A journal of a Cajun's life wet shaving

[BigAlVista]

This is very true and why I learned to cook in the first place. Girls LOVE guys who can cook. Especially when it means it is okay they never learned.



Thanks I have tried a few dishes, and, think I have my roux down pat, but, I haven't tried in ten years or more. I am pretty sure I can still do it. Next time I con a guest into my home and feel like cooking I will see if I still have the knack for it.

This weekend, I smoked, processed in the sousvide, and then smoked again a 20lb Wagyu brisket. I cut it into four portions, froze 3, and served the remaining to a couple we had over on Monday. He is a "BBQ Guy" and regularly has brisket flown to his house from across the US. He had three servings. She had two. I doctored up some Stubbs BBQ sauce by combining it with the defatted drippings (1 part Stubbs, 1.5 parts drippings) from the sousvide bag plus a little maple syrup. I thickened it up with a brown roux I made from some of the rendered fat.

Served it with homemade corn bread, homemade Cole slaw and some Baked beans. Homemade peach pie a-la-mode and Tres Leches cake for desert.

Maine brewing and some BV Tapestry for the libations.

From the five lb portion, only an 8oz serving remains. The sauce is gone.

Today's Lunch. Though at this point, it may be breakfast.

One portion, straight from the Sousvide.

 

[cajunrph]

300+ Shaves in 2024 228 of 300+
Shave Date 9/4/2024
Razor: 1952 Flare Tip Super Speed
Blade: Tiger Platinum(2)
Pre-Shave: Leaf Pre-Shave Oil, Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar
Soap: Barrister and Mann Nordost
Brush: Omega 10049 Boar
Post-shave: Alum Bock, Thayer's Witch Hazel, Neiva Cooling After Shave Balm, B&M Nordost A/S
Rating: 28.25/30 10 for Comfort, 10 for cuts and weepers (1), 8.5 for smoothness, neck stubble, BBS on the face, and DFS+ neck.

Notes:

B&M soaps are fantastic lather monsters, as long as you use enough water. I am out of practice with them, but I did get some very good lather today with the Omega Boar. I will use The Hallows more regularly in October along with my Atomic Pumpkin Bay Rum, as those two match the theme for October well, I should have it figured out well by the end of October. The Tiger behaved again today, but it will still only see three shaves and into the bin it will go. Times a'wasting to TaaT this final Tuck of Tigers.

I channeled my inner Borris (@blethenstrom) and became a garbage disposal last night for supper, leftover spaghetti from the Anniversary dinner date, and some random curry rice I had left over. I am shipping my lovely bride off to Alabama to spend time with her children and grandchildren. One of her grandsons is a senior this year and is one of the better players on the football team. I looked up his MaxPrep page, he runs a 4.47 40-yard dash. I asked him about it, he said if he runs the 40 10 times, he'll average 4.45-4.46. That is fast. We have a school pic of him from 7 years ago when he was a little fella, now he's pushing 6'2". Maw Maw is quite proud of him, to say the least, but she is proud of all her grandchildren.

It will be just me and Cam, my son, at the house, and 5 fur babies for the next month. I am sure my cooking will slow down in the month ahead. I'll have to channel my single days and kick in gear my clothes and dish warshing skills. Unlike those single days, I'll come home after work and go to sleep, the bars are a thing of the past thankfully.

I have been trying to do more exercises lately, I set an admittly low bar, 10 push-ups as a bullet Todo in my bullet journal. My issue is my back, 30+ years of standing up most of the day did a number on my lower back, add to that a suspect SI joint area and I hardly do any exercises anymore. There was a time I worked out regularly until my Sciatic/SI joint flared up so badly I had to give it a rest, and rest I gave it as I lost the urge to work out. I have a set of power blocks (Adjustable dumbbells) and a bench, but I can no longer roll back on the bench holding the dumbbells without excessive pain. I mentioned I have a Concept2 rower as well, I used it with poor form a few years ago and really inflamed my sciatic/SI joint area. At that time I had to have many PT sessions to straighten it out, and I was given many stretches and body weight exercises to do daily. I tried some of them last night along with my 10 push-ups and 10 crunches. It worked wonders, I slept the best I have slept in a long time, with very little time spent doing the exercises. When I got on the floor to do the exercises, the cat thought I was getting down there to pet her, and she got right up next to me and started to rub her face on me as I was exercising. Haha. That happened before when I was doing the floor exercises, one of the fur babies thought I was down there to play with them. I thought about getting one of those body-weight machines Don (@huck1680) talked about, the one Chuck Norris advertised years ago, but I have too much stuff now around the house. I will stick with bodyweight exercises and maybe explore some chair exercises, and get the Rower out so I can use it. Part of my problem was that I'm a 110% effort-or-nothing kind of guy. If I can't do it to my set goal I lose motivation to do it. I know that is a character flaw of mine that I need to work on. That drive served me well in my youth when my body could keep up with my demands. But, this old dog will have to learn some new tricks to survive and thrive, I'll make it, just a bit slower, but I'll make it.

Tis all for a Wednesday, blessing, and the best of shaves for my brothers out there.

 

[BigAlVista]

300+ Shaves in 2024 228 of 300+
Shave Date 9/4/2024
Razor: 1952 Flare Tip Super Speed
Blade: Tiger Platinum(2)
Pre-Shave: Leaf Pre-Shave Oil, Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar
Soap: Barrister and Mann Nordost
Brush: Omega 10049 Boar
Post-shave: Alum Bock, Thayer's Witch Hazel, Neiva Cooling After Shave Balm, B&M Nordost A/S
Rating: 28.25/30 10 for Comfort, 10 for cuts and weepers (1), 8.5 for smoothness, neck stubble, BBS on the face, and DFS+ neck.

Notes:

B&M soaps are fantastic lather monsters, as long as you use enough water. I am out of practice with them, but I did get some very good lather today with the Omega Boar. I will use The Hallows more regularly in October along with my Atomic Pumpkin Bay Rum, as those two match the theme for October well, I should have it figured out well by the end of October. The Tiger behaved again today, but it will still only see three shaves and into the bin it will go. Times a'wasting to TaaT this final Tuck of Tigers.

I channeled my inner Borris (@blethenstrom) and became a garbage disposal last night for supper, leftover spaghetti from the Anniversary dinner date, and some random curry rice I had left over. I am shipping my lovely bride off to Alabama to spend time with her children and grandchildren. One of her grandsons is a senior this year and is one of the better players on the football team. I looked up his MaxPrep page, he runs a 4.47 40-yard dash. I asked him about it, he said if he runs the 40 10 times, he'll average 4.45-4.46. That is fast. We have a school pic of him from 7 years ago when he was a little fella, now he's pushing 6'2". Maw Maw is quite proud of him, to say the least, but she is proud of all her grandchildren.

It will be just me and Cam, my son, at the house, and 5 fur babies for the next month. I am sure my cooking will slow down in the month ahead. I'll have to channel my single days and kick in gear my clothes and dish warshing skills. Unlike those single days, I'll come home after work and go to sleep, the bars are a thing of the past thankfully.

I have been trying to do more exercises lately, I set an admittly low bar, 10 push-ups as a bullet Todo in my bullet journal. My issue is my back, 30+ years of standing up most of the day did a number on my lower back, add to that a suspect SI joint area and I hardly do any exercises anymore. There was a time I worked out regularly until my Sciatic/SI joint flared up so badly I had to give it a rest, and rest I gave it as I lost the urge to work out. I have a set of power blocks (Adjustable dumbbells) and a bench, but I can no longer roll back on the bench holding the dumbbells without excessive pain. I mentioned I have a Concept2 rower as well, I used it with poor form a few years ago and really inflamed my sciatic/SI joint area. At that time I had to have many PT sessions to straighten it out, and I was given many stretches and body weight exercises to do daily. I tried some of them last night along with my 10 push-ups and 10 crunches. It worked wonders, I slept the best I have slept in a long time, with very little time spent doing the exercises. When I got on the floor to do the exercises, the cat thought I was getting down there to pet her, and she got right up next to me and started to rub her face on me as I was exercising. Haha. That happened before when I was doing the floor exercises, one of the fur babies thought I was down there to play with them. I thought about getting one of those body-weight machines Don (@huck1680) talked about, the one Chuck Norris advertised years ago, but I have too much stuff now around the house. I will stick with bodyweight exercises and maybe explore some chair exercises, and get the Rower out so I can use it. Part of my problem was that I'm a 110% effort-or-nothing kind of guy. If I can't do it to my set goal I lose motivation to do it. I know that is a character flaw of mine that I need to work on. That drive served me well in my youth when my body could keep up with my demands. But, this old dog will have to learn some new tricks to survive and thrive, I'll make it, just a bit slower, but I'll make it.

Tis all for a Wednesday, blessing, and the best of shaves for my brothers out there.

View attachment 1905848

Keep up the exercises. Hope your lower back gives you the occasional reprieve.

I'm expecting some awesome food in Madrid. My future daughter-in-law has a close aunt that runs a tour agency for visitors to the Spanish capital. We have lunch and dinner reservations, a tuc-tour, plus, there is the wedding and the rehearsal dinner. We're hoping to catch a museum or two.

I'll have to walk 30,000 steps per day to burn off those tortillas, paellas and croquettas de bacalau.

Or, buy new clothing while I'm there.

Tough decisions...

 

[huck1680]

An exercise I like for my lower back is to lie on an exercise ball( make sure it's one you can do crunches on) facing the floor, and do reverse crunches. Crunches help strengthen the core which also helps the lower back...but I'm sure you already know this.
Cheers and good luck.

 

[tehnothing]

300+ Shaves in 2024 228 of 300+
Shave Date 9/4/2024
Razor: 1952 Flare Tip Super Speed
Blade: Tiger Platinum(2)
Pre-Shave: Leaf Pre-Shave Oil, Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar
Soap: Barrister and Mann Nordost
Brush: Omega 10049 Boar
Post-shave: Alum Bock, Thayer's Witch Hazel, Neiva Cooling After Shave Balm, B&M Nordost A/S
Rating: 28.25/30 10 for Comfort, 10 for cuts and weepers (1), 8.5 for smoothness, neck stubble, BBS on the face, and DFS+ neck.

Notes:

B&M soaps are fantastic lather monsters, as long as you use enough water. I am out of practice with them, but I did get some very good lather today with the Omega Boar. I will use The Hallows more regularly in October along with my Atomic Pumpkin Bay Rum, as those two match the theme for October well, I should have it figured out well by the end of October. The Tiger behaved again today, but it will still only see three shaves and into the bin it will go. Times a'wasting to TaaT this final Tuck of Tigers.

I channeled my inner Borris (@blethenstrom) and became a garbage disposal last night for supper, leftover spaghetti from the Anniversary dinner date, and some random curry rice I had left over. I am shipping my lovely bride off to Alabama to spend time with her children and grandchildren. One of her grandsons is a senior this year and is one of the better players on the football team. I looked up his MaxPrep page, he runs a 4.47 40-yard dash. I asked him about it, he said if he runs the 40 10 times, he'll average 4.45-4.46. That is fast. We have a school pic of him from 7 years ago when he was a little fella, now he's pushing 6'2". Maw Maw is quite proud of him, to say the least, but she is proud of all her grandchildren.

It will be just me and Cam, my son, at the house, and 5 fur babies for the next month. I am sure my cooking will slow down in the month ahead. I'll have to channel my single days and kick in gear my clothes and dish warshing skills. Unlike those single days, I'll come home after work and go to sleep, the bars are a thing of the past thankfully.

I have been trying to do more exercises lately, I set an admittly low bar, 10 push-ups as a bullet Todo in my bullet journal. My issue is my back, 30+ years of standing up most of the day did a number on my lower back, add to that a suspect SI joint area and I hardly do any exercises anymore. There was a time I worked out regularly until my Sciatic/SI joint flared up so badly I had to give it a rest, and rest I gave it as I lost the urge to work out. I have a set of power blocks (Adjustable dumbbells) and a bench, but I can no longer roll back on the bench holding the dumbbells without excessive pain. I mentioned I have a Concept2 rower as well, I used it with poor form a few years ago and really inflamed my sciatic/SI joint area. At that time I had to have many PT sessions to straighten it out, and I was given many stretches and body weight exercises to do daily. I tried some of them last night along with my 10 push-ups and 10 crunches. It worked wonders, I slept the best I have slept in a long time, with very little time spent doing the exercises. When I got on the floor to do the exercises, the cat thought I was getting down there to pet her, and she got right up next to me and started to rub her face on me as I was exercising. Haha. That happened before when I was doing the floor exercises, one of the fur babies thought I was down there to play with them. I thought about getting one of those body-weight machines Don (@huck1680) talked about, the one Chuck Norris advertised years ago, but I have too much stuff now around the house. I will stick with bodyweight exercises and maybe explore some chair exercises, and get the Rower out so I can use it. Part of my problem was that I'm a 110% effort-or-nothing kind of guy. If I can't do it to my set goal I lose motivation to do it. I know that is a character flaw of mine that I need to work on. That drive served me well in my youth when my body could keep up with my demands. But, this old dog will have to learn some new tricks to survive and thrive, I'll make it, just a bit slower, but I'll make it.

Tis all for a Wednesday, blessing, and the best of shaves for my brothers out there.

View attachment 1905848

Barrister and Mann was the first artisan I really liked. I have hallows in at least three different soap bases. Omnibus is on my bathroom counter. I also preordered Season of the Witch so I have October down pat.

I struggle with pushups. I always have. Now to get off my mattress I have to do at least one in a day. I am planning to go to the VA for some PT. I need it for my back as well as my ankles/knees. I ordered a set of rubber bands for that but I haven’t started doing anything with them yet. It is easy to put off.

 

[tehnothing]

An exercise I like for my lower back is to lie on an exercise ball( make sure it's one you can do crunches on) facing the floor, and do reverse crunches. Crunches help strengthen the core which also helps the lower back...but I'm sure you already know this.
Cheers and good luck.

Crunches and all exercises that strengthen that part of the body I actually enjoyed and excelled at while in the army. Especially flutter kicks and all leg raising types. It has been a more than a few years since I tried them. This is a valid suggestion.

 

[cajunrph]

Keep up the exercises. Hope your lower back gives you the occasional reprieve.

Thanks, it is helping, much less discomfort flipping in bed at night. As I sat at the terminal this morning at work, I felt the good kind of stiffness/soreness in the back, and the SI joint moved a bit. It is working, it will take time.

paellas

That's one thing I'd definitely find if I ever get to Spain, street paellas look awesome. Paellas are one of the influencers of Cajun Jambayala.

An exercise I like for my lower back is to lie on an exercise ball

I have one of those half-circle lower back exercisers, it has always given me more pain than relief. I may try it again. What really helps is to stretch my back out in a Yogish Cat/Cow and Child's Pose, the child's pose really seems to help the back.

I struggle with pushups. I always have.

I am the opposite, I have always been strong in my upper body, and I loved bench presses.

Especially flutter kicks and all leg raising types.

I despise most leg work, lunges are the worst. But I could squat a house back in the day, grumbling. In fact some of my back pain is from dead lifting 500lbs with improper from at 19 years and no doubt I compressed my spine by box squatting 400lbs often. I did a kickboxing class and I was worn plumb out by a little lady who weighed half my weight but kicked the bag like a champ. I should have kept at it, but that was the last class I took. Haha.

 

[thombrogan]

It is easy to put off.

The scent of the latex also makes it easy to avoid. Had some for leg stretching exercises and smelling like examination gloves or Guinness Extra Stout wasn’t my jam

 

[tehnothing]

I despise most leg work, lunges are the worst. But I could squat a house back in the day, grumbling. In fact some of my back pain is from dead lifting 500lbs with improper from at 19 years and no doubt I compressed my spine by box squatting 400lbs often. I did a kickboxing class and I was worn plumb out by a little lady who weighed half my weight but kicked the bag like a champ. I should have kept at it, but that was the last class I took. Haha.

The leg work I am talking about are done on your back with your legs starting at least six inches off the ground and raising them.

As far as back injuries go I have them mainly from falling. Once off of an Bradley Fighting Vehicle. One time riding a pallet that was on a that was on a pallet jack. Finally slipping in a walk in freezer at a shop I worked in after the army. I was foolish for not going to sickbay after the falls, but, as I have VA benefits now anyway it is not an issue.

EDIT: I forgot to mention all the back issues for twisting and moving full boxes of BDU's at the Military Clothing and Sales Store. Pallets of those things in all the sizes we stocked were murder on my back.

The scent of the latex also makes it easy to avoid. Had some for leg stretching exercises and smelling like examination gloves or Guinness Extra Stout wasn’t my jam

I originally had a set from when I fell down roller skating breaking my leg in three places and shattering my ankle. Three surgeries and lots of PT. I never did like homework so I didn't keep up with it like I should have. Now I can barely put on socks or pants. It has gotten progressively worse. It is only this year that it has gotten this bad. Last year I had no problem with socks or pants.

 

[Star_Wahl_Clipper_Treker]

The scent of the latex also makes it easy to avoid. Had some for leg stretching exercises and smelling like examination gloves or Guinness Extra Stout wasn’t my jam

Thom, I know exactly what you are talking about. When I am working on an engine, or piece of equipment, and know that I will be working with grease and oil, I will put on those latex surgical gloves. When I take them off, my hands smell so funky. And even if I wash my hands after, I can still smell the funky smell on my hands for at least a day, till the smell finally goes away. I don't know what they put in them things, besides perhaps powder? But gosh, if after using those, somebody does the smell test on you, you are going to fail that so fast, like an old vehicle fails its smog test lol.

 

[tehnothing]

Thom, I know exactly what you are talking about. When I am working on an engine, or piece of equipment, and know that I will be working with grease and oil, I will put on those latex surgical gloves. When I take them off, my hands smell so funky. And even if I wash my hands after, I can still smell the funky smell on my hands for at least a day, till the smell finally goes away. I don't know what they put in them things, besides perhaps powder? But gosh, if after using those, somebody does the smell test on you, you are going to fail that so fast, like an old vehicle fails its smog test lol.

I don't mind the loose gloves so much. I use them when changing the pan on Chloe's automatic cat box. But then I am only wearing them for a few minutes.

 

[cajunrph]

300+ Shaves in 2024 229 of 300+
Shave Date 9/5/2024
Razor: British Military Issue Tech
Blade: Tiger Platinum(3)
Pre-Shave: Leaf Pre-Shave Oil, Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar
Soap: Noble Otter Rawr
Brush: Yaqi Cavern Lake 24mm Two Band Badger
Post-shave: Alum Bock, Thayer's Witch Hazel, Neiva Cooling After Shave Balm, Rawr A/S
Rating: 28.5/30 10 for Comfort, 10 for cuts and weepers (1), 8.5 for smoothness, neck stubble, BBS on the face, and DFS+ neck.

Notes:

Another durn fine shave this morning, all the participants behaved as they should have. The Tiger was binned on its third shave, although it did give a fine shave today without any irritation. I did take some ATG swipes on my neck, it is a bit closer, but still there is stubble, but no excessive irritation to speak of. Noble Otter makes a great soap, and it lathered with abandon, right up there with the best of them. Rawr is a great dad scent also, it is hard to describe, some hints of outdoors, maybe a hint of mowed lawn, but in a good way. The story behind the scent name is a good one also, check out the Noble Otter website if you're curious.

I feel my SI joint moving a bit more today, I was likely very tight in the lower back, which was part of the problem with my ever-present back discomfort. The Fur Babies all got around me at various points when I was doing my stretches and exercises this morning. I do them on the floor, cats and dogs alike had to have their turn and see why I was on their level, if only for a moment. It's all good.

I dropped my lovely bride off at her daughter's house last night after work, so begins a month as a bachelor, minus the bars and chasing any tail, because 1) I'm married and 2) I'm too old for that chit. Although I will miss her and she will miss us at the house, I know she'll have a great time over there and my son and I will be feasting on increasing spicy food, as my wife is a lightweight when it comes to spicy food. Before I know it, I'll be heading to Alabama to pick her up. It will be a good month for both of us.

'Tis all for today. Blessings and fantastic shaves.

 

[cajunrph]

The leg work I am talking about are done on your back with your legs starting at least six inches off the ground and raising them.

Ahh, I see, I do those also, with the PT bands, I need to find mine.

As far as back injuries go I have them mainly from falling. Once off of an Bradley Fighting Vehicle. One time riding a pallet that was on a that was on a pallet jack. Finally slipping in a walk in freezer at a shop I worked in after the army.

Ouch, my back hurt reading that. You have been through quite a bit, prayers for you as you deal with all of this. Hopefully, PT and the VA will help. One of my challenges is following through with the PT exercises long term, I get to feeling better, and then something takes up that time slot, and I stop doing them.

Guinness Extra Stout wasn’t my jam

I've never had a glove smell like Guinness Extra Stout, a shirt yes, but that is a different story.

 

[tehnothing]

One of my challenges is following through with the PT exercises long term, I get to feeling better, and then something takes up that time slot, and I stop doing them.

This is exactly my issue. I stopped way to soon, and, didn't do enough of it on my own time when I was still seeing the physical therapist.

 

[BigAlVista]

I don't mind the loose gloves so much. I use them when changing the pan on Chloe's automatic cat box. But then I am only wearing them for a few minutes.

I use them on EMS calls. I'm quite used to the smell at this point.

 

[BigAlVista]

I do them on the floor, cats and dogs alike had to have their turn and see why I was on their level, if only for a moment. It's all good.

No dog stopping by to slobber your face?

 

[cajunrph]

No dog stopping by to slobber your face?

Every single time I get on the floor, our Dachshund thinks it is time to get in my face and give me kisses. The cats just want to stand over me and assert dominance. Haha. Maybe a few face rubs to mark me also.

 

[tehnothing]

Every time I am on the floor Chloe does the exact same thing.

 

[thombrogan]

Dachshunds like kissing the back of my brain. It’s rough business

 

[BigAlVista]

Dachshunds like kissing the back of my brain. It’s rough business

Being a pet dad... Love it