April 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

I haven't been posting my shaves much this month. But rest assured, my focus on enjoying my shaves is going quite well, with only one real snafu to report. Whilst I was shaving with my CJB Kamisori, my darling 5 year old barreled through the door, knocking it into my arm and resulting in a nice, tidy inch-long slice just under the lip. She was just coming to tell me she loved me, though, so forgiveness was offered immediately and I learned to lock the door while shaving with shavettes. The last few shaves have included the afore-mentioned CJB (which performed admirably apart from the afore-mentioned mishap), a Weck Sextoblade, a GEM Damaskeene, a Gillette Aristocrat, and a Merkur 34C. Soap-wise, I have been enjoying Stirling Port Au Prince and Baker St, CRSW Limenthol (which was really nice on a hot day like today), Razo-Rock Puros (one of my favorite scents every), Arko, TOBS Sandalwood...whatever strikes my fancy. Aftershave splashes have been courtesy of Razo-Rock Puros, Florida Water, Osage Rub, Clubman Citrus Musk, and Thayers Rose Witch Hazel. Good times, my friends, good times.

Today was a nice Limenthol shave with a side of Osage Rub, and finished off with Alfred Sung Hei, then sitting in the sun watching my five year old daughter wander gleefully around the soccer field while a game happened around her. Then antiquing with my oldest daughter, during which we discovered and I bought a Gillette Slim ($7), a Gillette Black Beauty ($7) and a GEM 1912 ($5), all in fantastic shape. I also purchased a shave bowl, which will show up in a picture this week. It was hand made by a local potter, and I grabbed it for $5 as well. Good times. Then I found a bottle of Armaf Club De Nuit Intense, which I have been looking for for quite some time. I got to laugh a lot with my daughter, which is especially special as she will be graduating next year. I happily perused makeup and clothing stores with her just to get to spend some time together. It was so great, in fact, that she found out her male suitor was also at the mall, and told him she would have to see him later because she was "spending time with dad". That made my day. Good shaves matter, but good times with the kids are the times that really, really matter. I'm now closing down the day with some Wynton Marsalis and a glass of 1792 bourbon. Good times, y'all. Good times.

I also want to thank everyone who is working so hard to make the 30DC brush happen, and especially @jtspartan. It's a really cool thing you are doing, I'm happy to be a part of it, and I have never looked forward to a brush as much as this one.

 

Arko Adjustable April!!!!!

April 22

Razor - 1962 (H1) Gillette Slim (9)
Blade - (3)
Soap - Arko
Brush - WCS Synthetic
Post - Alum

Third and final shave on the Derby Premium. Of course the Slim is wide open and ready to go and the synthetic and Arko are moving mountains of lather into place. The blade gave a fantastic shave last night and the only thing that could wreck it is if the Slim is too aggressive at this point.

Common wisdom says a mild blade needs an aggressive razor to perform at its best. After two passes and touch ups I can confirm that to a point. Definitely a smooth shave again. The alum was just a bit on the warm side for the first time with this blade and the finish, while a very high level DFS, was not quite as nice as last night. I'd say that perhaps a 7 or 8 would have been a better max for this blade. Still, can't and won't complain at all. The Derby Premium with whatever "premium Swedish steel" is, was a very good and workable blade for all three shaves. I'll switch over to the Derby Extra tomorrow to see if I can feel any difference between blades over three shaves.

Just 8 days left in April....and......Arko Adjustable April brings.........MAYhem!!!!! One part of that is sitting in front of me right now.....wanna peek? Here you go!

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OUCH!! Now, as long as the next thing after it happened was NOT your wife telling your daughter she was supposed to wait until you were on your neck, everything is fine! Lock the door, wear a towel or shorts around the waist and....for ultimate safety.....a t-shirt or something like that. I learned that one the hard way when a pain stick dropped out of my hand.

 

It looks worse than it felt. Thus far, the wife has not displayed any inclination to harm me. And trust me, I am always covered from the waist down when shaving. I haven't dropped a razor yet, but I don't need to be circumcised again!

 

Must be a mismatched set. The picture looks like a Gillette Red and Black set which would mean a New LC and those hardly mean MAYhem.

 

It's in 5/8 world.

Sensei @gssixgun recommends 6/8, round point, half hollow. It's the "midpoint" in common razor design.

 

Try going harder on skin stretches. That's what allowed me to gain closer shaves and still avoid irritation. Sounds like you need only a few more tries and you'll get it near BBS.

 

Awesome April
Day 22



Twenty second verse, same as the first. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a great weekend!
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Okay boys and girls - time for a little fun and games, that all tie into MAYhem for me. Not long ago there was a video shared of a guy using crunchy peanut butter in place of shave cream/soap. Got me to thinking (yeah, I know, shocking) about other products that I could try. I've considered things like yogurt, peanut butter, plain butter, margarine (to compare to butter), sour cream. So, put your thinking cap on and help me put together an official list of items that could replace shave cream/soap - whether it's a good idea or not perhaps. I'll work some of those items into my routines in MAYhem to have some fun. Part of that will be figuring out which razor to use with different stuff to match up the best. I've tried strange and deadly hardware. Time for some strange and stupid software.

That's part of my MAYhem this year. More to come!

 

Hair conditioner
Peanut oil
Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing
Mustard

 

@NCoxSTL

You could always present us with an object lesson on why shaving cream doesn't come in formulations like horseradish or raw ginger.

You know, for science.

 

Hey, as long as it's for science that's all that matters.

 

I really want to see you try it with maple syrup, and being the good southern boy I am, lard.

 

Nothing makes me happier than quality time with my girls (6 and 8). At 50, I'm old enough to both appreciate it and realize how fast it's flying by. If you've got one old enough to be interested in boys, but choosing to spend time with you instead, I'd say you've got life "nailed". Wear that lip scar with pride.

We'll, that just put things in perspective. I had aspirations of one day being one of the lead lemmings around here, but clearly I am not worthy. I will gladly embrace my role as lead lemming enabler/instigator, as you guys take this thing to a whole nother level! Now that my future role in the pecking order is more clear to me, may I be so bold as to suggest bacon grease, axle grease, and Georgia clay. (We gotta have someone in rural GA who can hook you up). If you feel frisky and want to add international selections to the menu, wasabi and vegamite always elicit reactions from the gallery. And remember, "Without pictures, it didn't happen!"

Edit: Nutella or pudding would make fine dessert selections, as would pumpkin pie. You're welcome.

 

It is really two different departments. I'm in enabling, and do have positions open. You are welcome to sit here by me.

If you want instigating, you have to talk to Charlie or Brian, but they have a pretty full staff already, so it may be harder to get a slot.

 

I'm happy to sit here with you while I earn my reputation as a "dual threat". I have time.

 

Some things that have maybe not been mentioned:

-How about drilling mud (bentonite clay), (which is actually slicker than....) but would make a glorious mess?

-I was also thinking sheetrock mud or spackle...

-There have been several discussions about Lava Soap.

 

enjoying your alphabet soup, Charlie?

 

Back to the daily shave update:
Day 2 of Slim set on 4 with Astra SP.
No sandlasting prep today.
Shimmed up the Elite Manchurian by about 2mm (wine cork method) for blissful application of TOBS coconut sample.
Alum and Thayers Followd by Harry's shave balm.

Long and short of it is the lack of sandblasting (my wife uses the word exfoliation, but let's call it what it is) made for a much lower irritation shave. Having said that, the price for the closer, more aggressive shave was mild irritation and two weepers, revealing an opportunity to further improve my technique with this setup before moving forward. Hopefully this realization gets me something more than a white belt in Bama Saurai's dojo. This patient, disciplined approach clashes significantly enough with my "hard driving, get it done" type A personality to provide a daily dose of personal growth. In the meantime, I'll be headed out west of town this afternoon to celebrate my wife's birth by eating ribs slow cooked by my father in law. If I shoot some guns with him in the sugar cane field, we'll get the full trifecta today! May God equally bless your Sunday, fellas. Shave on...

 

You are too kind, Charlie! I'll be submitting my resume pronto!

Edit: (At the foolish risk of tempting the gods to smite me, that's a snazzy CT opportunity.) Now having sufficiently tempted fate, I will sit idly by, whilst the moderators pore through scores of stupid stuff I have already said, in preparation to find something even more laced with buffoonery! ) Even as I type this, I am certain I have made a mistake, but that is what instigators do!