WTF-Beta

So I wear the hat overnight - bonus, I can pull it over my eyes for darkness but it is cooler than the eye mask I had been using. (I also have that phenomenon that I didn't know was "a thing"- when I close my eyes, I don't see black - more a reddish static) Sometimes I also wear it at the computer or in the car between appointments.

Hey, I'm all for using the placebo effect if it continues working - or maybe there is something to this?

I've had sporadic headaches since high school, but they increased in frequency in the early 2000s. I started with a triptan only in the last 7 years or so to take when I sense one coming which has given me days back - almost always stops it with just one dose, though there is a limit to how many to use/month and I was going over some months. (I used to lose days going back to bed or just suffering through) Started Qulipta about a year ago, but that hasn't changed frequency significantly - also some of the meds are hard on heart, liver or kidneys so trying to keep those numbers in range. Moved on to Botox treatments - had to go through all the other options first. I just had one treatment which they said may not do much. Second treatment is scheduled for the end of the month and that seems to be when most patients notice a reduction in frequency. Migraines? Clusters? I get the sense no one really knows for sure and they just guess and see if something helps.

Well...? dang. Placebo?

I went ahead and bought one of the hats. (Migraine folks will understand the willingness to try just about anything) So far this month my need for medication to stop a headache has dropped significantly. Sleeping heavier into the morning too.

Huh.

Bought some enzymes to add to the laundry. ("Enzyme laundry booster" on Amazon) Found out our washer will pause for as long as desired so tried letting it soak for an hour after agitating a little. MrsTuner said the sheets smelled great! (She has quite the nose for "boy smell") I may try an overnight soak on my stuff in the future.

But there are less Google searches for "Epstein files" so ... Mission Accomplished!

Many piano techs regularly use ear protection so "what's the best" question comes up pretty often. I've always said that "the ones you will wear" is the best option. Meaning easy and comfortable while getting the job done. Congrats on finding something that works for you!

I've also read that most people end up using too much detergent on a regular basis that adds to the problems.
https://www.rd.com/article/using-too-much-laundry-detergent/

Nothing to add here except how hard it is to see your kids(no matter how old) with medical challenges...

All connected to protect the pedo in chief.

Hail downtown too - but no crazy-big stuff. Awesome lightening last night rolling across the lake

Thinking of you both..

Remember that I'm thinking about the back side of the pedal - which makes a lever idea possible because we want to push UP the back side to lift the dampers. That way it will be pushing between the floor (support) and the underside of the back of the pedal.

Getting the mechanical linkage to wrap around behind could be an interesting challenge, which is why I like the idea of a solenoid (like in a player piano system) connected to a pedal or knee switch to activate. It would be "all or nothing" which is simpler than a servo that would allow for half pedal and more sensitive movement. Again, because it is a grand piano, there is access to the back of the pedal to apply lift between that and the floor.

Here's a lever idea for a drum that may give your husband some ideas? Something like this would need to anchor to the pedal box for stability

@ShiroKuro said:

@rontuner what happened to your achilles? Did it rupture, or did you have a problem with your heel?

Weekend warrior driveway basketball. Mine didn't completely tear which complicated diagnosis. Primary care doc got it wrong and I hobbled around for a few weeks until I saw a specialist and he got it right away.

I was also going to suggest Bach - nevermind!

I looked at the C3 pedals last night and the back side woudn't work on those, but the front side seemed a bit flatter than I remember so perhaps a clamp across that side could be possible? See what your husband thinks? You should be able to press up from under the piano on the lever that the pedal rod pushes, allowing the pedal rod to slip out of the hole at the back of the pedal on the left and middle pedals.

The really cool solution would be to use one of those plug in pedals for a digital to activate a little servo-motor to push up on the back side of the pedal from the floor. Way beyond my expertise, but I'm sure some engineer type could come up with something from off the shelf parts!

Ah, achilies repair... I went through that back around 2000 and mine was a slow recovery with no weight bearing to start. I grew to hate crutching.

Do you also have a digital? Perhaps that would be the easiest beginning step using a plug in pedal that you could place where convenient.

If the back side works, I'd skip the padding and go for maximum stability of the clamp between pedals.

Two bars, possibly covered with thin felt or leather on the side that will touch the pedal. (hopefully in the back) Probably stronger to be long enough for 4 vertical bolts - 2 between pedals and 2 on the outside.

Yamaha C3? That's the piano at our choir practice tonight. I can take a look.

Hm. Interesting approach. Take a look at the back side of your pedals where you would disconnect the two rods. If there is enough room, that might be the best place to clamp two bars across? With the pedals rounded in the front, that might prove more problematic to get a solid clamping force between the pedals.

Check with your tech! There have been discussions online about making knee pedaling possible for clients - so techs have thought about options before. Most of these have been more permanent solutions that involve a redesign to the trapwork under the piano. Probably more than you want to do!

Starting with the design picture, I'd add an "up and over" section to the left and then down to pedal level. Lots of possible issues with twist and stability come to mind...

@Steve-Miller said:

@Rontuner

Did you notice any difference in how it cuts after you changed the bevel?

Not that I could tell, but I'm no chef...

correct. But when the time came, I just put a regular edge on it. Like Bernard's, it has a thin blade which is great for getting through squashes and melons easily.