Home Raoul's TGIF A Special Pig

A Special Pig

Raoul’s Two Cents: September 16, 2022

A Bald Move

I finally did it!

My hair is gone. My Favio days are over. No longer will I be able to flick my hair in the wind. The last strands of my salt and pepper locks washed down the sink. When I look in the mirror, there’s a stranger that greets me.

Unfortunately, going bald was a procedure that didn’t go very smoothly. I thought I had a good understanding about what was involved but no. It was a comedy of errors. In case you are thinking about balding your head too, let me share what happened. Learn from my mistakes.

I saw this video commercial of this shaver and this bald guy saying that it was so easy to maintain his baldness with that gadget. So I went online and bought the cheapest rotary electric shaver. I thought this was going to be a piece of cake. I didn’t know you’re only supposed to use that shaver to maintain an existing bald head. So when I tried it on my overgrown buzz cut the shaver got stuck and literally tried to yank the individual follicles. I was thinking of retreating and doing more research but when I saw the unbalanced hairless patch on my front lobe, I knew I had reached the point of no return.

I figured I needed to trim the hair as close to the scalp as possible to avoid the snags. But even that didn’t work. I’m not a shaver. I never had a lot of facial hair so I usually shave with just water. I remember seeing a movie where the barber puts this white foamy stuff before he shaved his customer. Aha! That’s the secret — shaving cream! Somebody had given me a shaving cream for Christmas some 10 years ago. The can was rusty but the content was still good. I was surprised it still worked. I massaged that cream into a lather and put it on my scalp. I waited a few minutes to soften my skin then proceeded to shave with a cheap plastic disposable shaver. It was like raking leaves with a toothbrush. It was a tedious process because I needed to wash down the clumps of hair that got stuck in the shaver. But eventually, I shaved off half of my head — the half that I could see. The hair on my nape and at the back were impossible to reach.

So I asked my daughter for help because she’s had experience cutting her friends’ hair. “You’re doing it all wrong! You’re supposed to use a shearer,” she said. “I thought that was only for sheep,” I laughed. She didn’t think it was funny.

“With a shearer this could be done so easily,” she said with authority.

“But we don’t have a shearer,” I said, “so let’s just do with what we have.”

“Like most projects, you need the right tools. This is so wrong! You can get a shearer at Walmart for $15,” she nagged, “I don’t want to do this. I’m afraid I will cut you. Why don’t you just buy a shearer?”

“Why will I buy a $15 shearer when I will never use it again?”

“You’re so cheap, Papa! If you want, I can borrow my friend’s shearer. I really don’t want to do this,” she repeated.

Nag, nag, nag. I realize I’m arguing with her with my head looking like a messy, sticky white blob-dripping modern mixed-medium sculpture. Her heart wasn’t in it so I told her to stop and washed up. Mission failed. Half of my back was still unshaven. I never felt so ridiculously ugly. As I lay in bed in defeat, I pictured myself in Walmart … people staring, laughing behind my back wondering where this Klingon from Star Trek came from — giving them a Vulcan hand gesture I say “I come in peace! Lead me to your shearers!

In the middle of my self-pity, my wife comes in the bedroom and laughs at my head. She has never cut anyone’s hair in her life so I didn’t even bother to ask her. But desperate times call for desperate measures — I asked if she could finish the job. Surprisingly, she said she’d do it. My wife! My savior! My friend!

It was back in the sink and back to the lather and disposable shaving blade. It wasn’t even a minute when she realized what she had gotten into. It was nag, nag, nag again!

“Why don’t you just go to the barber tomorrow? Why don’t you get that shearer, etc.” It’s unmistakable that she is my daughter’s mother — a nonstop recording of how this was a bad idea. I decided to shut my mouth and laughed at this silly predicament I got myself into. It didn’t take more than 30 minutes but with the yakking, it seemed like hours. It was done. I was completely bald. Thank you! (So that’s what wives are for.)

WHAT IT”S LIKE BEING BALD

A quick shower and I rubbed my head. What a weird feeling. I thought it was going to be smooth like a baby’s bottom but it actually feels like sandpaper because of the little stubs of hair clinging on for dear life. And there are mounds and craters in my scalp that I never knew existed because they were always covered with hair. And it’s cold when I lay my head on the cold leather sofa. I now understand why baldies wear beanie caps. When I bump my head I feel the full force of the impact. I’m afraid I might crack my skull.

It’s obvious where I cut myself shaving. You can’t call it a bad hair day so what do you call it? The worst part is the pigment areas where I shaved are so much lighter than the rest of my head. I think I should go get a tan somewhere.

I don’t know about you, but getting a haircut is a pampering ritual that never appealed to me. The advantage with this new look, is I will never never never have to go to a barber for the rest of my life. Was it worth it? Oh yeah … I think so.

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Frank of Alhambra, CA

Art by Raoul Pascual

Videos of the Week

Thanks to Garie of the City of Paranaque, Philippines for this thought-provoking essay from Carl Sagan called “The Pale Blue Dot.”

Another one from Garie. This time a funny story about a Polish Man.

Thanks to Wynn of Mandaluyong, Philippines, for this quick quiz. I didn’t know the answer to 3 of them.

Parting Shots

These I found:

Load More Related Articles
  • Marriage Tip

    My wife and I watched a beautiful movie about the struggles of married life. It’s not a ne…
  • Happy Hell

    "Good evening ladies and gentlemen. We’re here in Hollywood California to celebrate the bi…
  • Tax Loophole

    Remember the dictator, Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines? He transitioned from a legally…
Load More By Raoul Pascual
  • Marriage Tip

    My wife and I watched a beautiful movie about the struggles of married life. It’s not a ne…
  • Happy Hell

    "Good evening ladies and gentlemen. We’re here in Hollywood California to celebrate the bi…
  • Tax Loophole

    Remember the dictator, Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines? He transitioned from a legally…
Load More In Raoul's TGIF

11 Comments

  1. Dean

    September 16, 2022 at 7:09 pm

    first of all, good episode of TGIF!
    secondly, welcome to the gang of Tom Cruise and his air force friends – we’re definitely Top Gun (or Gone) now 😉
    third, will send you a nice Canadian Baseball cap!
    pls message me your address.

    Reply

  2. Heather

    September 16, 2022 at 7:09 pm

    OMG!!!! I bet my neighbors think I’m nuts because I’ve been laughing hysterically in my bedroom reading your email. What a debacle. The next time you get an idea like that please call me first. I could have saved you so much trouble. You should have gone to the barber straight away and I think that’s what you’re going to have to do for the rest of your life unless you figure out how to shave your own head. And if you try to do that you’re going to cut your head up and then you’re going to look a little bit like Frankenstein. You’re lucky you’re a handsome guy cuz you can pull off the bald look. I can’t wait to see you on Monday my sweet friend. Heather

    Reply

  3. Jun

    September 16, 2022 at 7:10 pm

    Raoul,

    A very profound experience!

    Jun

    Reply

  4. Gary

    September 16, 2022 at 7:10 pm

    Welcome to the No Hair club for men brother.

    Reply

  5. Hilda

    September 16, 2022 at 7:11 pm

    What’s with all that shaving story without a picture? 🤔

    Reply

  6. John

    September 16, 2022 at 7:11 pm

    Raoul,
    Do yourself a big favor… When you start losing your teeth, SEE A DENTIST!
    John

    Reply

  7. Debbie

    September 16, 2022 at 7:11 pm

    A Bald Move, very funny. It always looks easier in the videos!

    Have a Great Weekend,

    Debbie

    Reply

  8. Oscar

    September 16, 2022 at 7:12 pm

    Good Morning Raoul, or should I say : What’s up Baldie 👨‍🦲 lol Just kidding Brother. I didn’t understand if you’re not going to let it grow back or if you’re just going to choose to stay bald. The Gangster look 😎 . Anyway I just wanted to say hello 🙏👍😊

    Reply

  9. Rick

    September 20, 2022 at 10:21 am

    Hi Bro,
    Been there done that so I can relate. I’ve been shaving my head for the past four or so years and still haven’t perfected it. I will say that if you want that baby smooth feeling, go over it with an electric shaver after you get as close as possible with the disposable. As for the bumps and crevices in the head, I can’t imagine how many times I bumped my head. Thanks for the laugh!

    Reply

  10. Gina

    September 20, 2022 at 10:22 am

    Embrace your inner baldness.
    If the Rock and Bruce Willis look sexy….there’s hope for you

    Reply

  11. Tom

    September 20, 2022 at 10:23 am

    Thanks Raoul. Good ones but the best was the intro for smiles.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Debbie Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Check Also

Marriage Tip

My wife and I watched a beautiful movie about the struggles of married life. It’s not a ne…