Just For Fun: Mug and Brush

Are you familiar with Gary Smalley’s personality descriptons Lion, Otter, Beaver and Golden Retriever (Follow the link and you’ll find a great description of four primary personality types)?  Smalley uses the animal terminology because it is very descriptive and memorable. Over the years I have discovered that I am entirely an ‘otter’. Otters can accomplish all sorts of great things, but they like to enjoy life along the way. Think about it, an otter swimming along, cracking open oysters and feasting. Sounds pretty good doesn’t it? Well, it does to me anyway.

Well along that line, I want to take some time here on the blog and post things that are just pure fun. Occasionally take a break from more important, more serious thoughts to write about, or even rant about things just for fun.

One of the things that I tend to go on about is vintage things.  For instance, I’d rather shave with this than this.  I’d rather write with this than this and I’d rather my sneakers look like this than this.

Part of the reason why I like vintage stuff is the ritual. For instance, with my straight razor, you are likely to see me with a nick or two on my face that wouldn’t be there if I used a more modern razor, but the process of whipping up some lather with a mug and brush, opening up the  razor and pulling it across my whiskers is VERY satisfying. Afterward I even use some old school after shave like Old Spice or Bay Rum, just to make the vintage shaving experience compete.

Some of you may say, “Matt the new Gillette Octagon* with 8 diamond sharpened blades is so much better than that old man razor. It not only shaves your beard, but it also has a nose hair trimmer and brow groomer.” Sure, it may be better, but it isn’t more fun. With the new razor, I can’t pretend that I am Bugs Bunny giving Elmer a shave, and really, what’s better than that?

*Doesn’t actually exist.

The Big Question: What ‘vintage’ thing do you just love, even though there might be better, more contemporary alternatives?

Image: Bernie Condon / FreeDigitalPhotos.net