The Scandal Sheet: Straights and other stuff

[Darth Scandalous]

Won't have a lot to say today, we got about an inch of snow in the wee hours this morning and the temps were just right to make the roads rather glazed and ugly. So what usually takes me an hour door to door (dropping two kids off at school and then heading to the office) took two hours. And I have actual work to do...so...

I used the MK32 again, rotation be damned, because it was very nice yesterday and just as nice today. BSS-1 lathered with the scrubby TGN badger. I don't really buy into "protection" as a soap attribute but I have noticed that some soaps seem to blunt the effect of scrubby brushes on my skin and BSS-1 is one of them. Cleaned up with the R41/Nacet and finished with Soap Commander endurance for an old and spicey start to the day.

The boy made it back to school late last night, his flight out of MSP was delayed by 3 hours. He's planning on taking the train next time he comes back. Longer trip, less stress.

Be well.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

Kikuboshi 2002 was up today. I was planning on using a different soap but the BSS-1 was just sitting there, inviting...so I used it again. No regrets there. I did, somehow, manage to nick myself. Twice. On the WTG pass. Not weepers, actual nicks. On either side of my face below the jaw line. It was after the second one that I realized I had the wrong glasses on . I also poured another cup of coffee before moving on.

The shave was blissfully blood-free after that. Loaded a new Durasharp into the R41. More like DuraSMOOTH, am I right? Finished with Proraso Red splash. Mrs. Scandalous doesn't mind it but the initial blast is too strong for her so I try to save it for days when she's working in the office and already out the door.

Listened to some Brandenburg concertos this morning.

Be well.

 

[thombrogan]

Please heal quickly

 

[Darth Scandalous]

Please heal quickly

The skin heals quick. The pride, not so fast.

 

[huck1680]

He's planning on taking the train next time he comes back. Longer trip, less stress.

Love trains. We did a holiday last year through E Canada and it was great. When we're in the UK we always do the train when visiting various places. Canada really needs a more expanded railroad system but we're just so spread out.

 

[Letsgoalready]

Canada really needs a more expanded railroad system

You can imagine my struggle as an American

 

[Darth Scandalous]

Canada really needs a more expanded railroad system but we're just so spread out.

We do too.

 

[tehnothing]

My 15 years in Europe spoiled me as far as rail networks went. Even bus infrastructure was so much better.

 

[huck1680]

My 15 years in Europe spoiled me as far as rail networks went. Even bus infrastructure was so much better.

Yeah, the railroads are great in UK/Europe. Buses were like Brussel Sprouts to me...I hated them both. Now I really like sprouts...still hate buses.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

Had a great shave today with my Daishi. Man, I love this razor. Size, shape, and profile means I had less stubble in the trouble areas when I went to the DE. I finally forced myself to grab a different soap today, went with PdP. Everything was flawless. Durasharp in the R41 was a breeze to finish up. Followed everything with the Veg.

I realized I've been missing some Tele twang in my life so I dialed up Marty and the Fabulous Superlatives: Ghost Train: The Studio B Sessions. A couple of the songs off here are in my regular rotation but the whole album is really great. Some of the more maudlin traditional country tracks are not my thing but the performances are so tight. Great stuff.

Be well.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

The YSS Triumph was the straight-du-jour. Always a nice shave. The way the blade slopes downward from the shank introduces a bit more of a diagonal stroke in a lot of areas which is good for an efficient cut, as we know. It's doable with any straight but you have to be a little more intentional about it. Soap was PdP again today. When I got to my cleanup pass I realized I was using a lot of Gillette slide/diagonals too. More than normal? Not sure. But I was more aware of it. I also binned the Durasharp shortly into the cleanup pass. It was still comfortable but it was struggling. Kind of the opposite of most blades for me, usually they still cut ok but I don't like the feel. I recall the last Durasharp I used from this tuck only went two shaves as well. Hopefully it's just this tuck. But, for the price, I don't feel bad either way and they're so nice right out of the gate. I grabbed a 7-Day Platinum from the drawer and that was noticeably more effective. All's well that ends well. And I ended well, slathered on some Lilac Vegetal and didn't get any burn or sting, except for a little bit that got in the corner of my eye. That was dumb, I didn't even shave there.

Be well.

 

[Letsgoalready]

I'm always impressed by how your straights look. That brush handle too is amazing.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

I'm always impressed by how your straights look. That brush handle too is amazing.

Thank you, sir. It's a nice brush, not a lot of money. Not sure if Yaqi still sells them but they were under $30 I think. I got it off the BST a few years ago.

 

[Letsgoalready]

Thank you, sir. It's a nice brush, not a lot of money. Not sure if Yaqi still sells them but they were under $30 I think. I got it off the BST a few years ago.

I would pick one up for $30 even if just for the handle

 

[Darth Scandalous]

I would pick one up for $30 even if just for the handle

The handle is called "Mountain Lake." I think it came with a variety of knots. This one is a two-band. Very middle of the road in terms of badgers, at least in my limited experience.

 

[Letsgoalready]

The handle is called "Mountain Lake."

Found it on Ali Express, might have to pick it up

 

[WhiskerLess]

Yaqi’s offers good affordable brushes. So good that I have several in my den. Handles are nice and knots are decent.

 

[blethenstrom]

Yaqi’s offers good affordable brushes. So good that I have several in my den. Handles are nice and knots are decent.

I have one on the incoming. I'm looking forward to it.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

Brought out the skinny Heljestrand for Frameback Friday today. I also hit this one with the White Lightning paste, I think all the framebacks have seen that treatment now with the exception of the Hoshi Tombo. It's a really nice edge, not a typical pasted edge at all. Comfortable and smooth to the point you don't notice just how keen it is. Soap was MdC Rose, mostly face lathered with the pervy high-lofted silvertip. Cleaned up with the Treet 7 Day from yesterday. All good.

I usually use the Veg with MdC Rose but at the last minute I decided I wanted Special Reserve which I complemented with Stirling Oud Sigma EDT. I don't know if I changed or the EDT settled down over the course of a year: last year anything more than a light spritz seemed like too much and now I'll do a couple sprays...just love the stuff. I lean toward the scent settling down for two reasons: one, my sense of smell seems to be fully recovered from the one covid bout where I lost it, in fact if anything it's more sensitive, and two, my youngest really loves this EDT on me now and was more or less indifferent before. Either way, I love it.

For those of you who are the praying type (I'm not, exactly, but that's another story), my stepkid has been struggling with some multifactorial mental health problems for quite some time (years, really). I won't get into the details here but they are spending some time in an inpatient facility right now. It's going about as well as you can expect, which is to say not great, but we hope for wisdom and insight from the care team.

Be well.

 

[Letsgoalready]

in an inpatient facility right now.

Sending prayers, those types of facilities are hard but they work. I’ve had family in and out of facilities like that and it’s hard but you just gotta trust the process.