Shaving notes of the MaineYooper

Odd Happenings This Morning

We have 2 cats that adopted us back at the very end of July. One is mature (Tyler) and the other is now 14 months old or so (Sylvester). We have had to sleep with the bedroom door closed, as Sylvester wants to play All. The. Time! And play usually means chasing Tyler around the house. This morning, after I got up, shaved, and was heading downstairs, I hear a loud clunk outside the bedroom door, possibly from the living room. I go out, sure enough, there is Sylvester, sitting partway up the steps, looking at me. I see something at his feet as I proceed downstairs. It is my Green Ray Tribble brush!


The last known location was in the basement laundry room, where I keep some shave stuff and work on knots. I now have too many brushes to fit in the drawer and decided to make a rotation of sorts, and had started collecting brushes that would sit out the first rotation and be part of the second. (I have this weird thing of wanting to make sure I use everything and feel bad about it if I don't. It is dangerously close to my stuff starting to own me instead of me enjoying it. This is why I bought and have started the book Mike suggusted, Love People, Own Things, as I recognize what is happening). 

I went to the basement, and sure enough, I had left the door ajar. On the counter where all the brushes I am either working on or setting aside. All were knocked over except the 86S (too heavy for play!). And Sylvester must have decided he liked the Tribble brush and not only brought it to the first floor, through his cat door to the basement steps, but was bringing it upstairs to show Tyler! Here is the culprit, "behind bars!"


The Second Odd Thing
I used the Big Copper Fluffy Ind. brush this morning. At clean up, as I was rinsing out the lather, the knot popped out! At least it stayed in when I needed it to! I may go ahead and epoxy it in place this time, as I really like the knot and handle combo. Never done the epoxy before, but I have one of those packets from Maggard Razors that has enough for 2 or 3 knots, if it is any good yet. I bought it back in April or May when I first started this knot setting aspect of my shaving obsession. 

All right, bring on the day! Furnace repairman coming now to replace a pressure switch, then a doctor appointment for my wife. Take care all!

Hope all goes well today Eric. Great read !

The 86S is looking good! Hope the doc visit goes well.

Hope all goes well today Eric. Great read !

Thanks!

I can see how a brush, particularly one called Tribble (not that cats understand English, or do they? I wouldn't be surprised), would look very much like a cat toy. Try lathering it up in a can of fresh tuna and see if it survives!

If that book has any advice on thinning your possessions, I foresee a new green toy in Sylvester's future.

Best of luck with the doctors.

I can see how a brush, particularly one called Tribble (not that cats understand English, or do they? I wouldn't be surprised), would look very much like a cat toy. Try lathering it up in a can of fresh tuna and see if it survives!

Glad I wasn't drinking when I read this!

If that book has any advice on thinning your possessions, I foresee a new green toy in Sylvester's future.

Best of luck with the doctors.

Thanks, guys!

Doctor update. The appointment went okay, but didn't get some problems resolved. Instead, we were told to "plod through the next few months" to see how things get with the additional infusion treatments. Yes, things are improving and will continue (we expect), but the immediate difficulties were dealt with unsatisfactorily. Or rather, the manner in which this info was presented to us was lacking. We'll be okay, but it is hard for us to be told to do what we know to do, better. Well, we knew there wasn't a magic pill, but we expected more empathy and encouragement. What we got was a lecture (on a topic my wife specializes in!) that was clunky and full of platitudes.

Like I said, we'll get through. We need to circle the wagons more and get on the same page with each other. This time of year (holidays) comes with built-in stressors, and some days, without intending to, we just push each other's buttons too much!

That said, here's to a healthier and happier New Year!

Straight Update

The starter strop arrived today.


I need to get some hardware on that top end, so I can use the dang thing! I know Ken Fluffy and Tim MilkCrate shave with straights, so I hope to pick their brains and experiences without becoming a nuisance! What kind of hardware do you think I should look for? I am off to strop sites to look for photos of the strop on a doorknob, and if I can find hardware like that locally (Ace, True Value, or the dreaded big boxes).

I have also heard you should start with just the cheeks first, to get the feel for the razor while shaving larger and flatter surfaces. So I plan to start there. And take your time, I read. So I may not be daily with this as I am often feeling rushed before work and don't really want to add shave time (which translates to getting up sooner!).

Just some initial thoughts. I am excited to learn something new, something most likely only my grandfathers did, although I don't know that. All I do know is that Dad used a Fatboy until some Gillette marketing disposables came in the mail, and later switched to electric razors.

Straight Update

The starter strop arrived today.


I need to get some hardware on that top end, so I can use the dang thing! I know Ken Fluffy and Tim MilkCrate shave with straights, so I hope to pick their brains and experiences without becoming a nuisance! What kind of hardware do you think I should look for? I am off to strop sites to look for photos of the strop on a doorknob, and if I can find hardware like that locally (Ace, True Value, or the dreaded big boxes).

I have also heard you should start with just the cheeks first, to get the feel for the razor while shaving larger and flatter surfaces. So I plan to start there. And take your time, I read. So I may not be daily with this as I am often feeling rushed before work and don't really want to add shave time (which translates to getting up sooner!).

Just some initial thoughts. I am excited to learn something new, something most likely only my grandfathers did, although I don't know that. All I do know is that Dad used a Fatboy until some Gillette marketing disposables came in the mail, and later switched to electric razors.

Here for ya brother. Ask any questions you need to. Doing your cheeks, WTG only is a good start. Then follow up with your DE to finish the shave.