Does one have to pay (in blood) to play?

[lickthefrog]

Does one have to pay (in blood) to play?

This morning just wasn't right. I broke my usual routine. That's not the excuse or reason, just the signpost I should have seen that might have saved that chunk of skin I lost today.

My barber friend--the one who gave me my trusty blades--and I just talked about how that first moment when you apply the blade to the skin, how it is the moment.

Well, for me, the first moment was fine, but I got careless on the second stroke. OUCH! Aw, $#@!, that's gonna bleed.

The bleeding could have been worse, actually. The thin chunk of skin sort of sat right back on top of the bloody bit beneath. It was gonna be red, but at least not gushing.

By the time I got home from work, it was that awful crusty dark, dark red. The flap hadn't reattached and wasn't going to, so I took some scissors and cut it off.

The rest of the shave was nice, but I have to say, that nick today made it one of the worst shaves ever. The scar will stick around for a bit.

How about others? Does one have to pay in blood to play with straight razors?