First off, in a rare and daring move, I’m going to be sincere here for a moment and say my thoughts go out to everyone who was affected the past few days by Mother Nature. I hope you take a second to send some thoughts or prayers or whatever you do to them as well.

All across the country, storms and bad weather have been jacking up everything from airports to complete neighborhoods and lives are being lost.

Sitting here last night in Atlanta was a bit interesting, watching the Weather Channel–which has its national headquarters about six miles from our townhouse–as they talked about how this path of destruction that was leading straight toward us. I know a couple of my co-workers lost power and one of our interns’ parents’ restaurant near Athens was hit by a tornado. Somehow, our place managed to only get a few drops of rain and a little wind. It seemed to go right around us. And we’re thankful to be so lucky.

Whew. Being nice and sincere is tough work. That was two minutes of writing that may have been the toughest yet here on the Six7offsuit Blog. Me no likey.

So let’s just go back to being stupid.

And what better way to do that than talk about poker weekend?

Probably most of the 12 of you who read this know, but for my frequent Islamic reading guests, let me introduce you to CCMP. It is not something that’d probably go over well in your countries and within your religious framework.

In fact, I’m kinda thinking that even with my little knowledge of Islam that we’d probably be stoned or burned at the stake or something similar for pretty much everything that went on from Symposium 1 through 7. The recent years haven’t been so bad, other than the year Dwin drank a bottle of Jack in about 40 minutes. Dumb mutherfucker.

But anyway, the CCMP is our group and Symposium is our poker weekend. This is the mostest funnest time of the year. We get to see our buddies, many of whom we’ve been playing poker with for close to 25 years.

Fuck me.

That’s scary when you put that number on it. I remember going to Mark’s dad’s garage to play poker that first summer before senior year of high school.

[SIDENOTE: Even more vivid of a memory is the all-nighter we played at Mark’s house and then went to breakfast at that place on Forest Hills when the cops came and towed my car and took me…. well, let’s just say, I remember a lot of interesting poker games back in high school.]

Now, I haven’t read up on Islam this year, but from what I know, the gambling probably isn’t directly an issue, but I’m thinking the boozing and the strippers and the porn and anything else that happens in Alphahull, Ill., may not be your cup of tea.

But what you guys definitely could relate to is the way our guys get prepared for it.

It’s not a requirement, but it has simply, over time, become an informal, unannounced contest to see who could come up with the best facial hair.

Right about now I’m thinking there are a few people who have been to damn near every one of the Symposiums since they started 17 years ago who are saying, “Holy shit, I never really thought about it like that.”

Well, neither did I until I started going through the photos on the CCMP page. [SIDENOTE: Not that we’re looking for fans, but feel free to “Like” us anyway right here.]

Typically, the weekend now starts Thursday night and runs until about 9 a.m. Sunday when everyone says good bye and we lock up the Legion Hall for one more year until our triumphant return. During this time, the average amount of sleep is maybe four hours at night and possibly a quick hour nap in the afternoon between cash games or after golf. It also depends on the person and how worked up they are to 1) drink a large amount of liquor that at this age they can no longer handle or b) play cards and keep a game going, which if things fall right, we have had people play cards, golf, paintball or bags for at least 40 consecutive hours in the past.

And then there’s Adam who slept about 20 hours a day for three straight days three years ago.

But anyway, during this time, there is little, if any, regard put toward hygiene, and that starts with shaving. And by shaving, I mean the lack thereof. No one shaves during the weekend. Period.

Now the interesting part of going back through the pictures is that some people come to Symposium with facial hair that may or may not have been specifically groomed for the event. A quick trip through recent years reveals the following:

Rush here is sporting the typical “I’m a fat guy, and only getting fatter, so I’ll wear a goatee and the chicks won’t see my third chin” facial hair. This only works when you’re attractive, black and bald.

x

x

x

Adam also has this same look going like Rush, but really, the only way he’s up on Rush is that he’s made himself bald, which also plays in the prep that goes on for CCMP.

x

x

x

Then there’s Slacker. He doesn’t care what other people think. He just goes about his business, enjoying whatever it is that he does when he’s at Symposium and letting life take its course.

d

x

x

And some guys just try too hard. I mean really? It’s amazing you still managed to “add” to your “look” with this ridiculous Indiana Jones headpiece. You, my friend, never cease to amaze me.

d

x

\

Then there’s Philly, who can rock the full chops and ‘stache like it’s still 1978 and he’s a roadie for Lynyrd Skynyrd, who look like they actually could be guest stars on “Tales from the Crypt.”

c

c

c

And some guys don’t even mess with shaving it. They just let it grow and go with the whole thing, like Chuck, who’s real name is Paul, which we found out after his third Symposium.

x

xx

x

The great thing is that everyone gets into the spirit, everyone takes a bit of time to make sure they have some kind of sweet facial hair going, as good as they can grow it.

x

x

x

And then some just have no trouble growing it, yet still seem to get a bit “lost” while deciding what to do with it. That or Dwin ate a Smurf. Either is equally possible.

x

x

x

This was me a couple years ago, the only time I’ve ever grown facial hair. It doesn’t grow that much or well on its own so this took a while. But in all of its full glory, it was pretty gnarly.

x

x

x

This year, I’ve got this going (this was taken two days ago). I’m coming back with just the under goat. And I’m throwing down a challenge: Best and newest look to your facial hair at the Symposium wins $1 and an Old Style, given courtesy of the Six7offsuit Blog.

For anyone at home, if you’d like to play, feel free to send a photo submission to my FB or email by June 20 and we’ll add it to the entrants June 23 at the start of Symposium. Good luck to all.