Random Ramblings

We are supposed to be back up to the upper 40s tomorrow and near 60 Sunday with rain.  All this frozen tundra will be gone.  I can take a couple of days of snow and staying home, but then I start getting cabin fever.  Although I don't plan on getting out on the roads today, which are totally iced now with no snow to pack on it, I cleared off both vehicles and the sidewalks so that we could get out if we needed to.

This is how my luck goes:  I have a friend who has one of those expensive CD cleaners, so I decided to give it a try and had him do 10 CDs that I didn't care much about. They came out great and played perfect. So I decided to give him 10 more to do, this time more expensive and rare CDs that were in pretty rough shape... this time 3 of them ended up damaged. They look like new now, but won't play without massive skipping... he went too far with the cleaning. So I won't be doing that anymore. Interestingly, 2 of the CDs that didn't fair well were self produced off-label albums - perhaps they use cheaper discs that aren't as thick?

Oh man, that sounds horrible.

No idea on the disc cleaning. I always just do it myself with a micro fiber towel. Seems to do the trick. I don't trust any machine where you insert a CD unless it's a CD player.

I have one somewhere that you have to hand crank to clean the CD and fix scratches with.  It does the trick.  I have had a couple of used CDs that I bought where some tracks wouldn't play at all, spin it through the cleaner, and the disc would then play.

Luckily I got replacements of the CDs he messed up. I feel bad having to tell him, but I think it's for the best that I let him know his machine eats too many layers

The bad news: my PC cannot be upgraded to Windows 11--compatibility issues.  The good news: Microsoft should be supporting the software until at least October 14, 2025.  This means a PC replacement will loom at that point.  Man, technology upgrades so quickly.  My PC is only six years old.  :O

Normaniac wrote:

The bad news: my PC cannot be upgraded to Windows 11--compatibility issues.  The good news: Microsoft should be supporting the software until at least October 14, 2025.  This means a PC replacement will loom at that point.  Man, technology upgrades so quickly.  My PC is only six years old.  :O

Mine isn't either. I couldn't tell you how old my desktop is.  It keeps doing what I need it to do, though, so I haven't replaced it.

I'm now 100% vaxxed.

I am now about ready to throw my computer and Zoom interface through the freakin' wall!!!!

What's the problem?

Xid wrote:

What's the problem?

A) Getting them to talk to one another even with the proper driver.  I did finally figure this out.

B) Figuring out how to edit tracks and save them so you can use the edited piece on the recorder without having to use the computer if you want to record more parts.

C). Figuring out EQing, adding effects, etc. in either Audacity or Reaper.  Having used table-top recorders, a DAW is more than a little daunting!

If you are going thru a tough time and it feels like God isn't hearing your prayers, I highly recommend the book "Hope In The Dark" by Craig Groschel.  I was in tears many times through this short book.

I'll have to check that out, Alldat.  For the most part (apart from Dean Koontz), I don't really read fiction much anymore.  I'm reading Zenith 2025 by Tom Horn, and interested in a book by Josh Peck (he's into quantum physics and Biblical prophecy).  

Hubby is getting better very slow.
He's frustrated that he isn't able to do the things he did. 


I've told him be patient.

rockerVu2 wrote:

Hubby is getting better very slow.
He's frustrated that he isn't able to do the things he did. 


I've told him be patient.

It's very hard to have to wait, especially for someone as active as Aart, he used to bicycle a lot didn't he?

It is difficult for men to not be able to do what they want to do.  We are not used to that and it feels emasculating.  Be patient with him as well, Vonnie.

That's what I have figured out.
He is very frustrated that he can't do all things he wants to do.
The healing goes slowly this time.

Yes, he was a very actice with race biking.

Thanks so much Chris for your words.
I try to be patient, but sometimes he drives me nuts..

Quote :

I try to be patient, but sometimes he drives me nuts.

The theme for marriage 

Guilty/Forgiven wrote:

Quote :

I try to be patient, but sometimes he drives me nuts.

The theme for marriage 

Oh yes, this is very true... just as my wife!

Wife signed us both up for the Pickle Ball league in our community.
So during a two-hour "Introduction to Pickle Ball" session last night I was reminded once again how I lack any real athleticism.

What is pickle ball?

alldatndensum wrote:

What is pickle ball?

Miniature speed tennis.  It's quite fun!

^It's super popular around here.  We went to church with some folks who started/own a pickle ball equipment company and as far as I know, have been very successful with it.  (We changed churches a couple years ago and haven't kept in contact with 'em.)  My understanding is that it's pretty easy to pick up too, so folks of all ages and skills are enjoying it.

alldatndensum wrote:

What is pickle ball?

Xid wrote:

alldatndensum wrote:

What is pickle ball?

Miniature speed tennis.  It's quite fun!

Yep, it's like a cross between tennis and ping-pong (table tennis).
The scoring rules are a little interesting to get used to, but you play it on a smaller court that is kind of laid out similar to a ping-pong table (apparently the size of a badminton court).  There is a net in the center of the court (just like tennis).  You play with 4 players (two to each team) using an over-sized ping-pong paddle and plastic whiffle ball.  It was fun, but I stink at it.  Will have to find some patient people to play with to see if I can get any better.