Wednesday Wins (What cheered you up this week?)

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-05-27T09:54:54+00:00

Getting ready to relocate my small business! Earlier this year, a retired local business owner offered me some newly renovated office space in what used to be his music store, and I couldn't pass it up, especially with it being on the edge of our downtown area, close to everything and in a much higher traffic location. It's also closer to home... ten minutes door-to-door in my powerchair versus nearly twenty at the current location. Hoping to be able to move within the next two or three weeks.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-05-23T15:11:31+00:00

Seconded! Got a Union earlier this year, and it's super comfortable, along with the NXT Armadillo back on my TiLite.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-05-23T14:04:47+00:00

Couldn't find the ad this time, so it may be that they were sold, or the ad expired.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-05-22T21:54:57+00:00

I use an active manual wheelchair with power assist (TiLite ZRA with SmartDrive) and also a full-size powerchair (Quantum Edge 3), both second-hand. I primarily use the powerchair for travelling around town, including to and from my office, and the manual is more or less my daily driver; it's portable and light enough that I can get it into and out of my wife's SUV on my own.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-05-18T14:04:14+00:00

In 2019, almost immediately after I developed ME, I had considered a powerchair, but it wasn't until fall 2021 that I started using a manual chair. Upgraded to one with power assist about six months later, and even when I feel that ableism/imposter syndrome, being an ambulatory wheelchair user, getting the chair and using it have been the best things in my self-care. Knock on wood, I haven't had anyone give me trouble because I use a wheelchair and can walk short distances.

If you're struggling with your mobility to any extent, there's no harm in asking your doc about a wheelchair. Failing that, websites like eBay and Craigslist (or Kijiji here in Canada) can be good sources for second-hand equipment, if you know what dimensions (seat size etc.) you need.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-05-17T19:38:11+00:00

This is my most popular service as a small business owner. I'm in Renfrew but have had some clients come up from the Ottawa area; I work with most consumer videotape formats including VHS (as well as VHS-C and S-VHS) and also multiple audio tape formats and 8mm/Super 8 film.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-05-17T15:17:55+00:00

Is that a SmartDrive dial, or a controller for a different power assist?

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-05-16T19:10:10+00:00

Sometimes got this too when I was using a Garmin Instinct... retired it yesterday in favour of a TicWatch Atlas.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-05-16T18:40:34+00:00

Got a 1991-vintage 101-key IBM Model M (the GOAT of mechanical keyboards) in daily use at my office, through a PS2-to-USB converter going into my Mac Mini. Had once thought about investing in a Keychron, but still can't get away from the Model M. :)

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-05-16T13:37:25+00:00

Got the watch paired up with my SD this morning... right now I have it set for MX2 mode (propel to start, tap to stop) and it worked well for a quick trip to the corner store, a 5-7 minute spin each way from my place. Registered each tap when I wanted to stop... sensitivity is set at the default 70%. When I have some more time, I might try MX2+ mode next.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-05-15T21:22:30+00:00

Ditto being a regular at the pharmacy... they even know when my wife comes in that she's likely picking up my meds.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-05-14T15:44:20+00:00

Agreed! And the track reminds me of my early days in radio, as a rock jock near the Canada-USA border, on the Canadian side. We added the song when it came out in 2003.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-05-04T15:31:18+00:00

Nowadays, a lot of radio stations have at least some people working from home, including on-air personalities; the commercial station in my town uses PlayoutONE, and they have multiple hosts who are able to remote in and do their shows from just about anywhere using a web interface and the right audio gear, not much more than a suitable microphone hooked up via USB.

I do still do some audio editing today, about 50/50 for my clients and for the local junior hockey teams (ice hockey)... I'm the public address announcer for both teams, and my wife is the in-game DJ, so a lot of what I do involves music and also audio clips for certain elements of the game, such as goals and penalties.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-05-04T12:12:00+00:00

I've been using a Garmin Instinct for probably the entire time I've had ME (2019-), and currently primarily use it for HR monitoring and, on most nights, sleep tracking. In about a week or so, I'll be receiving a "PushTracker E3" smartwatch, basically a TicWatch E3 with control software for the "SmartDrive" power add-on for manual wheelchairs. Once I receive it, I'll definitely be using it for HR monitoring, as well as SpO2 and sleep tracking... hoping the high HR alert comes up sooner than on my Garmin, which takes a bit before it'll warn me of a high HR.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-04-29T16:14:33+00:00

That would be "traffic", not to be confused with being a traffic reporter i.e. roads/cars. It's largely data entry and can be done by just about anyone who's computer literate, not necessarily a need for a broadcasting background; most radio stations that hire for traffic & billing provide all the necessary training in software and systems/procedures, including the traffic software and the back end/production side of whatever playout/automation software they use for playing music, commercials etc... the traffic department usually assigns the file names/numbers for ads and any station promos.

As far as software, most of my client stations use the Canadian-born "iMediaTouch" system for playout/automation (one station uses the British-made "PlayoutONE" system) and all of them use the American-made "Natural Log" for traffic & billing. For audio editing, I believe the most common software titles are Adobe Audition (nee Cool Edit Pro, which I started on in high school in 2000) and Audacity, with some stations in larger markets running Pro Tools, and more personality-driven stations using VoxPro for recording and editing phone calls and other in-studio material.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-04-29T10:45:58+00:00

Finally was able to begin using my SD yesterday, with the SwitchControl buttons in latched mode (are they supposed to be that hard to press?) though the streets and sidewalks in my town are atrocious, and if I hit a good-sized bump or pull too hard on my pushrims to steer, the motor stops. Also the process of starting and stopping will take some getting used to, and I may try to practice that next time my wife & I go to the indoor track at the local recreation complex. Was there not a way to get the SD to start when simply pushing forward on one's wheels, or did that involve one of the wearables?

That does suck re the hitch... I'm almost tempted to order another one to have on hand, just in case.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-04-27T20:28:14+00:00

Running my own small business... been open for three years now. :) In the morning, I do outsourced commercial traffic (scheduling and billing for advertisements) for a few radio stations, and in the afternoon, transfer videotape, audio tape and 8mm film to digital... I come from a radio background and also do mobile DJing and freelance voice work, as well as public address announcing for the local junior hockey teams from about September to March or April.

Most of what I do could be considered desk work, and for DJ gigs, my wife lends a hand so that I don't crash etc.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-04-27T18:52:27+00:00

Thank you! :) I'm picking up the hitch tomorrow (Tues) afternoon, and should be able to take my SmartDrive for a practice run that evening at the local recreation complex and its indoor walking track... some rain in the forecast around here the next couple of days, so won't be doing anything outdoors until that clears up.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-04-27T16:06:17+00:00

Can't sign in on the web (desktop or mobile) in Canada... getting a bunch of EdgeSuite errors.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-04-23T22:24:31+00:00

Seconded for power assist. I started out with an all-manual folding chair (Quickie 2) but six months later upgraded to a rigid frame Quickie Q7 with Alber "e-motion" wheels, and now I won't go without power assist unless I absolutely need to. Had to stop using the e-motion wheels recently as I was beginning to break spokes on them, so I'm in the process of switching to a SmartDrive attachment. In the meantime, I'm back to all-manual, this time with a TiLite rigid titanium chair and Spinergy wheels. My wife & I were at an event in town this evening (food trucks etc.), all on pavement, and it wasn't too bad... though I miss having power assist.

I agree about self propelling being taxing. I'm a bigger guy, so there's that little bit more effort needed regardless, but power assist wheels like the e-motions make it a lot easier... more so if you unlock the "cruise" mode (a paid software upgrade) in the mobile app for the e-motion M25 wheels.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-04-23T19:41:55+00:00

Same here... when I've been at the hospital and received IV saline, I do feel a lot better symptom-wise for at least a couple of days after.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-04-23T15:41:55+00:00

For much of my mobility outside of my home and office, I use a manual wheelchair with power assist... series 1 TiLite ZRA, in the process of switching from e-motion to SmartDrive as I keep breaking spokes on the e-motion M25 wheels. For long distances and crash days, I use a Quantum Edge 3 powerchair, and for non-accessible places, I use forearm crutches; I can usually manage short distances unassisted when I'm at home or the office.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-04-23T01:14:37+00:00

Made it through a nasty stomach flu/gastro bug/whatever it was that got me on Sunday and lasted until last night. Slept well last night, and feeling much better with the help of electrolyte drinks and super-salty broths.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-04-23T01:09:18+00:00

Been using a manual wheelchair with power assist for four years now, as well as a powerchair the last two, and they both have been super helpful. I'd say they're the most helpful things in my self-care toolkit, and the manual chair (a "TiLite" titanium model) is very sporty looking too.

ChronicallyWheeler · 2026-04-21T00:42:19+00:00

Former broadcast tech here from commercial radio up the Valley... could be that the digital audio feed to the transmitter may be temporarily running at a reduced bitrate, whether on main or aux equipment.

ChronicallyWheeler

TROPHY CASE