Covid-19 Community Support and Mental Wellness Thread

a reply to: toolgal462

Your post made me laugh and that was a welcome change from the sadness I was feeling for Ketsuko's son. I shot marbles in the dirt and built treehouses with scrap wood out of the back of a neighbors truck (got my az whooped for that one and it was totally worth it!)

He goes to summer camps all summer. He's already worried about them. One has field trips and swimming all summer. One is a science camp. One is an invention camp where they make contraptions out of up-cycle junk.

Just a thought: can you build a robot together out of up-cycled stuff around the house? Even if it's stuff you weren't planning on stripping for robots, it might be worth the time and effort to get him engaged in something awesome.

originally posted by: 0zzymand0s
a reply to: toolgal462

Your post made me laugh and that was a welcome change from the sadness I was feeling for Ketsuko's son. I shot marbles in the dirt and built treehouses with scrap wood out of the back of a neighbors truck (got my az whooped for that one and it was totally worth it!)

He goes to summer camps all summer. He's already worried about them. One has field trips and swimming all summer. One is a science camp. One is an invention camp where they make contraptions out of up-cycle junk.

Just a thought: can you build a robot together out of up-cycled stuff around the house? Even if it's stuff you weren't planning on stripping for robots, it might be worth the time and effort to get him engaged in something awesome.

That's how we used to play too! And I would still love to build a tree house or club house. Boy were those things horrible. LOL so poorly constructed!

As for gardening, if you are into it, it can really take up a lot of time. I love gardening and I'm not that good at it, although people tell me I am.

Still a bit too cold most days for me to start, but little by little I'm cleaning up the beds and stuff.

a reply to: 0zzymand0s

If we can get him buckled down and through school work today, he mentioned wanting to build a robot army out of his LEGOs with his father this afternoon. We'll also let him try to chat a few questions in at the end of his Zoom class this evening just to say hi.

originally posted by: drussell41
a reply to: ketsuko

He has a very cool life. I'm impressed.

It will return.

Yeah, I want to be adopted by Ketsuko's family!

a reply to: ketsuko

Awesome! Lego robots > all. Especially with dad! (no offense, moms!)

a reply to: 0zzymand0s

You should post some of your music!

Thanks for this thread, it's nice to have a positive place.

I'm fearful all the time now, for my parents, friends, family. Most of the people I know still don't think it's anything to worry about. But the numbers say I will start losing people in about a week or two. I hope it's all a conspiracy by the banks to tank asset prices so they can buy more control on the cheap.

I've been doing projects around the house, watching old ufc, playing PS4, but generally living in a state of anxiety.

Best wishes to everyone, even the debunkers :p

a reply to: toolgal462

I'm raising him with the same philosophy that my parents used. Childhood was the time to go and do things to find out what you liked.

Since he has no fear of going and doing, we have always used the summer as a time to let him explore the things he likes or thinks he might be interested in. We are fortunate to have the means to do it.

a reply to: ketsuko

Its gotta be tough for him. And you and T eh?

Ive got a bit of a story too, and maybe theres something to take away from it.

Over the years, Ive had people ask me "Hey, other than the health stuff, isnt it just like a big ol vacation? Sittin on yer ass all day?" And, its very much a "well yes, but actually no" meme come to life..

Its tough in ways that are difficult to describe. It isnt "just" a break in routine, because even when I established a new routine.. There is still so much I want to do that I cant.

Thinking about it, Im slowly crawling up on the two decade mark. Its probably why I talk so damn much

My suggestion, for whatever its worth, its to really try to find new activities. I guess thats.. obvious, but I kept trying to figure out how to live the same life under new circumstances and that wasnt working so well for me.

The process of exploring new things was, itself, helpful. I ended up looking at all this technology and inventions I had been working on before I got sick in an entirely new light. But then.. about a decade in, I started to realize that there just wasnt a road to success there. Sure, I thought the work was incredible (still do), but I just wasnt in a position to really get much further than I had. I was at the stage of development where it was time to actually start bringing it all to market. I needed help, and I couldnt get it.

Thats a whole different kind of frustration.. Then my dad died, and some people took advantage of the situation. Not going to go too much into it, but it tore me up.

I decided to do woodwork again, specifically lutherie (guitars). An unintended result was that I also got to playing again as well as a whole new field of electronics (much different designing a headphone amp vs a guitar pedal!).

Ive actually gotten rather good, but I also had to work on a design that I could play comfortably. Its best for me to play reclined and there just isnt anything out there that works well for that. I ended up creating a new body design, working of the foundation of a headless guitar. My thought process is always "how can this help me, and other people?"

Of course, Im not able to actually help others with my lutherie work any more than I could.. anything and everything else Ive created. But, I just hold it in my heart that maybe the ideas themselves will be taken by someone else and theyll run with it. The idea all along, for everything, was to try to release it all anonymously, so the concept of "no recognition" doesnt bother me. All Ive ever wanted is to help people (including myself, honestly), but I dont seem very good at it.

But.. Through it all, its kept my mind and heart occupied. Thats more valuable than any treasure. The guitar playing even allows me to express things Im feeling, but it took a while to get to that point.

Not sure why I shared any of this, really. Maybe itll help someone. But in typing it, I wanted to make the offer: if anyone wants a guitar, let me know. I cant afford shipping, but wont ask anything more than the exact shipping cost. Theyd be "normal" guitars, as the "cripple custom" ( ) isnt quite ready for primetime. They are all professionally setup (frets leveled, properly cut nut, etc.), a few different body styles, six string, seven string.. Some smaller ones too. I dont know how we would actually work it out, but if someone is interested, maybe admin/mods can help us out. AFAIK, I dont have the 'rona, but in these times.. Im not gonna be offended by someone disinfecting the hell out of it either

a reply to: Serdgiam

Thanks for that.

It's hardest on him because he's such a go and do type.

T and I are hardcore introverts, so it hasn't bothered us as much yet. The hardest part for us is just having to share the house with everyone else all the time -- no precious alone time except for when one of the other of us goes on an errand alone.

Otherwise, not going anywhere is fine.

But we will all be ready to get back in the saddle again as soon as we're allowed.

a reply to: ketsuko

I kinda straddle the line between introvert and extrovert. In some ways, its the best of both worlds, but in others its.. not

Its more a mood thing, and that doesnt always work out lol If im feeling extroverted, it doesnt mean Im actually in a position to be extroverted and same goes for those introvert phases.

Do you have the ability to really set up your own spaces where you live? Its not the same, but everyone having their own "cave" might be fun. Im pretty much alone all the time, so kinda the opposite situation.

Places like youtube can be immensely valuable for learning new things, music, etc. But things like ebooks, ecomics, and emags can be easily overlooked.

It can all be tough, especially for those of us who have only known pretty stable times. Threads like this can give hope, and I think we can give hope to each other too.

Just gotta remember to be patient in nearly all things, which is probably more a reminder to myself than anything. Its easy to snap at people, etc. when any situation has uncertainty introduced. Finding peace and contentment can be a lifelong journey.

a reply to: toolgal462

Ok. Here's one:

And there's two:

a reply to: 0zzymand0s

First one
punk rock!
love it.

I was most definitely into punk rock as a teen.

This aint hard core punk, more pop punk, which is what I liked!!!

a reply to: toolgal462

Thanks! I loved the Damned a little more than I loved Black Flag. Although Henry Rollins is awesome.

Who is the lead singer? I love the faux brit punk rock accent!!!

Reminiscent of Sex Pistol vocals. Or maybe Johnny Lydon.

I love the Damned so much.

a reply to: toolgal462

I am a singer. I mean, for what it's worth. Am I doing an accent? Really? I can't hear it, haha.

Ok, so I love the, I dunno, theatricality of doing things with the voices, but I never realized it sounded the least bit UK.

No wonder my SO thought I was a Brit.

That makes my day!

(and man I LOVED Lydon's snarling rasp!)

double thumbs up man!

Although I have zero musical talent. I do consider myself to have impeccable taste in music (of all kinds).

My favorite genres are definitely, rock n roll whether it be punk inspired, metal inspired, seattle/grunge prog or classic rock.

Your band was good! Get the band back together!!!

GD man, how could you not realize you are doing the faux brit/punk rock vocals?

Billy Joe Armstrong is known for it. You do it even more than he does. LOL

I love Johnny Lydon and loved PIL.

You could do a damn good cover of "This is Not a Love Song"

Which, incidentally, is what song #2 is reminiscent of in that guitar or is it the bass guitar sound>?