Hair Color?

[jcroce1994]

I love doing surveys where they ask hair color.

I started shaving my head about a year ago.

It looks cool. It's easy to maintain. And I'm no longer self-conscious about my thinning hair.  Best of all, it's really like belonging to a club.  Bald guys always look at each other and nod "hello", or introduce themselves. I've made more friends by shaving my head than I could if I stood on the corner and passed out $20 bills. LOL

About me? Well, I'm starting life all over at 49.  This Spring, I had a basketball sized tumor removed from my thigh, I underwent gastric bypass surgery, and so far, I've lost about 120 lbs.  I've been fat, sick and disabled for a long time. Barely left the house for over 5 years.  Really just sat around, waiting to wake up dead one morning. 

Now I feel like I'm 30 again.  I'm making new friends for the first time in years.  I'm travelling.  I'm just a new person.  And I have to thank my friend Kyle Williams.  He talked me into shaving my head the first time. (And he was right. It looks so much better than the thin crop of graying hair I had before.)  He made me take my meds when I didn' t want to.  He threatened to drag me bodily to the doctor's appoinments I wanted to cancel. And he made me realize that, even if he wasn't the right guy for me, there was certainly someone out there, if I'd just pull myself together, get off the couch, and take care of myself.

For that, I'll always love him.   

[Paul]

Welcome to the SBG Jay and congratulations, sounds like you have overcome a great deal of adversity.

[Koaa2]

Welcome to the group. Congraulations on your turn around, hang in there with it, it is worth it.

[BaldBen]

A very inspiring intro Jay.
Being SLY has given you a completely new outlook on life.
If that doesn't help those on the fence that visit this site than nothing will!

I can only take a guess what your life was kinda like before.
You got up around 9 AM, ate some cold cereal for breakfast while watching Regis & Kelly.
Then you took a mid-morning snooze and woke up around 11:00 just in time for The Jerry Springer Show.
You got the newspaper delivered to your door cause you couldn't walk to the store.
From 12 til 1 you read the paper starting with the sports pages and worked your way to the front bad news politics.
At 1 PM you had a cold sandwich with warm soda and chips.
From 2 till 4 you watched some Judge show and Dr. Phil.
From 4 to 5:30 you took a late afternoon nap.
At 5:30 you turned the TV on and watched the local news, sports and weather while you Hungry Man's dinner was warming in the microwave.
At 8 you watched a few Reality TV shows including NBC's the biggest loser hosted by the not so slim Carolyn Rea.

Seriously that was no life. So now you out traveling! That must be very exciting. You need to treat yourself to some cool new threads to go with the new SLY Jay. Damn, life is to short to be worrying about some stupid hair. SLy-dom has given you a new found freedom. Way to go Jay!


 

[jcroce1994]

Thanks Ben.

Yeah, you just about nailed it.  But add in the fact that I was also taking care of my Grandmother at home for the last 7 years. ( She's 93 and has Alzheimer's.) I couldn't get the medical treatments I needed, because there was no one else to take care of her.  It was pretty damn depressing.

Now she's in a nursing home where she gets better care than I could give her at home.  And I'm getting the medical care I need, going to the gym 3 days a week, visiting friends, going out occasionally, and taking my first vacation in 7 years.

And about those new threads... well I'm fitting into clothes that have been in the closet for years.  Some were brand new, but nothing fit.  Now most of them fit great, and I'm still losing weight every day. I'll need that wardrobe pretty soon, or I'll be walking around naked!! And nobody wants to see that!!! haha


Good Times!!

[jusbnme]

Welcome Jay and I'm glad you have found us.  Very glad to hear about how your life turned around for you.  It sounds like you had a great guy in your corner.  You won't find a better place filled with great people then hear ready to lend an ear at anytime. 

[wpruitt]

Glad to hear that things turned around for you!

[JohnMont]

Welcome, Jay

Enjoy "Sly Bald Guys"   This is a great place to build up a positive attitude about yourself .

John

[SLYinKC]

Welcome, Jay, Very inpiring story.

[xnewyawka]

Welcome to SBG's Jay, you'll definitely get plenty of encouragement here. A very good group of fella's (and gals).
Good to see you overcome so much. That should be an influence on some of those on the fence. Enjoy your new found life!   

[Scott]

Jay, welcome aboard - we're glad you're here... very inspirational story! 

[Tyler]

Jay, welcome to Sly Bald Guys bro!  Your ability to overcome your obstacles will benefit you more and more as your life goes on.  It will also allow you to help many people in life, especially the guys here at Sly Bald Guys!

[shyslyguy]

What a cool intro Jay, nothing short of inspirational!

Glad that you've found SBG's & I hope that you stick around & post often.

Good luck with your "new life". It can't have been any fun for you over the last few years & it's great to hear that things are finally on the up for you. 

Your friend Kyle sounds like a very cool guy too. 

[jusbnme]

A very inspiring intro Jay.
Being SLY has given you a completely new outlook on life.
If that doesn't help those on the fence that visit this site than nothing will!

I can only take a guess what your life was kinda like before.
You got up around 9 AM, ate some cold cereal for breakfast while watching Regis & Kelly.
Then you took a mid-morning snooze and woke up around 11:00 just in time for The Jerry Springer Show.
You got the newspaper delivered to your door cause you couldn't walk to the store.
From 12 til 1 you read the paper starting with the sports pages and worked your way to the front bad news politics.
At 1 PM you had a cold sandwich with warm soda and chips.
From 2 till 4 you watched some Judge show and Dr. Phil.
From 4 to 5:30 you took a late afternoon nap.
At 5:30 you turned the TV on and watched the local news, sports and weather while you Hungry Man's dinner was warming in the microwave.
At 8 you watched a few Reality TV shows including NBC's the biggest loser hosted by the not so slim Carolyn Rea.

Seriously that was no life. So now you out traveling! That must be very exciting. You need to treat yourself to some cool new threads to go with the new SLY Jay. Damn, life is to short to be worrying about some stupid hair. SLy-dom has given you a new found freedom. Way to go Jay!


 

Jay Croce was way too nice to you man.  Who the hell are you to make assumptions on his life.  Correct me if I am wrong, but do you know him personally?  This is supposed to be a place of positivity, I believe?  For you to make assumptions like you have is way out of line.  In my opinion anyway.  On another thread you posted some other negative comments about another sly brother.  What's the deal bro?  I know that some people don't believe in candy coating things and thing that being themselves is the way to go.  But there is a big difference in being straight forward with people and being a total a$$hole. 

Jay Croce has done a 180 with his life and decided to make a positive change to live a better life.  We should back him on that and offer encouragement.  Not make assumptions on a, possible, negative life he may have been leading before. 

[BaldBen]

Jay Croce was way too nice to you man.  Who the hell are you to make assumptions on his life. This is supposed to be a place of positivity, I believe?  For you to make assumptions like you have is way out of line.  In my opinion anyway. There is a big difference in being straight forward with people and being a total a$$hole. 

Jay Croce has done a 180 with his life and decided to make a positive change to live a better life.  We should back him on that and offer encouragement.  Not make assumptions on a, possible, negative life he may have been leading before. 

My post was not intended to be negative at all. Maybe I had a similiar experience in my life and was a caregiver of an elderly loved one.
Maybe I had to give up a good paying career to do so. Maybe I felt the same feelings of hopelessness and frustration as Jay has.

So Lance for you to make assumptions about my life is counterproductive.
If I've offended anyone here I'm sorry that was not my intention. You gents are great. You are always there for everyone and give them the support and praise they need.