Quote from: Michelle_K on February 09, 2025, 06:01:21 PMI bought a wind up pendulum clock. I had a lot of trouble trying to get it to run, so I gave up and set it on the floor by my exercise bike. Today I decided I would put it on top of the faerie cage, and put a CD under one side to make it look level. The clock has decided to run and it chimes the hour.

Michelle, just having the top of the hour as a chime is unusual. Is it a
 two note (bim-bam) or one note gong?  Most are on the hour and half hour.  Are you mechanically minded   Analog mechanical movement clocks are finicky, but a little knowledge goes a long way with them.  Clocks are very rewarding, helping me deal with stressors and for me are calming at night.

Listen to the tick-tock sound.  The clock will have to be level and the pendulum plumb for it to run.
The tick and the tock must be even on both beats.  Quicker on one side or the other affects the power transfer through the escape pivot.  Sometimes the movement can be adjusted in the case, but usually leveling the case with unobtrusive spacers do the trick.  If the furniture isn't level, you could level the furniture to give the clock what it needs.  In my house, I've long case clocks upstairs and down, they both require shims under the front feet to level them out so the clock will run.  My Vienna regulator wall clock has to have a spacer behind the top, bringing it away from the wall about 1/4 inch.  All three of these clocks are now over 120 years old, yet run charmingly and accurately.  Two of them have been running for 50 years that I know about!  You might have to adjust the pendulum bob up or down slightly to set accuracy.

If the clock hasn't been cleaned (just the pivot holes in the plates) then you may help it out with judicious use of cotton swab and non-residue solvent/cleaner on the spots where the pivot shafts come through the front and back plates.  Nothing and nowhere else.  Doubtlessly, prepared to be amazed the black gunk that comes off. keep cleaning the holes until they are clean.  Then lube Very VERY VERY (purposeful repetition) lightly with sewing machine type light oil, touched to the shaft ends.  It doesn't take much.  A toothpick or plastic pick touched to the cap of the oil container  is plenty.  You'll notice that there are slight bevels where the shafts come through.  Those are oil wells.  If over oiled, gravity will break the surface tension and the oil will run out.  Leaving no oil in the wells.  That will murder the clock.

Apologies for the off topic post.

"Counselor you opened that line of questioning.  Objection over-ruled."

You will hear a steady "tick-tock" rhythm, with equal spacing between each tick and tock. If the rhythm sounds irregular—like "tick-tick... tock-tock" or has uneven gaps—the clock is out of beat, meaning the pendulum is not swinging properly in balance.  the sound is produced by the rhythmic movement of the escapement wheel when the verge strikes it; back and forth.

If someone can tell me how to drag and drop an image, that'd be useful.

When I put the clock on top of the cage, I turned the screw at the bottom of the pendulum a few more turns. It had fallen off on the drive home. I may need to adjust it a bit more to get it to keep correct time.

It is a single note chime, counting out the hour on the hour, and a singe chime on the half hour. It sounds almost like the clock we had when I was growing up. Except for when I adjusted the speed, the clock has been running steady for a few days now.

I think I need to decide when to wind the clock, which should be once a week.
Michelle

To be honest, I watched a few you tube videos about the wind up clocks. I don't think any even mentioned the nut on the bottom of the pendulum.
After buying the clock, the nut came completely off on the trip home. Setting the clock aside for awhile, allowed me to subconsciously work on the problem. Setting the clock on top the cage, I turned the nut more thinking it now looked close to where it was when I bought the clock.

Sometimes we learn from experience. When I was younger, somebody had forgotten to wind the clock. After winding the clock, I just pushed the hour hand to the proper hour. The clock then was out of sync and would chime the wrong hour. It was just a matter of pushing the hour hand back to the proper hour and using the minute hand to properly set the time.

As for having mechanically knowledge, it may have been more of an opportunity, than natural knowledge. Starting with my dad and his partner going into the business of repairing cars. By my age of 4 the partner was no longer a partner. My dad had also worked as a mechanic for Green Giant. Having the workshop on the farm, and helping my dad work on the tractors, I got experience helping rebuild a tractor engine.

It became, I have the tools and I have the knowledge. Why not do my own mechanical work? I couldn't work at a garage as I did not have the formal training.
Michelle

Quote from: Michelle_K on February 12, 2025, 01:50:11 PMIt became, I have the tools and I have the knowledge. Why not do my own mechanical work? I couldn't work at a garage as I did not have the formal training.

At a job interview, I asked the interviewer, "Do you want someone with a degree or someone who can do the work? One does not imply the other."

I got the job.

It was my understanding that steroids are used in the inhaler for asthma. After a lifetime of negative talk about steroids, and how dangerous they are, I question if I really want to use steroids.

I do a little research and this is what I find:
Did you know? The steroids used in steroid tablets to treat asthma are called corticosteroids. These are a copy of steroids the body produces naturally, to deal with injury or inflammation. They are not the same as the steroids bodybuilders use.

You mean, the steroids for asthma are not going to counteract with the estrogen? Sure, I can make the claim that I am drug free, but leaning over the bathroom sink might cause a lot of back pain. I just took some Acetaminophen, and I think growing up that was classified as an evil drug, courtesy of the anti-drug teacher in school.
I think there was also some idea that if you ate a well balanced meal, you would not need extra vitamins or minerals. Thinking about this, I seem to remember a teacher stating that there is a candy bar in his desk because there is a diabetic student in the class.

I don't know if I'm not hearing things right, I seem to be hearing how dangerous hormones are, probably from someone that considers themselves to know about this stuff by going through it. And now they are going to gate keep, telling everyone else that they don't qualify.

Regardless, without the proper medicine, I may find myself stopping to catch my breath on my walks, because I am not walking slow enough. It was interesting that a couple layers of cloth in the mask was enough to help warm the air when breathing through my mouth, but then it could be air leaks causing the air to be warmed by passing by my chin or my nose.
Michelle

I got a new pair of roller skates in the mail today. They are Euro size 44 or U.S. men's size 10. I tried them on and they are snug. Not painful, just a good hug. A thinner sock may be just the proper fit. They still need to be properly set up before I skate, but sitting at the computer without laces, they felt very good.

I had a pair of skates with black boots in the storage trailer. Rather than dig them out, I decided to order different skates. This was back in 2023, and I ordered a pair of women's size 12 rink skates from eBay. I was a bit excited to get out and skate, that I missed the obvious mistake that I made. It was actually my second time out that I fell and broke both wrists.

It was about a month ago that I was looking at the 12 on the roller skates, and I realized they don't make a woman's size skate, they make unisex skates. It was actually a man's size 12 skate, 2 sizes too big for me. And the wheels were spaced the wrong distance for me, resulting in being unable to control the skates.

The other item in the mail was a skateboarding helmet. I already had a child sized bicycle helmet and it looks like the only difference is the vent holes. I haven't really been on any skates since I broke both wrists, so this might get a bit scary when I do decide to skate again. I may want full protection, but on the other hand, it may be unlikely that I would brake a wrist again.
Michelle

Have you thought about hip pads? It is good to protect your head, knees, wrists, and elbows, but a broken pelvis can sideline you for much longer. I loved watching Roller Derby on TV and was amazed at the protection that they wore. Each person was a tank rolling along, and a group of them with their arms locked were an unbreakable fortress.

On some other website, with discussion on roller skating safety equipment, it was suggested padded ice hockey shorts.
At my age, I guess there is a concern about loss of bone density, but going on walks should mean there is no problem. I think about it, wondering if density had anything to do with breaking both wrists, but there seems to have been enough density to screw the wrist plates to the bones. After breaking my wrists, I decided to start drinking milk again, then I realized I had been getting my milk in the pudding I was making and eating.

Last fall I stopped riding the exercise bike when my leg started aching. I'm back to riding, but not to the extent that I was. I'm now wondering if I had shoes that were too big. On the stationary bike, cleats on the shoes that lock onto the pedals is no problem. I would not want them on a street bicycle, as I have a lot of trouble getting them unlocked.
Michelle

@Michelle_K
Dear Michelle:
Definitely safety equipment... padded shorts, helmets, etc... 

Cleats on the shoes that lock onto the pedals is a real problem on a street bike or mountain bike... 
...if you have to dump the bike quickly you don't want your feet locked on the pedals.

HUGS, Danielle [Northern Star Girl]

Quote from: Michelle_K on February 16, 2025, 12:46:47 PMOn some other website, with discussion on roller skating safety equipment, it was suggested padded ice hockey shorts.
At my age, I guess there is a concern about loss of bone density, but going on walks should mean there is no problem. I think about it, wondering if density had anything to do with breaking both wrists, but there seems to have been enough density to screw the wrist plates to the bones. After breaking my wrists, I decided to start drinking milk again, then I realized I had been getting my milk in the pudding I was making and eating.

Last fall I stopped riding the exercise bike when my leg started aching. I'm back to riding, but not to the extent that I was. I'm now wondering if I had shoes that were too big. On the stationary bike, cleats on the shoes that lock onto the pedals is no problem. I would not want them on a street bicycle, as I have a lot of trouble getting them unlocked.
Michelle

I decided to look up skate parks. I found one 15 miles away, open rain or shine or snow. Unsupervised, skate at your own risk. Since it is unsupervised, naturally it is open everyday.

I found another one that is 50 miles away in Buffalo, MN. I thought it quite odd that it was across the street from the nursing home.

There is a roller rink 84 miles away that sells skates and accessories, plus requests buying a ticket online. 50 miles away is one that seems to have skating, arcade, and inflatable bounce, and pizza. No online ticket sales, so it should not be crowded.

Still need to order more safety equipment, then I can head to a skating rink. Ya, but, if I get my safety equipment then I won't have any excuse not to roller skate.
Michelle

Afraid of the roller skates is not the problem. It is the slightest bit of snow in the air and I change my shopping plans. Working the night shift for 30 years, and driving home after midnight during the winter. One night I did not make it home, even with the 4-wheel drive I got stuck in the middle of the road. Thankfully someone came along and pulled me out. Later after it was plowed out, the snow was higher than my truck.

Driving at night with blowing snow, it was difficult to see where the road was, especially on the gravel roads. Kind of guessing somewhere between the electric poles.

Then there is when meeting a car at night, the glare is blinding. I don't really know what it would be like now that my cataracts are gone. Although that one evening it was foggy and the blue headlights seemed to light up the fog. I might have to get anti-glare glasses just for night driving.

In case you haven't guessed it yet, if I drive to the roller rink, I will end up driving home after dark. The last time driving home from St Cloud, I was trying a different route and missed my turn by being in the wrong lane.

Looking at the directions for my last appointment, I realized I was on the wrong freeway after the split. I was still able to get to my appointment on time.
Michelle

It has been cold the past couple of days. The temperature inside the house has dropped down to 63 F. Hopefully it will now warm up. The past couple days I put my sleeping bag on my bed, at least there are no drafts. I need to get some groceries. I'm out of milk and eggs.

Went to start my car, it was still -1F. It cranked a couple of times and quit. I noticed lately it had been getting sluggish. Dug out the jumper cables, and grabbed the battery from in the house. No go, can't get a good electrical connection. I don't remember when the cables were last used. I think I need some new clamps.

At the moment, the charger is on the battery. This charger does not have a gauge, so I can't tell how much charge is going into the battery. When I get it started, I should drive straight to an auto parts store and get a new battery.
Michelle

@Michelle_K
Dear Michelle:
Yes indeed, please take my "alaskan-girl" advice... if the battery is more than 5 or 6 years old, and it starts
to become a little sluggish when starting your car in below freezing temperatures, it is wise to get a new
battery before you have more troubles.  .... the same thing goes for very warm temperatures with the extra
electrical load of Air Conditioning and high Fan speeds which also can tax an older battery.

Also, you may consider buying new Jumper Cables and perhaps a better Battery Charger.
Here in Alaska, it is dangerous to not be prepared in the extremely cold temperatures.

In my bitter cold temperatures that can get way down to minus -30 to -40 (f) we "plug in"
the car with a Block Heater and a heated Battery Wrap... and with a good battery - problems solved.

HUGS, Danielle

I think things got messed up. My appointment with the therapist got charged to medicare instead of the VA.
I think I now have another gender dysphoria diagnosis. It appears that the therapy session was not approved by the VA.

I'm thinking I would be better off going to the local clinic. I already have a provider there. I have heard there are some places dropping coverage in anticipation of orders.
Michelle

For some reason, I have been made aware that if I come up behind a girl walking on a sidewalk, she will suffer great distress because I am a man. For her benefit I should cross the street and walk on the other side to alleviate any discomfort of me being so close. I wonder now if it is only some projection that I have put onto other people, because of what had been done to me. Certainly, it had nothing to do with the fact that some dog bit me in the rear when I returned home one day. It was so hilarious that everybody but me laughed at the time. Or my mother coming up behind me and yanking my hair to make me sit up straight. Then too are the times she came up behind me and slapped my face. Disciplined for staring at what, for looking across the table at my sister.
 Walking back home today, there was a couple at the post office. By the time I got to the corner, they were a couple feet behind me. I turned and saw them, thankfully they went straight as I turned the corner.
Michelle

Quote from: Michelle_K on February 12, 2025, 12:54:32 AMWhen I put the clock on top of the cage, I turned the screw at the bottom of the pendulum a few more turns. It had fallen off on the drive home. I may need to adjust it a bit more to get it to keep correct time.

It is a single note chime, counting out the hour on the hour, and a singe chime on the half hour. It sounds almost like the clock we had when I was growing up. Except for when I adjusted the speed, the clock has been running steady for a few days now.

I think I need to decide when to wind the clock, which should be once a week.
Michelle

I wind my four on Sundays.  As a ritual, it is rewarding.

There are a lot of blanks in my childhood. I have been doing some thinking about the roller skates that I had won. I don't remember winning them, and I don't remember skating with them. My mother might have decided they were too dangerous and they got put in my dad's workshop. At any rate, it may be that it was only a few hours that I wore those skates. Then later, much later, as an adult I cleared the aisle in the barn to skate. And it wasn't long and there was no longer any space to skate. The number of times we went to a roller rink could be counted on one hand, so I am guessing that in total it would be less than 50 hours that I have actually roller skated. After all that figuring, it looks like I am a beginner skater.
The ice skates don't count as I would get foot pain if I tried to ice skate.
Michelle

It seems that no matter how many times I write it, it just does not click. My aunts were over one time and a comment was made about longer hair on top of my head. My mother responded it was to be grabbed for discipline. The looks she got at that remark, caused her to quickly say just kidding. In order for my hair to be yanked to make me sit up straight would mean that it was long enough to be grabbed and yanked. You could say my hair was longer than most boys my age.

I mentioned that at the age of 2, a sister was born that lived for about 24 hours. I have used her name at one point. I wonder how much of a step it is from Myra to Michelle? Is little Mike short for Myra or Michelle?

A bit of confusion here, it seems to be an idea that even at the age of three, my mother is dressing me in skirts. The idea may be that I am treated as a girl therefore I am a girl. At the very least is the cross dressing aspect. There is an old article and it would fit, as my mother was the dominant parent. Another point was that my dad was off working, so was not around as much as my mother.
Another was the dangerous behavior of boys being restricted. Such as tree climbing, roller skating, sports, etc.
I ask if there was something that I did not know, or something that my mother knew. To be raised as a girl, and then get physical characteristics of a girl. So I end up being a boy that looks like a girl.
Or I should say, a man that looks like a woman. Apparently, my body is converting testosterone to estrogen, resulting in low testosterone, and growing breasts.
Michelle 

I was watching a video and the subject of teens getting double mastectomies came up. There was no mention of how many were cis gendered boys that had gynecomastia. And on that theme, I sure that the growth of breasts on a cis gendered boy would cause a lot of gender dysphoria for that boy. Possibly the boy would get a prescription for testosterone to correct the hormone imbalance that caused the breasts to grow.
There you have it, a male child getting a double mastectomy, and a prescription for testosterone. And the transphobic don't mention the fact that it is a male child.
Michelle