A Gheorghies Update, Facial Hair and Otherwise

A couple of weeks into social distancing / quarantining / lockdown, there are going to be some shaggy G:TBers.  In lieu of actually seeing each other, here's the latest, both on scruff and day-to-day doings.

Whitney 
The Pic: In the office, overlooking the Elizabeth River.  In the background, my birthplace across the river, along with some Naval vessels and the Port; a downtown going mostly unused at the moment, especially that Sheraton behind me.

The Beard: Like TR said, it's getting whiter every day.  I could go for a while longer without shaving, but I'll likely be dispense with it after we're back to work full-time. After shearing it into a mustache for a weekend, of course.

The Story: Working from home a bit, but also slipping into the office now and again. Between 0 and 4 colleagues join me there, it's 5 mins from my house, and the rest of this 25-story building is pretty much shut down, so I'm not in close proximity to humans for the most part.



Let's hear more from the Bearded Men (and ladies) of Space Station 11 . . .

Danimal

The Pic: My new office at home, our lanai. On Day 1 at home, last Wednesday, I situated myself in in the carve-out within our bedroom that serves as our little office space. That was depressing, plus I need to stand throughout much of day. So I moved. I love it and will continue to until the oppressive heat arrives. 

The Beard: More gray than dark. My kids like it. It's the only hair on my head that they have seen, or at least remember. I'll keep it as long as I can. It's not robust, a few spots needing fertilizer on either side of my lips.

The Story: Haven't been to the office since last Tuesday. Val has the kids doing school work from home though the online routine does not officially begin until next week. No chance our kids go back, but they haven't called it yet. We're all doing fairly well all things considered. The new normal.

The Dog: Roscoe. He hangs with me much of the day.

rob

The Pic: This is my office, so the view isn't as panoramic as Whitney's, nor as al fresco as Danimal's. It was the catalyst for a funny Corona Files story from last week. I hosted a call from this office with my team. After it was over, I received a call from one of my direct reports, who was close to tears from laughter. Apparently he got multiple texts during the call wondering if it was weird that Rob had porn on the walls of his office. So next week we're going to have an art appreciation session

The Beard: Way more salt than pepper these days, to be sure. Kids like it, wife hates it, but I figure I'll keep it for at least a little while longer. I've trimmed it a little, and taken care of the neck region, so might as well let it reach its full potential.

The Story: I'll be working from home until at least April 24, per my company's policy. Don't tell my boss this, but I've been considerably more productive during this fucked up period than I normally am. I've connected with a number of teammates and colleagues, and I've procrastinated significantly less than I normally do. This particular moment notwithstanding.

The bigger story for me at present, and the thing that I'll probably remember most about this period, is the literal pain in my neck. The MRI showed two herniated discs - C4-C6, if you're scoring at home - and the epidural did fuck all to alleviate my discomfort. Which is a bit more than moderate. The local hemp/CBD store is closed, so alcohol and muscle relaxers it is.

Teej

The Pic: At the living room table. It is one of three locations I use as an "office" now. Basement on wet bar, which serves as a standing desk option, and then upstairs in the office/kitten room. Which is nicer than that description indicates. There are three of us here working from home, so we all take a level to start the day, sometimes switching up for the sake of different scenery.

The Beard: The Posehn in the Membrane look is coming back. I've threatened to do a 'stache, but I have a terrible 'stache so I'll just keep this shit beard. I'm so bored I shave the head every day now, so it's got a nice sheen.

The Story: Have been working from home for two weeks and a day now. Doubt we'll go back to work before May. Have not ventured to a store/retail establishment since a Target run seven days ago. Get fresh air by walking the dog during the day, then also wandering aimlessly at night through the neighborhood. Am very perplexed by people who refuse to slightly deviate from their walk to keep six feet between us, especially joggers. What the fuck, assholes? I don't need you cruising by a foot from me when there's an entire fucking road to run on.

TR

The Pic: this is a close-up of TR's face when he was at his grill, cooking up lamb chops for the missus' birthday on Wednesday.  The wife was snapping the photo. I would have just appended the whole photo, but I was unhappy with the way the lamb chops were lined up on the grill. I had to audible due to a small grease fire. 

The Beard: chin hair is now 69% white. The rest is steadily coming along. I am half Iranian, so I have a swarthy base for facial/body hair. I expect I won't get a haircut again for 1-2 months. I haven't gone more than three weeks in the last few years, so I'm curious to see if my sides will look as grey as they do now when it gets longer. 

The Story: things are slow in TR's world. He has been unemployed since mid-February, so he's a full-time teacher to two mostly ungrateful boys. He is drinking a fair bit every night, and is struggling to find an exercise routine. Job search appears to be on hold for a while. TR is a bit pissed at the Saudis and Russia for blowing up the US oil market. Only plus is that 4-5 families do a social distance cocktail hour outside our house. We stand 10'-15' apart from each other and chat in a big awkward oval. Waiting for somebody to call the cops on us. 

Alright. Who is next?

Dave

The Pic: I got down on the floor with my trusty companion Lola. Thank God for all the entertainment she's provided during this quarantine.

The beard: my usual goatee. It's quite white. I am otherwise clean-shaven-- face and head-- because I like to clean up for the Friday Zoom happy hour with my fellow English teachers. It starts at 2:30 sharp and goes until no one can drink anymore.

Why clean up? 

What else is there to do?

The story: teaching English remotely is not so bad, aside from the eyestrain. My Creative Writing kids have been happy to vent. They also loved two podcasts on creative thinking that I posted. If you like music, you will love these episodes.

Replay All #158: The Case of the Missing Hit

99% Invisible: Whomst Among Us Let the Dogs Out

I am a bit worried about "collecting" 53 six-page Rutgers Expos essay next week. I don't want to grade that many things on a screen, but what can you do? Then we have to figure out how to meet with the Rutgers guy for folder review and all that. Should be a trainwreck.

Still, teaching English and writing classes is a hell of a lot easier than trying to teach science or math remotely. Those teachers are losing their minds. They are used to progressing in an organized manner, grading kids rigorously, and building one concept upon another. Sucks to be them.

Rootsy

The pic: F

rom lunchtime yesterday on my front porch.

The beard: It's been on my face since the fall, and it leaves it this weekend, after a few rounds of creepy facial hair experimentation.

The story: I’m still working, but business has slowed to close to nothing, so we will be cutting hours next week and having some more folks stay home. I’m furiously reading legislative summaries to help inform how I might best deal with this situation. As of today I’ve talked to all my employees and laid out my three main objectives, and nobody’s freaked out on me yet. I’m rationing the booze to every second or third night, and teaching my kids how to properly load and unload the fucking dishwasher.

Marls

The pic:   On the couch this morning with the pup, Barclay.  Spent the morning online with my B-School cohort trying to figure out how to make the last 2 months of an in person, live program not suck too badly while migrating to 20 hours of classes each weekend to on an online format.  Who would think that getting 40+ people to agree would be so hard?

I'm also including a bonus photo of me DJ'ing our work happy hour yesterday going K-Billy Supersounds of the 70's style.  My daughter does not quite know what to make of the whole thing.  The green screen allows for some interesting backgrounds. Highly recommended if you are doing a lot of teleconference calls.  Amazon has a wide selection.

Related note, I have two very matter of fact surgeons in my B-school cohort that are on the front-lines of this thing and the picture they paint is not good.  Their recommendation to all of us is captured best by this little ditty...

Anyone else?

This Week in Wrenball: Bearded Ladies and Undersized Rebounders

I'm not Thomas Jefferson

Bill Chambers averaged 20.2 points and 21.7 rebounds per game in 1953. Jeff Cohen went for 24.2 and 18.1 in 1960. David Cox dropped double-digit dimes four times in his Tribe career. Thomas Jefferson dominated in the post, his 6'3" frame the 18th Century equivalent of a 7-footer.

But never, in W&M's 110 years of competitive hoops, had a Wren recorded a triple double. Until Saturday, when junior guard Terry Tarpey scored 18 points, pulled down 11 rebounds, and delivered 10 assists in the Tribe's 81-73 win over JMU. The 6'5" Tarpey was named CAA Co-Player of the Week, adding a career-high 22 points and 13 boards in W&M's 85-79 loss to Elon on Thursday.

Marcus Thornton receives his share of well-deserved press as the Tribe's offensive leader. But the 6'5" Tarpey has arguably the most well-rounded game of any of Tony Shaver's players. In his first two seasons, the Connecticut native was mostly known for his athleticism, defense, and dirty work. Though he came to Williamsburg with a reputation as a scorer (his father graduated as New York University's all-time leading scorer), Tarpey's contributions were generally hustle-related. He led the Tribe in rebounding as a sophomore, grabbing 6.1 boards/game. Presaging his all-around leadership this season, he was one of only two players in the CAA to place in the league's top 12 in defensive rebounding, blocked shots, and steals.

Like the Tribe, Tarpey had a solid, if hardly remarkable, out of conference performance. But the beginning of CAA play heralded an entirely new Tarpey, altogether. In four league games, he's averaging 15.3 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.5 blocks, while shooting 59% from the field and 85.7% from the line. Those are plaid numbers. He leads W&M in boards, assists, steals, and blocks, equally absurd. He's second in the CAA in rebounding to Drexel's pogo stick, Rodney Williams, leads the league in blocked shots per game (did I mention that he's a 6'5"wing?), is fourth in steals/game and fifth in assists/game. He's a Renaissance ballplayer. A Wrenaissance man, if you will. (You won't? Eh, can't say I blame you.)

Tarpey's also tough as nails, an attribute not necessarily available in large quantities in the Tribe locker room historically. W&M's 3-1 start (woulda coulda shoulda been 4-0) matched the expectation we set for them at the beginning of the CAA's season-opening four-games-in-eight days sprint. More than any single player, Tarpey set the tone.

We don't expect triple doubles, or 15/11/4 lines, for that matter. But if a reasonable facsimile of this Tarpey joins Thornton, the emerging Daniel Dixon, and the talented, if erratic, Omar Prewitt for the remainder of the season, there aren't many CAA teams that can match the Tribe for all-around talent.

And that's as rare and magical as the bearded lady at the circus.

Picture This Man with a Beard

Today we celebrate the birth of Shlara with a carefully selected gift. Please enjoy your happy day responsibly.

Playoff Beard? Payoff Beard

"This is a story about a man, and how he achieved his dream  — by doing nothing."

So begins the story of Madison Rowley, the owner of the World Champion Beard of 2014. It also serves as a statement of aspiration that Gheorghies the world over are embracing today. I shall commence doing nothing...as soon as I work up the energy.

G:TB Playoff Beards

While we wait for Clarence's Gheorghemas closer, we've decided, in the best tradition of hockey players, that we won't shave until we see that 2014 year-ender.

By 'shave', of course, we mean 'post anything other than filler'.

Today, a new song by Billy Idol. Or new to me, anyway. Apparently it was released in October. I heard it this week on 89.3 The Current, Minneapolis' best radio station. It kinda kicks.