End of Movember (Updated)

The moustache is coming off tomorrow and it can't come soon enough. Usually it doesn't bother me but this year it has been extremely itchy and warm...Two of my most hated states of being!

If you haven't donated yet - get to it by clicking here

Update - Pics from the work Movember campaign...We raised nearly $3,000.

Ted - The Office Place Man of Movember. I love the white fade and how it is even on both sides.

A good majority of the workplace team.

My own late month pictures and my favorite shot from the Movember Gala below.

Looking for trouble in my $6 shades.

 Trying to smile for the camera.

 Blue Steel

 These guys were by far the most inspired team. I made the mistake of refering to them as a bunch of despots and got scolded for making that association with Ghandi. I will not recant.

Things I have seen the last few weeks

Comic Books Arts Show?

Last Friday I was lucky enough to be invited by a twitter co-follower @AGrabia to an art show opening at the University of Alberta. I knew relatively nothing heading in other than it involved comic books; but with Christina out of town what better activities do I have to spend my time?

As a University of Saskatchewan boy I am a little bit of an idiot when it comes to the UofA. After exiting the train platforms I wandered up to ground level and started trekking through the campus. I know a couple of landmarks like the new and awesome CCIS building and the RATT but when it is -26 degrees and there is a fresh batch of snow - I am an idiot. After walking around 20 minutes I finally found a campus map and pinpointed the Rutherford Library (seriously, they need more maps on that campus).

I own 10 out of 17 of these comics
in floppy or TPB.

Arriving at the show I immediately spotted a bunch of Batman comics under glass in the lobby.  Upon investigation I found that they weren't very old and I had either read or own the majority of them. If anything, at this point I was intrigued.

I looked through some of the other display cases and found more books that I owned.  It turns out that a local collector of comics and local arts patron of some renown (Gilbert Bouchard) had passed away a couple of years back and his family/friends chose to donate his comics to the UofA library. I think it's a great idea.

My formal opinion of Gilbert's collection is that he had great taste in books.

Well, maybe not Justice, other than the Alex Ross art, that book sucked.

But the 'I'm No Superman' exhibit was not the only exhibit opening that night.  'Ally Sloper & C.H. Chapman:  A Victorian Comic Strip Star and His Devoted Illustrator' shared the opening. Once again I came in completely blank to the show and was pleasantly surprised. The quality of the illustration and the original prints were fantastic. 

I am by no means knowledgeable about British cartoonists but found it really cool to see these Victorian prints and then mentally check back to contemporary artists like Kevin O'Neill drawing in this style in League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. It is amazing to see the detail and craftsmanship in each page - unfortunately my camera never picked it all up behind the glass.

All in all, I highly recommend taking in the show. It is an amazing collection of historic illustrations and a loving tribute to a local art patron who is still giving back. Click here for more information.

Movember Curling

Last weekend the 3rd annual Movember Bonspiel was held at the Granite Curling Club here in Edmonton. After missing last years event for work I was excited to get back on the ice again.

The day itself is a blast as everybody gets dressed up in their finest curling wear and tilts back a few beverages in the spirit of hairy man camaraderie.  As I am as skilled as a professional curler I thought it best to dress like a professional so I picked up a spiffy suit at Value Village for $25. I tried to convince Greg to also dress up in a crappy suit for curling but he went with a 'dandy' look instead. Stupid jerk kind of pulls it off.

My suit didn't last the day as it ripped during a Hulk Hogan pose down.

More friends and their outfits.

Amy looking good in the killer looking homemade sweater.

 The biggest hat I have ever seen.

 The 1980's track pants are now in their 3rd year of Movember curling.

 A true Canadian man!

 I have probably seen Chris wear this half a dozen times now, it never gets old.

Mo'Sista Amanda and Crystal modeling the Mo'Sista's gear.

Our team started off awesome winning the first 2 games. 

I had to take off for rec-hockey before the 3rd game but before I took off we snapped a team pic.

The team won their next game without me then got slaughtered in the finals by a bunch of ringers. For a bunch of rookie curlers and drunken louts we did pretty good. Now, all I want to do is curl. I need to join or start a team.

Non Movember Continuation.

My full day continued at rec-hockey where we won our game in OT 7-6. Foss, who is by far our best player had 5 goals and 2 assists. No big deal...

After all the games I took in the Death From Above 1979 concert. Which was awesome.

Sunday was pretty lazy. I don't think I got off the couch from 2PM on. 

Movember 2011

It's every pervert and weirdo's favorite time of the year. Half of the men in Canada grow moustaches in support and solidarity of prostate cancer and it's impossible to tell the difference between a MoBro and a paedophile. Huzzah!

2009 Movember Couple of the Year
Picture from the Edmonton Journal

This is my fourth year participating in Movember and I'm going back to my original facial hair expression: The Handlebars. Hmmm, I wonder if it's any coincidence that Christina decided to take off for three weeks this month? She is missing out - I make this look good - or according to my boss...Everyday I look more and more like I am from Saskatchewan.

Of course all the moustache stuff is for fun but it also has a serious message to it.

On Movember 1st, guys register at Movember.com with a clean-shaven face.

For the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery and raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.

Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November. Through their actions and words, they raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health while their fundraising efforts go towards prostate cancer research.

To track the progress of my Moustache you can go here and while you are there you might as well donate.

So far it is coming in nicely with the cold weather - and yes I am from Saskatchewan. Next year Riders....

Memories of Moustaches past.

2010 - The duster and the tickler.

2009 - It's Business Time

2008 - The Original Gangster stache and his niece Claire not scared to wear pink.

BTW - Blogger says this is my 150th post. Yeah me?!

Free Time On My Hands

I haven't been blogging much lately as I have been having problems with my camera. However, I finally have fixed it as of 10 minutes ago...So look for a few quick posts. Additional to having access to my photos again over the next few weeks I will be without my BFF Christina as she is currently on vacation in South America.
So with all this free time I will try to get caught up on my blog in between long sessions of X-box 360 and sauerkraut eating (2 activities that Christina does not approve of).

I am hoping that when Christina returns I can get her to do a guest blog on her trip. As a potential tease of that post I have some pre-trip picks to share.

Christina is an experienced traveler and likes to have local money ready when she arrives at her destination. I am fascinated by notes from different countries so I took the following pictures.

Argentina

Typical looking old white dude doesn't seem right.

 Uruguay

This guy looks like a total lefty intellectual - the ultimate insult, putting his mug on money.

 Brazil

I find the Roman style picture on the 20 to be weird.

 Straight up ballin'

Last picture of Christina taken in Canada at the airport at 6 am. That bag is all of her gear for a full 17 days.