Some Lessons Learned...

Oh man, did I learn something this morning.

Nothing teaches like your own stupidity...

First lesson: oil your blades when not in regular use.

I got out my Genco this morning; it's been a few weeks since I used it last. It's been in "dry" storage, or so I thought, so I didn't bother to oil it until recently, when the humidity reached what I thought were dangerous levels. When I got it out, I cleaned the oil carefully, and gave it a few very light passes on my Nakayama as a kind of "touchup", then stropped and went in to shave.

I started with the Torrey, to affirm what I had learned yesterday about its edge--half a pass, and indeed I was getting a fine shave. Then I went back to the Genco. My anticipation was, alas, disappointed. The edge was as dull as a drive down a Kansas highway (I grew up in Kansas, I can say that). It wouldn't cut at all...luckily I could finish up with the Torrey, and I got a fine shave.

Later examination of the edge on that Genco showed it had been eaten up, I can only assume by rust, as it had been fine when I put it away, and the few passes on the Nakayama could not have chewed it up that much.

So, oil your razors when you put them away.

Oh, and the second lesson?

Never, EVER let Florena get in your nose.

Just, don't. DON'T.

A Week of Knives/Poetic License

I've set a challenge for myself.

Starting yesterday, I will be doing only straight shaves, and no DE will touch my face until March. Maybe. If I can take it.

Why such madness, do you ask? Because I'm tired of half-assing it. Time to get my head in the game, buck up, take it like a man and all kinds of other meaningless manly phrases. Also, I'm getting better, and I can actually shave myself without ending up looking like a burn patient at the ICU. So, yeah, you'll be seeing a lot of the old Wapi on the Shave of the Day for a while, at least until my Tosuke is in tip top shape.

==========
In an odd turn of events, a kangaroo hide strop review on Straight Razor Place turned into a limerick showdown. In a fit of misplaced inspiration, I turned out these beauties, which tickle me no end:

There once was a big roo from Sydney,
that gave me a punch in the kidney.
I turned for a smack,
but with those eyes looking back...
We marry next weekend on Sunday.

And

My friend Jimbo made me a strop,
my wife used it to give me a whop.
It drove me insane,
but not from the pain...
I just didn't want her to stop!


And then things got hectic. The competition was heating up, so I let loose with both barrels:

All this rhyming based on a strop
Makes me so angry I just want to hop.
You guys are so great,
it's stirring up hate...
I've got to go drink up some Schnapps.

But then I realize just where I am,
In a far-off land known as Japan.
I've got to come back
And prove I'm no hack
And write all the Haikus I can...

Jimbo's fine roo strop
thin black leather smoothing steel
my face rejoices

blade sings on black hide
roughness flees like wounded foes
whiskers soon the same


Oh yeah! Limerick transitioning to haiku!

Man, sometimes I enjoy myself way too much!