LOVED IT!!!!

Last night a went to a local shaving shop and (over) paid for a straight razor, shaving soap, badger hair brush w/ drip stand, strop and styptic pencil. I did a lot of reading and lurking here the last few days and felt I was finally ready to make the plunge. I woke up this morning and stropped my razor which went ok considering it was my first time. Then I took a shower. Leaving my face nice and wet, I lathered up some shaving soap into a nice froth and applied it to my face. I opened up my new razor, pulled my cheek tight and made the first stroke. I looked at my face in the mirror. No blood, no hair, I didn't cut my cheek off.... That was easier then I thought! I did a few strokes on one side of my face then I switched hands and started the other side of my face. It took me a second to get the hang of it but it wasn't much harder than the first side. Then I finished up the rest of my face (the chin being the hardest spot to get and that wasn't even so bad). I lathered up again and did XTG shave which also went well. I decided that I wouldn't do a 3rd pass just so I could the hang of it more. Best part, I didn't cut myself (on my face)! I cut the back of my hand wiping some shaving soap off the blade. I put some after shave on my face, cleaned up, stropped my razor and put every thing away.

That's it. It was much easier then I expected. Thanks to everyone on this forum for your contributions to the pages that I lurked.

(also just signed up on B&B but it look like there are more SR shavers here)