Good Morning Gentlemen. Just wanted to say you are all very informative and I have learned a lot in the last couple of months of lurking. However, your conversations and insight have started me on a path to ruin.

I met an old friend and his wife over Thanksgiving to have dinner. While we were at the bar waiting for a table, he starts talking about wet shaving with a brush, shave saop in a mug, and a DE razor. He was extolling the virtues of closer shaves, less irritation, etc., etc. I really didn't think too much more about it until a couple of weeks later when I acccidentally grabbed my wife's mach 3 in the shower and proceeded to massacre my face with it.

I got to thinking and dug around in the linen closet and found my grandfather's 1957 Gillette DE, his shaving mug and old brush. I decided to give it a go. Did a little research online and found this site. Took some advice from the forum, and cleaned the razor thoroughly. Found some blades at Target, bought some Omega shave soap and off I go.

First shave was a little shaky. No cuts, but not exactly smooth. After reading some more here, I had a third shave that was outstanding. Even my bride noticed. I then realized what the fuss was about so I found a nice Edwin Jagger best badger faux horn brush in a local shop. I was now all set...Wrong!

Next thing I know I take a week long business trip and realize that taking a full size (and expensive) brush along with a big tub of shave soap on a trip is a pain. So...I start looking for some shave cream in a tube and a travel brush. I then found and purchased a nice badger travel brush and some Tabac shave cream in a tube to take on business trips. Now I'm set right? Not!

Now I get to thinking that perhaps I should have a two or threee piece travel razor. You know, it would be easier to pack in my shave kit, and I would hate to have my grandfather's razor lost or stolen. AAARRRGGGHHH! What the hell just happened here?

Just a rant from a newbie who is happily getting much better shaves, but not quite sure how I got to the point of looking at E-bay for shaving gear instead of vintage stereo equipment. I am trying to resist the B&B brush and razor as we speak...

Thanks Guys!