SOTD by u/gcgallant

August 29, 2022

• Brush: Zenith B15 (506 U/L) 27.5mm Boar
• Razor: GEM MMOC Gold Gen2
• Blade: Personna Gem PTFE (29)
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Soap
• Post Shave: Thayers - Lemon - Toner
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Aftershave
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - Eau de Parfum  

2 passes. Face lather. Good shave.

• Challenges: #GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin #SubstantialStag
• Brush Top (before use) - Brush History
• Fragrance Video
• Blade Edge (before use) - Edge Histiory
• Blade Orientation (black dots - odd days, red dots - even days)
• SOTD Album

Well, where did that shave come from? It was tuggy, comfortable, and without any feel for the edge, yet I got a "good" shave. For me, this is a quality that is beyond what is workplace acceptable. Life's a mystery.

Earlier today in a comment thread that referenced the Emacs, I had a missed opportunity for a response. Briefly, and you had to "be there", u/djundjila commented,

"And M-x Butterfly!"

The appropriate response (not given - addled brain),

"Desired bit flipped."

This started me thinking not about other missed opportunities, but about opportunities taken. For a long time, I've been influenced by the Louis Pasteur quote, "Chance favors the prepared mind". I really like this concept. I have tried to incorporate it into my outlook, and to be grateful when I've benefitted from it.

Without waffling on much longer here, I'm aware of some opportunities taken that Austere August afforded me:

• A whole month of a shaving setup that I fully enjoy - never actually done that before.
• Focus on face-lathering. I added a step to my face-lathering procedure that gives me a better feel for dialing in hydration, slickness, and cushion.
• In analyzing edge degradation daily, I became aware of a way that I could investigate straight razor honing in an organized, pragmatic way. This has opened up a new project that I'm excited about, and I got a new toy!
• In making daily SOTD photos I got to think visually a little bit each day for a month. This has made me more aware of "found" compositions as I go through my day. Can I say that I'm seeing the world differently because of AA? Ok, probably not.