worked on, start by building it from the ground up.

Song for the Immaculate

Rain falls on everyone
It can hit you from all angles
from your lowest point to the most high.
Rain can have a cleansing effect though.
Both figuratively and emotionally.
It inspires the few to change the superficial
and the immaculate left broken without words.
The effect can strengthen your soul to its utmost,
or leave One at its knees crying for help.
Rain does not leave our lives full of void.
Grace, patience and faith will rebuild a broken heart
that yearns for the life anew.

J.R.

Lived unbruised we are friends

Serve God love me and men
This is not the end
Lived unbruised we are friends
And I'm sorry
I'm sorry

Sigh no more, no more
One ? one unsure
My heart was never pure
And you know me
And you know me

And man is a giddy thing
Oh man is a giddy thing
Oh man is a giddy thing
Oh man is a giddy thing

Love that will not betray you, dismay or enslave you,
It will set you free
Be more like the man you were made to be.
There is a design,
An alignment to cry,
At my heart you see,
The beauty of love as it was made to be

Traumautic Brain Injury and the after effects. Which Stage am I in?

EMOTIONAL STAGES OF RECOVERY

We are all different. We all have different family situations, different jobs, different strengths, and different weaknesses. Despite all these differences, there are a number of very common emotional stages that people with a head injury go through. This is based upon my own experience treating patients, but many investigators note similar findings.

Confusion and Agitation

The first phase that I see people going through is a confusion/agitation phase. This can last minutes or it can last for months. I've had people get in a car accident and be somewhat dazed for a few minutes, but then direct traffic around their car. Others had been brought into the hospital in a coma requiring intensive medical efforts. When they wake up, they may go through the confusion/agitation phase. In the hospital setting, this is very difficult for family members. Someone who is very meek and mild, for example, can be physically aggressive. They may punch the nurses, or swear and curse at family members. It's very frightening for family members, and it feels like it is going to last forever. For 99% of the patients that I've worked with, this confusion/agitation phase goes away. It may take a while, but people eventually come out of it.

Denial

The next emotional phase that I see people typically go through is denial. The patient says, "There's nothing wrong with me." For example, they're in a motor vehicle accident, they're briefly seen in an emergency room, and they go home. Suddenly, they're having difficulties. They're forgetting things or burning food. Family members may say, "you seem different." But the head-injured person says "No, there's nothing wrong with me." Often the medical system unknowingly supports denial. Many doctors will say, "Go home, relax for two weeks, and everything will be better." For some people, things don't get better. They wonder why they're doing some silly things. For example, why did they put their shoes in the refrigerator? Or why did they put the milk in the closet? They have these odd events and they keep rationalizing them away. Denial can be very difficult for both family members and medical staff. For example, the head-injured person may say, "Yes, I can drive," but family members who have been with the person know that it would be dangerous. This can stir up huge arguments. The person in denial says there's nothing wrong, even when directly confronted by family members. When someone is in denial, you must give consistent feedback that everything is not "okay." Generally, very direct feedback is necessary. However, some people get really angry when they're constantly being told "NO". I often find that distraction, such as changing the topic of conversation, is better than getting into long-winded or violent arguments. For example, the head-injured person may want to drive when it's not safe to do so. Instead of arguing, it might be better to say, "Your doctor has not cleared you to drive" and move on with the conversation.

There are two types of denial. The first type of denial is an emotional one. Something has happened that is so terrible, or so frightening that they just don't want to deal with it. The second type of denial comes from changes to the brain. The brain literally refuses to process certain types of information. For example, there is one type of injury to the brain where the patient cannot receive visual information on the left side. Their vision is gone on the entire left side—but they don't know it. They may bump into walls, or, if driving a car, they may run into things. If drawing a picture, they may leave out half the drawing. The brain doesn't like missing information, so it tends to fill in that information. You may be thinking that you don’t know anyone who has part of their vision missing. Think again! Did you know that part of your vision has a hole in it? Where the optic nerve comes through on the eyeball, there are no visual receptors. The brain doesn’t like missing information and "fills in" that little hole. If you close your left eye, hold a pencil about one foot from the eye (down and to the right), the eraser will just disappear when you find this small hole. So, now you see how the brain can contribute to "denial."

Anger and Depression

Denial is a very common problem, but eventually it breaks down. Head injury problems just don't go away. The same problems happen over and over and over again. This leads to the next phase, in which the person has a limited awareness of the head injury, beginning what I call the depression/anger phase. When you realize you are different and can't do things like you used to, you may become angry or depressed. In many ways, anger and depression share a lot in common. Some people think of depression as anger at oneself, a kind of anger turned inward. A lot of people who are depressed will say to themselves, "I'm a failure. I can't do this. I'm no good." On the other hand, people who are struggling to deal with the vast changes produced by a head injury may get angry at people around them. They may see people as not being supportive of them or not understanding their head injury. Some of this anger may also be due to the head injury. They'll notice that this anger comes on extremely quickly and also goes away just as quickly. That's due to the head injury. The sections of the brain that control those emotions have been injured.

Not all of this anger or depression is due to physical changes in the brain. Instead, we're talking about an emotional way of coping with things. Virtually all people who go through a serious illness or injury will have some anger and depression. If it is a car accident, they may be angry at the person who ran into them. They may be angry at themselves for getting into an accident. Sometimes it is justified, such as in a case where a person has been drinking and driving, resulting in a head injury. Sometimes they unreasonably blame themselves--"If I had only left my house five minutes later or five minutes earlier, I wouldn't be in this mess." There was no way of knowing that an accident would happen. When we have difficulty dealing with overwhelming situations, we often go back and blame ourselves. That's a very common reaction. Many religious people become angry at God--Why would God want me to suffer? They may question their faith, or wonder why God is so vindictive. Just about everybody goes through this cycling pattern, becoming depressed or angry. This can go back and forth; some people never move on to the next phase.

Testing Phase

The next phase almost always follows after a period of recovery and improvement in thinking abilities. When people eventually realize they are improving, they go through the testing phase. Basically, they test themselves to see their limits. To some degree, there's a little bit of denial in this. The person feels, "I'm really close to the way I was, so I'll just act the way I was. I'll do things as I always did." For example, many people with a head injury have a fatigue disorder. They know they get tired easily. But during this testing phase, they "forget" they have a head injury and say, "Well, I've got a lot of friends visiting this weekend. I'm just going to stay up really late. I'm going to see if I just can't be the way I used to be." When you overdo and go beyond your abilities, you may spend the next several days paying for it. Sometimes, people will test themselves and fail. For example, they previously may have been an A or B student. They take a class and come out with a C or D, even though they put in twice the effort for that C. For many people, getting a C is a failure. There's a period of time when the head-injured person says, "Why can't I be the way I used to?" This a very painful stage.

Uneasy Acceptance

The next phase is what I call uneasy acceptance. This is when head-injured people learn where they stand and what their limits are. They've learned after many failings and many times of paying for it, that they can only handle a limited number of hours of work or play. They've learned to keep a consistent schedule and will stick to that schedule. For example, they can work six hours a day, but realize that 8 hours is too much. They've learned to say, "I have to deal with this head injury." Does this mean they like it? NO. They're not happy about it, but they've learned to accept it. Often individuals in this phase begin to use words like the "old" me and the "new" me. Many of their old friends are no longer with them, but they've found new friends. They've moved on to new relationships, maybe even new work, and they've basically said, "People have to like me for what I am." That's "uneasy acceptance".

Now you will notice that I haven't talked about the level of injury (or how bad off the person is). I have many patients who have no scars, no physical problems, and have largely returned to their own job, yet they're different. Sometimes those people have the greatest difficulty with acceptance. Often people who "seem fine" have greater emotional problems than those who have obvious disabilities. These emotional phases really don't correlate with how physically impaired they are, or whether they return to their own job or not. It varies with the person.

Factors in Emotional Adjustment

Some people tend to handle the stress of a head injury better than others. In general, people who do well emotionally tend to have a very strong work ethic. They tend to believe that it's important to contribute to society and to people around them. It's important to help others. They look outside of themselves to see what they can do to make the world around them better. In my experience, these people tend to do better. On the other hand, people who are extremely self-centered and who have poor social relationships before their injury tend not to do well. One important predictor of how well people do is a sense of humor. I believe that humor is an essential component to getting better. I like to joke with the people that I work with, but not in a hostile way or to make fun of them. Sometimes people can make jokes about themselves; that's a very positive sign. One of my patients told me, "Sometimes laughing keeps me from crying." Another factor is people's avoidance of drug and alcohol problems. Some people cope with their personal failures or personal problems through alcohol or drugs. If you return to alcohol or drugs and don't see the destruction it causes, you will have a hard time coping with this injury. That doesn't mean that people who abuse alcohol or drugs are always going to have negative outcomes. The question is, have those people learned that using alcohol or drugs will make their brain worse?

Another factor in head injury is whether or not people freely admit to others that they have a head injury. Many of my patients at first didn't want anybody to know about their injury. People are afraid that others might think they are "dumb" or "retarded." But after a while, these same patients realize that there are a lot of people in this world who have had head injuries. People who have dealt with a head injury over a long period tend to "reach out" to those who are just starting the process of recovery. Some of my patients have gone beyond just talking with someone on a one-to-one basis. Some have even lectured, have gone to schools and talked about wearing helmets; or talked about drinking and driving. People who have suffered a head injury somehow move beyond their suffering to help others.

People who go to support groups often get a lot of positive feeling from being with other head-injured people. They want to openly talk about their frustrations or fatigue or forgetting things. Those people do better. On the other hand, people who avoid talking about their accident, avoid telling people they have a head injury, and avoid being with other head-injured patients tend to have a poorer adjustment. In every state in the United States, there is a brain injury association with some type of support group. Don’t be afraid to check one out.

11 Important Details About Jonathan

1. My guilty pleasure TV show is A&E Hoarders. It kinda grosses me out, but also reminds me of my room at this current point.

2. I love Children. I want children more than anything. But you know it will come whenever they come. Trivial life = God's plan.

3. I'm really 33, but I can pass for 26 easy. Alright maybe 27. And I'm not kidding. I really enjoy having a baby face, it keeps me young at heart.

4. My favorite foods are Chicken, 5 way grilled cheese and corn chowder, and barbecued chicken pizza.

5. I tell everyone I was born in Philly, but I really only lived there from about 3 years until age 11. I also tell everyone that I am 1/4 African descent because my mother was born in Eritrea.

6. I eat fast food at least 3 times a week. I can't get enough of it. I also remember places and vacations by the food I ate.

7. I am a closet Rap and hip hop fan. Lil wayne, Eminem, Jay-z, etc..... I live for beats. Love the sound!

8. It really bugs me when people use lots. of. periods. in. a. sentence. It takes me forever to read those sentences. Plus, I'm not entirely convinced they know that it's not grammatically correct. Same goes for the use of the word literally. Oh, and I HATE it when people say things are retarded or gay. Must be the teacher in me.

9. I like to talk things out to the extent of things. Such as my divorce. I need to express my feelings and everything that I keep bottled up inside just tears me to threads. Case in Point = The Detailed Laughter of My Life. My coping mechanism.

10. Have I talked about how much I love my jobs? I LOVE my jobs. I may change my mind tomorrow, but at this point, I don't want to complain about what I don't have . Lots of people aren't okay with that decision, but I am. I am so glad that I get to spend my days loving anywhere from 20-30 people who need support and encouragement so badly. Of course I feel guilty that I have to work at a winery and that I get a great discount on wine, but, I'm doing a good thing, right?

11. I have lots of opinions about things. Surprise, I know. But, when I want to tell my opinions, I keep it to myself. Kind of like politics. There Why can't everyone just get along?

Engulfed in Daily Exhaustion

At times I feel overwhelmed with the day to day routines. There are not enough hours in the day to complete some of the tasks that i have left inattentively sitting by the wayside. I know that I need to get organized a bit more, but I choose to live a bit differently on the edge. By the time I reach Saturday, I am literally exhausted. During the week I drive more than I work it feels like. I wish that I could have a Saturday, Sunday off as most of my friends do. I had a chance to sleep in today; however sometimes when I sleep in it makes my body even more tired. I've been thinking about things that I could be doing on the weekend lately and I decided to jot 'em down for future reference in case I do get a day off.

Wishful Weekend activities:

• coffee at La Scala on the Street while I watch the cars rush by
  
• taking a walk
  
• making omelette's with a side of lingiusa
  
• having lunch with friends
• painting a masterpiece (in my mind)
  
• talking to friends on the phone out of state
  
• cleaning my room while listening to mumford
• driving to the gym and spending hours working on my much needed fitness
• absolutely no plans with anyone, anywhere
• writing a blog about a peaceful heart
• a movie at the theater not shown in 3-D
  
• drinking coffee with my mother as she tells me how proud she is of my walk.
  
• cleaning the apartment from top to bottom (even scrubbing the shower)
• conjuring up my next Valley Times golf tournament courses, stay and play, etc.....
• monkeying around with monrovia
  
• laying in my queen bed with freshly cleaned sheets and a warm blanket
  
• drinking Chateau la Roque with Matt
• much needed trip to Mt. Diablo with a sack lunch and my camera

A Tired Soul

A tired soul shouts out for help
asking about for an answer.
The wretched hand reaches out as he yearns for redemption.
Why can't the heart find peace when IT surrounds him day and night.
The mural of life seems entirely too trivial as days run on and on
a certain peacefulness runs dry
tears and anguish cover the body of a stricken man
looking unto his savior.

J.R.

I resolve to ...........

2010 was a grand year. There were definitely more lows than highs.
And I did pretty well on my new years resolutions from last year too.

So here are some more for this year:

• Challenge myself - Last year it was the riding my bike. This year maybe running...
• Make some art for a girl.
• Go to the gym more often.
• Try to get out more and express myself with my surrounding culture.
• Paint more. I'm going to aim to complete two pieces a month.
• Have dim sum.
• Eat lobster.
• Visit new places (Reno and Seattle to begin... East Coast in the Fall)
• Eat more Salad and Vegetables.
• Make nourishing my soul a priority. Cleansing my life.
• Drink more Wine!!! (This is an old resolution that must be completed).

Love was lost, now it's found

Patience within a soul is a struggle

an argument arises at the first sign of default.

Depression guides the hurting Aura

When will salvation come and break him free?

A Guiding Light follows the setting sun

It brings peace while the body settles it Soul.

The new day begins with a grim outlook

Day after day the wear continues

His expanded arms search for healing

Searching, needing, wanting.

The love was lost and now it's found.

J.R.

Jon Ruff's Staples 2011

i love Jesus. i love having compassionate friends. i love oil paint. i love visiting other cities and seeing old friends. i love working at a winery. i love making cd's for people. i love my nieces (second time around). i love my comfortable bed. i love where I am heading. i love being generous. i love watching live t.v. on my computer while streaming it on my big screen. i love the ability to smile however the circumstance. i love my aunt and uncle (pictured above). i love having fellowship time with teachers outside of school. i love philadelphia sports teams, even though they constantly let me down. i love making paintings for people. i love playing golf. i love the new Madden 2011. i love attending Cornerstone. i love Picazo Wine. i love living in the bay area. i love talking to friends as I fall asleep. i love http://channelsurfing.net/. i love playing golf. i love facebook. i love the sound of my mother's piano playing . i love taking people out and paying for the entire meal. i love listening to hip hop and rap. i love really nice wine. i love blogging while working on my computer. i love eating cheesesteak's. i love people that are patient and compassionate. i love making people smile. i love facial hair during the month of January. i love staying up really late. i love my PS3 and the ability to watch BluRays on it. i love treating people with respect. i love working at a winery.i love Moment of Surrender as an encore.

Hockey on my mind

I rarely get to hang out with one of my good friends Rick, because he lives a little too far away. Last year, Rick took me to a Sharks game with a client Chad and we had a great time. I've been to hockey games before, but not with seating in the Suite level that is fully catered. Tonight will be great on two occasion's. First, I will get to hang out with a great friend. Second, I will be able to enjoy the finer things in life; great seats and great food. The only thing that will not make it "all time", is that they will not be playing my beloved Flyers. But you know that's ok, they already beat the lousy Devils today 2-1!

Drinks that are becoming very popular

Nobody knows for sure, but it's been more or less 50 years since a woman overheard Arnold Palmer order a half lemonade, half iced tea at a bar in Palm Springs and said, "I'll have that Arnold Palmer drink."

It's popular now all over the world, transcending Palmer himself. People today order an Arnold Palmer who have no idea who Arnold Palmer is. No other athlete has had a drink named after him catch on.

This, to us, seems a shame. Seems like we should be able to walk up to a bar right now and order ...

A Tiger Woods ... Pineapple juice and vodka ... Drink one and you'll want 13 more.

A Jack Nicklaus ... Kind of like an Arnold Palmer, only a little better.

A Brett Favre ... By the time it comes, you've changed your mind.

A Greg Oden ... You can order it but it never shows up.

A Mark McGwire ... Comes with a shot.

A Cam Newton ... Your dad orders it for you.

A Dennis Green ... It is what you think it is. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECTt67adObI)

A Tom Brady ... Really good by the sixth round.

A Michael Vick ... A little hair of the dog that should've bitten you.

A LeBron ... Served with a mirrored glass so you can watch yourself drink it.

A Terrelle Pryor ... It's free!

A Lance Armstrong ... Only one ice cube.

A John McEnroe ... After one, you cannot be serious.

A Karch Kiraly ... Comes spiked.

A Tim Tebow ... Served very straight.

A Michael Phelps ... Water with a water chaser.

A Reggie Bush ... You drink it for a little while, then they take it back.

A Nick Saban ... Comes with extra bitters.

A Barry Bonds ... Careful: it goes straight to your head.

Things that Drive me Nuts

There are a few things that drive me crazy throughout a normal day that I think could be easily be answered by a certain dose of patience here and there.

1. When people are using the crosswalk at an intersection and they constantly press the button for the crosswalk. It only takes one press people.


2. When people ask for a water cup and fill the water cup up with soda. This drives me absolutely crazy and it happens all the time.


3. Whiny people – there is a difference between complaining and whining, I hate whining. If you don’t like something, change something.


4. People who repeat the same stupidity over and over and post about it on Facebook. Facebook should not be a status revealer of your own personal life.


5. When Fans love to relive the past of their former season a bit too long. And the bandwagon fans that accumulate because of a victory. There are way too many running around these days with all Sports included.

Sometimes...........

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be possibly your roommate, neighbor, long lost friend, or even a complete stranger, but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way.

And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to when you open your heart. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

Make every day count...

Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual (tough for me to do sometimes) and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you. You can make of your life anything you wish.



Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.
Most importantly, if you love someone tell them, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store. And learn a lesson in life each day you live.

So, last year I heard about this ritual that few partake in every year from none other than my Senior Pastor at my Church. As I was going through interesting times at that point, I decided to try out this month long event. The interesting thing for me was that I never had a chance to grow out even a 5 o'clock shadow in the past being quickly mocked at the idea. Since I don't have a problem these days growing facial hair and need not care about impressing any females during January, I think I might have a second go at it. Wish me luck with Patience and self control with the razor.

What is Manuary?

The rules are very simple:

1.) If you do not want to be called a little girl for the rest of the year you cannot Shave or Trim, your beard.

2.) Head Starts are allowed.

3.) Underbeards can be shaved, but you can still be made fun of by those who are more manly then you.

If you want to only grow a mustache, that is okay only if it is a thick, manly mustache. You will still be putting yourself at risk of being made fun of by those who are more manly and grew a full beard out.