The wonderful excesses of acquisition disorders...and wet shaving

[McVeyMac]

Great Mail Call Josh, and good shave. It is difficult, but I am trying to get caught up in some journals. I hope that the tax consequences for being in the U.S. were not too sever, but I suspect they are significant as you likely were not withholding anything. Given that everything that you buy overseas has a significant VAT associated with it, it makes no sense to me why the U.S.G. does not tax just a prorated portion of the time that you are in the U.S. over 35 days. But like you said, it is what it is. Rather than withholding your tax to the government, would you not be better off putting the money in some sort of interest bearing account each month?

Happy Round One of the Master's Day! Sorry work is getting to you, and sorry the TS nature of it restricts you from venting. All I can say is thank you for doing it.

 

[Dagwoodz]

Great Mail Call Josh, and good shave. It is difficult, but I am trying to get caught up in some journals. I hope that the tax consequences for being in the U.S. were not too sever, but I suspect they are significant as you likely were not withholding anything. Given that everything that you buy overseas has a significant VAT associated with it, it makes no sense to me why the U.S.G. does not tax just a prorated portion of the time that you are in the U.S. over 35 days. But like you said, it is what it is. Rather than withholding your tax to the government, would you not be better off putting the money in some sort of interest bearing account each month?

Happy Round One of the Master's Day! Sorry work is getting to you, and sorry the TS nature of it restricts you from venting. All I can say is thank you for doing it.

Thanks Walt! IRT taxes, she's bringing them in to the accountant today, so we should find out either later today or early next week what the damages are. We're resigned to having to pay a heft chunk back to the gov't, but know that there's nothing we can do about it at this point, so are trying not to let it get to us. The accountant should have some options for us to figure out how to get the gov't its money, either through payroll deductions or otherwise. Either way, we'll figure it out and come out clean on the other side. That being said, I'm having taxes taken out this year to avoid running into this situation again, lol.

As far as the work stuff, it's the nature of the beast. Some days it's just a little overbearing, most days it's not anything of note, but thank you so much for the thoughts!

 

[Quijote]

Nice shave and mail call. I love the scent of the Santa Paula. It smells like an orange tree, not the fruit, but the tree itself.

 

[clyde72]

Great read, shave, and picture Josh!

I hope that the troubles are work ease up soon!

Nice Mail Call!

 

[Dagwoodz]

Nice shave and mail call. I love the scent of the Santa Paula. It smells like an orange tree, not the fruit, but the tree itself.

Thanks Don! It's different than I was expecting, but far from unpleasant. I was expecting more of a sweet citrus, but you're absolutely correct that it smells like a citrus tree. A very well done scent!

Great read, shave, and picture Josh! I hope that the troubles are work ease up soon! Nice Mail Call!

Thank you Craig! The work troubles are day to day...like anything else. Some good days, some bad days.

 

[Dagwoodz]

Saturday, 7 April, 2018
Barrister & Mann Eventide | C.V. Heljestrand Mk*31 in Ivory
Currently on Shave #480 | Straight shave #288

Another shave, another unused soap to try out. When I saw this soap released by B&M, I was highly intrigued. The primary notes are raspberry, lime, rose, and oud sounded like a wonderful mixture. At the time, I was back home of course and in the midst of my burn recovery, so a purchase was not an option. But, I finally was able to pull the trigger just recently on it. My first impressions, upon first sniff out of the tub, were less than enthusiastic. I don’t know why I was surprised. B&M comes up with some wonky mixtures. I was expecting a heavy raspberry and lime top, but was absolutely not what I got. The raspberry is barely perceptible, and the lime is more of a lime rind smell. Rose is the predominant top note coming off the tub, with an undertone of oud and raspberry. When the rose is combined with the lime rind smell, the result is something that smells like a very synthetic rose, with the very unique undertones of oud and raspberry. Off of the tub, I can definitely say: Not. My. Favorite. I will say, once lathered up, however, the scent notes started to shine on their own. It’s still not as well done as, say, Adagio, but it’s nice in its own right, and a good, not great, addition to the den.

Lather wise, this is Barrister & Mann’s glissant base, and it’s one of the top bases that I have in my den. It is an easy lathering soap that gives off a rich, creamy textured lather. Especially when paired with the Wolf Whiskers Blackwolf synthetic, the quality of the lather this morning was absolutely elite level stuff. I turned to the ivory C.V. Heljestrand Mk*31 for whisker removal duties this morning. A lengthy stropping session last night, along with another this morning smoothed the edge out quite nicely. Three passes left me feeling good, with the normal moustache/neck area being taken care of by the RazoRock Blackhawk. Following the clean-up pass, I was still feeling some stubble on the neck that I couldn’t get to with the Hawk, so I grabbed the Injector and was able to take care of it quite quickly. The alum was actually fairly quiet, even with the additional clean up passes, and the follow-up aftershave splash went on nice and smooth. I didn’t have anything that was quite matching this scent profile, so I went with the Le Grand Chypre EdT by B&M, combining it with the Paladin balm and then following it up with quite a few strategically placed vasilly’s.

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

[Cvargo]

Sounds like that was a good pass for me on that soap. Although I do enjoy Adagio.

 

[clyde72]

Well aside from the scent not agreeing 100% with you, great shave, read, and picture Josh!

 

[BarberDave]

Playing catch up again Josh, some good reads, photos and shaves

 

[NurseDave]

Bummer man, I hate that when a soap buy isn’t something I think it will be.

 

[Dagwoodz]

Sounds like that was a good pass for me on that soap. Although I do enjoy Adagio.

Thanks Chad! Adagio is still my favorite from them.

Well aside from the scent not agreeing 100% with you, great shave, read, and picture Josh!

Thanks Craig!

Playing catch up again Josh, some good reads, photos and shaves

Thanks Dave!

Bummer man, I hate that when a soap buy isn’t something I think it will be.

Thank you Dave. It's not bad, but just not what I was expecting. It's actually a nice rose soap once it's lathered up. Just doesn't smell all that great out of the tub.

 

[Dagwoodz]

Sunday, 8 April, 2018
Paladin Silk Road | Gillette Aristocrat (48-51’) | Gillette 7 O’Clock Black (2)
Currently on Shave #481 | Straight shave #288

Quick shave today, as I have a meeting that I wanted to be nice and presentable for. I grabbed the Paladin soap I have yet to use, Silk Road. Same performance as Crossroads, nice cushioned lather. Due to not having very much stubble, it was just an ATG pass with some clean up. A little over shaving on the neck led to a bit of feedback, but other than that not much at all. Nice subtle scent, and the spices in it paired well with Endymion. I'll catch up with everyone's journal's later on tonight.

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

[Dagwoodz]

Well, today has been one thing after another, which is normal for over here (semper gumby), but something good. I received my package from The Shaving Shop Club, which contained Ariana & Evans Grecian Horse soap and AS. This wasn't the scent that I was really wanting, that being the Asian Plum, but oh my, this SHOULD have been the one I was after.

What. A. Scent!!!!

I was enamored with the scent upon first sniff, it reminding me of something, but I couldn't immediately place it. Once recognition hit me, I got, for lack of a better term, giddy like a 6th grade school girl getting the Barbie Dreamhouse for Christmas. This is Peter's close take on Penhaligon's Endymion, and he NAILED it! It is not an exact clone, but it's so very close. If the performance is as good as the reviews of this soap base indicate, this will be an absolute STAPLE in my den for the foreseeable future. I cannot WAIT to use this...

 

[Cvargo]

Oh boy. That's good news on the soap front. I really enjoy Endymion. I'll be curious to hear about performance

 

[NurseDave]

Oh boy. That's good news on the soap front. I really enjoy Endymion. I'll be curious to hear about performance

Me too, me too!!!

 

[Dagwoodz]

I was going to edit my original post, but there's something I wanted to say about the new soap from A&E that I just got in today, specifically about the packaging.

I don't normally remark on how a product is packaged, but the following stood out to me, in a good way. The soap dish that they are using seems to be the same that B&M is using for their glissant based soaps, (shallow 6 oz. container), filled with 4 oz. of soap, so there is plenty of room to load from the tub. Also, the labeling is very well done. Waterproof labels, both on the top and on the sides of the container, so no matter how you keep your soaps, you can tell which one you are grabbing. Additionally, the labeling is somewhat textured and not glossy smooth, so you don't have to worry about scratching it up or getting it smudged. Not a huge concern about the scratching/smudging for many, but for those who are OCD about presentation, it can make a difference. All in all, I'm extremely impressed with this. As previously mentioned, I really hope the performance matches the quality of the scent and packaging.

 

[BarberDave]

Good Stuff Josh, I will have to look into this, and you REALLY need to get Endymion Concentre, if you love Endymion as much as I do. Also for another enablement message...... You should really get Tom Ford's Plum Japonese EdP. If you like plum and plum blossoms. Also a great match for Endymion. I am about to pull the trigger on a full bottle.

Nice reads as well

 

[Dagwoodz]

Oh boy. That's good news on the soap front. I really enjoy Endymion. I'll be curious to hear about performance

Me too, me too!!!

I'll probably be using this either tomorrow morning or on Tuesday/Wednesday depending on when I shave next. Feeling my face, I'm guessing tomorrow morning.

Good Stuff Josh, I will have to look into this, and you REALLY need to get Endymion Concentre, if you love Endymion as much as I do. Also for another enablement message...... You should really get Tom Ford's Plum Japonese EdP. If you like plum and plum blossoms. Also a great match for Endymion. I am about to pull the trigger on a full bottle. Nice reads as well

Thanks Dave...the Concentre is one that is on my "to buy" list along with new bottles of regular Endymion and EF. I have a 10oz. sample of Amouage Sunshine Man inbound. If it wears the same as the sample I tried in Dubai, that will be another full bottle purchase in the (near) future. Now you mention the Plum Japonese by TF...OIY...my wallet is silently crying to itself, mourning what is to come. LOL

 

[clyde72]

Great read, shave, picture, and mail call.

Endymion scented soap. Hmmmmm very interesting.

 

[Majorrich]

Man! I am putting so much on the list! Not that that's a bad thing