Aug. 7, 2022 - AA Day 7
Tonight's shave was downright pleasant. What a different a week and a few helpful friends/internet strangers can make. Maybe it's because I stacked my SOTD pic.
MMOC was great. Just a 2 pass again tonight with some chin buffing and I only had one bleeding spot, but that's because I accidentally shaved off a stupid neck pimple that should already be gone anyway. Maybe it'll disappear quicker now, but I have my doubts. Otherwise - smooth sailing with the MMOC and the GEM blade is really gliding well - I've noticed that most of the tugginess of the first few shaves has totally disappeared; this could be because my technique has improved dramatically or, as others have suggested, I could be in the goldilocks zone of the GEM blade. I've now literally shaved with and MMOC and GEM 7 times ever, so I really don't know what to chalk it up to. I can say that I plan to keep the MMOC even after this is done and make it part of my rotation, and I'm intrigued at the idea of adding an open comb DE to the mix as well - the MMOC is my first experience with an open comb.
Zenith continues to perform beautifully. Loving this brush, it's amazing. Shed a few hairs tonight for the first time that I've noticed in the last few days, but no big deal. My Semogue Owner's Club has a hair in it that I think is set upside down and even after 30 or so shaves with it it is still very stratchy and pokey on my face - thankfully no such issues with the B34. I would highly recommend this boar to newbies and veterans alike.
Sonder - what is there left to say? It's excellent. I'm continuing to learn to dial in the soap to water ratio and each shave seems to be a little more perfect, although none of them have been bad (save for the first, which I underloaded while using a brand new brush).
Sonder thought for today: Even famous people are just like you and me, living vivid and complex lives. They're not all good people (like anyone), but many of them feel very fortunate for where they are, they deal with imposter syndrome, they feel inadequate and undeserving, they enjoy the money but are sad about the relationships it ruins, and, most of all, so many of them still feel totally empty inside. There's a notion that goes around that if we somehow make it big we'll feel fulfilled and financial freedom means feeling free and like we know what we're doing. Unforutately, that is almost universally not true. Rich and famous people just have bigger and more extravagant ways of trying to fill the hole inside and can spend more money chasing meaning. This came to light most recently for me in a podcast with one of my favorite comedians. My wife and I really enjoy John Crist and his brand of comedy, and he went on Bert Kreischer's podcast (he's also a hilarious human, btw). The whole thing is worth a listen, in my opinion, but it's particularly insightful when these two start talking about how empty they often feel and the addictions they've turned to to handle it. Here is the whole episode if you're interested. Even if you don't know either of these guys, I think you'll find it interesting. If you're concerned with language, it's quite NSFW in that regard, so - wear headphones or something. It's also long. Anyway. Sonder - everyone's life is vivid and complex and even our idols and entertainers and favorite public figures are just regular old humans like you and me. They've had disappointment and joy and failure and success and on and on. People. And so, when they behave like people, we should probably expect that.
I don't care if I win anything from this - doing these Sonder reflections every day/evening is so good for my soul. Helping me think through people and real world stuff, kind of like journaling and maybe a few others read it. Thanks to those who do - maybe you'll be encouraged or challenged by something along the way. Only 24 to go.
Have a good evening, y'all.
#mammothmafia
#RawHoggin
#GEMsOfWisdom
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 469>, <DjudgementInvitation 2037>, <DjudgementInvitation 2739>]