April 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Fantastic news, and an encouragement to me, as I am in a bit of the same boat with back challenges affecting me. Stay healthy brother!

 

30 April 2017 GEM/Soap Focus
Shave
Pre: Hot towel with VDH Shave Butter, hot water, and bloom water from the soap
Razor: 50's era GEM Featherweight
Blade: GEM Stainless Steel
Brush: JR #161 NY Mets Special Editon
Soap: Catie's Bubbles "Tonsorial Parlour"
Post: Hot/Cold rinse, alum block, cold towelx2, Dominello Vitali Calming Post Shave Moisturizer
After Shave: Clubman Classic

MAYhem starts today for me, as my shave week starts on Sunday. I picked up a GEM Featherweight last week at the fleamarket. So this month I'm jumping into the SE world. Got some GEM blades from Walgreens and here we are. Continuing my Focus on soaps and lathering same.
Today I decided to kick off MAYhem with Catie's Bubbles "Tonsorial Parlour". JR #161 whipped up a great lather. With some trepidation I commenced shaving with the GEM. Wow! Very close, smooth and comfortable. In only 2 passes I had what usually takes 3 on a two day growth. Me likey!
Have to see how she performs on weekday stubble. But methinks I have a new candidate for my rotation.
A splash of the Clubman and it was off to the fleamarket with my bride. No joy this week, but there is always next Sunday.
Yard work up next, followed by turkey drumsticks on the grill for dinner.
Have a great afternoon!

 

From the Soap Pass-around I pulled over 30 samples, and took one full tub. Smelling all those different products causes nose blindness but Mystic Waters Raspberry Lemonade was the definitive standout. Is there an easy way to tell old from new formula?

From the website I see description of, "A combination of essential oil and fragrance, with lanolin." but no mention of shea butter. The New comes in a black tub, whereas mine's in an all white tub?
Old formula still available in several scents, and at half price.
If I have Old it's good stuff.

 

Jim, congrats on your first shave with the GEM. Technique trumps tools, so I'm not at all surprised that your shave was great.

The razor looks new. A nice find and a great addition to your Den, for sure. What time's dinner? I'll be over.

 

1700. Be there or be square!

 

SOTD April 30th


Ever-Ready 1912
Gem Stainless
La Toja
Stirling 24MM Synthetic

Decided to have a free shave on the last day before MAYhem. First shave with my ER 1912 and it was smooth! I Love the long lasting BBS shaves that you can get out of these SE's.

Looking forward to MAYhem I plan on using blades in razors that were not designed to use them. First off a Schick E3 injector with a modified Astra SP DE blade. Have a great day my friends!

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Thank you Frank. This bike is more like a SUV. It is meant to go long distances and then explore the fire roads when you arrive. It's the first non sport bike I have owned in 30 years.

Thank you Jim. The ride was great.

Thank you Randy. I am paying for a misspent youth. L3, 4 and 5 are inset 11mm and pinching the nerves. This is caused from racing motocross as a youngster and teenager. Then my time in the service humping that heavy ruck didn't help. Steroid shots in the spine once a year make a huge difference but the real progress came from the physical therapy I started in January.

Thank you Charlie. I had a blast.

 

I am pretty sure you have the new formula judging by the scent and the container. With your hard water you would be having fits with the old formula.

 

Welcome home Jim. Sounds like you had a great time.

 

Congrats on the first shave with a Gem. Other than the moustache area, they are fairly intuitive to use and give superior results.

 

Beautiful photo Andrew. The 1912 looks mint.

 

Great post, Clint! Glad you're back in saddle.

 

Glad you got to get out. Wind therapy is the best therapy.

 

It was nice Perry. I could tell I couldn't throw the bike around in the curves like I could prior to the back troubles. Continued PT and working out should help with that. The best part is the ride didn't negatively impact my back. However my backside will needs to toughen up. It has been a long time since I have set on a bike seat for over 2 hours.

Thank you. Riding is great therapy. I find it very zen like. You have to clear your mind and just be in the moment. If not you'll get yourself hurt. It is one of the few things I do that totally clears my mind.

 

High in silicates but otherwise fairly soft. Dissolved minerals need be precipitated out of the water before a lather appears. Here we have sand, but not much calcium or iron.
Whatever the variables I do like the soap's performance and strong scent.

 

April 30 - Crowne & Crane

Merkur 34C
Personna Red(day 4)
French Vanilla (JR 72)
DIY PSO
C&C Port Royal Bay Rum
Alum/Thayers/Nivea

Today I chose another sample from the pass around box, C&C Port Royal Bay Rum. Having little experience with bay rums, I was anxious to try it.

Demitasse spoon amount was pressed into the bowl and methodically water was added very slowly. Lather reminded me of Barrister & Mann or Stirling in that it was thick, rich and slick. Scent was like a slightly sweeter rum with some spice and herbal notes. I really enjoyed its scent. I did not fill the bathroom but was strong enough to be smelled from the bowl set a few feet away. The manufacturer posted this for the scent:

.

I liked that it wasn't just a powerful clove scent and was nicely balanced.

I was very light with the razor being the blade was now on its fourth multipass shave. I was very pleased and surprised that the alum was less stinging today that yesterday. Light passes and a great soap are my belief for these results. The Personna Red did very well and would use them when others are not available.

I am very happy with Royal Port Bay Rum and would enjoy adding it to my den.

 

Thanks Clint, shined her up yesterday.

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I agree. She does such a great job with her scents and the soap just performs so well. The post shave feel has to be one of the best I have experienced.

 

I have a Gem 1912 that needs some help. Trying to work something out with North Shore Razors so I am hopeful.

 

Sounds like you just need to take a vacation to Hawaii and get it done while you are there. I'd recommend staying at Turtle Bay Resort !


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