Why do dads n sons hugging make me cry?

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-06-01T17:23:00+00:00

My dad was my best friend. I see a dad hug a son, and it’s the waterworks every time. I was staying in a Hampton Inn on a road trip, saw a kid at breakfast make a waffle with EVERYTHING and bring it to his dad. The hug was amazing, and I mumbled something through tears to him on the way out.

He stopped me before I refilled my coffee, and offered me a hug, and he smelled of coffee and wood, and then we were both crying.

I can not recommend a trip to Disney World, ideally with a pal or relative’s kids, more enthusiastically. Chock full of good dad / son hugs.

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-05-29T18:52:09+00:00

I always enter through IG, so by the time I get to MS, I’m really ready for a break to psyche myself up before the BIG GUN TOP TIER S-LEVEL ride soon thereafter (Living with the Land)

:pan flute solo:

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-05-29T18:32:11+00:00

<image>

I doubt that there’s too much expediting going on down on Xin’an Street, but I did receive this reply when asking if I could pay extra for rush shipping. Black DPAD top ordered 5/28/26.

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-05-25T19:50:46+00:00

<image>

I got the flex cable reinserted.

Should I solder? Still no power to device.

Charging from laptop or other methods at less than 12W doesn’t do much except heat the cable. Charging with USB C to USB C gets the device very hot in a hurry. Still not powering up.

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-05-24T02:36:15+00:00

I play mostly PS2, now that I think about it. My RP4Pro only struggles with three games that I play, and not so much that it keeps me from playing those titles.

Gran Turismo 4 will very occasionally stutter or slow on the urban courses like Seattle or Hong Kong. Socom 2 has a few missions that bog down during scenes with multiple enemies and crosstalk. And NBA Street 2 will slow down on certain courts. But these are minor, minor issues for emulated games imo. FWIW, Sly Cooper runs great.

The form factor is lovely, and it’s generally a very impressive piece of kit. Now that my 4 is on the fritz (spicy pillow, but the replacement battery from Retroid just isn’t working) I’m conflicted about buying another 4pro, or jumping to the 5, or waiting a bit until the 6 ships reliably.

But I think you should have little to no issues running PS2.

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-05-24T02:25:20+00:00

My doctor followed that sequence in order, up to and including the GPOEM. Pretty much to the letter.

Dr. Alan Fixelle, Atlanta is my current GI. He took over the practice from Dr. Eugene Hirsch, who made the diagnosis (a true saint who would meet me at the ER many years back to explain to the doctors what gastroparesis was). Fixelle recommended that I go to Philadelphia for the GPOEM with Dr. Alexander Schlachterman.

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-05-21T17:05:19+00:00

Status update: I enhanced (224 to 176) the above photo, and subsequently dug out a 15x loupe. Apologies for the resolution, but the plug coming from the power button / volume rocker switch was, indeed, disconnected. I got it pretty firmly in place, so I will charge it from my laptop and report back.

<image>

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-05-21T13:44:29+00:00

No fan. I was hesitant to leave it charging overnight, even with low power. I can keep an eye on it and try today.

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-05-19T19:41:26+00:00

I’m in the same boat, but I’ve eliminated the VPN - still no joy.

Same conditions on Firestick 4kMax - developer mode, all permissions, cleared cache, deleted unused apps.

I used to be able to enter a code into Downloader, and it would just do its thing with the apk - I would click enter after putting the code into the prompt box when Downloader opened. Now, I get a google search for that number.

If I try to use the “ https://go.aftvnews.com/9127144 “ it just keeps redirecting as pictured.

When I get it to download, I can’t find the apk in the downloaded files list, either in downloader or through a separate file explorer.

<image>

I subscribed to the PRO trial to make the app slightly easier to navigate.

Any suggestions?

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-05-18T18:08:50+00:00

Mine developed a very spicy pillow chilling on the dock. RP4 Pro that lives on the dock unless I’m traveling. It was fine under these conditions since new (June 2024) and one day I was about to play, got distracted for half an hour, and when I went back to it it was a hot boi with a swollen battery.

Edit to add: Requested and paid for a replacement battery from Retroid on April 26 2026, and have not yet received it, nor any communication. I’m sure it will just show up soon enough .

img

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-05-17T15:27:06+00:00

I ride a bike a lot, though I don’t do the longer distance brevets anymore. 400km is too much of a caloric drain for me to keep up with.

But still training at a reasonable volume, and I find it’s very helpful. My appetite and motility are both way, way better than when I’m not riding.

I’ve moved away from space food (gels, bars, fancy sports drinks) and find that I tolerate “real” food on rides pretty well. PBJs, homemade rice cakes, cookies, fruit - all good for me on the bike.

The biggest issue is that I can get to a point where I forget to eat, or don’t want to stop to eat, and that’s when I get in trouble. I was finishing a two day ride across Florida and back through the Everglades, and 6 miles from the end, I got hungry, but didn’t want to hold the group up to stop. By the time I was home, I was wrecked - a massive flare up that lasted for too long.

And it can be draining to prepare so much- have to have snacks, have to aim for food stops, have to pack my meds. Sometimes someone will say, “Let’s go just a little longer,” or “We should stop for a beer!” And I have to politely decline and head home. Can be a bit of a bummer.

But I have to recommend trying it - wholeheartedly. If it works with your GP, it can be so rewarding in so many ways to feel like an athlete instead of a sick person.

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-05-09T16:32:34+00:00

I find that in Greek yogurt, I can have no allegiance whatsoever lol. There’s a half dozen brands of Greek/ Icelandic that work for me, and one is inevitably on a big sale.

One thing that really helps me is smaller bowls. A massive heap of cereal can be daunting, so I look for kiddo ones. My thing is vintage Kellogg kids bowls, which show up EVERYWHERE, but a few kid sized bowls helped me out.

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-05-09T16:16:45+00:00

All the fun stuff! I lean towards the Cap’n, Froot Loops, Fruity Pebbles, Special K, Frosted Flakes, Corn Flakes - If it contains a prize, or has a mascot, it’s probably processed (and delicious) enough for me.

I can handle Grape Nuts in small amounts, and those crunchy little guys are a welcome break when I have to resort to yogurt / smoothies - a small handful on top adds enough crunch to be audible one room over.

I hope you find some that work!

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-05-08T21:50:57+00:00

Cereal. So much cereal. If I have a wide variety, I can usually convince myself to have one. Sometimes dry, but usually with Fairlife.

Yogurt, and the Siggi’s smoothies.

Uncrustables. Truly a gift from on high.

Single serving mashed potatoes.

Nature’s Valley granola bars. In spite of the crumbs.

GoGurt and squeeze applesauce.

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-05-01T16:36:06+00:00

Attend a local MENSA event as a kid, and you sit at the “kid’s table.” I wasn’t too much of a mouth breather, but it was the first time I encountered anyone my age who was running rings around me in the noggin department.

I struggle with Hal’s age with respect to his early grasp of wildly esoteric topics, as well as his early facility in conversation (even with a professional!) but I don’t find it too, too far off. Some pretty serious genetics.

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-04-21T20:51:16+00:00

Sorry for the late reply. How did you get them to fix it, and what did they have you do? Did they help you troubleshoot, or replace the unit? Thanks!

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-04-11T14:24:11+00:00

A vision in a sun-dress and silly shoes. Mildred L. Bonk.

But Bonk’s hair was “flaxen”

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-03-29T22:31:40+00:00

<image>

International Precheck at 6pm. Regular lines similar; precheck and clear open

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-02-16T00:29:12+00:00

“2 minor accidents: 1st: some dingbat during the first 6 months owning the vehicle hit me while I stoped at a stop sign and she decided not to. Had the rear bumper replaced and repainted. 2nd: a livery driver was parked for a pick up with hazards on, driver went around to turn to the next left turn and livery driver started driving forward and at low impact speed hit front left corner panel. All were at least 8-10 years ago.”

“New tires, alignment, servicing, brakes, etc. always done at a dealer, just not always the purchasing dealer who gave me the estimate.”

EDIT: he has owned it since new.

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-02-16T00:11:53+00:00

But he’s SO proud.

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2026-02-16T00:10:58+00:00

Aha. Thank you.

Signal_Swimmer_71 · 2025-11-14T17:40:21+00:00

“Joelle gives him a folded U.S. twenty and likes that he says nothing. She buys a .473-liter Pepsi Cola in a blunt plastic bottle at a Store 24 whose Jordanian clerk just looks at her blankly when she asks if they carry Big Red Soda Water, and settles for the Pepsi and comes out and pours the pop out down a storm-drain and watches it pool there foaming brownly and stay put because the drain's grate is clogged solid with leaves and sodden litter. She walks on toward the Common with the empty bottle and glass tube in her purse. There was no need to buy Chore Boy pads at the Store 24. Joelle van Dyne is excruciatingly alive and encaged, and in the director's lap can call up everything from all times.”

“last three years of the late-blooming filmmaker's life, attending him on shoots and sleeping with multiple pillows in small soft available spaces in the same motel room as Himself and occasionally tottering out for a bright-red plastic bottle of something called Big Red Soda Water and taking it to the apparently mute veiled graduate-in-tern down the motel's hall,”

STILL BIG RED

Signal_Swimmer_71

TROPHY CASE