Ok, so LarryAndro is hooking me up with a starter kit - 5/8 Razor (shave ready), strop and a poor man's barber hone for touch ups. Thanks Larry.

I have my lathering down pat after three years shaving with a DE. Now it seems I just need to do some more studying before I attempt my first few tentative strokes. I've read Lynn's post on his first shave suggestions and I'm totally with him - go into this slowly. I did the same thing when I picked up the DE. It probably took longer but it definitely kept me out of the ER.

My wife is going to FREAK when she sees me with a straight razor. She was convinced I was going to seriously injure myself when I took up the DE. "My grandfather used one of those. He was always cutting himself." Will they never understand?