I'm NOT gone, I'm just "down" - as in "Man Down!"

[moe]

IF anyone has even noticed my absence of late, it is not for lack of interest, but rather an aversion to pain. (For those of you unfamiliar with MOE - he loves to tell STORIES. He is NOT a man of few words - just sayin')

Being the old geezer I am I managed to booger up my right arm doing nothing out of the ordinary! The tendonitis in my elbow has yet to show any signs of letting up, and that aggravates the nerves in my elbow causing incredible pain whenever I perform certain actions - like clicking a mouse button, or hovering over a mouse, and God help me if I have to do a click and drag! Moving inventory and stocking up on pots was much too painful - so I stopped.

And if THAT wasn't enough I managed to also pinch a nerve in my neck. I had NO IDEA that nerve could cause so much havok in my entire arm. Shooting pains, muscle spasms, and numbness (that somehow still hurt...).

It's been over 6 weeks since I hurt my arm and I am climbing the walls. I spend the majority of my day ON the computer - well, I used to. I had to find something else to occupy my time. On one of my daily visits to the Chiropractor I noticed what a nice day it was outside so when I got home I broke out my bicycle. Well, I dug it out, dusted it off, pumped air into the tires and checked the batteries. Okay, I pretty much expected the batteries to be low, but not dead! (I have them on a battery tender)

Having to replace the batteries is kind of a pain in the butt. My last re-design I had a custom seat built that housed my two batteries under the seat (not very visible). It works just fine and all, but I really think the weight is too high on the bike, and the access is a pain in the butt (who designed this piece of crap?) So I decided to do another re-design on my bike to occupy my "spare time". Who cares, right? I think it gets interesting, hang in there a bit longer.

So I am moving my batteries to a "battery trailer" - off the bike completely! Now I don't really need much of a trailer for 2 small batteries (6"x6"x7"). After looking at a LOT of bike trailer designs I decided NOT to re-invent the wheel. What I would do instead would be to use an existing "trailer" - in the form of a skateboard. A skateboard can handle all the sidewalks my bike can and it's already pretty well engineered. All I needed to do was design a custom "trailer hitch".

So my design now has the skateboard being towed behind my bike - with 2 batteries sitting atop the skateboard. That didn't sound all that "cool" now, did it? It just lacked something. . . . A passenger! If I made a "cover" for the batteries that LOOKED like a DOG and fully covered up the batteries, THEN I would have a Dog riding a Skateboard being towed behind a Bike! Now that sounds like something I'd like to see!

So right now, out in my workshop, sitting next to a hand crafted hardwood skateboard from Salemtown Board Company. (A Tennessee custom skateboard manufacturer) is the rough shape of a Basset Hound. He stands about 15" tall and around 27" long butt to nose. His rear quarter (his back end sitting on the skateboard) completely conceals the batteries. He is "standing" on his front two legs and looking straight ahead. I ordered some leather suede for his ears (I want them to be able to flap in the breeze - it will add to the impression that it an actual dog and not just a wood carving.

My new batteries came in Tuesday, my new skateboard Wednesday, and my bike comes back from it's Spring Overhaul at the local bike shop (which weirdly enough is called MOAB - Mother of all Bike Shops - but you don't need to be evil to use them - lol) Pretty much all I have left to do is finish shaping/carving/sanding the Basset Hound. Well, and then paint it - you know some white, some cream, some brown, some dark brown, some black - not like it will be any big deal. Okay, then I need to do the wiring from the batteries to the bike bag behind my seat where all the electrical connections are. That's where the key is located as well - I don't want anyone to just walk up and drive my bike away. Electrics don't work without the key.

So although I am NOT adventuring on HG, I am STILL adventuring!

btw: Here's pic of me and the bike back before I had the custom seat, and the batteries just sat behind the seat.

[moe]

Oh Yeah - here is the skateboard... with white wheels though

[marzian]

No Griptape?

[Paradoom]

he probably lays down on it and speeds down hills with like 120 km/h

[moe]

Just to be clear - I have NEVER been a skateboarder. I think I lack the physical coordination. I bought the skateboard strictly for it's looks (as "they" provided all the expertise - lol)

As for Griptape: Strangely enough, at least I wasn't expecting it, the top surface of the board feels like coarse sandpaper. It must be sprayed on at the end as there is a line going all the way around the board where they taped off the bottom of the board. So, give them more props for having griptape surface built into the clear finish on the wood.

And for the record: The fastest that bike has been is 57 mph. And that was on a long hill, in top gear, throttle maxed out, and me pedaling for my life. The whole time I was just waiting for that piece of gravel that was going to send my 16" front wheel spinning off into the ditch. Once was enough for me, Thank You.

[versengeteriks]

OGs rule... I guess most of us on HG probably are these days.. Im probably a young one at 40.

Nice bike BTW moe

'trix

[moe]

Well, I'm trying to make it back. Been a rough couple months. My "dog" is collecting dust in the shop. My Neck is "better", my shoulder is worse, and my elbow is still a biatch. Throw in a diabetic infection that required a trip to the ER for slicing and dicing, a couple weeks of changing bandages and chomping antibiotics - and I'm pretty much right where I started. sigh

I have been able to take my Moogle out a couple times. He's immo, so no risk, and he is a tank - so not much "mousing" required. Put him in the middle of the pile and wait. . . . . I spend most of my time massaging my arm between bursts of using the mouse. Still haven't done a lot with inventory (the part that hurts the most - click drag) Sometimes being old means you have to learn to live with your pains and limitations. This is a rough transition (loosing the painless movement of a "normal" arm)

These forums are far too quiet without ME! hahahahaha

[versengeteriks]

have you tried an alternate controller? like a gamepad or something?

[moe]

No I haven't (tried alternate input) Even considering that I have never owned a game console - and when I try to use someone's controller (that has a console) I am lost.

I appreciate the suggestion, but in MY mind it is something I have to overcome or learn to live with. As an old disabled guy I spend most of my day on the computer. Reading news articles hurts, flipping thru you tube videos hurts, everything mouse related hurts. Typing this reply hurts. It is more than just finding a way to tolerate NwN (the game that hurts the WORST) it's finding a way to Live my Life despite the pain and limitations.

I am DELIGHTED to be past another round of bed-ridden painful misery and able to even sit at my computer. I look forward to the day when playing NwN is NOT a debate about whether I can stand the pain, but about what toon I want to play.

I know I like to adventure alone (it allows me maximum control over my online experience - lol) BUT I like to interact with others, be helpful, and even join in on open parties on occasion. I just recently discovered how much I missed this place. I don't want to loose it again.

[versengeteriks]

Totally understand. Not now, but have suffered with constant pain in the past. Also have a father who has been on medication for the past 30 years due to injury.

I would never want to increase your pain or suffering. So, if it could reduce the physical stress a mouse does. The learning curve from using another input method may be worth the effort.

There are other options to xbox controllers. It's possible that someone on this list may have an option more suited to your requirements.

Apologies for being a pest. But I cant help myself but offer suggestions where I feel It may help someone. Just the way I've been bought up.

Hopefully someone or something on this list could be of use to you.

clickwithyourmac.com/3-good-arthritis-friendly-computer-mouse-options/
www.pretorianuk.com/mouse-alternatives
www.oneswitch.org.uk/1/AGS/AGS-bespoke.htm
www.google.es/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=pc%20controllers%20for%20the%20disabled.

'trix

[moe]

I had no idea such alternatives were available. I appreciate your input and will be looking at those more closely.

[moe]

I went with the Posturite Wireless Penguin Mouse (not actually one of the ones in your links, but i found it BECAUSE of your links) I liked that it's 90 degree vertical, can be used by either hand, and it has a base you can rest your hand on in stead of "perching" above the old mouse. I also liked that it kept the regular button functionality of the old mouse, but in a "trigger grip" position (fingers not stretched out straight) - still with the scroll wheel in the same place (but it can go either way now (left or right handed)

We'll see how it goes - it won't be here til next week. The thing is a UK Product (props to the Brits) I've worked my new assassin up to lvl 17, but since reading those articles I REALLY notice the difference between "neutral" and "pronated". I am actually hopeful this will actually relieve a lot of pain (once i get used to it - lol) Once again, Thanks for your "unsolicited input"

[versengeteriks]

Thanks for letting me know. Glad to be of some help. I really hope it works out for you.

Its a real kick in the teeth when you are prevented from doing something because of pain. Especially when that thing is a respite from the real world or a stress relief. For me It was a car accident and neck damage stopping me doing Martial arts for many years. Martial arts to me was not just my hobby, it was my job, and my way of burning off stress. My accident caused me problems that weren't only physical, and prevented me dealing with the stress in the only way I knew how. Anything that can aid us getting back to our hobbies is worth looking into.

:-)

[moe]

My mouse came in! BUT it's going right back. I guess "one size does not fit all" includes their measurements to determine the size you need. Despite the measurement I feel my hand is "too far back" from the buttons. I can barely reach the buttons with my fingertips and then I am pushing on the side of the button and not the center. It makes for a "hard click". I can't just "tap" the buttons, it requires a squeeze.

So I am going to return it for a Medium size and hopefully that will be enough to get my fingertips around to the front of the buttons. That will also place the wheel directly between my fingertips. With the Large model I have to reposition my fingers to use the wheel.

I tested the mouse on World of Tanks and found that general mouse movements were pretty easy. Precise adjustments however were quite another story. Seemed my cursor would go everywhere EXCEPT onto the tank outline. I have to assume that it will get better with practice - AND more hopefully, that one of the 4 DPI settings on the mouse will help.

Fortunately, targets on HG are a lot larger and there isn't a lot of precise mouse movement required. BOTH my wireless mouses will run simultaneously so it will be NO problem the switch between the mouses as required - best of both worlds!