I’ve had a bear of a few months. Just busy and angry a lot, with a sinus headache for the last week or so. Yesterday, I felt a little bit better, and I went and got a haircut and shave, and it was the best thing I could have done for myself.
My barber is from the Philippines, but he trained to become a barber in Osaka.
He’s 71, and immigrated here decades ago, spending most of his life in Georgia. Last year, though, he moved up to these here parts because his niece runs a Mexican restaurant, and he sings in the mariachi band as entertainment. He got bored during the days, so came out of retirement and opened up shop. As you know, I fired my barber of a decade last year because unprovoked, she launched into a racist tirade.
So I fired her, and a couple months ago by chance drove by a small place and saw a traditional barber pole, and slammed on the brakes. I knew I was at the right place when I saw the Old Spice and Clubman Pinaud.
At any rate, after my haircut, I got a full shave, which took 20 minutes, involved multiple hot wet towels, multiple applications of warm shave cream, a greasier cream for the final close shave, more warm towels, lotion, and a facial massage (for what it is worth, while editing this, I added the word massage because quit honestly without it that sentence read like something from Penthouse letters).
And it was amazing. I felt as relaxed as if I had had a full body massage and a hockey puck sized xanax. Well worth the 30 bucks, which is a lot more than I used to pay for my old haircuts.
We need more craftsmen like Tony in this world, and fewer MBA’s. That man has a valuable, honorable, and necessary skill.
hitchhiker
The USA is sometimes so wonderful.
joel hanes
I’m glad you’re feeling better, Cole.
I’ve been worrying about you.
I have been similarly discouraged, achey, and plagued with ennui.
NotMax
One eighty from the more usual hair raising adventures.
;)
M. Bouffant
@hitchhiker: Exactly my thought, but then I expanded it to what a world this is that has guys like Tony in it. Sure, the U.S. of A. made it possible, but it’s Tony who’s lived & done it.
Lacuna Synecdoche
John Cole @ Top:
Umm … yeah, the word massage doesn’t significantly change that perception, John.
Not that it has to, I mean, I thought that was the tone you were going for. And there’s nothing wrong with that. By which I mean nothing wrong with appreciating the sensual pleasures of a good shave and a haircut … I’ll shut up now.
KrakenJack
Had a Filipino barber in Honolulu. He learned to cut hair as a kid in school doing trims for his batch mates during lunch.
dww44
@NotMax: Agreed. Reading it actually relaxed me.
NotMax
Back when I went to a barber, the one I frequented was a member of the Yankovic family.
Stopped getting any barbering done last century.
mrmoshpotato
@NotMax:
Were you serenaded with silly songs on the squeezebox?
NotMax
@mrmoshpotato
It was a one-person shop. He did have a selection of Frankie’s music on his stereo.
mrmoshpotato
@NotMax: Did the selection include Eat It and Like A Surgeon?
Ruckus
@NotMax:
I stopped about 18 yrs ago. Had a great lady that did mine but there was less and less to cut up top and a close trim with the trimer once a week is all that is needed. Also I have a full beard which makes things a lot easier. Started growing the beard July 7, 1973 at 11:59 am. Which is when I walked down the gangplank for the last time
Also I live in an area that starts with fireworks about 2 hours ago and that runs pretty strong until about July 5 when it starts tapering off – a bit. Sounds sort of like a war zone. Not quite as bad of course because it’s not actual gunfire, but not so good you’d want to attempt to sleep before about midnight.
Boomzilla
Old Spice? Yay!
About ten+ years ago I took a picture of my remodeled bathroom and sent to a friend. On a shelf was a bottle of Old Spice. He said his wife said, oh, he’s old. I don’t think I was 45 yet, which is ole enough, but not old.
I replied, no! That was Dad’s daily splash. It was wonderful. He’d walk up to the table at breakfast and kiss me on the top of my head. Then he’d do the same to my sister. It was wonderful to smell the Old Spice with undertones of Dial soap and natural Dad.
I did use it several times, my Old Spice, usually to cover up the clinging odor of some weed. Sometimes, just because I wanted to. I’d frequently pick up the bottle and open it, just for the memories. Dad dies when I was 19, in the start of the 80’s. I’ve missed him every single day since.
Don’t get me wrong, there are good memories, not bad or sad. Thanks, John.
Recipe that you probably already know about:
You talked about, I think it was spicy food. I wanted to give you a semi-cooling side dish. You have to like cukes.
Get a Ball or Mason jar.
Slice some cukes pretty thin. Though if you get some thicker pieces that’s okay.
Apple cider vinegar. I’ll bet you get some great ACV up there.
Sambal Olek, to taste.
Honey. Again, I’ll bet you get some great varieties up there. If not, I’ll bet Betty would send you some Orange Blossom honey, or even better, to me, Black Mangrove honey, or Saw Palmetto, if you can find it.
You can put some fresh chopped garlic in if you want. Sliced carrots. I wouldn’t do squash or anything like that. I don’t think it would handle it well.
Fill the jar with everything but the vinegar. Then put the vinegar in about an inch of everything. Close the lid, shake it all up. then put it in the fridge for about 3 or 4 days. I usually let mind sit for a week.
You probably know this recipe, or something like it. Sorry. While it’s got its own little kich, it’s mostly a cool down from your main dish.
I’ll also get a baguette, put a bunch of butter on one side, some great sliced ham on the other and then load it up with the spicy cucke.
Be well, John,
Boomzilla
HumboldtBlue
I for sure as shit could do with a good barbering.
Here’s 18-year-old Athing Mu absolutely demolishing the field in the women’s 400m NCAA final.
Boomzilla
Well, I would have liked to have edited that as it was a mess. Please excuse me.
NotoriousJRT
@Boomzilla:
My dad used Old Spice, too. Thanks for reminding me about him.
West of the Rockies
@Boomzilla:
My dad wore Brut for years. I wouldn’t, but I have warm affection for the scent because of him.
I’ve never had a professional shave. Is it worth it?
mrmoshpotato
@HumboldtBlue: I could use a professional sheer myself.
HumboldtBlue
@West of the Rockies:
Yes, all day, yes, if the barber is good, yes.
NotMax
Brands to avoid unless times are tight:
Old Spice
Old Milwaukee
Old Crow
Old Gold (“Not a cough in a carload.”)
;)
Ruckus
Fewer MBAs. Now that is something to look forward to.
mario
shit, now I need to find a barber with a cool back story.
HumboldtBlue
@mario: You should head to Queens.
206inKY
Fuck, this sounds like heaven and exactly what I need after this shitshow of a pandemic and cutting my own hair. Maybe worth a drive to WV.
mrmoshpotato
Quinerly
@mrmoshpotato:
??♥️??
Vernon Bush
The best haircuts I’ve had in my 69 years of live have been overseas by Filipino Barbers. Most all were self trained or had very little formal training. Their scissors working as fast a humming bird wings. Perfect cuts. And the hot towel treatment and a quick neck massage. No American barber has been an equal… none
Ken
Google says Penthouse is still around, which surprises me. I thought most of the skin mags shut down once 24×7 streaming porn became available for free. People must really be reading it for the articles.
KSinMA
@HumboldtBlue: Mu is so awesome!
Skepticat
Every time a stylist washes my hair before a cut, I think that there’d be much less angst and violence in the world if everyone could have that kind of attention and soothing scalp massage once a day. That said, I haven’t had a professional haircut for six months, as my stylist went to Nassau after the storm and left me alone with my kitchen shears.
rikyrah
Glad that you found a good New barber, Cole?
rikyrah
@HumboldtBlue:
Wow??
Boomzilla
@West of the Rockies: I used to wear Brut as a child. That’s what I got for one of my Christmas presents, year after year. That and Vitalis. No wonder this chicks found me so hot. Thanks, Ma.
I think Mom and Dad were living in the late 50’s and early 60’s while raising me in Fort Lauderdale in the early 70’s. Like something out of a Travis McGee novel, without the cool boat and all the sex. The latter of which would have been wasted on me at the age of six. I think.
West, I don’t think I’ve ever had a professional shave either. I asked Kenny, my barber for one several years back. He acted like I asked him to shave my pubes in hearts and clovers. I was like, damn, Kenneth, why not? I just want you to take my beard off. He was adamant, without ever giving my an actual reason why.
It’s been at least two years. I have not cut my hair or my beard since. My beard is a sinful mess. I occasionally pop my face into Kenny’s shop, wave at him, then walk away.
I will say this, the homeless don’t bother asking me for money these days. I’ll still buy some of them a sandwich, or a pack of smokes, or give them a little money. These are people that I’ve known for 20 years, almost. Most of them don’t recognize me anymore, but I still know the remaining few – less and less they are now – and treat them the same as I did when I didn’t have a beard practically to my belly button. I think they’re the same people. I think I’m mostly the same person, albeit poorer.
There is a pro shave only shop about two blocks away. I’ve been tempted. But it’s $100+ for them to do my beard. Some months I can barely make rent, so I haven’t gone there.
If you do decide to get a pro-shave, I’d be very interested in how it turns out.
Be well.
Boomzilla
Other MJS
I’m on a horse.
Boomzilla
@Skepticat:
if everyone could have that kind of attention and soothing scalp massage once a day.
Amen. One of the best feelings ever. And once a day? Imagine the decrease in anxiety?
Please become a politician, run one this as your sole platform. You will get elected.
Be well.
Boomzilla
Boomzilla
@NotoriousJRT:
You’re quite welcome. Glad it was a nice recollection.
Be Well.
Boomzilla
stinger
@Lacuna Synecdoche: I kinda think he meant to say he added the word “facial” to the sentence that already said “massage”.
CaseyL
Sounds like a couple of hours devoted to pampering yourself were just what you needed!
Hopefully the relaxing effect will last longer than your next encounter with the outside world :)
The next few days are supposed to be rainy and warm-to-hot here in Seattle; i.e., hot and humid. My least favorite weather, hands down.
But my strawberries are going gangbusters, the amaryllis is blooming again for the first time in years, and I just got some blueberry plants. So I may spend the next couple of days just watching my little container garden soaking it all up.
way2blue
Many years ago, we were in Mendocino and I saw the same style barber pole outside a barber shop run by a vet. Our twin boys were maybe 7 years old and needed haircuts. So I headed inside. The vet cut the first one’s hair, then when he started on the second, asked if they were identical twins. Something about the pattern of their hair was identical. We were impressed that he figured it out—not looking at their faces—but at their hair…
Skepticat
What did I ever do to you that you would wish such evil things on me? //
The Moar You Know
Never done the barber shave thing before. I probably should one day, just to know if it’s really worth it or no.
cain
@West of the Rockies:
I can’t hear “Brut” without recalling Eddie Murphy saying “Brut! by Faberge!” – which always makes me giggle. :-)
cain
@Ruckus: Fewer billionaires as well. As a rule we shouldnt have any billionaires and very few millionaires.
cain
So wait.. John is clean shaven now? Pics or it didn’t happen.
ETA: #44!!! The same number as our wonderful 44th president!
Al
This is so true. Financial people are the least valuable people in any society. And while they should not be shamed or mistreated, as some societies have done, we should be valuing our masters of society; musicians, actors, artists, teachers, crafts people, trades people, and public servants. And yes, that includes wait staff, drivers, cooks, yard workers, etc, etc, etc, All these people contribute so much more to our enjoyment fo life that people who make money by manipulating money. We can figure out how to give everyone a proper share of the pie without needing to have the super rich leeching off of us.
Ruckus
@cain:
I agree. I think zero billionaires is about the right number.
JohnC
@mrmoshpotato: True Fact: Frankie Yankovic and Weird Al Yankovic are actually not related.
GLEN TOMKINS
But, but…
If we didn’t have so many MBAs, and they weren’t in charge of the world these days, we wouldn’t be able to adequately appreciate people with valuable, necessary, honorable skills.