01/31

The moment of truth. The pictures don't do the beard justice. You must see it in person.

Day 31

This is the final official day of the Beard-Off competition. Unofficially it lasts until the voting ends. But today is the culmination of 31 days, one month, worth of beard growing. Looking back I can't say this month was without hardship. My task was daunting and my opponent strong, but nothing worth doing is ever easy.

Now I leave my fate in the hands of you, our participators. Let me close by saying while this chapter comes to and end the spirit of the competition will live on.

01/30

Photo essay to follow on the 31st.

Day 30

Voting begins tomorrow after both competitors post their Day 31 beard pics.

Day 29

Shaking hands and kissing babies.

01/28

Man, I'm itchy.

Day 28

Voting begins in 3 days.

Day 27

"You cannot grow a beard in a moment of passion." - G.K. Chesterton

01/26

Another missed day but more of the same. Growth.

Day 25

I read a disturbing fact recently. According to a study reported on the BBC website beards and mustaches account for as many as 162,719 lost pints of Guinness a year. But take heart, and think of this fact as just another reason to get an extra pint next time you go to the pub to make up for any you might have lost along the way.

Day 24

One word. Primal.

01/24

This is my 2-Pac shirt. There are many like it but this one is mine. The beard may not look insane from this angle, but trust me.

Greatest Beard Poll

See our new poll in the right column.

01/23

I have hired a new beard manager. He's not Greek. And he doesn't have a sweet beard. He is an insect though. He helps me be intense all while living in my room.

Day 23

Almost in the home stretch. Voting will begin on the 31st.

Day 22

I'll just let my beard speak for itself.

01/21

Super busy weekend but the beard continued to grow. See?

Day 21

Day 20

I awoke this morning with a healthy beard glow.

01/19

Another preview of the storm.

Book of the Month

Necessary reading if you want to fully understand the rich history of the beard and beard fashion.

01/18

For all the unwashed masses.

Day 18

Day 17

01/17

Just a reminder.

Day 16

This is my beard. Say hello beard.

01/15

I dragged myself out of bed because I forgot to take a pic tonight. This is my beard in mid-walk condition heading back to my sleeping palace. Don't worry though, my beard grew more today.

Day 15

Beard Meditation - Growing from Within

01/14

Late but intense. I'm purposely not using the flash so I can blow peoples' minds on the final few days. The most crucial beard days.

Day 14

"He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man." - William Shakespeare

Day 13

01/13

Day 12

Really it's early on Day 13 and I missed yesterdays photo. My response to my opponents lack of beard confidence, I don't buy it. He's trying to reposition himself as the underdog rather than the frontrunner that he has been since the beginning of the match. Good strategy my friend, but everybody knows you are a beard growing juggernaut. Goliath if you will. However I did receive some beardspiration in the form of  a front man for a band I saw last night at the George Dilboy Hall V.F.W. is Somerville. Yes, the V.F.W. Before I even opened the door you could hear the classic rock riffs floating into the crisp night sky. Inside, behind the mike, guitar in hand was a man with one of the fiercest beards I've seen in person in a while. The best part, was that due to the coloring and general appearance of the beard, I had a vision of what, with enough discipline and time my beard could be.

01/12

I've had very limited connection up here in Ogunquit. Stealing a wireless connection is tough when they shut off their router when they aren't online. Anyways, I found the Double Dare flag and am making my way to the halfway point. FIGHT! Since I'm feeling down on my beard, I'm letting Microsoft Paint work its magic. A cellphone camera was the only convenient technology to use tonight. I promise I will not let everyone down with tomorrow's wrath.

40 year beard-off prediction

Here is what it would look like if we decided to make this battle a life-long journey. I'm on the right.

01/11

After seeing MH's Greek beard manager, I felt the urge to get really drunk in Maine. Then I forgot to take a picture because I was so down on my beard. I really feel like I'm down for the count. Here is a morning photo. Take 13 hours off, six chick drinks and you have my 01/11 photo. Enjoy my morning puffiness.

Day 11

I have some Greek in my corner as well. Evangelos wills my beard to grow. It shall be so.

My Motivation part no. 8

When the flash flashes, my beard is the star.

01/10

I'm keeping the flash off until the 20th day. Then everyone will understand.

Day 10

Today was a good beard day.

My Beard Projection

This is tomorrow's preview.

01/09

Wait till you see my beard projection.

Day 9

Noted, without comment.

My Motivation part no. 7

01/08

What can I say but I am sorry,
I apologize for what I do to you,
my daily ruthlessness and cruelty.
What can I do but ask for your forgiveness
and your patience. For someday,
I promise you, someday I swear
on the beards of the prophets
and on the beard of the poet Whitman and
on the beard of the president Lincoln,
I will not stop you any longer,
I will let you go free

- The Great J.R. Solonche