Thank you, Andrew! Thanks for thinking of me, Jeff. I own a straight and a couple of shavettes that don't get used. Better to PIF to someone that has more of an interest in straight shaving. Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
Thanks Paul! I disagree that it is a close dupe to the OS Schulton AS version because it does not have that peppery anise note that I remember. It is a very nice scent and that's what is really important to me.
I used to leave a 90lb kettlebell by the pool we had at the time. When my daughter had parties the guys coming by invariably had to pick it up and be surprized how heavy it is. I'd go "let me get that out of the way" snatch it overhead and walk it into the garage that way. Message sent.
Let's face it, Charlie...how wild of a group are we considering that shaving is our hobby? Seriously. Somehow we all chose to make a hobby out of a boring morning ritual, and are overjoyed to discuss various shaving gear and technique on a forum. Sometimes, even I question my own sanity when I stop to think about it. I hope that Mike's continues to make soaps as well. There have been a number of artisans drop out altogether due to the sheer number of others in the market. Like you said, he has a strong following. One upshot to some of the buzz about Mike's being down from what it was in the past is availability. There's usually soaps in stock now on his site, whereas in the past you had to be quick when he put more up for sale. One of my favorites is Grooming Dept. I'm not crazy about the way he does business, even though it seems to work for him. The soap "drops" are somewhat random. If you're on the mailing list, you'll be notified when it's going to happen. Normally they'll sell out quickly. One of the cool things about the way he works is also one of the frustrating things. Pretty much everything he releases can be considered a limited edition. Seldom does he make the same thing again. To a point it's neat. If you get any of his soaps, you have something that is semi-rare. And, with all the choices we have with software, many folks tend to move from one thing to another, and seldom re-purchase the same soap. So, in a way, it kinda makes sense. It helps keep the interest in his products up. On the other hand, it's comforting to have artisans like Mike's that continue to keep the same scents around year after year, and that don't try to fix what ain't broken with soap bases. Both business models seem to work, I suppose. I knew you were kidding about my former girlfriend's dad, and did see the humor in it. Back in the day, he was a bit of a drunk, and wasn't the nicest to his family. By and large, he was pretty good to me, and we did have many good times together. I will be forever grateful that he spent the time to teach me how to drive, especially backing up and parallel parking using just mirrors. I still keep in touch with my ex-girlfriend after all these years. Her dad, with age, has mellowed a lot. He doesn't drink anymore and gets along well with his wife and family these days. I ran into him (and his wife) at a funeral home about a year ago. It was the first time in many, many years that we saw each other, and it was good to see them again - even if was only for a few minutes. Sorry for the ramble...
Congrats Myles! The Old Spice Mug looks great! We moved last year and got empty corrugated cardboard boxes with inserts free from a local business. Find a store or two that sells fragile items, and they may be able to help you with these kinds of boxes. Most of them will have slots on the sides to make them easy to carry and stack. It will save you a few bucks over buying new boxes. You can get rolls of bubble wrap, packing tape, and packing paper at Walmart. You'll spend a few bucks here, but it is money well spent. Use more packing than you think you'll need as boxes will get rolled, stacked upside down, or dropped. I bubble wrapped all my shave gear individually, dropped stuff in boxes with cardboard inserts, and nothing got damaged. Go for smaller boxes (takes more of them, but it is easier to carry and stack heavy items this way), tape 'em up good - sides, top, and bottom, and label them with a sharpie. Box up all your heat-sensitive items (soap, cream, aftershave, cologne, etc.) together so they don't end up cooking or freezing in storage. It sounds like a lot of preparation, but it makes a big difference when you finally start unpacking. Good luck with the move! Oh yeah...if you have any MWF, throw it away. There's no need to take it with you.
Even if you used that soap exclusively, I would think 7 oz would last a full year of shaves. Terrific report, Paul!
