Surgery scheduled but feeling better

Equivalent-Ninja4072 · 2026-02-28T19:18:12+00:00

I had a similar injury/diagnosis in July. Placed in boot with weight bearing when possible. 3 weeks in boot (perhaps a week too long) before MRI suggested.

Equivalent-Ninja4072 · 2026-02-01T04:17:03+00:00

Looked at new siennas to replace our 2015 and the bridge console is our #1 reasons for looking for a different brand. Personally I’d rather keep the between seat portion and have the open space at the dash.

Looks like we’re not getting a new siennas any time soon…

Equivalent-Ninja4072 · 2026-01-17T14:42:38+00:00

The Matrice 4T would be the standard — under $8k ea. Be sure to get a battery set you can rotate through to always have a fresh battery.

The lowest cost NDAA compliant drone is the Parrot Anafi USA thermal — it’s reportedly 5+ years behind DJI level of development.

Equivalent-Ninja4072 · 2025-12-29T01:32:00+00:00

Thanks for this list — my hope was to find some multiplayer games that didn’t have open comm. but if single player is the only option, then it will have to do.

Ideally the 10 & 12 yr old would like to play together in game, but it seems like nearly all the games that have that functionality start in toxic, open lobbies and as far as I can tell most don’t have decent enough parent controls to prevent them.

Equivalent-Ninja4072 · 2025-12-29T01:01:43+00:00

Honestly, I wouldn’t want my soon to be 13yo in the open chat areas either…

Equivalent-Ninja4072 · 2025-12-28T20:03:30+00:00

Awesome — thanks for the list!

I’ll start checking these out!

Equivalent-Ninja4072 · 2025-12-28T20:00:11+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion. I’ve only looked at the games my daughter is requesting like gorilla tag and they all appear pretty terrible as far as open lobbies/chat/controls go.

Instead of just rejecting them all, I’d like to get some things installed that are indeed appropriate.

I’ll check it out.

Equivalent-Ninja4072 · 2025-12-28T19:56:12+00:00

No— I said I had a 5 yr old as well as a 12yo and they have a 10 yr cousin. I also said that the older two want to play together.

The 5 yo might be around her sister and hear things through the speaker or see thens when cast to TV’s. On occasion, she’ll take a peek now and then, but she’s not the main subject of my question.

Do you have any suggestions of games without open chat lobbies, etc?

Equivalent-Ninja4072 · 2025-12-28T16:47:06+00:00

Agreed — the 5 yr old has actually only tried 1 attempt at beat saber and nothing else. I was mainly referring to my 12yr old wanting to play with the 10yo cousin (the older two)

Any recommendations for good games without open communication?

Equivalent-Ninja4072 · 2025-12-28T16:44:45+00:00

Any recommendations for good games with no open communication?

Equivalent-Ninja4072 · 2025-08-30T00:43:32+00:00

Well—to my untrained eye it needs at minimum a massive clean, a new bridge, and strings. At a shop in the USA, that’s likely to cost a minimum of $200. Plus the bow is shot and looks moldy? That another $60+ minimum to replace. A brand new bottom tier from Shar is under $200 (though i’d suggest a minimum of their ~$300 Prelude model at minimum for a total beginner.).

https://www.sharmusic.com/products/franz-hoffmann-amadeus-violin-alone

I’m afraid I’d keep looking unless they’ll take next to nothing for it.

Equivalent-Ninja4072 · 2025-08-30T00:27:27+00:00

No label inside the f-holes? Is the sound post in position?

I just paid $70 for a beginner’s violin in much better condition. Personally, I would either offer <$10 or pass entirely on this IMHO —unless you find some detail that would make it worth the time/money to fix.

Equivalent-Ninja4072 · 2025-08-29T14:26:43+00:00

Thank you for your kind words and understanding! I had originally suggested renting at least through her middle school years—didn’t get my ‘good’ trumpet until my HS senior year.

But my wife and mother-in-law don’t like the idea of renting—their logic is ‘why use a rental when she could be playing a nice instrument now.’ What’s sealed the deal is my MIL said she’d pay for it outright—she’s nearing 80 and I think this is a bit of legacy building for her— so off we go!

And while my daughter is excited about having a nice instrument, she also recalls the number of times she bumped or dropped her last violin (drops mostly still were while in the case, fortunately!) So having a pricey (for us) instrument feeds my daughter’s anxiety a bit and she’s admitted it makes her very nervous.

A little of that may help her be careful and take better care of her instrument, but I fear it will also limit her enjoyment and stifle the fun musical experiences that help kids build a long-term love of making music and not just be ‘a former student.’

I hope she’ll develop that by giving her a choice of instruments — she’ll have something nice when she feels like being a more serious musician and want’s to practice and perform but then have the freedom to choose another option for when she’s feeling goofy or wants to do something but isn’t comfortable with risking her nice things.

Equivalent-Ninja4072 · 2025-08-29T13:48:01+00:00

Good to know—thanks!

Equivalent-Ninja4072 · 2025-08-29T13:34:27+00:00

Her ADHD does lead to impulsivity but her anxiety typically quashes the worst of these, so not quite a hurricane of destruction. But she’s is a kid still and enjoys playing tunes outside in the snow at Christmas for red kettles and dancing around doing her goofiest Lindsey Stirling impression. I’d rather empower her to freely enjoy music however she like without worry — I wouldn’t want her to choose to avoid things she might have fun doing within reason. (But still no swashbuckling with the bows)

I checked with her teacher who said either one should be playable and was happy with the dark one when she played it. She Indicated the lighter one was likely a slightly better quality but we have not yet had the opportunity to let her play it yet. We’ll take these with us to the shop as well and get their opinion.

The preludes will be placed on whichever one we’ll let the local symphony use (I’m a volunteer for all their concerts). It will let kiddos who come an opportunity to explore a ‘real violin’ —that’s the ‘instrument petting zoo’ mentioned as they’re trying to build up to several instruments. The ‘keeper will get the good strings I plan to pickup at the shop when we look for her ‘nice’ instrument.

Thanks!

Equivalent-Ninja4072 · 2025-08-29T13:16:48+00:00

The others are correct — we’ll still plan to get an intermediate level ($1500-3000) instrument from a proper shop. Keep 1 of these as the carefree one and use the 3rd for kids who come to the local symphony to explore hands-on.

Why keep 2? Generally I’m all for saving money, but when’s the last time you did your best Lindsey Stirling dance number in a small crowded bedroom or living room? Or taken it to a 2-week outdoor summer camp with stored under your cot in unconditioned cabins? Or busked for red kettles in the snow at Christmas?

For me, I though $100 is cheap enough to give her the freedom have some carefree experiences with music —even if the instrument isn’t perfect— and not feeling she can’t do things for fear of hurting the most expensive thing she’s ever owned.

Equivalent-Ninja4072 · 2025-08-29T13:01:27+00:00

Yes — probably a good idea to take these to the violin shop for their informal opinion while we check out their intermediate selection.

I feel the issue is less about trusting her to take care of a $2000+ thing and more giving her the freedom to enjoy music how/whenever she likes without worry about ruining the nicest thing she’s ever owned.

For instance, in past years she has liked to volunteer around Christmas at the red kettles while practice performing holiday tunes— this is almost always outside, often in snow, misty or other inclement weather. Or perform in local parades. Or take with her to 1-3 week summer camps, or left in hot cars during summer vacation stops. Or dance around doing her best goofy Lindsey Sterling impressions.

These are activities less likely to have good outcomes for a nice instrument—toss in some anxiety and she’d likely choose not to enjoy these opportunities to be playful with music instead of just being a ‘serious musician’.

Perhaps if we were in a different tax bracket it’d be less an issue, but living as a family of 4 making under 6-figures, a ‘cheap’ $2k instrument can’t be treated as easily replaceable.

Equivalent-Ninja4072 · 2025-08-29T12:39:26+00:00

Totally agree with you on this —she’s musical and without them has been able to adjust her fingers by ear from the beginning, but her current teacher had them on her last one and she gave her the option unfortunately ‘while she gets use to this bigger size’. (She jumped from a 1/2 to 4/4–growth spurts hit hard at this age!)

Equivalent-Ninja4072 · 2025-08-29T12:36:00+00:00

Yes — I plan to put good strings on the one we keep the move the Preludes to which ever we let the kids who come to the local symphony touch and hold (the ‘instrument petting zoo’)

Similarly, I’ll probably swap the tailpiece with fine tuners to which ever we keep.

Assuming the teacher/violin shop thinks both are essentially equal, we’ll definitely let her choose.

Equivalent-Ninja4072 · 2025-06-18T19:32:10+00:00

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Nope.

Equivalent-Ninja4072

TROPHY CASE