[Leaning in to around 2 inches from my face] Dad! Do you want a big piece of kiwi?
Mom! Dharma spilled a constellation of dog food… It looks like the Big Dipper.
Mom! Dharma ate the north star!
[Listening to Flogging Molly's "The worst day since yesterday"] Dad. Today is both the worst day and the best day since yesterday… it’s the only day since yesterday!
That kid…
… from TED:
The tools...
After a few weeks of shaving with the old man’s safety razor and my regular shave cream, and at the prompting of my recently married friend Chris (congratulations), I decided to take the next logical step and remove as much of the disposable, modern crap from that most manly of activities (no… I mean shaving).
After getting some information from Chris and doing a bit more research on the Tooberwebz (that’s Internet to you n00bz), I ordered up a reasonable starter shave brush. It turns out badger fur makes the only acceptable shave brush… yup, badger. You can get boar or synthetic brushes, but badger is apparently the right way to go. I was amazed at the range of prices for brushes: synth and boar for around $10; bets badger >$1200.
Like many men of the Brownish persuasion (MKs), it has taken a very long time to come up with a set of products and processes that will minimize the level of skin irritation I suffer as a result of shaving. Knowing that there is a reasonable chance that my skin will simply not allow me to continue with my life-long goal of living more like Nat Love, I want to keep my initial spending to a minimum. If it all works out, the cheaper shave brush will wear out and I’ll confidently invest in a better one. If not, I’m only out the $18 that the Tweezerman Deluxe Shaving Brush cost me.
With the brush ordered, I headed to my local sundry shoppe and found that they did not actually sell plain old razor blades… not at the grocery store, not at the department store, not at the drug store. I found a box of single edged blades in with the paint scrapers at the hardware store but that was it. Back to the Bloggerwebz I went and ordered 6 5-packs of Derby Extra stainless blades with chromium-ceramic platinum tungsten polymer coated edges for something like $0.50. I’m pretty sure the coating lets me open doorways into other universes.
The blades arrived and I let the beard grow in anticipation of the awesome shave soap that would be arriving shortly. It was a week before Molly pointed out that I hadn’t actually ordered any soap. Dang.
This time, the grocery store came through! There on the shelf with the rest of the shaving creams and lotions were 4 dusty packages of Williams Mug Shaving Soap (For a Lasting Lather)! Unbelievable!
The same day my grandfather gave me the ring, the razor, and the folding rule, he gave me an old shaving mug with the Old Spice logo on the side. I’m sure it was noting special and that he didn’t have any grand plans when he gave it to me… it was just another thing in a pile of stuff.
Well, them mug is back in action now! Last night I used it for the first time. It was an excellent shave.
I really dig my kids. I’m sure they were in the midst of a pitched Bionicle vs. Hot Wheels battle… or rocking out the the Ramones, Flogging Molly, or The Figureheads… or reading to each other… or arguing with each other.
Mom to kids: Hey, let’s go see a movie today!
Kids: No, thanks.
Mom: But “Cloudy with a chance of meatballs” is out in 3-D! It’s one of your favorite books. Please, please, please… Let’s watch the trailer on my computer.
[play trailer, kids laugh, begin quoting the trailer to each other.]
Mom: So, are we going to go?
Kids: No, thanks.
Dillon: Maybe when we’re a bit older.
Mom: Aaaawwww…
It’s okay, Mol. I’ll take you to a movie.
Molly: No thanks…
Speaking of The Figureheads, you should check them out:
Also, listen:
Kiddo Anthem by the Figureheads
Well, I’ve not had much time to work on my bike over the last several weeks. I’ve been tied up with work, family, and home (BIG thanks to Mike, The Liebls, and The Fullers for all the help with the shed!!). But now that I may actually be able to get my garage/basement workspace in order, I’m ready to get to it. Budget approvals are all in order, so now I’m shopping for a new rear tire, new chain, and brake pads. In addition to the new gauge housing, I’m considering trying to get an internal throttle control setup. Buying one is out of the question ($225), but figuring out how to make one could be fun… This guy did it:
http://boardtracker.blogspot.com/2009/02/internal-throttle.html
http://boardtracker.blogspot.com/2009/02/bruce-dickinson-says-more-throttle.html
http://boardtracker.blogspot.com/2009/02/and-more-throttle.html
I’ll start with something a lot simpler, though… like a set of strap clamps.