He didn’t, but I got a sandalwood soap puck of it from there.

Thank you Neal for putting all this together, and for the selection of Russian steel and cartel cookies. It was a really great time putting faces with the names, and having some really good conversations with everyone.
Adam thank you for your work on the commemorative soap and splash sets for the meet. Keith thank you for the really cool folding screen. And thank you @BaylorGator for sending all the goodies up to the cartel head for us foot soldiers. Wish you could have been here in person and I’m looking forward to meeting you next year.
Thank you to all who attended and made this a very memorable weekend.
So here is what found it’s way home with me to my den.

July Focus

The gear has returned from yesterday with the exception of the Semogue Mixed Hair brush.
I could really gush on and on about this knot.
It is scrubby, but not scratchy;
It is soft, but with a healthy backbone;
It splays easily, but isn't floppy;
It loads plenty of lather, yet has decent flow-through.
The handle is ergonomic and comfortable.
All in all, the best Semogue I have ever owned.
Made the fatal error of chasing that darn baby on my right jaw line and it turned around and bit me in the a--
Will I ever learn...
I believe, because I have become rather adept with this razor ( 30 day focus),
I got a bit cocky. Live and learn. (If I would only learn)
Other than that, I had a tremendous shave. Zero irritation, no alum needed.
The vintage Schick Krona blade is terrific. Right up there with my Personna 74's. Truly.
Product levels are steadily decreasing. It will be a close call if I make it 16 more shaves with the Williams and the Floïd.​

Nice collection.

I myself find it pretty funny. And the four kids in the restaurant yesterday morning seemed to be very interested in cartel cookies, and may very well be trying to seek us out for them. Eventual new recruits maybe?

Thank you Paul

VIVA LA REVOLUTION!!!

Great picture, Joseph!

July 15 SOTD:

Razor: Gillette Black Handle SS
Blade: Polsilver
Brush: 30DC LE
Lather: Williams
Aftershave: The Veg
Additional Care:
Stirling Unscented PSB

A nice, quick shave this morning with some Williams and Veg. Hard to beat a winning combination like that which honestly doesn't see too much use in my den. My parents are coming in as reinforcements with the kids as my wife is gone until Thursday. I've enjoyed the kids a bunch, but I have also gotten quite an appreciation for what my wife does day in and day out. She is much more patient than I am. I hope everyone has a great day!

Wait. That almost makes it sound like the reason cookies were distributed was because the Cartel was bowing to the pressure of the revolution. Clearly a gross misunderstanding of the events as they occurred, likely made worse by the jet lag you were experiencing. Clearly the cookies were distributed out of the kindness and benevolence of the regime toward its loyal and honored masses. Because cookies have always existed in the Cartel and have always been generously shared, even when invisible, it would be an unfortunate rewrite of history to say that we were pressured by the likes of the cookie doubters. I'm sure the correct thinking will return if you just close your eyes, take a deep breath, and say very quietly to yourself..........coooooooooookkkkkkkkkkiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeesssssssss.

Why am I not surprised.

Another great picture and report, Joseph!

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Beautiful photo, Jim! I love the brush!

I'm sure the kids will be as happy to see grandma and grandpa as you will be to have help.

Have a great day!

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Thank you, Jim!

July 15th
Razor: Rex Ambassador (3)
Blade: Sputnik (3)
Brush: Rick Montalvo mixed
Pre shave: Stirling mentholated
Soap: Stirling Satsuma
Stirling Orange Chill witch hazel
AS: Stirling Satsuma

I had an excellent early morning shave! Everything just came together. Two pass with touch up left me near BBS.

Great lather with a great scent applied with a great brush! The menthol level in the Orange Chill witch hazel was a real attention getter. I bought the sample size, surely to be replaced by the full size when this bottle empties.

The Ambassador set on 3 seems to be my happy place. I'm getting some awesome shaves!

Have a great Sunday!

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No details at all for future events but.....

There was a quick discussion as the BBQ broke up about future meetups. I think the consensus would be that we'd love to do this again. And probably again. And again. The consensus is also that we need to start planning next year in about a month. Putting this together in the time frame we did this time was, how should I put it, challenging. I learned a lot about trying to get an event like this on the books and also how far ahead things are planned in the world of social events, sports, business, and every other human endeavor, apparently. I can't tell you the number of calls and emails I made to hotels and meeting sites that were positive, seemed workable, then somehow disappeared because of already booked events or the lack of a firm number of attendees or potential profit to be honest. By starting earlier we can get some of the framework set then work to fill it. I think that's the best and smartest move.

Just a quick story to show how these things work.....Hendrick's BBQ, which was quite excellent - responded to my first inquiry with an eager "yes we can host you and have a private area available". Please email this other person and they'll set you right up. Perfect! I sent the email. Waited a couple of days. Email finally replied to with "how many are you having?" My answer was a confident "ummmmm....say between 15 and 30? Still herding the cats so we don't have them quite lined up yet. Waited a couple of days. Email reply - "that will be fine and we are sending out the rental agreement on the room along with all of the details. Please note the $250 deposit as well as the $600 minimum purchase for the group.? Wait, what? Email back - so, if we only have closer to 10 we have to spend $60 each?! Well sure, they said, but the bar tab counts as well. Perfect! We all just have to get as drunk as Ivan and Igor AND eat two racks apiece and all will be well. Yep, not gonna happen.

Long story just a bit longer - I clearly didn't reserve that room and continued the search for a workable BBQ venue/event. I even considered catering to an outdoor location (which, given the heat we had over the weekend would have been a really bad idea) and revisited some other options. As we entered the final 10 days or so, though, the count stabilized to around 10 to 12 and I called Hendrick's as though I had never talked to them and just made a reservation for a table for 12. Voila! BBQ set. And for those inquiring minds who want to know the numbers - yeah, we spent less than half of that $600 minimum they were trying to get.

Another great photo and report Joesph. Wonderful job with the subtle brush enabling.

Great photo and lineup Jim. I know you're happy to have reinforcements arriving. Young kids can certainly wear you out.

Wonderful photo Jim. Again with that brush and its enabling ability.

July 15, 2018
OneBlade Genesis V2
Modified GEM PTFE
Thäter Boar
Nuàvia Blu

​

I decided to mix things up and change out the Feather FHS blades for a modified GEM PTFE blade. The blades are modified by removing the spine and enlarging the two semi-circular cutouts on the Gem Blade. The entire process takes about 30 seconds to complete. I usually do several at a time. I soaked the boar brush and the soap while I showered. The big boar made a wonderful rich slick lather with the Blu scent filling the room. I went with a traditional three pass shave. With buffing along my neck and touch ups along my jawline I easily ended up with a drama free BBS shave. Overall an Epic Shave. I hope everyone has a great Sunday.

Thanks, Clint.

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