Shaving notes of the MaineYooper

Well, I guess I need to up my dose of memory pills! I sold the hybrid plate earlier this year as I wasn't using it as much! 

So, the Supply SE jumped in for an easy shave very late in the morning.


[climbs up on his soapbox]
The shaves are so easy and carefree with this open comb injector! Granted, they are not ending up where I'd like them as far as closeness, unless I do many passes. But I'd made up my mind to do only WTG and XTG in both directions (mainly for the joy of lathering!) and no ATG as it was a late morning shave and tomorrow's shave will be earlier. And this is the point I wanted to make. I gave up rating my shaves by the standards most often used, as what my primary goal is comfort. Closeness is a close second (no pun or whatever meant, but it does make me smile!). And today was one of those days where the shave was wonderful, relaxing, and blood free, leaving my face at the cold-water rinse feeling refreshed. Sure, I can feel stubble ATG, but that doesn't make this a bad shave in my book. My rating or goal is RCS, Really Comfortable Shave, and closeness is icing on the cake. But I'll take today's shave as a DFS- or CCS+ any day over a BBS that leaves me raw or stinging!

I really appreciated your post Eric.  I'm teaching myself to straight razor shave, which is known to involve a long and steep learning curve.  My choices seem to be a) very tediously chase the ideal (and with uncertain results), b) manage my expectations, or c) truly embrace the situation.  Your example is a good reminder that there is an option c), and to embrace the situation with as much joy and contentment as possible.  Things are what they are, and life is what we make it.  Thank you for that.

A Soap Box Worthy Thought Eric. Everyone should feel. It's my shave, I may as well enjoy it the way I want. Have a great day !

...  and your encouraging words, though directed towards Eric, also encourage me.  Thank you Dave.

Thanks, Mike! Given some posts that I recently read, here and elsewhere, where guys were either proud of BBS but have irritation, or upset about not being able to achieve BBS without irritation. With that in mind I gave my point of view. The RCS acronym I stole from someone else! I thought it was important to give another point of view.

What I appreciate about Dave's videos and posts is that he *does not* use the standard ratings, and instead, if he does, mentions the smoothness or how good it feels. It seems more reasonable and achievable!

I used the Karve Christopher Bradley Wednesday and Thursday, with the C plate Wednesday and the B plate Thursday. I really like this razor, but I get easier and closer shaves with the Overlander. But the CB feels so good in hand, and AlanH did a great job polishing them up. Maybe someday I will relist it and sell it. But both days my face had some nicks by my mouth corners and some irritation when I rinsed. 

Today I moved the blade to the 24K gold plated NEW long comb and had a very nice shave indeed!


But again, when I rinsed the lather off using the warm water in the sink basin, I felt irritation in places. All was well after rinsing out the sink and doing my cold water rinse/splash. I am beginning to think my face doesn't like the water at the warmer temperature. I don't use hot water, as that has irritated my face. But with the mornings being much cooler (the heat has been kicking on at night), I think I have been using warmer water as the bathroom is very cool compared to my warm bed and shower!

Hope all is well with everyone. Missing reading posts by the usual suspects (mrdoug, Fluffy, Stubble Daddy, and for almost a year now, Old Sarge. Garrett (gwsmallwood) has been quiet, too. Again, I hope all is well with everyone.

Nice shaves Eric ! I've seen OldSarge post on other peoples youtube videos so he is fine and just moved on without a word. No idea why.......

It’s tough when forum friends disappear without reason or explanation. There’s no doubt that you can form bonds of friendship on a forum and when guys drop off we can feel loss and then there’s the natural need of some kind of closure. I had a similar experience with the disappearance of Kevin kwsher  seven years ago. He had been very active, friendly and supportive and then … nothing. It’s like ghosting except maybe worse because you don’t know if the person is even still alive or not or if they just got busy.

It’s tough when forum friends disappear without reason or explanation. There’s no doubt that you can form bonds of friendship on a forum and when guys drop off we can feel loss and then there’s the natural need of some kind of closure. I had a similar experience with the disappearance of Kevin kwsher  seven years ago. He had been very active, friendly and supportive and then … nothing. It’s like ghosting except maybe worse because you don’t know if the person is even still alive or not or if they just got busy.

Not to be negative but this is why I discussed in a video the Forum "friends" aren't the same. The term is thrown around loosely. It's nice having close acquaintances but it's unfortunately not the same as in person regular contact friends.

It’s tough when forum friends disappear without reason or explanation. There’s no doubt that you can form bonds of friendship on a forum and when guys drop off we can feel loss and then there’s the natural need of some kind of closure. I had a similar experience with the disappearance of Kevin kwsher  seven years ago. He had been very active, friendly and supportive and then … nothing. It’s like ghosting except maybe worse because you don’t know if the person is even still alive or not or if they just got busy.

Not to be negative but this is why I discussed in a video the Forum "friends" aren't the same. The term is thrown around loosely. It's nice having close acquaintances but it's unfortunately not the same as in person regular contact friends.

I do see where you are coming from, Dave, and intellectually I agree with you. But my heart doesn't! Or emotions or whatever. But I agree, someone like Bad Dad when I first joined here was present so much and then gone. He was an acquaintance that was missed. I also find myself in full agreement with Marko. I feel like I need closure, or at least something like when Paul T. said he was pulling back from here. I miss his banter and camaraderie, but I understand why he isn't around as much anymore. And I find myself calling him a friend. But back to Dave's point, what I really must do is realize that folks on the forums are internet, maybe even transient, friends, for as long as both of us share an interest in this shaving thing. So I am back full circle! Mr. "I can't make up my mind!"

It’s tough when forum friends disappear without reason or explanation. There’s no doubt that you can form bonds of friendship on a forum and when guys drop off we can feel loss and then there’s the natural need of some kind of closure. I had a similar experience with the disappearance of Kevin kwsher  seven years ago. He had been very active, friendly and supportive and then … nothing. It’s like ghosting except maybe worse because you don’t know if the person is even still alive or not or if they just got busy.

Not to be negative but this is why I discussed in a video the Forum "friends" aren't the same. The term is thrown around loosely. It's nice having close acquaintances but it's unfortunately not the same as in person regular contact friends.

I do see where you are coming from, Dave, and intellectually I agree with you. But my heart doesn't! Or emotions or whatever. But I agree, someone like Bad Dad when I first joined here was present so much and then gone. He was an acquaintance that was missed. I also find myself in full agreement with Marko. I feel like I need closure, or at least something like when Paul T. said he was pulling back from here. I miss his banter and camaraderie, but I understand why he isn't around as much anymore. And I find myself calling him a friend. But back to Dave's point, what I really must do is realize that folks on the forums are internet, maybe even transient, friends, for as long as both of us share an interest in this shaving thing. So I am back full circle! Mr. "I can't make up my mind!"

I'm not saying you can't have friends on the forum. Just that we don't know ones as well as ones we see and spend time with in person. Example, a real friend would not just disappear without reason and without saying he would be leaving and still be elsewhere as they choose. I hope my typing came out as intended. Was not trying to minimize friendships some feel they have here as I'm sure there are some that go beyond the forum only.

Not to be negative but this is why I discussed in a video the Forum "friends" aren't the same. The term is thrown around loosely. It's nice having close acquaintances but it's unfortunately not the same as in person regular contact friends.

I do see where you are coming from, Dave, and intellectually I agree with you. But my heart doesn't! Or emotions or whatever. But I agree, someone like Bad Dad when I first joined here was present so much and then gone. He was an acquaintance that was missed. I also find myself in full agreement with Marko. I feel like I need closure, or at least something like when Paul T. said he was pulling back from here. I miss his banter and camaraderie, but I understand why he isn't around as much anymore. And I find myself calling him a friend. But back to Dave's point, what I really must do is realize that folks on the forums are internet, maybe even transient, friends, for as long as both of us share an interest in this shaving thing. So I am back full circle! Mr. "I can't make up my mind!"

I'm not saying you can't have friends on the forum. Just that we don't know ones as well as ones we see and spend time with in person. Example, a real friend would not just disappear without reason and without saying he would be leaving and still be elsewhere as they choose. I hope my typing came out as intended. Was not trying to minimize friendships some feel they have here as I'm sure there are some that go beyond the forum only.

No, your words were fine by me! I think I heard your thoughts in the video, and it makes sense. When I was really into astronomy, I'd spend a bit of time on one particular forum and had some exchanges with a retired pharmacist down in Maryland. Then his postings stopped and a month later someone mentioned that he'd died. While I never met him in person, he was a good tutor on the forum. The friendship is very different than with my best friend who lives several towns over. We met as freshman at college, and while we don't get together much, we both know what's going on to some extent with the other. Different classes of friendship, that's the why I think about it. And sometimes it changes class, like when I actually met Ohio Bob in Portland for the morning. We ate a couple of donuts and had some coffee together, while talking about all sorts of things. Now we email quite frequently.

Sorry, I got to rambling there and need to just have a midafternoon coffee break!

I do see where you are coming from, Dave, and intellectually I agree with you. But my heart doesn't! Or emotions or whatever. But I agree, someone like Bad Dad when I first joined here was present so much and then gone. He was an acquaintance that was missed. I also find myself in full agreement with Marko. I feel like I need closure, or at least something like when Paul T. said he was pulling back from here. I miss his banter and camaraderie, but I understand why he isn't around as much anymore. And I find myself calling him a friend. But back to Dave's point, what I really must do is realize that folks on the forums are internet, maybe even transient, friends, for as long as both of us share an interest in this shaving thing. So I am back full circle! Mr. "I can't make up my mind!"

I'm not saying you can't have friends on the forum. Just that we don't know ones as well as ones we see and spend time with in person. Example, a real friend would not just disappear without reason and without saying he would be leaving and still be elsewhere as they choose. I hope my typing came out as intended. Was not trying to minimize friendships some feel they have here as I'm sure there are some that go beyond the forum only.

No, your words were fine by me! I think I heard your thoughts in the video, and it makes sense. When I was really into astronomy, I'd spend a bit of time on one particular forum and had some exchanges with a retired pharmacist down in Maryland. Then his postings stopped and a month later someone mentioned that he'd died. While I never met him in person, he was a good tutor on the forum. The friendship is very different than with my best friend who lives several towns over. We met as freshman at college, and while we don't get together much, we both know what's going on to some extent with the other. Different classes of friendship, that's the why I think about it. And sometimes it changes class, like when I actually met Ohio Bob in Portland for the morning. We ate a couple of donuts and had some coffee together, while talking about all sorts of things. Now we email quite frequently.

Sorry, I got to rambling there and need to just have a midafternoon coffee break!

No rambling, that's my feelings exactly and states it more clearly

I don't know if I was mentioned (Tapatalk won't show tags in this software). Maybe not though, as I'm posting, just very infrequently. Life has been busy... which I am almost certain I sent you Eric MaineYooper in a message (another reason I might not be included, lol). I'm still shaving, though I did have to skip a day this weekend . Yep, it's that busy.

I'll try to read and post more, as I can. Definitely not ghosting... Just life kicking my butt.

Be well folks!

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