This couldn't have come at a better time. I can't express my gratitude enough.

Yesterday I got a mail notice that something had shipped to me and then suddenly We were rushing to the hospital because my F.I.L's doctor called and said we needed to get my F.I.L. into the hospital ASAP.

After 9 grueling hours they finally moved him from the e.r. into the intermediary cardio-care unit with a diagnosis of Atrial Fibrelation and premature ventricular contractions (spelling questionable). Loosely in layman's terms abnormal heart spasms, but not a heart attack.

Today I came home to get his mail from yesterday and today and get the bills he wanted paid. I was really stressed after the all nighter. I stopped by the post office and find this waiting for me:



I think my F.I.L. was more excited than I was . When I got back to the hospital and showed it off he wanted a shave but they already had him on blood thinners trying to regulate his heart beat and they said he could only use an electric.

Talking about making my day in a really tough time. My Father In Law has been the only realistic father figure I've had. As much of a bugger as he can be, I still love him and the past two days have really taxed the whole family, me included.

While waiting on the cardiologist to come in, while my wife was shaving him with an electric, I took my gear into his restroom and did a full shave with the new razor, complete with hot towel treatment. Man what a shave!

I recall Lynn saying against the grain is the ultimate test and this razor passed with flying colors!

After my 5yr old son saw this razor we had to gently convince him that he couldn't own a straight razor yet because he could accidentally get hurt. That took a couple hours! He really wanted this razor! so he takes my prorasso soap this evening and a plastic knife and goes into the bathroom where we find him "shaving". He had lathered the brush right and his face was fully lathered. I could have died laughing.

This weekend went from being totally bleak to a good weekend for the whole family all because of a razor from Bill Ellis (urleebird) arriving in the mail.

I'm going to try to take better pictures of it. This is one from Bill and the ones I'm taking don't do it justice either. The colors remind me of tigers eye stones. It's a 5/8 to 11/16 Robeson. The scales are African Amazique wood, metal lined, CA finished. The picture gives an illusion of tarnish on the shank. This is not accurate. It's a trick of lighting. The shank actually has a 'hand forged' finish on it that causes the light to play tricks on the digital camera. It's awesome!

I'm really surprised at the balance and feel. I've been leaning towards larger razors for the weight but this had an amazing feel to it with awesome balance.

Thanks again Bill, this is one beautiful razor. I'll post pictures as soon as I can get the settings on this camera to give me a better representation of it.