July 2018 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Great food and great times

 

This is my full haul, less the cookies

 

Nice score, but where did you find all things jerky?

 

This will serve as both my shave report for today and the final wrap up report on the First Annual TSD 30 DC Meetup.

Huge thanks to the guys (and the gals who bravely came along for the ride) for making this an extremely fun time. We have often talked on here about the cohesiveness of this group and how we are as much a support group as a social group of shaving enthusiasts. I can tell you, in person it worked the same and even better. It's really a privilege to be part of a group of people who can share a hobby and also share connections and friendships without any other motives or concerns except for getting to know one another better and just having fun. I am lucky to be a part of such a group.

We finished up the official part of the weekend with a BBQ at Hendrick's BBQ in St. Charles tonight. One of the top 3 spots in the metro they really showed off their talents. The ribs were so tender you could just pull the bone out of the rack without effort. The pulled pork was equally tender and done right - nobody had anything but compliments. Great atmosphere, location, food and a table full of some of the loudest and most fun conversation you've ever heard. We added @CarlfromMO and @COMPNOR to the group for the evening and were happy they got to join us. Carl even brought a box of freebies that we picked through and still sent him home with more stuff than he came with. Somehow this group whether online or in person seems to have PIFing down to an art form. Brian and Adam had spent the afternoon perusing the local antique shops along historic Main Street and came away with a few goodies as well. Dinner started at 7 and we finally found the exit around 10:30.

Special thanks to @Keithmax for the gifts he gave everyone. Really beautiful screens from Korea that you will see in a few of our pictures. He also loaded me up with 60 Feather Pro blades for the pain sticks. I can now use them with abandon. I also scored a beautiful Type E Schick Injector with case and original blade dispenser from Carl's goodie box. Another addition for SEptember when it rolls around. Also the TSD Bay Rum AS from Paul as well as my Shavey for Least Inspriational Picture I believe it was. That award was Sterling Barbershop AS.

Here's the official roster of all those who attended:

@NCoxSTL
@Bama Samurai
@Keithmax
@mrchick
@Drygulch
@wristwatchb
@CarlfromMO
@COMPNOR
@Paul76

Special thanks to Adam for getting the LE soap for the group. I know he had some bumps in the road and overcame with style and class. And, speaking of the LE Soap - I changed off of my Russian setup tonight to give it a try. Tonight's shave was with the Blood on Steel soap from Jeeves, My Fatboy with Voskhod, and of course the 30DC LE brush. Gotta use the limited editions together. Two passes, no issues, the baby came home after the great day and all is well in Cartel HQ.

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Sorry to hear about your father prayers for a good recovery.

 

Stopped at Duluth Trading on the way back to the hotel after breakfast. It has some great looking recipes in it. I’m going to fire up the smoker when I get home.

 

Thanks for hosting Neal. I had a wonderful time and loved meeting everyone!

 

Thoughts and prayers for your fathers fast and full recovery.

 

I’m te lots of BBQ and I ate the cookies too.

Wow, 4 hours for breakfast and 4 more at dinner too. The time went by too fast, it was great to meet everyone in person and learn about each other beyond crazy shaving stunts.

 

OK, the cookie rebellion is all in good fun, but if I’m actually annoying anyone with it, and/or the silent minority are getting tired of the banter and giving up, I could give it a rest...

 

Holy smokes, Brian! Are you available to be a “personal shopper”? You killed it at the antique stores!

Well said, Neal. If you told me a couple years ago that a group of random internet shave geeks (which I count myself among and now say with strange pride and respect) would have such a meaningful and positive impact on my life, I’d have told you that you were nuts. I’m very proud and appreciative to be associated with such a great group of guys!

 

I hope my joke didn’t come across as too harsh. I enjoy the fun associated with the rebellion, and wouldn’t have things any other way.

 

The cookie rebellion is now part of 30DC history and legend. It’s story and the story of its leader will told for generations. Thanks to your feerless leadership in the face of the cartel’s PR machine in the end the cartel distributed cookies!

 

Hopefully you can make it next time and we can go on the hunt

 

Sometimes when you are a smartass it’s hard to gauge if you are making people laugh or just annoying them. I have frequently done both, and live in a precarious balance between the two. I’m also not offended at being told “You’re in annoying territory now; stop it”. In fact I appreciate knowing it when (not if) it happens.

So now I’m getting mixed messages. As a cookie revolutionary leader, it wouldn’t be proper to show weakness or ask the revolutionaries for vote, but now might be a good time to poll the crowd and see if hope for the revolution burns bright or if this tide has turned and I need to look forward to retirement on an island with a non-extradition treaty and the ability to subversively import fresh baked cookies to go along with our massive storehouses of ice cream. (Retired cookie revolutionary leaders have been known to make ice cream cookie sandwiches, you know.)

So, do we fight on, or close this chapter of the revolution as fond history? (Believe it or not, this is a marginally serious question that I’d like some feedback on.) What say you 30DC?

 

Looking forward to it, Brian!

 

Didja get an Ogallala Bay Rum from DT?

 

My Bride and I had an absolute blast! It was delightful to finally meet everyone in person. Neal, thanks for pulling it together.

I nominate our 30DC Mr.
Smartypants, @BaylorGator, to head up the 2019 meet up. May I have a second from the group?

 

Is there a location for it?

 

No, I already have two bottles at home