This post is a while in coming, but here you are. I got interested in straight razor shaving a while back and just acted on it recently. When I get something in my head, I read and research very thoroughly and obsess over it from the start. Because of the information that you guys perpetuate on the web, I have had nothing but positive experiences from day one of my Straight Shaving. I started out with the right gear and I even did the unthinkable (knowing that it wasn't the right thing to do) by shaving with my Thiers-Issard 6/8 super gnome extra right out of the box with no honing! I got a less than close shave, but didn't cut myself once and enjoyed the experience knowing that it wasn't perfect. I will say that I did extra beard prep and I don't recommend the procedure I just got lucky but was expecting not to be lucky. I have since gotten the blade honed (Thanks Lynn!) and I have not cut my self once in the four shaves I have had with it. What's more than that, this morning I got BBS! My stropping technique is slow and studied and I look forward to getting a hands on tutorial from someone at the SE get together. I got good equipment, good technique advice, good beard prep advice, all from SRP and related information from it's members. I will say one more thing: The way we treat each other on this site is spilling over to my everyday life. Little things, I let people in on the highway and wave thanks to those who do the same for me, I try to treat everyone I meet as my immediate equal, I look for opportunities to better myself everyday, and in short I seek to represent the gentlemanly qualities I associate with a straight shaver. Thanks to everyone here, old and new and in between, who helps to perpetuate that sentiment. I am really happy to be a part of it!