The beard has been suspended

For charitable reasons, the beard has been suspended for an undisclosed period of time.

As you can tell from the name change of this blog, the beard is no longer with us.

However, it could return in a few short months.

Since getting my hair cut and beard shaved off Saturday, people I know and work with have been doing double and triple takes, while being bug-eyed, when they realize who I am.

While I have gotten numerous compliments, it has been about a 50-50 split between those who want me to keep my new look and those who preferred my "caveman" look.

To be honest, the hair will be coming back over the next couple of years as I enjoy growing out long, then cutting it all off and attempting to donate it to Locks of Love.

On the other hand, I may keep my clean-shaven look for a while before growing the beard -- with its now infamous white stripe -- but it is a day-to-day situation.

I have been pondering growing my fu Manchu/Hulk Hogan style moustache or one of the many other facial hairstyles I could go with.

In the meantime, the beard is on hiatus somewhere in Siberia searching for the ever-elusive Abominable Snowman, before heading off to Spain for some rest and relaxation.

In all likelihood, the beard could return prior to the end of Manny Ramirez' 50-game suspension, but for the time being, the anti-playoff hockey look is here to stay, pending review by the masses.

The beard and its accomplice -- the ponytail -- would like to thank all those who participated in the 2009 American Cancer Society's Clay County Relay for Life, with special thanks to my dad, Barnie Martinez and Karen Meister, who combined donated enough funds to push me past my personal fundraising goal of $200. An additional thanks goes to Meister and Northview High School student Seth McDonald, who stepped up to donate an additional $25 on the spot to shave the beard off.

While the local Relay for Life event may be over for 2009, it is not to late to contribute to cancer research as donations are being accepted through Aug. 31.

To this point, just under $32,000 has been raised in Clay County alone, but the local Relay For Life effort is currently short of its $37,000 goal.

To provide a contribution to Clay County Relay For Life, visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayF....

You may donate to one of the 30 area teams, or through an individual on one of the teams.

To contribute to the beard and ponytail's efforts to find a cure for cancer, log on to http://main.acsevents.org/goto/MouthFrom....