Burly Stone's January Cool Customer - Bec C.

January 17, 2018 1 Comment

January. Other than New Year's Day, it doesn't feel like January has much to offer. It's the deepest part of winter, and is the start of the quietest time of year for a lot of folks. Here at Burly Stone we take the winter as a chance to step back, evaluate what's working & start gearing up for the coming year.

One thing that we know is working? Checking in with our customers, and seeing what a "Burly Stone" guy is like. With this in mind, we we totally psyched when our next cool customer agreed to answer a few questions for us. We've only had the pleasure of knowing him as a customer, but after reading his interview, we'd love to take him & his wife out for dinner & drinks.

Please meet the one & only Bec C.:

Can you give us a quick bio?
My name is Bec and I'm 40 years old, though I don't look it. Most put me at around 28 or so. It's a fun guessing game for new guys at work. Anyway, I'm married to my best friend, Margaret, and we live in Selkirk, NY with our 3 cats (Frayda, Kima and Xena), 2 birds (Oliver and Goofy), and our latest addition, a labradoodle named Willow. I work in a factory as a department lead where we make exhaust ventilation for boilers and furnaces. So, in essence, I'm a tin knocker. I'm 3rd key on second shift so when the supervisor and shift coordinator aren't there, I'm the guy everyone turns to.

What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day for me doesn't start at a typical time. It starts at roughly 11am. I wake up and take care of the animals and then grab a cup of coffee to get me going. If I have appointments, I tend to those. If not, then I'm either relaxing on the couch with the dog, or doing something constructive around the house like dishes or laundry. Depends on what needs to be done. When I get to work at 3:30pm, I go to my department to see what work needs to be done and then I assign it to my crew in the order it needs to be done. I work alongside them, and we do that until it's time to go at midnight. I should also mention that I work a second job that's part-time. So, sometimes, I get out of work at the factory and head to my other job, and I usually get out of there around 9am. When that happens, I go home and sleep for a couple hours and get up to go to my regular job. If I'm not working the 2nd job that night, then I just go home, and go to bed. After a shower, of course.

How do you unwind at the end of the day, or on the weekend?
I try to get my unwinding done at the beginning of my day. It's kind of backwards, but it helps me to ease into my day so I'm not feeling so rushed. It helps me prepare for what lies ahead so I'm not stressed. On the weekend, I tend to like to read, cook, watch a movie (whether it be something on the telly, or going out to the theatre), connecting with friends and family, and sewing. Sewing is something I used to do years ago, but with moving around and having to downsize, I had to give it up and get rid of most everything. So I'm getting back into it because it's something I love doing. I know it's not the "manliest" thing in the world, but I find it comforting, and I enjoy seeing the end result. And if it's a gift for someone, it's great seeing the joy on their face when they get it. You can buy store bought quilts and bags and stuff, but nothing beats something that was crafted by hand.

What do you do to take care of yourself?
Hmm. I guess I just do everyday normal things. I try to eat healthy, but with the holidays and a crazy work schedule, it's not always possible. Plus, being a newlywed, my wife's cooking has packed on a few more pounds than I would care for. But, I'm healthy. Sleep is very important to me, so I'm sure to get plenty of it. I don't really exercise, except for what I do when I'm working. I try to be positive, smile often, and find the funny in most situations. I also steer clear of negativity and drama. There's no place for those in my life. Listening to music is a great way for me to de-stress.

Any grooming tips or secrets to share?
Beard oil or balm is a must-have to tame your beard or 'stache. Always wear deodorant. Just because you can't smell yourself doesn't mean that others can't. Trust me, they can. There's nothing wrong with smelling good, so wear cologne whenever you want, but don't overdo it. There is such a thing as too much Axe body spray. It won't work any better if you put more on, you'll actually start to repel people.

Boxers, briefs, or commando?
Boxers. It's the right amount of coverage, not too tight and not too free.

Bec, we can't thank you enough - and we agree... there IS too such a thing as too much Axe.

Take care folks, stay warm, and remember - Be Burly!