Musing on the Razor

I was in class tonight, (yes, I’ve gone back to school) and it happened to be my writing class. One of the assignments for the duration of the quarter is to occasionally take a random thought and let it go off on its own. I wasn’t really sure where else to put this, but thought I’d share this particular one with the group and then let the moderators deal with the placement. In another thread, I was talking about a razor that was given to me by my great-grandfather, which after many years, has disappeared and now has to be replaced. The musing that follows came about as a direct result of that thread.

Carl… Parker… Thanks for the seed that you both planted.

We joke about the razors talking to us… But… if they could really talk…

So… there was a mention, several actually, of an individual who has razors that talk to him. I won’t begin to be disparaging of either the individual or of the razor’s choice of conversation partners. It’s not as if the razor can actually pick who it’s going to spend the rest of its life with and I’m quite sure that there are times when the boredom of sitting there on the stand, or laying next to the sink, or even (God forbid) tucked away in some cabinet becomes overwhelming and it simply must talk with someone. And in some respects, I can view these conversations with both a bit of trepidation and even some small bit of envy. I have this one that was my great grandfathers and I know that it has had to have been around to see a lot. I’m sure it saw the election of multiple presidents, the beginning and the end of two world wars, the beginnings of computers, man walking on the moon. It has been there for these men through both happy times and tragedy. But through it all, it has always remained a sharp, strong, and solid companion. It's really a shame that we lose the memories that this razor has shared with the three generations of men that have used it. It's watched these men grow from the light fuzz of youth to the grizzled wire of mid-life and then the soft down of venerable wisdom. Now it has been passed to me when I was younger and it now watches over me. I guess it does talk to me occasionally... In the voices of my predecessors, reminding me of them and of the conversations had with them, of different times, and sometimes just too simply to say “pay attention to the blade.”

This is terrific! That is amazing what a tiny seed planted can turn into! But really, this is fantastic! Glad we could get you hooked:D

Parker(the razor talker)

Im totally gonna chane Youngest Senior Member, to "The Razor Talker" I love it:rofl2:

Just wanted to say that running with a random thought can be a *great* way to write. I did that a while back and am now 57,000 words into a novel.

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Originally Posted by Cangooner

Just wanted to say that running with a random thought can be a *great* way to write. I did that a while back and am now 57,000 words into a novel.

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I tried that one time, but nobody would read it :(

I also lurk on several knife forums...some guys say their knives talk to them also.

There really is a similar appreciation for knives in many cases.

However, sometimes I think people have voices in their heads and they are attributing them to the blades though:gaah:

:D

That's really cool. Someone said there was a fun new post in the beginners' forum, I think this is it. I liked that. It's a nice piece of writing. 'Light fuzz of youth'; I like that. I think that's you, Parker. I'm possibly the grizzled wire of midlife; certainly not venerable...

This is why I like old stuff, esp cameras... I'd give you ten out of ten for this and a koala stamp.

I have a couple old razors that speak to me of the times and places they've seen.But when it's time to shave....Pay attention!In the end my time and the places I've been will be added to their memory.

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Originally Posted by unit

I also lurk on several knife forums...some guys say their knives talk to them also.

There really is a similar appreciation for knives in many cases.

However, sometimes I think people have voices in their heads and they are attributing them to the blades though:gaah:

:D

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You're just jealous the voices are talking to me. :D

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Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

You're just jealous the voices are talking to me. :D

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The first rule about the voices is, do not talk about the voices....at least that is what the voices tell me.

:D

Toymkr, thanks for sharing that!

Have you gone back to school to finish a degree, to start a new one, as an expensive hobby?

Best wishes to you

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Originally Posted by unit

The first rule about the voices is, do not talk about the voices....at least that is what the voices tell me.

:D

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Funny, the voices tell me not to interrupt them! :rofl2:

Carl… cameras huh? My first 35mm was given to me by my grandfather and was his first 35mm. It is a 1934 Ziess-Icon and I still out a roll or two of film through it every couple of months just to exercise it. Now if you tell me that you like cigars, I’ll swear that you’re my doppelganger twin.

Unit… they always say not to tell anybody. But they forget to mention that it’s ok when you talking to others who hear them. That’s why we know that we’re not crazy. We know that others hear them to.

Roughkype… My wife and I both went back to school for paralegal degrees. Two very important events happened to me in 1999. In January, I broke 10,000 hrs underwater as a diver and in November, I broke my back. As a result of the accident, I was told by the doctor that I probably only had about 3 or 4 capable years left in the line of work that I do. I’m a CNC programmer in the metal industry as well as a welder. I have always enjoyed following politics for the game and as an extension, the law. Now I’m not the quickest of wit, so I don’t really want to have to argue cases but I do like to write and I love doing research, so the paralegal field seemed like a natural step.

Hey Toymkr,

Wow, I am really sorry to hear about your accident. I did office work til I was about 41, then started an electrician's apprenticeship. I'm testing for my Journeyman's license in a couple of weeks. Been doing industrial work, climbing around on catwalks, lifting enormous cables... only a few little twinges so far, but I'm really careful to keep myself fit and safe. The other guys sometimes think I'm a bit of a sissy. Maybe, but I'm starting late, without a couple decades of muscle built up, and I'll be 65 or more when I get my 20 years in.

I'm glad to hear you found a good fit for a second career. You can't still program CNC stuff? Are the programmers also the machine operators?

Best wishes to you.

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Originally Posted by Toymkr

...Carl… cameras huh? My first 35mm was given to me by my grandfather and was his first 35mm. It is a 1934 Ziess-Icon and I still out a roll or two of film through it every couple of months just to exercise it. Now if you tell me that you like cigars, I’ll swear that you’re my doppelganger twin...

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Yeah, I was obsessed with Vintage German Medium Format cameras a while ago. The Rolleicord III is my favorite, but my little Zeiss Ikon Box Tengor box camera is quite capable of nice photos too. The phoito below was taken with the Box Tengor.

I'm afraid I smoke very few cigars, maybe 5 in my life. They make my head spin...

Roughkype, you’ll appreciate this then… when I broke my back, we were unloading a spool of 1000 MCM ground wire out of the back of a semi trailer with my (now) wife in the nose of the trailor. My wife and I both were industrial electrician’s helpers. I was also the company welder and heavy equipment operator. The boss worked a really sweet deal for me on pay. Standard help pay at $12 an hour, but double time for welding and equipment work and the overtime followed with it. The normal 40 hrs started out as about 35 hrs as help per week, but by the time I left, it had flipped the other way. As for the programming, I’ll continue to draw (CAD work) for certain people when time allows, but I won’t be programming. I’ve got personal copies of ProCad, AutoCad, and Solid Works, so I’ll still have the ability to stay in practice. On the newer equipment, the ops are normally also the programmers, but the stuff we’ve got is 20 yrs old or better. And we still turn out some of the best work in the market.

Carl, I think the computer beat you… or I’m just blind. Me not no see da picta… and you’re not s’pose to inhale the cigar. You just draw it into your mouth so that you can taste it, not choke yourself and get silly in the head… I mean really. Some people…

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Originally Posted by Toymkr

...Carl, I think the computer beat you… or I’m just blind. Me not no see da picta… and you’re not s’pose to inhale the cigar. You just draw it into your mouth so that you can taste it, not choke yourself and get silly in the head… I mean really. Some people…

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Hmmm. You'll also notice I spelt photo 'phoito'. Can I use a dozen Cooper's Dark Ales as an excuse? No? What about a dozen Dark Ales AND a slowed internet connection? No? OK, it's the wife's fault then...

I guess I COULD post the photo now, but the moment is ruined.

I inhale everything, my wife says I overdo everything, and she's right... I probably need a good talking to, really...

Carl, I really wasn’t going to say anything about the spelling. First because I wasn’t sure if maybe it wasn’t some obscure spelling like “shoppe”, but then also because if it weren’t for having spell check and Microsoft Word, my happy butt would be lost. i write everything with it... even something as simple as this post.

As for overdoing things, maybe 1000 lashes with a wet noodle. I’m not really sure how much good talking will do if you’re like me at all.

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Originally Posted by Toymkr

As for overdoing things, maybe 1000 lashes with a wet noodle.

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No, I think 2 slaps with a Thater is more appropriate. :p

And of course, if your shutter speed is too short, it's phoitus interruptus.

And the Freudian overtones of that typo make me wonder a little about Carl's photographic hobby. :thinking:

Gettin' close to plagiarism there, Roughkype :needcoffee: J/K
Well, Carl does spend much of his off-time in the bush. :rofl2:

I don't know about his photographic hobby, but mine has never been in question. I have always preferred the Freudian passing view. And come to think of it, I don't recall any complaints about shutter speeds either.:dropjaw:

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Originally Posted by Toymkr

I don't know about his photographic hobby, but mine has never been in question. I have always preferred the Freudian passing view. And come to think of it, I don't recall any complaints about shutter speeds either.:dropjaw:

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Let me guess: you have the perfect F-stop.

Well... i don't know about that... But its always worked when I used it

Oh, just thought you'd like to know I have a tripod. ;)

I have one too... But really? I just can't see bragin'.