Electric wheelchair.
Pretty much been housebound since 2018. I can walk short distances, but large stores like a grocery store or a Home Depot were out of reach unless they had their own scooters available, which were often broken, or un-charged.
Malls were out entirely. City centers? Not a chance.
The wheelchair opened all that back up to me!
Tough comment to follow
Thank you for warming my day, friend.
Replaced all my mismatched socks with 24 pair of identical.
Interesting. I went the opposite direction, and prefer it. Grasses greener type deal maybe
Depends on if you think socks are a fashion accessory or a utility.
Not sure it’s so binary. I don’t know the first thing about fashion, but I do like having different kinds of socks, even if no one else sees them.
I do this kinda like magical thinking thing where I think about how I want my day to go and pick socks/etc that go with that.
I know it’s not the most mentally healthy thing
I don’t see anything mentally unhealthy about what you do, sounds cool.
Eh, it doesn’t sound destructive or interruptive to your day.
Manifesting isn’t just a new-age hippy thing. Ritual can put your brain in a certain space, and that can be a massive motivator for someone. Picking your socks to fit the theme isn’t all that different than telling yourself affirmations in the mirror.
It’s kinda like the “lucky shirt” concept. Sure, the shirt doesn’t really have some metaphysical power, but you’re putting yourself in the mindset of “Good things happen when I wear this”, and when you’re already in that frame of mind, the good things stand out even more.
That’s a great way to rephrase it. That’s exactly what that is: I know my choices don’t actually have any magical effects. Pretending like they do gives me the feeling of control, even though I know intellectually that I can only control myself.
That’s fashion. You don’t have to be into the latest trend. Fashion is just how you express yourself in whatever way you like.
Yes, and at the same time I went with thin wool socks too. And I’m in Texas where it’s hot and humid too. Wool socks were a game changer, they don’t hold onto moisture like cotton and synthetics do.
Didn’t want to be a shill, but I got a bunch of medium thick wool socks from Darn Tough and sweaty wool socks are a lot nicer than sweaty cotton/poly socks.
I did this same thing and my life has been changed forever
Yes same, the darn touch T series have been my favorites with the best fit for my thin build. T4021 if I wear my boots, T4016 if I’m rocking tennies.
I tried smartwool and a few other Amazon and popular brands. Came back to darn tough each time.
I did recently get some Alpaca Wool socks and a sweater and they are a close second to the DT socks.
Then I discovered smartwool quarter zip long sleeve shirts, lightweight 150 weight wool, excellent t-shirt replacements
So great on laundry day
I did that and my wife got annoyed… then started wearing my socks. Now we buy more and just use athletic socks
She’s still got her colorful, playful ones that are a pain in the ass to match up.
Yep. We have grey and black.
Get ‘hiking’ socks, as opposed to ‘athletic’ - they last far longer.
Ultimately trivial cost-wise and to install, but game-changer:
butt game changer.
That would have made my post so much butter.
I highly recommend one with a heated seat if you’ve got a reasonably accessible power outlet nearby. Just be aware that it will totally spoil you and make pooping away from home even less fun than it already is.
I’m an electrician in the PNW, and that plug will usually run you $750 to move one close to that spot, just for a price point.
What I was about to post, too. It’s ridiculous how much better something as simple as taking a shit can be.
Not specifically mine but definitely that of my wife: a company called Beurer in Germany makes this little tool with a small ceramic plate that you can heat. Press the hot thing against a mosquito bite and not only does the itch go away, the actual inflammation is diminished. For 20 euros one of the best impulse buys I ever did.
We’ve also put in an order for an electric bicycle which I think will lead to us leaving the car now often.
This is probably going to be life changing for my wife and daughter. They’re both super reactive to mosquito bites to the point of not wanting to be outside. Luckily, we live where there are only flies and moths so most of the time at home this is literally not a problem. However, when camping in the mountains it can be. Thanks for the tip!
My partner is also allergic to mosquito bites and he got a HeatIt and it was life-changing. He previously had to stay home and permanently ice his bites to not get blood poisoning and was in huge pain, but now since it’s always with him on his keychain, he can treat the stings right away before they get too bad and can go out and do pretty much everything now. He still needs to treat the stings regularly, but it’s so much more portable and accessible than the ice packs he used before.
Compared to the larger devices like BiteAway, it performs a bit worse and it’s a bit pricey and the durability is kinda shit, but the fact that it’s always on him and ready to use (as long as you bring your keys and phone), he can treat the bites right away on the go, which makes a huge difference in effectiveness.I get what you mean, but nearly everyone is allergic to mosquito bites. That’s why they itch.
I looked up the bug bite thing. Im glad that someone paid attention to the way most proteins in bites/stings break down if heated. I bet it works pretty good
I doubt that you can get your skin hot enough to denature those proteins without damaging yourself. I’ve given myself a blister before trying.
it says it gets to 170F. thats hot enough to get shallow stuff like mosquito bites and most stings.
That temperature is dangerous, will burn you, and the mechanism of action for these things isn’t denaturation.
Hire hot does it need to be?
im not sure and it would vary from protein to protein but the thing says it gets up to 170F which is probably enough for a fair few
Over many years, I’ve settled on hydrocortisone cream followed by an ice cube. Those little buggers love me.
I suffer from eczema pretty badly so I always have some sort of cortisol cream nearby. They clear up any bug bites quickly. Luckily, mosquitos prefer my wife’s blood over mine.
CPAP, so I can breathe while I sleep.
Pressure cooker, so I can make a delicious stews in 30 mins instead of hours.
Got any good recipes to share?
African ground nut stew is my favorite recipe. This set of instructions is for stovetop, for pressure cooker, I just throw it all but the peanut butter and hot sauce, which are to be stirred in after high pressure. 25 minutes on high pressure.
8-10 chicken thigh Large can of diced tomato Small can of tomato paste 1 large onion 2 medium carrot 2 stalks celery 8 mushrooms or 2 cans of sliced mushroom 1 or 1.5 cup stock chicken 2.5 tbsp peanut butter Hot sauce optional 3 clove garlic
instructions:
prep: dice the onion peel and chop the carrot/celery Clean and slice mushrooms mince garlic or one small spoon worth of pre minced cut chicken into small pieces to quickly cook or cut thigh in two or breast into three if you want bigger chunks
cooking: put olive oil in large fry pan on high add onion,carrot, and mushroom cook until onion is getting soft then add chicken and garlic keep everything moving around so the onion and mushrooms don’t burn when the chicken is half cooked (white on the outside 50% or so) then add both cans of tomatoes (paste and diced) and stock let simmer for 20-25 mins so the tomatoes break down and chicken finishes cooking, stirring every few minutes add peanut butter in 1/2 tbsp at a time to the pan and mix in with the liquids add salt and pepper approx for 2 more minutes making sure not to let the sauce burn on the bottom Add hot sauce to taste. serve over rice
This makes a good amount of leftovers too.
An e-bike. I used my regular bike for errands but the e-bike just made it so much easier to pedal in high winds or when I was hauling my trailer full of groceries. Plus it increased my range because I knew I could go farther in the same amount of time. I bought a class 1 e-bike so I always have to pedal, like a normal bike. Because I use it more, I think I actually get MORE exercise despite the assist. I really love it.
I live in a cycling-mad but very hilly place. They love it here. To give you an idea of the massive impact ebikes have had, the average cyclist age has jumped up twenty years in the last few years.
It’s not unusual to see octogenarians blasting up hills now. They’ve been absolutely revolutionary
A lot of people make fun of me for having an ebike “it’s not proper cycling etc”, but they all want to ignore the fact that without it, I would be driving (as they are).
Yeah, it’s pretty BS. No one would ever make fun of someone driving a car for not being 100% human powered.
I will say that the only time I get a little uptight about ebikes is when I come across them on trails/paths that are designated for non-motorized traffic only. Somehow people think that motorized only means combustion engines.
While I wouldn’t recommend this avenue… A trip to the ER and a 2 week quarantine stay at the hospital. I had pancreatitis that was suspected to be caused by a contagious virus? Idk after I was placed in my room I wasn’t allowed visitors and I was pretty isolated aside from blood draws every 4 hours. Cliché but it allowed me to reflect on my life and identify faults in myself and devise ways to become a better.
Still working on a lot of things, but comparing myself to me 6 months ago, I feel amazing about my growth that I don’t think I could have otherwise achieved without this major life event. :)
God that sounds SO expensive (then again, maybe you don’t live in the US come to think of it).
I went to the ER for a simple second-degree burn on my hand. All they gave me was a bandaged-up hand, some ointment, and a crisp high-five (on my other hand).
Cost me $600 after insurance. And the sad part is I have decent insurance for my area.
Years ago when I was on Medicaid I spent about 2 weeks in the hospital. They took my appendix out and after looking at it and running some tests found out that I had some rare parasite. I was in excruciating pain at the time, throwing up blood a few times a day and just withering away. There was a pill that I was waiting to get that would’ve killed the parasites which could’ve been given to me after my 4th day there when they confirmed what I had. I spent the rest of the 2 weeks being doped up on morphine and an array of fluids until I couldn’t take it anymore and left the hospital ‘AMA’.
I went to a different hospital and got the medicine I needed almost immediately.
I did throw up again though when I got a ~$60k bill from my 2 week stay at the first hospital. Again they took out my appendix, ran some test, and pumped me with opiods for 2 weeks without treating my actual issue.
Yeah, that’s disgusting how you were treated (or, rather, not treated, I suppose).
Insurance is a fucking scam in the US, I tell you what.
If people are here to receive recommendations, I’m preaching to the choir. But responding the question directly, a computer of my own. Being able to go online or work on digital stuff whenever I want to has changed my life for the better.
Interestingly, a good pair of noise canceling in ear headphones. I have ADHD, and being able to block out the world to focus on what I need to do is a godsend.
A bidet, an ebike, a tongue scraper.
The first means no more clogged toilets, no toilet paper needed, and a fantastically clean ass always.
Also comes with side benefits like being able to eat the hottest foods imaginable, not getting hemorroids or healing those ones you may already have, being able to wipe your ass with two broken wrists (if you mountain bike or are old), not getting forever chemicals on your asshole, and having an ass that your SO won’t think is disgusting.
A commuter ebike, because it allows you to travel 1-45 miles stupidly easy, which saves a staggering amount of money on gas (uses pennies of electricity), parking fees, and wear and tear on your car. Side benefits include not being absolutely enraged in traffic, occasionally beating your own drive times in a car, and not having parking anxiety at popular destinations such as beaches, parks, downtown shopping, or ferries. Provides a decent amount of exercise as it basically becomes an exercise bike when the assist is turned off.
It also will allow you to get up hills without getting sweaty.
Tongue scraper- removes plaque from your tongue in cakes. Way better than mouthwash. Leaves your breath much fresher after meals. Works best at night, but also can remove bad morning breath. Get a small metal one. Dramatically changes your breath quality and makes your mouth feel cleaner. Great if you plan on doing some kissing.
I got the chance to ride an ebike at a city event here and it was absolutely delightful, I hate riding a bike but this was like a dream of a bike ride, so comfortable and it actually moved forward so fast with less effort, I loved it. But I think it would be stolen so fast if I chained it anywhere. Like I could ride it to work (they let you park them inside) but not to grab groceries. And they cost as much as a small motorcycle or scooter.
They are really convenient for getting around the city! :)
I got a 12mm thick chain from Oxford and a kryptonite ulock and so far, I’ve been fine (I live in a high bike crime city).
It’s really about making your bike unappealing to steal because of how long it would take to cut through a beefy chain in two places and a Ulock in two places. It can be done, though. I also have a bike horn that sounds if someone moves the bike.
Aventon sells ebikes starting at $1,000, and Juiced Bikes go on sale for $1,150 (they are consumer direct unless you live in San Diego). Radpower and Lectric bikes aren’t too spendy, either. Ebikes are getting surprisingly affordable!
(My little electric commuter next to my traditional weekend mountain bike!)
You may or may not have a good answer to this, but why are so many ebikes fat tire bikes, and why did you pick one? A fat tire is going to have more inertia, so it will take more energy, but the ubiquity of them, even for commuting confuses me.
They are really good if your city has fucked up roads. Potholes, curbs, tram lines (or light rail) that are embedded in the road, even some older syle storm drains have slots wide enough to swallow bike tires that are over an inch wide. And the bike lanes are usually added to already worn roads or by storm drains, some old-style.
Fat tires are also great for sand and loose gravel, which is present in the city I live in. Fat tires are also significantly more stable at very low speeds, which is good around pedestrians (eg, rolling slowly through crowded boardwalks where there are no bike lanes- only stroads).
For an ebike, the rolling resistance is a relatively small tradeoff since the motor will overpower it. I don’t really have a problem even with it turned off, though, as leg power is fine too. I primarily use the motor for the ultra steep hills here. Because riding up a long 18%+ grade sucks. (And motor power for dangerous road situations where keeping up with cars is mandatory, such as neighborhood bridge crossings without any bike lanes)
Custom molded ear plugs. I can play for hours and still hear the full spectrum of frequencies and no ringing.
More please, what brand did you go with? Cost?
I’m also interested. My work provides moulded ear plugs, but they definitely don’t let the same range of frequencies through.
I have molded plugs, the filters are etymotics. Cost was about 200$ at an audiologist that did the molding. You can get filters with varying levels of attenuation, I think mine are 20db and they recommend 25 for drummers.
I had etymotic musicians earplugs before, but they never worked that well. I couldn’t understand lyrics with them in, for instance. But I can with these.
Thanks! $200 sounds expensive but probably very worth it to save you from tinnitus or from going deaf.
Too late on the tinnitus, but at least it doesn’t seem to be getting worse. Lost count of how many concerts and even movies I’ve used them in by now.
I adopted a cat. Best and worst purchase all wrapped in one.
Boox Palma, a phone sized e-reader that runs Android. I read a lot more books and I think the e-ink display makes it easier to fall asleep.
This is the first I’ve heard of this device. How fully might it replace my smartphone? I see it does messaging, photos, and has access to the Google Play Store. Does it play music? Does it render Google Maps? I love e-readers, and though while I’ve been impressed by the Kindle, I do detest Amazon.
I was interested in the Lightphone when it came out, but it was too pricey and I’m still going strong on my Pixel 3a. I’ll need to move on someday though… Thanks for any info.
It’s full Android with the Play store but wifi only, no cell modem. You can install whatever you want just like on a phone, you just can’t do calls or SMS. I haven’t tried Google Maps on it but I’m sure it works, although you might need to adjust things to make it look better. I’ve used it to send audio to Bluetooth devices but haven’t tried the built in speaker, I wouldn’t expect it to sound good.
Gym membership. Previously I was doing some working out on my own, but it’s nice to get out, and easier to bring friends along.
I did the typical thing: first week of January signed up to the YMCA and committed to a couch-to-5k, and have to admit I’m feeling a lot lot lot better.
Oh look at Mr./Ms. Fancypants over here who has friends.
…up until now, I actually thought that we were friends. I guess all those deep meaningful convos we had whilst playing Burnout2 and drinking diet Dr Pepper meant nothing to you…
It’s not you; it’s me. We’ve just…drifted apart! turns around, crying
you just burnout2’d a hole on my chest!
I’m sorry. We’ve both said some N0Sty things lately…
I can’t BEAR to hear it anymore!
(Wait, where’s a bear come in pun-wise with regards to cars? Lol.)
I imagine this tension must be exhausting to you…
Sorry I misspoke. I meant people who I fear socially so I try to stay in their good books
Tech to make day to day chores easier have had the largest impact for us. The automated self cleaning liter box for the cats, the cordless vacuum, the cordless electric mop (such as Tineco), electric lawn mowers (no maintenance), smart outlets and automations via home assistant.
Another big one is the RO water filter at the kitchen sink. No more bottled water. Bonus points if you get one that tells you when fillters need to be changed. So nice.
I have heard nothing better than mediocre reviews of any of the robotic litter boxes. May I ask which you have, and what you like/don’t like about it?
I got the new Litter Robot 4. I was worried about the price, but after 5 months with 2 cats, I love it. It scoops the litter 15 minutes after they go and keeps the smells contained really well. We change the tray about every 5 days and it takes a regular kitchen trash bag. So it’s just as easy and taking out the trash. No regrets, money well spent
I live in Finland and so the seasonal daylight varies from almost none in winter to always in summer. I got a smart socket connected to my grow lamps for all my plants. I used to have an analogue timer that I would have to keep changing the times on as the season progressed. The smart one now turns on when my alarm goes off in the morning and turns off an hour after sunrise, turns on again an hour before sunset and turns off at bedtime.
No messing about anymore, it’s one less thing to worry about.
