A shaver just for your head

I know a lot of useless things and it boggles me that I’ve never heard of a shaver dedicated to the human head until now.

And to think that I’ve been shaving my head for as long as I can remember - well, not technically shave, but actually cutting the hair using the lowest setting on a trimmer. So this leaves me with hair that grows back in about five days, and this is my trim cycle. I trim on Sundays to welcome the new work week.

I’ve been wanting a new trimmer since last year and I first looked at Manscape, but found that it was too focused on trimming your pubes and with the magic rabbit hole that is Google search, stumbled across a (local) site dedicated to just shaving and barbering implements.

And there it was, a device shaped like a flower or like a garlic bulb sliced neatly across that was just dedicated to shaving your head. The product I found was $140+ (the brand was Braun), but then I came across one being sold at Kmart for just $47, so I got the latter.

And it really sort of shaved, not trimmed. As it glides across the contours of your head, the multiple rotating blades spin, cutting hair as they make contact through the openings in the foil. The rotary design allows the shaver to follow the contours of the head closely, reducing the risk of cuts and providing a smooth shave. And it does this so closely, that you achieve the same effect as if you used a razor.

Friday purchases

Costco is full of great and useless things. It’s also a fantasy world where inflation doesn’t exist and those huge bags of Lay’s potato chips that you bought are actually made of air and have zero calories.

But sometimes you do need a reprieve from everything that’s happening even if it’s just a couple of hours.

When I was in college, my cousins teased me for having oily skin and I’ve been trying to turn that around ever since. But as it turns out after an analysis at a dermatologist’s clinic, my skin was actually very dehydrated, and it only looked oily from the outside from all the stuff I put on it.

So I started drinking more - even if I hate the taste of water - just for that.

And lately, I’ve discovered oils and how I could get away with slathering it on and people describing it as a glow. I’ve started off with Sunday Riley and Emma Lewisham but after several expensive bottles, you’d think, let me find some cheaper ones and as it turns out, there is a whole universe of oils.

This one is local (Miabelle) and they also have body oils which I want to try out; not particularly happy with normal drugstore/supermarket body lotions like Aveeno and Jergens.

Christmas wish-list

Ahhhh when money is no object…

Ming's LW.01 ultra lightweight watch

It’s billed as the world's lightest mechanical watch, weighing in at 8.8 and 10.8 grams. It also looks to me like you’d always be staring at the end of the world (the star symbol in the middle is the big bang in reverse when the universe collapses unto itself). Only 200 will be made so get yours for the bargain price of $21,150 from Ming

Nike strength equipment

The speckled bumper plates look cool! Starts at $17 from Nike Strength

EVO BLP-1 Black Panther Sonic Touchscreen toothbrush

Ever wondered what kind of oral implements the country of Wakanda uses?? Not exactly made of Vibranium, but the tech is there like an LCD touchscreen display, automatic pressure protection and a built-in brush tracker. Pre-order from Kickstarter, $100

Alessi Pulcina espresso coffee maker

I like coffee stuff though to be honest, I can’t be bothered spending 15 minutes making one. But for aesthetic reasons alone, I can be convinced to get myself one of these aluminum beauties; $166

Anza Espresso Maker

And speaking of aesthetics, this one is gorgeous; the machine features a sleek silhouette clad in a non-porous white metal exterior. A wooden base and handle and natural brass tray enhance the aesthetic, while a vintage ceramic knob completes the details. To keep a clean exterior, the controls are placed on the top, and the water reservoir sits in the rear; $2,131

1975 Ford F250 custom truck

I don’t drive, but it doesn’t mean that I would if I were gifted this six-speed manual beaut with its fully boxed frame and Cummins 5.9-litre engine.

Super73 Blackout SE E-Bike

But my 1st love would always be motorbikes. This Super73-R offers standard features like Magura brakes, Blain handlebars, and a rear rack, while adding a Fox Float 3 EVOL adjustable rear shock and Oury grips. The 750W nominal motor unlocks speeds over 28 mph in off-road mode, while the removable, rechargeable battery supports up to 40 miles of range in throttle-only, 20-mph Class-2 mode, and over 75 miles in Class-1 pedal-assist operation; $7,502

OnePlus Open smartphone

Almost actually bought a Samsung Fold, just because; $1,500

Seer Perfecta AI Grill

It’s AI-powered that’s all you need to know! All you need to do is leave the cooking to AI; it cooks steaks and burgers to your desired doneness. Its dual infrared burners sear on both sides, so there's no need to flip, and it can reach temperatures of up to 1,652 degrees Fahrenheit, cooking food ten times faster than traditional grills. Select your desired doneness on the app, and the automated grill senses its thickness while recognizing up to 50 types of food, ensuring your main dish is at your preferred temperature. Not limited to just meat, the Seer Perfecta also works as an oven for pizzas and a rotisserie for chicken and vegetables; $2,500

Monopoly 85th Anniversary Edition

When you’re that old, you need to have some serious sparkle; this one is embellished with 2,000 Swarovski crystals; $1,747

What's the time?

The very first time I put on the Apple Watch when it first came out, I was hooked (though I had to take it off every night to charge it because the battery of that 1st generation model didn’t last long).

But this was because I literally had Apple everything and if you were in that ecosystem, the watch was another extension of that. You quickly viewed text messages on it (which prompted people to ask if you needed to go); answered calls (which got you strange looks); or even paid your groceries or purchases via NFC (which had people gaping which was actually pleasing).

But three watches later, I feel that I’m done with it. I’m currently using a stainless steel model and if it broke, or got old and irrelevant (the fate of every Apple device), I don’t think I’ll pay out another $NZ 1400+ for a new one.

I’m also done with having to be ‘connected’ all the time- it’s exhausting and pointless. If it meant doing and actually acquiring/achieving something tangible like money, or saving a life or benefitting someone, then I’m all for it.

But all it ever does I feel is gaslight me 😅. So there, I’m really done it!! (though full disclosure- if the Watch Ultra was smaller, I would have bought it).

But I feel that I’m ready to go back to analogue and these are my picks:

Shinola Sea Creatures Skeleton Dial Watch

The material looks familiar because some of my Nike sneakers have the same thing- recycled ocean-bound plastic. This one retails $US 450

Seiko Prospex SSC911 Speedtimer Solar Chronograph

Chronographs look great because they look hyper-masculine, but a lot of them are inevitably too big for my small wrist. This one by Seiko is a dainty 41.4 mm. Retails $US700

Cartier Tank Must

Around 2018, I mulled buying a simple Rolex Oyster Perpetual which was then, a reasonable $NZ 7K. Now, the price has doubled, so… And then I saw this and I must say, this is my top pick.

Sunday's purchases

My domain is inside the house, though if the dishwasher broke, I wouldn’t have a clue on how to fix it. Lately, I’ve been focusing on the kitchen and how I could make it better (without a full renovation which it actually needs). I transferred all the coffee stuff to the other side of the bench away from all the cooking and prep stuff (air fryer, rice cooker, microwave) and what do you know, suddenly I miraculously gave myself more space. Next would be getting a better food processor after the old one started to fall apart (bought a Kitchen Aid one which is on its way); perhaps finding a smaller rice cooker as opposed to using a Russell Hobbs all-in-one cooker and maybe, just maybe, I would plunk down some serious $$$ on that Kitchen Aid mixer I’ve always wanted.

Then there’s a new utensils drawer, proper cutlery, some Le Creuset pans…the list is long.

Today, we saw a good deal on a Dyson vacuum. The price is still pretty steep, but the proof is in the vacuuming and wow- I think the carpets look and feel cleaner fluffier…

Confessions and declarations

Confession: Did you know that I don’t know how to shoot manual??

Declaration: Will learn how, for real

I traded in the Nikon Z 6 to the Z 6 ii which has useful upgraded features for video

The essentials

1. a bottle of Morello cherries for your Tequila Sunrise cocktails

2. Prunes for the fibre

3. bananas for your oats in the morning

4. tuna for your lunches (which goes with rice and four eggs)

5. artificial sweetener (in 2021, I went back to having the tiniest amount of raw sugar for my espressos for about four months).

6. fresh underwear (for the new year)

All dressed up and nowhere to go

I don’t know why I keep buying new clothes when it looks like there’s no place to go and even if when all of this is stable, I wouldn’t be confident gallivanting about knowing that someplace, somewhere, Covid-19 is lurking.

Nike Air Force 1 Crater Whites

I want this! Freewrite Traveler Typewriter

The dream is to write. Just do it, an inner voice always says, but I keep having an excuse, usually nothing at all related to actual writing; like I need a great notebook; I need a new iPad; I need a new desk with a marble top; I need two weeks off; or this one- I need a Freewrite Traveler Typewriter!

From Uncrate:
Staying away from distractions on a phone, laptop, or tablet so you can think and write is very difficult. So difficult that a device like the Freewrite Traveler makes perfect sense. It has a main 4.76" x 2.75" E Ink screen, with a smaller status screen below it, a full-size, scissor-switch keyboard with 2mm of travel, and very little else. It's constantly saving in the background to its internal flash storage, has WiFi for backing up to the cloud, and has an internal battery that lasts for up to four weeks, recharges over USB-C, and enables the device to weigh just 1.6 lbs with a footprint half the size of a typical laptop.

Starts at US$429