hey. .that's great.. i too also shaved with a DE today.. i normally use the feather artist club.. but i hadn't shaved in 4 days and i had just received a new brush and was super excited.. so i have a merkur heavy duty for backup.. i hardly use it.. and originally just purchased it cause i was worried if i ran out of blades for the artist club.. i'd be able to get DE blades anywhere.. i have to say DEs are nice too.. they are classy and if ward cleaver used one.. than it's good enough for me.

some people will say that the feather blades might not be the best to start out with .. but i use them cause my artist club also uses feathers.. so i have consistency.. although.. i will say that my artist club blades are even less forgiving than the feather DEs.. just take is slow and DON'T BEAR DOWN!

please forgive me for rambling on.. but also.. how was the shop? i live in los angeles and have yet to make it out to palm springs cause i work pretty much non-stop. but i'd be in heaven set foot in the place.. did you pickup any soaps, creams, or aftershaves? also.. what brush did you go with? welcome to the club.. you'll be learning the secret handshake soon.