I’d like to learn to weld. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. And I’d like to learn a musical instrument. Preferably the banjo.

While I was sitting at home last spring I kept joking with my dad that there I was, for the first time in my life I had plenty of time to learn a new skill and I had no money to spend in the pursuit. Life’s little jokes I guess.

I’d like to be able to rebuild motors and differentials.
I really would like to add an Auburn LSD to my Tundra but that is way above my head and I am too cheap to pay someone to do it.

quote:

Originally posted by Pale Horse:
And I’d like to learn a musical instrument. Preferably the banjo.

A friend sent this to me. He is a killer banjo player that has played for 55 years. When we were roommates in the Navy, his banjo and my guitar had some good times.

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Originally posted by pbslinger:

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
I want to completely understand women, what makes them tick, what sets them off, what they want, when they want it, how they think, understand their desires, needs and demands.....


on second thought, maybe take it a bit easier and learn about string theory or loop quantum gravity.

I lived for years under the delusion that with careful study, you may learn to understand one woman in your lifetime. The problem being, they are all different.

For what purpose would one like to understand women? To be able to more smoothly interface with them? Predict and avoid problems? Be more able to have your way with them? Good luck

4 lanes or 6?

For those who haven't heard the joke, here's one version. Version I heard involved a Genie.

Joke:
A biker was riding along a California beach when suddenly the sky clouded above his head and, in a booming voice, the Lord said, “Because you have TRIED to be faithful to me in all ways, I will grant you one wish.” The biker pulled over and said, “Build a bridge to Hawaii so I can ride over anytime I want.”

The Lord said, “Your request is materialistic. Think of the enormous challenges for that kind of undertaking. The supports required to reach the bottom of the Pacific! The concrete and steel it would take! It will nearly exhaust several natural resources. I can do it, but it is hard for Me to justify your desire for worldly things. Take a little more time and think of something that could possibly help mankind.”

The biker thought about it for a long time Finally he said, “Lord, I wish that I and all men could understand our wives. I want to know how she feels inside, what she’s thinking when she gives me the silent treatment, why she cries, what she means when she says nothing’s wrong, and how I can make a woman truly happy.”

The Lord replied, “You want two lanes or four on that bridge?.”

Piano and reading music.

I'd like to have a very particular set of skills. Skills I acquired over a long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like those who took my daughter.

I'd like to learn to weld and do sheet metal work so I can fix my rusty old cars and fab stuff up for around the house. I'd also like to learn machining...lathes, mills, presses and all that stuff. I'm pretty handy and have done a lot of automotive work over the years, but I've been limited by my lack of knowledge in those areas.

quote:

Originally posted by flashguy:

quote:

Originally posted by motor59:
I'd really like to learn to play the guitar. Being left-handed, along with life in general, has managed to derail that goal for better than 50 years. And now, as I stand on the brink of retirement, I wonder if my hands retain enough dexterity to give it a try...

Acoustic guitars appear to be symmetrical--could you string it backwards and play left-handed?

Me--I'm doing well to just keep doing what I already know.

flashguy

Many appear symmetrical, but they are not. Many of them, especially the better ones, are braced differently on the inside to handle the treble and bass sides appropriately. There are braces under the top to strengthen it against the tension of the strings.

Even a cheap guitar will have it's saddle - the piece of bone or plastic on the body of the guitar that the strings run over - cut asymmetrically because the treble and bass strings require this (for physics reasons I don't quite understand) to intonate properly.

So you would at least have to put a new saddle on or the thing won't tune properly. Even then, it wouldn't be quite right because of the bracing.

I generally only wish to have more time to enjoy and utilize and grow the skills I have already.

I've already begun learning or have learned most everything that's of particular interest to me.

Trivial parlor tricks aside, like card throwing skills and such...

I go back and forth between a few skills that I would want to have.
Woodworking
Metal working
Mechanic
Being able to play multiple instruments

I did some basic wood working like building benches and built my own shed but would love to get into cabinets and furniture.

I’m re-learning the guitar. I used to play a little bit just haven’t messed with it for many years, but picked up a guitar back in the beginning days of the covid shutdowns and signed up for Fender Play. I’m still not very good but I’m a lot better than 6 months ago.

Clairvoyance

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Originally posted by Sportshooter:

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
I want to completely understand women, what makes them tick, what sets them off, what they want, when they want it, how they think, understand their desires, needs and demands.....

Are you talking about secretly having X-ray vision?

I got a pair of x-ray vision glasses out of mad magazine years ago, they didn't work....

quote:

Originally posted by imadat:

quote:

Originally posted by pbslinger:
I lived for years under the delusion that with careful study, you may learn to understand one woman in your lifetime. The problem being, they are all different.

For what purpose would one like to understand women? To be able to more smoothly interface with them? Predict and avoid problems? Be more able to have your way with them? Good luck

4 lanes or 6?

For those who haven't heard the joke, here's one version.

Disco!

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:

quote:

Originally posted by flashguy:

quote:

Originally posted by motor59:
I'd really like to learn to play the guitar. Being left-handed, along with life in general, has managed to derail that goal for better than 50 years. And now, as I stand on the brink of retirement, I wonder if my hands retain enough dexterity to give it a try...

Acoustic guitars appear to be symmetrical--could you string it backwards and play left-handed?

Me--I'm doing well to just keep doing what I already know.

flashguy

Many appear symmetrical, but they are not. Many of them, especially the better ones, are braced differently on the inside to handle the treble and bass sides appropriately. There are braces under the top to strengthen it against the tension of the strings.

Even a cheap guitar will have it's saddle - the piece of bone or plastic on the body of the guitar that the strings run over - cut asymmetrically because the treble and bass strings require this (for physics reasons I don't quite understand) to intonate properly.

So you would at least have to put a new saddle on or the thing won't tune properly. Even then, it wouldn't be quite right because of the bracing.

My daughter is left-handed, and also wants to learn to play guitar. She already plays trombone. We spent a bunch of time at the local "Music and Arts" store, and they basically said - there are not "left handed instruments" - not for cello, violin, saxophone, etc. They said there are some guitars built "left handed", but they recommended just buying a "normal" guitar. They pointed out that she'd be using her dominant hand for the harder part, which is getting fingers on the frets. We did, and she's just starting. I don't play any instruments, but this made sense to me...

Cooking. I would like to learn to be a chef.

i'd love to wake up knowing how to play the piano.

do not care to learn how to read music but i'm liking the piano music more and more. Used to love the sound of the saxophone best of all but bought a tenor, my favourite, and couldn't get a decent sound out of it if my life depended on it.

0-0

I can stick metal together but I'd like ti know how to weld for real.
EMT training is tops on the list and I'd love to learn to play the sax.

I’d also like to clear traffic and change traffic lights with my mind.

A better understanding of electronics, especially digital electronics.

I would like to have had the aptitude and exposure to have become fluent in multiple languages. One of my wife's former Italian co-workers spoke six. His english was nearly flawless.