The only member I ever put on ignore.

I will bring the popcorn.

I heard he was very opinionated and not open to any other ideas. I never "met" him.

I'll bring the soda

No waterbed mattresses here. But.....I can get you a magnificent, over the top comfortable, memory foam w/cooling that will guarantee you never want to wake up. In a good way though.

Decadent December!!!

December 19 - It's TOGGLE TIME!

Razor - 1960 (F4) Gillette Toggle (6)
Blade - (2)
Soap - Tabac
Brush - Wolf Whiskers Custom Silvertip
Post - Alum

Back to the Toggle on a Voskhod second day blade. Looking specifically at the balance question between this and the Fatboy. Tabac and the Wolf made it an over the top decadent experience and I got an extra kiss afterwards because my wife adores Tabac. Probably more than me. Anyway.

Three full passes on very slick lather and I paid close attention to balance and grip. @LOOT has said he grips the toggle close to the head of the razor, moreso than the Fatboy. I played with the balance point a bit and yes, the Toggle is heavier toward the head than the Fatboy. Definitely a possibility to explain the sense of extra aggression. I then played with grip as I went. And, if you grip just under the dial, really letting the bottom of the dial rest on your fingers, and allow your third finger to rest on the toggle lever to provide stability and counter leverage, the razor really smooths out and delivers just an absolute fantastic pass. Staying close to the head on XTG and ATG passes also makes it a sweet ride.

Clearly the balance of the Toggle is something to take into consideration. The Fatboy is more center balanced so doesn't need quite as much tweaking to get that smooth ride. Now the big question.......was the balance issue enough to make the Fatboy the more preferred razor during those early trials? Given the fact it's easily corrected with a grip adjustment I'd say no.

Well, that leaves the question open still so, on Thursday I'll be using both razors. Time to see if I can figure out which one I'd pick and why, ignoring the "cool factor" of the Toggle today. That factor didn't exist in 1955-60. Tomorrow night is a special shave, so a night off of the comparison.

​

Interesting. If the Toggle requires a special grip to be perfect and the Fatboy doesn't, that could explain the ones who picked the Fatboy over the Toggle. Doesn't really explain the larger number of test users of just one razor who dumped the Toggle compared to the Fatboy though...

I am pleased to report that the song historians at the Limerick Crew, toiling away in obscure dusty archives, have unearthed yet another verse from the recent Cookie Unpleasantness:

3. The songs from the Cookie Revolution show
The problem is a lack of dough
While those who have, get
And those that don't go in debt
The Cartel continues to oppress those below.

We’ll finally get to see your twin sister?

Ok, you got me on that one. Well played, sir, well played.

Working late into the night! That's dedication to your craft!

Using one of the gifts from my Secret Santa, a Parker stainless steel shavette. Now I know why this razor has such a good reputation.

The razor did not give the aggressive, rough feeling of other shavettes I used, it also has some good weight making it easy to control. A nice shave and great results for the first time to use this razor.

Irritation A Closeness A

Razor: Parker Shavette
Brush: Omega boar
Pre: Proraso
Soap: Crowne & Crane (veggie)
AS: Lucky Tiger AS, L’Ocitanne ASB
Scent: Sonoma Scent Studios Incense Pure

Wednesday December 20 just after midnight - old-style decadence



Gillette Fatboy on 4 / Gillette Platinum Plus. (2)
Semogue Owners Club cherrywood boar brush
Kent / MWF in beechwood tub
Alum and Lucky Tiger

I noticed my puck of MWF was looking all dried and cracked and lonely in its tub, so I decided to use it tonight. I haven't used my only boar brush - a very traditional style Semogue - for nearly a month either. Add in a Fatboy loaded with a 40+ year old Gillette blade and Lucky Tiger to finish off, and I had a shave using products that the original owner of the Fatboy might have enjoyed.

In the end, I only went two passes to a DFS. I quit early because my focus wasn't up to snuff. On the second pass, going XTG on my chin, I didn’t skin stretch properly. I knew I hadn't even before I took the stroke with the razor, but I was running on automatic, stroked anyway, and gave myself a fair sized weeper. Time to quit.

The cold water rinses and the alum rub sealed the weeper and the alum was otherwise quiet, but it was still annoying. At least the Lucky Tiger was great as usual.

I just received news a few hours ago that a friend I have known for almost 30 years is dying tonight. His adult son came over and found him collapsed at home today after he didn’t answer his phone. Massive stroke. Unresponsive and the doctors figure he was without oxygen to one side of his brain for over eight hours. He already had prostate cancer and the doctors just discovered he has a massive tumor on his liver too, so I wouldn't be surprised if the stroke was linked to all that. No chance of recovery and if he was just made comfortable and otherwise left alone, he would probably already be dead. Unfortunately the son who found him is feeling guilt-ridden and insisting on heroic measures. He is expected to die within a couple days anyway (probably fortunately all things considered), but it's going to be a rough couple of days for everyone, including him.

Crappy time of year for this to happen to a family.

I have made a note to myself to review my documents to make sure I have not just a Will and Power of Attorney but also an updated Healthcare Directive or Living Will. If something like this happens to me and recovery is unlikely, I want to be sure people know to leave me alone and let me die in peace.

Great set up, Neal. I have really enjoyed reading your commentary on the Toggle vs Fatboy.

Beautiful picture, Keith!

Nice vintage set up with a modern twist on the razor, John. I am sorry to hear about your friend; I'll be praying for you and your friends family.

Too much?

Dude. Baddie Winkle is SMOKIN for an 86 year old. Quit being ageist.

Considering the severity of the threat, and the topic at hand, you had better bring beer. Lots of it.

I am sorry to hear about your friend, John. Hopefully it is quick and peaceful from here out. A prayer for you and the family.

My wife is an RN who works in end of life and hospice care, and I can tell you that a directive is huge. Family is not always rational at these times, and if you don’t have it written down, you may very well not get it.

@Screwtape sorry to hear about your friend. That reminds me I need to update a few things also.