Androgenic alopecia

I realize more and more everyday that men are just as insecure as women. We all struggle with our appearances and we all handle the problems differently. 

A lot of my guy friends are going bald. I find the different ways in which they try to hide this fact pretty amusing. Some will cover it up (always wear a hat), some will result to the comb-over or comb-forward approach, and others will just simply shave their heads. 

Men just need to accept the fact that they will most likely lose their hair. It just happens. Let me simply explain the science behind it (can you deal with that?): there are 4 places on our bodies where we lose most of our body heat (head, bottom of feet, armpits, and the groin). There are only 2 places on our bodies where we have no hair (palms of the hands and bottom of our feet). The top of our head, our armpits, and our groins is where we have the thickest hair (now don't get grossed out, this is just fact). So can we, from this, conclude what thick hair is supposed to do (well, one of the things)? It helps keep the heat from escaping from our bodies. Evolutionary speaking, ONE reason we have hair is because it helps to keep us warm. Well... we don't need it any more. We have other ways of keeping warm. So, as a result, our bodies are using the energy that would usually be used to produce hair, to do other things that we need. We have hats, blankets, and heaters to keep us warm. We don't need hair any more.

Ok, you still with me? Let's continue. 

So why do my friends feel like they need to cover up the fact that they are balding? They blame women. Yea, I don't blame them for that. Many women are into their looks and would prefer not to date a guy who is balding. I know, it is not fair but it is just part of society. Just like how a lot of guys won't date a girl because she is fat. It just happens. 

So what do you do about it? 

(1) Accept it. Most guys will die with very little hair on their heads. Deal with it and move on. Embrace your baldness. Just because you are losing your hair does NOT mean you are unattractive. I have plenty of very good looking guy friends that are going bald and I still think that they are attractive.

(2) Cover it up. Hide it. The truth will come out sooner or later. But if it makes you feel good then just wear a hat or do the comb-over or -forward thing.

(3) Shave your head. I have to admit, some men can really pull this off. I find some bald guys to be very attractive and some of them are my really good friends (I would put pictures of them on here but I don't have their permission). If you really have a problem with a bald spot on your head, then just shave the rest of it off.

(4) If all else fails, you can always use Rogaine

You get what you ask for

For a while now I have been confused and frustrated with what I am supposed to do with my life. I have been saying for a while that I wish someone would just tell me what to do and then I would go and do it. This doesn't work very well when you have a gazillion people giving you advice and then getting frustrated with you when you don't take it. So here it is, this is what Im doing (or not doing) with my life and why:

(1) I am not going to graduate school. I recently starting looking up different grad schools and looking at their requirements. I don't qualify to go to any grad schools that I would like to go to. I didn't get a high enough GPA in college. This means that I can't even apply. The schools won't even accept or look at my application because I don't meet their minimum requirements. "But Courtney, why don't you just send in your application and see what happens?" Sure I'll do that. Do you want to give me the $100 for the application fee? So unless my GPA magically goes up in the next few years it looks like grad school is out of the question.

(2) I have had many people tell me to go on a mission. They told me that I can take time off and figure out my life. Have these people even been on missions?! For what I heard you really don't have time to just sit and ponder and focus on yourself. I have considered it for a while now but decided not to put my papers in. I would be doing it for purely selfish reasons (running away from my current life) and I have WAY to much respect for missionaries and the church to go on a mission for selfish reasons.  

(3) Go get another job. Believe me, I've been trying. For the past year (pretty much since I started working here) I've been looking. The problem is that I don't have enough experience yet and I am actually getting paid pretty well for just a shovel bum doing CRM work. I've applied to about 10 different places (not all archaeology jobs) in the past two weeks and I haven't gotten offers from any of them. What's a girl to do? 

(4) Some have been telling me to just take a leap of faith. A leap? Where? So what do you want me to do? Quit my job and go live on the street? Move to another city and start over? Do you people live in a movie?! That stuff doesn't work. I have no where to go and I have no money. This can cause a problem. I trust that God will not just let me starve but Im not stupid (contrary to what my GPA may say). I have to keep my job (no matter how unhappy I am) until I find something else. That's it, bottom line. I am not afraid to fail; however, there is nothing right now that I can take a chance with. I'll take chances, I just don't have any right now.

In the end I just don't know what to do. Thanks for your advice. I welcome it, just please don't be offended if I don't take it.

Always a bridesmaid....

This last weekend I went to my best friends (Jessica) wedding in June Lake, Ca. There is no way I was going to miss this! We have been friends for more then 1/2 of my life AND I was a brides maid. I love her to death and wish her and Mike all the happiness in the world. Here are some pictures from the eventful weekend:

I loved being able to spend time with my family, see old friends (Justin and Allison), and be with Jessica on her wedding day.

Side-note:

I am currently watching Planet Earth and I can't get over how beautiful our world is. Go here and check out these pictures. You won't be disappointed, I promise.