Chilly

it is with just a mere 9°C in Southern Stockholm - but there is plenty of sunshine / has been plenty of sunshine - which makes all feel very springtime'y. There was actually frost covering the lands this morning, as i came come from work. I wasn't even sure at first, what looked like a gray-white skin in places... until i saw the glittery crystals blinking in the sun (while I was driving the subway). Then I understood... it was indeed frost.

That special springtime scent !

When we had those two days, with exceptional warmth, nearly but not quite reaching 25°C - something else filled the air: suddenly everything smelled springtime flowers, with a strong touch of summer. It is funny, how that scent enables something in ones brain.

It is like a distant memory of fun, romantic, sex, expectations lingering. A sort of mild yet distinct sense of more distant past mixed with the present time. Actually all in one. It is like you enter the lighter part of the year, which in the beginning of the season, is filled with a tickling expectation (for the lack of a better word), possible meetings, and that lightness... with a touch of youthful JOY !

A very special feeling. It startles me every time how a scent seem to be able to bypass time and memories in a flash.

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simple self portraits: After work | At the pornclub

Light Ash Blonde

And me - in all of those impressions and sunshine - now being a light ash blonde guy. Something i haven't done since 2009. I was first worried if i in the age of "60", would even suit with light blonde hair. To my surprise, it works actually very well. Almost as if regaining even more the typical "Ralf" look from the past. That I didn't expect. I was worried that when you are too old for something (whatever that means), it just looks ridiculous. My thinking was not trying to simulate something from the past, and it just look really stupid.

But it doesn't. On the contrary - it looks surprisingly natural. I don't get scared when I happen to look into the mirror. *LOL*

The only thing that looks slightly off or odd at times is (though my inner eye), that when you after a night work got darker rings under your eyes - the combo looks somewhat misaligned with very light blonde hair. I guess that is psychological because light blonde is a sort of "hallmark" of the younger ones.

At least that is my interpretation. Otherwise, i don't really think so much of it - and don't look into the mirror all the time either. Same Ralf after all - only that the "reflection has changed a little, adding some crinkles". Yet, still lively and full of energy.

That helicopter plate

Oh by the way. A nice side effect of having light blonde hair, is, that it lets the "helicopter plate" (the area on the back of my head with little hair) become less visible. Because the contrast between skin and hair are now far less pronounced. Compared to having my normal dark blonde hair, while the "Helicopter plate" shines brightly *grin*

it is fun to do little changes now and then. Whether it is the hair or the beard. I always liked a certain amount of experimentation. Sal on the other hand, seem to have stopped to color his beard (which i think looks great on him, when he implements dark patches). He leaves the beard / stubbles white.

Well as I said, it is fun to experiment in shape and color. But doesn't mean it needs to be done all the time. I myself, do color my beard stubbles dark - while keeping them relatively short. With longer beard, I don't feel comfortable, and never have. My beard hair sticks into all kinds of directions, and everything just tickles and scratches all the time. As far as I remember, i have been a stubble type of guy - something i have kept (more or less), since my early 20s.