This board is truly awesome. Thank you for all the comments and encouragement. To be honest, this time around it hasn't been hard (yet). Mostly because this time I have a goal time and the commitment to reach it. Plus the wife is supportive as well (and as all the married men know, this can be the cornerstone to any journey). One question I do have for the beard masters here, is there anything I should be doing to take care of it at this point? I did read the "one finger above the adam's apple" rule for neckline carving and of course leaving it alone for 13 weeks. What about washing/conditioning it? Feeding it? Heavy squats for it? Wearing shorter shorts to show off my man thighs? Killing wild beasts barehanded? Maybe some ceremonial Viking ritual to promt fuller sideburns?