June 30, 2024 - Addio Giochi di Sapone
- Brush: Semogue 1800 - Portugal
- Razor: Solingen Best Silver Steel - Germany
- Lather: Whispers From The Woods - Pomelo - Australia
- Post Shave: TFS - NASA Marte - Italy
- Fragrance: Guorgio Armani - Acqua Di Gio Absolu EdP - France
- Shave Bowl: IKEA - Blue Kids Bowl - Sweden but probably made in China
- Shaver: Environmental Gap 380- USA
- Consecutive Days with a Shave: 700
Today’s Theme and Challenge:
All products used today were from different countries and continents from where I live. The SOTD picture is more of a shave of the vacation set up, but shows everything used today.
I’m currently on vacation in a small town in Wyoming. A few weeks ago I did a count and if my math is correct, today marks 700 consecutive daily shaves. The streak started on August 1, 2022 with my first Austere August. With the 700th ending on the last day of the LG, I decided I needed a special shave for it. About a 30 minute drive from my folks’ place is a spectacular view. I got up in the pre-dawn hours and started getting ready. I ended up getting to Red Canyon Overlook just a little after the sun had crested the horizon and was in the golden hour. I paused a moment to learn about Wyoming wildlife. Yesterday when we drove up we almost hit three Pronghorn Antelope crossing the highway. After soaking in one of my favorite views on Earth, it was time to set up my rental shave den. Since visiting a state with frontier roots (Oregon Trail went very close to here) and a cowboy tradition, I had to be a shave like the cowboys would have done. It was time to shave. I should have wet the brush before heading out. Starting dry soaked up a lot of soap, and the high elevation and very low humidity had the lather drying out on my face. I ended up lathering each part of my face just before I shaved a section. The tinted back windows gave a pretty decent reflection. I finished two passes before packing up.
Feats of Fragrance:
The world traveler challenge really dictated what to bring. It also kept me from dickholing a set from MacDuffs. Other things restricting my choices were the brush and aftershave. I settled on the citrus scented Pomelo. It is an entirely citrus scent. The name should be a strong indicator of this. The scent is like a bowl full of lemon, orange, and just more citrus. It is a really nice blend that is similarto Dr. Jon’s - Hydra. I don’t have more than a few aftershaves from outside the US. Tabac, 1 MacDuffs, and this TFS from Italy. NASA Marte is a citrus forward aftershave. It comes of very fresh and a little sweet. The wind had picked up, so I spray my travel spritzer to my face inside the rental SUV. I brought along two fragrance samples I have that were both labeled Paris France: Acqua di Gio Absolu and Drakkar Noir Intense. The aquatic and woody Absolu was a fantastic match for the set. It starts with a burst of citrus in bergamot, grapefruit, and lemon. The woody patchouli, rosemary, and amberwood gave me a feel that I was in the nearby evergreen forests. Sometimes being constrained in your choices can be serendipitous. Having the limits today led to one of my favorite combinations this month. I sat back and watched the sunlight move down the canyon. I was in my happy place for sure. I had a peaceful morning meditation before driving back down to town, and got to my parents’s house. I passed my brother-in-law who was finishing up a morning run. The two of us were the only ones up in this really full house. I made a nice cup of Earl Grey (more citrus please), and sat on the veranda sipping my tea while having a nice chat before the madness starts when the kids wake up. #FOF
Final Thoughts:
This is my third time going on these LGs. I thought about just reading and not participating, but ultimately the lure of these shenanigans drew me back. I had an oh shit moment where I realized I totally goofed which derailed the full plan for Wildcard Wednesday, but 2/3 of it was done at least. I knew I was going to be away the last weekend and almost used that excuse to not play. I am very happy right now that I did. I would have missed seeing this small town at dawn. When
I was a kid, the ranchers would drive their cattle down main street, bringing them down from their summer pasture in the mountains. I lived here for 10 years from age 5-15. We moved away before my sophomore year in high school. Over the years I’ve lived in 9 states, and a year in England. As soon as I see that view of Main Street, I feel like I’ve come home. About 20 years ago my dad semi-retired and moved back here.
So thank you all who set up the games, sent out smooshes, gave advice, shit posted, and made this a month of fun.