oldwithoutmoney.com

Well, I went out to a new open mike the other evening, as I’ve been known to do on occasion.

Played. Put the guitar away.

Went to the bar to get my next beer. Bartender says “It’s on me — I liked your set.”

Gotta love it.

We just returned from the Galapagos.

If that’s not way cool, then I don’t know what is.

Some photos (taken with a Pentax K200D and either their 18-55 II or 55-300 lenses) can be found here.

Enjoy!

I spent a few years as a short-order cook, and many more as the family chef. Have spent a good bit of time behind my Wüsthof Trident chef’s knife. A perfectly respectable knife that has served me well for over 25 years.

Recently, I’ve had something of a metallurgical awakening. It started with razor blades. Picked up some Feather-brand dual-edged blades a while back. Darned if those aren’t head-and-shoulders sharper than anything else I’ve ever put in my razor (tho’ when it comes to scraping your face, disarmingly sharp is not necessarily a good thing.)

Jump-cut to the kitchen. I’m cutting a scallion, eyes burning, and wondering if Japanese steel would be any better. So I pick up a relatively inexpensive Global knife. Back to the kitchen. And now I’m cutting scallions without tears.

And Global is not even considered one of the better Japanese makers. And having since acquired a Santuko from a smaller Japanese maker, I have to concur.

So — if you like to cook, use your knives daily and have never tried Japanese steel, you’ll do yourself a favour by checking them out.

I’ve spent the first quarter of 2008 shaving with a Double Edge (DE) razor — a welcome departure from “high-tech” cartridge systems (that will remain nameless).

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the DE razor (a.k.a. ’safety razor’), check out www.badgerandblade.com (B&B). A wonderful site for those who are tired of paying through the nose for refill blade cartridges and want to return to a simpler era.

The potential simplicity and cost-effectiveness is a joy. For very little money, one can get a used razor and shaving mug (at B&B or eBay), a shaving brush and a puck of soap (e.g. Williams, Col. Conk), and you’re good to go. Good blades can be purchased for under 20 cents each. And there’s a nice feeling that comes from shaving the way that my grandfathers (and their fathers) did.

The danger to which many (most?) seem to fall prey is that there are an insane number of additional items which one will almost certainly want to acquire. Scented soaps. Pre- & post-shave lotions/balms. Aftershaves & colognes. Not to mention the razors & brushes themselves.

But I will say that my face is smoother now, I look forward to the daily ritual, and my better half likes the way I smell. And that’s well worth the price of admission.

Read the fine print on the main page.

Old without money.  Not a desire.  Or a description.

Rather, a literary reference to the line fromTennessee Williams’ play, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.  I believe that Elizabeth Taylor had the line in the movie.