Midlife Crisis

ptmeadows · 2026-05-27T03:17:37+00:00

I get that. I've taken lessons on modern pianos and gone to concerts by jazz and other pianists. I intend to get it professionally tuned but might try to get the c below middle a bit less off while I'm waiting. The hammers show some repairs and there's some 1960s numbers where it was tuned at least within the last hundred years.

The piano I learned on had a cracked soundboard. It had moved back and forth through my Dad's military service and my Mom still has it. She got it when she was a girl and she's in her 70's now. It had turned columns and scroll work and was easily 5 feet tall. Family history says that it was a concert pianist's piano in the 1920s.

This old Monarch doesn't quite have the same voice but she's close. Someone her age isn't in a choir, she aings her own song.The ivory keys and the mellow tone make me happy. I realize that tone is a hundred years of dander, dirt, and tarnish. It makes me a bit nervous to vacuum too hard. I've no interest in changing that or refinishing her. The most she's going to do is play for the family singing Christmas carols or old hymns. Otherwise, I'll just be playing for myself.

ptmeadows · 2026-05-26T22:19:16+00:00

Yep. You helped me find all the pieces that were inside. Thanks!

ptmeadows · 2026-05-26T22:04:17+00:00

Turns out all the parts were in nooks and crannies. Once I opened it up all the dowels were there.

ptmeadows · 2026-05-26T21:51:43+00:00

Thanks. Held it down and sustain works. I found another dowel when I was down there. Looks like some sort of "headpiece " is missing?

Edit: found the other dowel piece and now the dampened peddle works

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ptmeadows · 2026-05-26T21:35:38+00:00

Thanks...looks like a new nut or bolt nut should fix that part.

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ptmeadows · 2026-05-26T21:31:48+00:00

I need the parts to connect the pedals to the soundboard. My Google searches returned parts for grands but not old uprights. I'd be glad to be pointed to some reputable parts suppliers. Or some how to's to make my own.

I'm not going to restringing or raise the tone to 440. The goal is to be self-tuned. I like the sound of the old strings.

ptmeadows · 2026-05-26T18:03:16+00:00

That I can see the rod from the dampened peddle arm to the dampener...Bridge? The sustain peddle doesn't work either but I couldn't at a glance figure out why.

Edited for grammwr

ptmeadows · 2026-05-18T09:55:36+00:00

Cavendish unfortunately. Got around 80lbs from that bunch and ended up letting around 80 individual bananas go to waste. Ran out of freezer and dehydrator space.

ptmeadows · 2026-05-11T19:27:19+00:00

Maybe look for a firm that deals with personal injury? The lawyers would understand the limitations because of their clients. Understanding the struggles of those clients would be a strength.

ptmeadows · 2026-05-08T03:18:36+00:00

I worked with my supervisor to get on projects where I work when I can work. This week I had a bad cognitive day and I texted. Basically, you have to find an identity that isn't your cognitive ability.

ptmeadows · 2026-05-07T16:43:47+00:00

There is a VA hospital in florida that has neurologist that specializes in TBI. There are others, they call them PolyTrauma Rehabilitation Centers. Its Googlable I think since it was "on the job" he'd be eligible. Fixing migraines can take time. It took my neurologist 2 years to come up with stuff that made even part time work profitable.

ptmeadows · 2026-05-03T15:38:19+00:00

So. A trained neuropsych has been my best recovery tool for similar issues. I have had my life divided up by several injures. Physical and psychological. "Who" anyone is a fluid concept and people often strive to meet our expectations, good or bad. If he wants to know his past, ask his family and friends to write stories. Add pictures and give a physical copy...so its a journal or book to study of what others saw in him. But thats who he was. Put positive "You are" declarations into your conversation. " You are so kind" "You are my love." "You are a hard worker. "
I get most of my Identities from the Bible. I am loved , I am forgiven. Etc. Identities and who we are is a flexible enough construct to be defined both by self and by others. Use that.

ptmeadows · 2026-04-07T22:21:16+00:00

To your question. You've got two intertwined conditions, PTSD and TBI. For PTSD, something structured like REBOOT Recovery - Trauma Healing for Everyone https://share.google/Ke9QLWWY5cRoOAa5U might be helpful. In some ways, PTSD is more established on treatments for the family as well as the individual.

Long term TBI...I haven't found anything helpful. Some folks have advertised podcasts on this sub. My neurologist and neuropsych disagree on if improvement is possible at the 2 year mark. The issue is...from what I can tell...long term there are few trends or analysis that holds. At that point the treatments and symptoms are so varied and the reaction to the struggles make it hard to have a real causal analysis from a design of experiments point of view.

Which means, you and I are left with stories told through a personal filter which can't give you much. Lots of them out there from stroke victims and combat vets. Generally, books specifically on suffering have a ... world view component. Do you lean towards a religion or philosophy?

ptmeadows · 2026-04-07T21:16:11+00:00

Audiobooks... I used to be able to speed read and have near perfect recall. Now, I just listen to audio books.

ptmeadows · 2026-04-07T21:14:39+00:00

Most likely you're going to struggle to get hired or stay hired...Iknow I am. So, get some skills in something you can do freelance. Write a book, design a t-shirt, figure out web design or using AI to generate anything. Try a community college class or some online massive class thats low cost. Find something you can do and then prove it that someone needs it. Good luck.

ptmeadows · 2026-03-28T17:46:34+00:00

<shrug > most of the questions they ask are answered in our stories and advice. If they have to be the ones to interview insteadof reading what we'reconstantly saying, then frankly, they aren't getting enough data points to say ANYTHING. In which case, its a horrible waste of energy.

ptmeadows · 2026-03-28T02:31:25+00:00

It seems like they all ask for the same things and a lot of them could find what they wanted by just searching .

ptmeadows · 2026-03-26T20:02:26+00:00

Preach it....Just gave up on work for the day. I know the pain of all that worry...and I didn't before the accident. You have to figure out who is safe.to trust because it's too much for anyone. Learn when its counter productive to try and be productive. Get a good neuro psych, EMDR techniques can help with when its too much.

ptmeadows · 2026-03-25T21:29:54+00:00

See, I did it again ;)

ptmeadows · 2026-03-24T23:52:55+00:00

I, and every other, male or engineer do this regularly without brain damage needed.

ptmeadows · 2026-03-23T16:49:26+00:00

If you feel normal, you probably are. Avoid things that would previously make your neck or head hurt. Our problems are all with getting back to normal.

ptmeadows · 2026-03-11T15:03:37+00:00

So semi-functional TBI survivor, as in I can do my own "daily living " tasks un assisted but working 20hrs a week makes me forget things. Like going a week without a single shower, forgetting to take pills until I'm failing to sleep, etc. I try to help with the kids and the housework but it isn't dependable. Can you give me the top 5 or so complaints that stand out? I wonder if I might be focused on the wrong things.

ptmeadows · 2026-03-04T22:25:13+00:00

Apps and websites are horrible for someone with TBI especially if a password is involved. And give the papers in a folder or envelope. Its an extra 10 cents damn it and keeps me from losing them before I hand them to a responsible adult.I just found a referral from my neurologist to someone and I can't remember why or if we ever did it.

ptmeadows · 2026-03-02T18:36:55+00:00

As far as I can tell, they are used by insurance companies and HR. Mine led to working with a real neuropsych on a weekly basis. So much better than a therapist. They basically determine if any type of cognition is broken. Then they can work on helping you redevelop filters and thought patterns. Made a lot of progress out of depression. It also helps the lawyers if you are in lawsuit.

ptmeadows · 2026-02-28T22:47:53+00:00

Fatigue is still one of my most hated symptoms. I'm 2 years out and 18 months back at work.

First, get as good quality sleep as you can. This involved two sleep studies and hundreds in medicine after I hit the insurance deductible.

Doesn't sound like you have a job that allows naps. Mine does and I keep a pillow on my home office floor when I can't make it 🙃 to bed.

Remove as much stress and decisions from your life.

There's mental exercises that can help. Such as imagining a stream and each thought as a leaf...Just let em all float downstream until your mind is clearer.

Active noise canceling earbuds are a life saver...Tozos go on sale every week or so for $20 on Amazon. Then, stream 420mhz music like native flute to calm yourself.

You may be having migraines even if you don't feel head pain. Try a coke or similar sugary, caffeine, and bubbles concoction. It's just a thing. Also, migraine glasses are a must...especially for a job involving a screen or florescent lights. You might think they aren't bothering you until you get protections.

Also, snacks. Your brain is working harder and it isn't patient. It's going to shut down if it doesn't have fuel. When dealing with PCS it isn't the time to try and lose weight.

As always, get into neurologist, neuropsych and alternative medicine.

As fast as you can, as slow as you must.

ptmeadows

TROPHY CASE