Ah, I always wondered where my long-lost twin went  For some reason my wife didn't approve of using tobiko as a beard jewelry, Dave, especially when those little beads got stuck in every kink in my beard.  Yes, you're right though, those kinks do make for a bushy beard, it's just that I want it bushy AND long.  Is that too much to ask?  

Oh, have no fear bb, a big beard only allows for more, shall we say, extensive coverage.  I was pretty adept at making a mess of my face back when I was your length too, especially with Asian food!  Thank you for your kind words, sir!

Thank you, Clint.  I'm certainly enjoying that style.  And, yes, why is it that the biggest messes always happen in restaurants?  As soon as you find out please let me know!

Yeah, I hardly recognize that guy in the throwback picture, Rene.  He's certainly not 'me' any more!  As for my belt buckle, I hope my beard's the one that starts hiding it before my belly does

Well, simmo, IrishDan used to accuse me of harboring a nest of gerbils in my beard  Thank you, sir.  It's funny but my mustache will often just stay out like that with no product in it at all.  I guess there's some benefit to having wiry, kinky hair.

Ah, so that's where all those scales came from.  Thanks for the tip, Joris   

Marton, with comments like that you can post on my thread as often as you like smiley: embarassed  Thank you!

Wow, thank you for those kind words, Stevie.  I do feel that this beard is a part of who I am now, odd as that may sound.

Thank you too, Ronnie!  No, fortunately my company - I'm a scientist at a large, multi-national IT company where I manage the company's carbon footprint and life cycle assessment programs - has a very open, casual policy about how it's employees dress or wear their hair.  Tattoos and beards are abundant and usually wear shorts, a t-shirt, and Crocs to work.  I got some good-natured teasing back when I started but that's all.  Yes, I've entered two competitions and had an absolute blast!  I didn't even place in either one of them though.  Living in Oregon there are loads of great beards around.

Hey Battle Born Beard, thanks for stopping by and for your kind words.  I think you'll find that many guys who've gone to terminal length don't that the greatest coverage.  Once the hair gets long enough you never notice any more!

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Well gents, I finally finished the sweater I've been knitting for far too long.  It's a traditional Irish fisherman's sweater or gansey (as we call it here in the US).  My wife shot the following photo of me wearing it this afternoon and I have to say it makes a pretty nice beard backdrop

542ec13b32b545a3afe485a1cdf3b4a1_r.jpg

I need to remember to suck in my gut when posing for a full-body shot smiley: ohwell

Cheers!
Tom


Some helpful links:
Library Central of Beard Growing


Taming the Wild Mustache
Tips for eating and drinking with a big mustache

Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit. ~ W. Somerset Maugham
A jerk with a beard is just a bearded jerk, but a bearded gentleman is awesomeness personified. ~ Triibeard