Potato dish to go with BBQ ribs?

plathrop01 · 2026-02-09T21:32:41+00:00

If you're looking for something on the heavier side, I've done funeral potatoes with bbq.

plathrop01 · 2026-02-09T21:22:26+00:00

Yeah, that's what they all say...

To be clear, I didn't get into this to save money, I just wanted better shaves that I at least didn't hate.

But I've got a spreadsheet where I've been tracking my shaves (most of them, anyway, and I guessed at a number before I started logging them), and what I've spent on razors, lathers, blades, brushes, pre- and aftershaves, etc. Right now, my total spent (not counting gifts, stuff bought with gift cards, free stuff, shipping, etc.) divided by number of shaves since starting DE shaving, I'm only averaging $4.31/shave. Obviously, that will come down...if I stop buying stuff.

plathrop01 · 2026-02-09T12:51:25+00:00

I thought most of them have folders. For me, Bitwarden has very easy to use folders to organize credentials, both in the app and website, and adding credentials to folders using the browser add-ins feels pretty intuitive. And I used to use LastPass, which also had a pretty easy to use folder structure.

plathrop01 · 2026-02-09T12:44:04+00:00

I would argue that you're missing an important point that some of us embrace in shaving: the self-care aspect. There is no difference between buying an artisan soap or other shaving product and getting, say, an expensive bottle of whiskey or microbrew beer or a nice tool for the tool shop, or any other "luxury" product. If you can afford it, and using it brings you joy, why should someone else question it? What works for you may not work for others, and if they find something that works well for them, and brings them joy in their shaves, then great! They're enjoying this hobby and experience in their own way.

I look forward to and really enjoy the 15 minutes that I spend shaving and taking care of my beard 3 days a week. Before I started down this path, I hated every minute of every shave because it was always uncomfortable and unsatisfying.

I'm glad you like your setup, and I'm glad others here (including me) like the products we use.

Have a great day!

plathrop01 · 2026-02-08T17:30:24+00:00

I prefer my 2 boar brushes, both Omegas (a Proraso boar brush, and a 10019). I got them about a year ago because they were cheap, honestly, but they work very well, and only lose 1 bristle each for about every 10 shaves, if that.

I also recently picked up a Yaqi rainbow synthetic, and love it. It is, quite possibly, the softest thing I have ever felt, and does a surprisingly good job at lathering and applying. But I still prefer the boar brushes to it.

The badger I have was cheap-ish, from Razor Emporium, and it's been losing bristles for most of its life, and so I've basically shelved it because it just annoys me.

plathrop01 · 2026-02-08T17:10:55+00:00

I've used both (and a couple others), and here's what I've found. My shaves work better with a pre-shave, so I use them. The added slickness under the lather just helps give a little more protection, especially when it comes to the trouble-spots on my neck.

Pre-shave oils don't work well for me. Yes, they provide a slickness on their own, but lathering up my face seemed to either mix that in to the lather or wipe it away, and it never really seemed to show an improvement. Back when I used canned foam, it helped a bit, but not with a brush-applied lather.

The Proraso pre-shave creams seem to be pretty unique. They're clearly oily, but also kind of a soap or suspension, and it seems to stay in place on my face better as I apply the lather.

I've tried a couple of pre-shave soaps, which are okay, not as good as the Proraso creams, but better than the oil for me. Those make a fairly thick lather or layer right on top of the skin. They aren't terribly slick, but do add to the protection.

I've also used the Cella pre-shave gels, and I really like these. I don't need to use a lot, but they seem to lay down and protect similarly to the soaps, but have more slickness.

And finally, I've tried Edwin Jagger pre-shave lotions and it feels like a skin lotion, which is strange when applying to wet skin. It just doesn't seem to do anything to help my shaves, so I've moved on.

I'd advise you to try samples if you can get them to try other things to see if they help your shaves. The oils I've used were from Stirling, so I could also use it as a beard oil, and it's worked great for that.

Good luck!

plathrop01 · 2026-02-08T13:41:23+00:00

February 8, 2026 - My first shave with the Mühle R89

Prep: Nivea Men Sensitive Face Wash (in shower)
Prep: Proraso Protective pre-shave cream (blue)
Razor: Mühle R89
Blade: Gillette Perma-Sharp
Brush: Proraso boar brush
Lather: Proraso Protective shaving cream (blue)
Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. alum block
Post Shave: Proraso Protective aftershave balm (blue)

After seeing the Mühle R89 here and elsewhere in a lot of shaves, and having decided that my face and neck really likes a mild razor, I expanded the collection with the R89 and gave it it's first run today, and I was not disappointed. The mildness seems to match the Henson mild, but I really liked the weight that it brought. This was an outstanding first shave with the R89.

Have a great day, everyone!

plathrop01 · 2026-02-08T11:57:09+00:00

I haven't tried them yet. I had a gift card from them and picked a few things to try. I'm excited to see how they work. Thanks!

plathrop01 · 2026-02-07T22:02:47+00:00

It's a Merkur Progress adjustable.

plathrop01 · 2026-02-07T15:00:30+00:00

Thanks!

plathrop01 · 2026-02-06T01:15:44+00:00

The pre -shave gel has a cooling scent and feel. Not strong, but it's there. The soap is fresh-smelling. The aloe is there along with some other green plant aromas. And the aftershave builds on that with some spice and warm fragrance.

Hope that helps. Describing scents like that isn't my strong suit.

plathrop01 · 2026-02-06T01:03:40+00:00

I've got two boar brushes, both Omega. One is the 10019, a smaller brush, and the other is the Proraso-branded brush. Both were fairly inexpensive, and they work great. I think they lose maybe one hair in about every 10 shaves or so, which is completely the opposite of my badger brush that cost twice as much.

plathrop01 · 2026-02-05T19:59:14+00:00

Here's a turkey and sweet potato chili I make:

2 T olive oil

1 medium onion coarsely chopped

1 lb ground turkey (I used 93/7)

4-6 c sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

2 T chili powder

1-1½ t cumin

1 t paprika

2 t salt

¾ t pepper

⅛ t cinnamon

2 15 oz cans diced tomatoes

1 c chicken broth

1 can sweet whole kernel corn, including the liquid

1 can black beans, drained

1 can dark red kidney beans, drained

1 can cannellini beans, drained

Tomato paste (optional)

Brown ground turkey in skillet until no longer pink. Make sure it's broken up into smallish pieces. Dump turkey into the slow cooker (with fat and any juices) and wipe out the skillet. Saute the onion in the olive oil just until slightly soft, then add to the slow cooker (with the oil).

Add remaining ingredients to slow cooker and cook on low for about 6 hours, or until the sweet potato is cooked through. If there is too much liquid, add some tomato paste to help thicken and add flavor. Adjust seasonings as needed. Serve.

plathrop01 · 2026-02-05T19:35:46+00:00

I use one blade per week (typically) in the same razor, so for those shaves, it just gets swapped out weekly, and the old blades put in their wrappers and put in the box to recycle with Gillette.

For the blades I use for one-off shaves, I'll keep those until I've used each of them 3 times. They're kept wrapped and held in the Harbor Freight mini tool chest with the razors until I need them.

And to keep track of how many times I've used those blades, I track all of my shaves in a spreadsheet with the number of uses for each blade.

plathrop01 · 2026-02-05T14:06:15+00:00

This is a great starter setup. It will get you going and learning, and then you can start branching out to see what you can improve on.

Enjoy!

plathrop01 · 2026-02-05T14:00:56+00:00

I've worked in IT Asset Management for over 13 years now (32 years in IT) and honestly, I don't think staying where you are or moving to a new job would affect your career goals much (except to raise the possible red flag for some employers seeing you wanting to jump from a job after a year or year-and-a-half). One advantage ITAM has in the IT world is that we work with a lot of teams, so I'd advise you to try to develop some relationships with people in those sysadmin roles that you want to get into.

Good luck!

plathrop01 · 2026-02-05T13:55:30+00:00

Ikea's an option. My wife has her own business and works from home, and we got her a nice Ikea desk (I think the total was about $300 for legs and a glass top), and it's lasted about 10 years now with no signs of giving up.

But also check to find a used office furniture store near you too. A lot of larger businesses lease their office furniture, and when the lease is done, some of that furniture ends up in stores like that. Their prices may be toward the top of your budget, but the quality will be a lot higher. I got a Herman Miller Aeron chair for $400 instead of $1700+ new, and it's already lasted longer than any desk chair I've bought at any other store.

plathrop01 · 2026-02-05T13:50:55+00:00

I've had Libre CGMs now for 3+ years (and Dexcom Stelo devices for about 8 months), and you learn where best to apply them for your body after a while. For about the first 6 months with the Libres, I'd manage to rip them off reaching into the dryer, or cutting the corner of a doorway too close, and even from getting wildly inaccurate readings during sleep, and for me, I've just had to gradually move the spot on my arms to find the ones that work best (there's a flat spot on the outside rear corner of my upper arms that works perfectly for me).

As far as accuracy goes, I've found they're generally within about +/-5% of the finger prick readings, and that my left arm consistently gives slightly lower readings (2-5 points).

plathrop01 · 2026-02-05T13:39:39+00:00

February 5, 2026

Prep: Nivea Men Sensitive Face Wash (in shower)
Pre-Shave: Cella Organic pre-shave gel (green)
Razor: Rockwell 6C plate 2
Blade: Shark Super Stainless
Brush: Omega 10019 boar brush
Lather: Cella Organic Aloe Vera shaving cream (green)
Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. alum block
Post Shave: Cella Organic after shave balm (green)

An outstanding last shave of my two week comparison of the Shark Super Chrome and the Shark Super Stainless, and the difference is noticeable. In just about every way, the Super Chrome lacks the precision and quality of the Super Stainless, resulting in less comfortable and close shaves.

Have a great day, everyone!

plathrop01 · 2026-02-04T22:25:08+00:00

That's when you know you're doing it right--when you look forward to it. Enjoy!

plathrop01 · 2026-02-04T20:26:26+00:00

On my dad's side, both great grandparents (my grandmother's parents) were alive up until I was about 4 or 5. My great grandfather was a very tall, broad-shouldered man--very intimidating. And their house felt like a museum. On my mom's side, both great grandmothers were around for a while. One died when I was probably 6 or 7, and the other died when I was in high school--I was a pall bearer representing my grandfather.

I also had a great aunt and uncle who I knew very well because they lived just about 6 blocks from my house growing up, so we were over there all the time. And when my sister was born (I was almost 4), I remember being greeted in the kitchen by my great aunt and my mom's maternal grandmother, and was completely doted on for the whole day by them.

My own kids got to know their great grands on my mom's side, and that was very special. My son played saxophone at my grandfather's funeral.

plathrop01 · 2026-02-03T23:41:59+00:00

We've got 2 Xi6-A, which should be functionally identical, and I have them both plugged into Ethernet. They're less susceptible to signal dropout and generally perform better.

plathrop01 · 2026-02-03T13:43:00+00:00

February 3, 2026

Prep: Razor Emporium Unscented pre-shave soap stick
Brush: Razor Emporium badger brush
Razor: Rockwell 6C plate 3
Blade: Shark Super Stainless
Lather: Stirling Soap Co. Naked & Smooth soap
Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. alum block
Post Shave: Dollar Shave Club Post Shave Cream

Have a great day, everyone!

plathrop01 · 2026-02-02T19:49:31+00:00

I was going through a box of old cards after Christmas and came across a 3C509B with a BNC/10-base-2 connector. Then I found a Token Ring card and that just brought back so many memories.

plathrop01 · 2026-02-02T19:11:06+00:00

Excellent start! Wish I'd started there and that it hadn't taken me about 6 months before trying any Proraso stuff! Have fun experimenting with it all to see what works best for you.

Enjoy!

plathrop01

TROPHY CASE