The Bitter Season

I hate this time of year. Something about being wished a "Happy Chanukah" just turns my smile upside-down. I'm sure they mean well, but do they realize the implication of what they are saying? Just because you have a holiday that you care about, doesn't mean that my holiday is like yours. Whether it's because they are "sharing the cheer" or they've just been led to believe by all the commercials that everyone is celebrating their highest holidays now, the ignorance just bothers me.

I took ten days off for my holidays this year, and the only wishes I got were to make sure I had coverage for my work before I left. For their holidays, the whole company shuts down, has numerous parties, and has early dismissal. But when I leave before sundown, I'm viewed as a quitter.

Multiculturalism has a long way to go. These people have no idea how much they string me up. The schedule is so ingrained in their holidays, that they don't even notice the difficulties I have in celebrating mine.

So am I wrong taking offense at all their "shared" merriment?

A Hairy Beast?

Getting ready for work the other day, I scenario I had been dreading for awhile finally hit the surface. Every day I spend about half an hour grooming in order to keep my beard and payos reasonably kept. As annoying as it is, the results are very professional (at least compared to my full-on Jew look). However, as I was cleaning up, I noticed that my beard has finally gotten to a length that makes it difficult to clean up. I roll my beard from my chin towards my ears, and the length has finally gotten such that it has started to go past my ears. I don't think this will work much longer.

Some additional background. I know it's not a Halachic requirement to never shave. But I do know that it is a Halachic preference. I see no reason to shave if I don't have to, but Parnassa (making a living) would definitely fall under the category of "do it if you have to." After going on numerous unsuccessful interviews, I trimmed my beard before interviewing with the company I now work for. However, after finding out on my first day that my boss had a full bead, albeit short, I was determined not to have to shave again for this job. And I haven't for the just over a year that I've been here.

But the question now begs, how long can I pass for corporate?