Reality vs. vanity - the Halloween edition

A month or so ago I decided that my Halloween costume this year would be Indiana Jones. I already have a leather jacket, brown shoes, khakis, a belt, and a satchel. All I'd need is a hat, a shirt from Old Navy, and a whip. At least the costume will be comfortable. And with all the Mad Men I've been watching, I've been wanting to wear fedoras more often. And smoke. And drive a gigantic car made of steel. I haven't yet arrived at the point where I want to wear a suit while eating at home, but maybe that day isn't far off.

When discussing the costume recently, Mrs. Bart rocked my world a little bit by asking how I felt about shaving off my goatee so I'd look as Indiana Jones-ish as possible.

I hadn't even considered that I'd be shaving it off. I've been goateed for almost 3 years straight. I like the look, and people at work are used to it. I can stroke it when I'm thinking about something. What's not to like?

But Mrs. Bart is right, if I want to be as authentic as possible it's got to go. (I'd also need to lose about 40 pounds, but that's a little harder to do in a few weeks.) Prior to the costume party I'll build up a couple days' worth of scruff to simulate Indy out in the field, and I'll use that scruff to form a proto-goat the next week. But still, it'll be weird.

So, in the power struggle between reality and vanity, for Halloween at least, reality wins. Vanity will return shortly thereafter.

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