The beard (SOC)

The word for the day at Ragtag Daily Prompt is hirsute.

“Here’s my beard, ain’t it weird? Don’t be sceer’d, it’s just a beard.” – George Carlin

I used to work with a guy who had the fastest growing beard I’d ever seen. And it was a perfect beard that had no flaws. My beard isn’t perfect. Like where the mustache comes down on the sides of my mouth? It doesn’t connect well with the the beard growing up from the bottom of the mouth. But the guy I used to work with, I’m not joking when I say his beard was perfect, and he didn’t have that corner of the mouth beard issue like me. And his beard grew like lightening. You’re familiar with a 5 o’clock shadow, right? That’s where a guy shaves in the morning and then by 5 o’clock, you can see his whiskers growing back. Think Jon Hamm or Don Johnson (hmm… could it be anyone who’s name rhymes with Jon or Don?). But don’t think about me because it takes me about 36 hours to develop a 5 o’clock shadow. Well, the guy I used to work with came to work one day clean shaven and the next morning he already had what most would call a beard. The last time I grew a beard was during the pandemic when I was working from home and surprise, the color had changed since the last time I wore a beard. I didn’t like the gray so I shaved it off except for the chin and I had planned on braiding that because I thought it would be cool and because it was something to think about that wasn’t COVID, but I got tired of seeing how gray it was and eventually chopped that off. Out of sight, out of mind, right?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_zaSKZks1A&list=RDw_zaSKZks1A&start_radio=1

Giornata Internazionale dell’Abbraccia il Tuo Gatto🐱

Oggi è il giorno perfetto per mettere da parte ogni impegno e dedicarsi all’attività più terapeutica del mondo: abbracciare il proprio gatto. Una celebrazione semplice, tenera e irresistibile, che torna puntuale ogni 4 giugno per ricordarci che i felini non sono solo compagni di vita… sono veri maestri di coccole selettive.

Per chi vuole ripercorrere l’origine di questa ricorrenza, Perfettamente Chic ha già raccontato la storia e le curiosità della festa nell’articolo dello scorso anno, che puoi ritrovare qui:

https://perfettamentechic.com/2025/06/04/international-hug-your-cat-day%f0%9f%90%b1/

✨ Novità e curiosità 2026

Il 2026 porta con sé qualche chicca in più per gli amanti dei mici:

• Trend “Cat Hug Therapy”: sui social spopola la micro‑routine di 30 secondi di abbraccio felino per ridurre lo stress. I video hanno superato i 200 milioni di visualizzazioni.
• Gatti influencer in crescita: aumentano i profili dedicati ai “cuddle moments”, con tutorial su come conquistare il gatto più scontroso del quartiere.
• Ricerca felina 2026: uno studio dell’Università di Bristol conferma che i gatti riconoscono il nostro tono affettuoso… anche se fingono di ignorarlo.
• Tendenza moda & lifestyle: tornano le stampe “cat‑lover chic” su t-shirt e accessori, perfette per celebrare la giornata con stile.

💛 Una festa che continua

Perfettamente Chic, naturalmente, festeggia anche oggi: un’altra occasione per celebrare la dolcezza, la leggerezza e quel pizzico di magia che solo un gatto sa portare in casa.

E se il tuo micio non è dell’umore giusto per un abbraccio, non disperare: come sempre, sarà lui a decidere il momento perfetto. Tu resta pronto.

@retrosponge suggested that kitty -- sorry, *Security Chief Lieutenant Marley* -- should have her own Mastodon account.

If this gets 50 faves by noon PST tomorrow (which happens to be #Caturday!) I'll make it happen 

EDIT: ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE ISSUED IN REPLIES -- 100 BOOSTS = promotion to Lieutenant Commander 

#CatsOfMastodon #kitty #tabby #whiskers #fluffy

The #Pug Moon 🌝

Imagine the #moon was a pup? A furry ball with a smiling snout looking up...!!! ✨ Come on, #whiskers, aim for the #sky !🐾 💕

#dogparents #doglife #HAPPYDOG #dogsmile