Just when you think you have it all figured out, life throws you that unhittable curve ball.
Due to some nerve problems in my right hand, I have had to switch over to using the computer mouse with my left hand. I still type with both hands, but I am still struggling as a southpaw mouser.
While it’s true that Windows allows you to switch your mouse buttons for either right or left hands, that’s not the main problem. It’s mainly getting your brain acclimated to the new perception. I now know why there are so few switch hitters in baseball. Getting that curser to settle in just the right spot is frustrating. Maybe that’s how it got its name in the first place. I recommend you all try it once, just be careful not to try to chew gum at the same time.
Anyway, that’s my lame excuse for not posting since September. I hope to do better as I get my creative juices flowing again. I know you have missed my wit, be it dim or otherwise.
It’s also an excuse to wish all my followers a most Happy Thanksgiving as well as a continued blessed holiday season!
“The (left) hand that rocks the mouse, rules the world.”
The Cvillean 
Al…. I have no medical excuse for not touching bases with you…. but was glad to read your post (which I did read many days ago) as I was a bit worried about not hearing anything from you… glad to know there was no drama going on in your life. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving…. after 8 months of dating, my family finally met Mr. Motorcycle Man and it went well. The grandchildren Ages 7 and 10 warmed up to him immediately and he got along very well with my son and his wife…. so all is good. . ..
and as you know, we have entered the state of life where things start falling apart and need repairs (i.e., hip replacement) or minor adjustments…. I hope you continue of the path of minor adjustments with your hand~jfh
Al,
Research shows being ambidextrous makes you smarter because it makes more connections between the lobes of your brain. At least according to early childhood experts. 🥰🥰
I’m always a little leery of those things, Arlene. I bought a smartphone, but all it did was make me feel dumber. He, he,he. Thank you for commenting, always good to hear from you.
Well goodness. I hope whatever it is goes away or gets better or, at the very least, you adapt. I’m one of those weirdo’s who can do lots of things with both hands but I don’t really consider myself ambidextrous. There are just certain things I do with my left hand. And, quite often, if I attempt to do something I’ve never done before, I’ll just automatically use my left hand.
I can bowl with my left hand or my right hand – surprisingly well, too. I can eat with either hand unless I’m using chopsticks, then it’s right hand only. I switch hands when I brush my teeth or put on mascara (right hand right side, left hand left side) and it drives my husband nuts because when I tie up a horse (to a hitching post) I always use my left hand and he can’t undo it because he says it’s backwards. I can’t explain it, it’s just how I roll.
I have used my left hand for my mouse, but it does take a bit of practice. And, I can write legibly with either hand but not with both hands at the same time (because who really needs THAT skill?)
So, I feel your pain. And, I’m glad to see you back in the writing saddle because I have missed your wit. Keep it up. Slow and sure can win the race.
Happy Black Friday!
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
That’s amazing, Patricia. I agree, I think of ambidextrous as being able to do any task with either hand. But it’s rare to see someone who does some things lefty and other things righty by nature. Which begs the question; when you have to discipline the hubby with a whack upside the head, lefty or righty? He, he, he.
P.S. What are your bowling averages from each side?
I can husband-smack equally well with either hand. The bowling? Hmmm. Because I don’t do it often enough I don’t really have an average, but I usually bowl around a 140. That’s by no means good, but it’s not too shabby. It doesn’t make any difference which hand I use. During a game I’ll switch between the 2 about every other frame. I’m just weird like that.
You have been missed! I can do some things with my left hand due to a lefty for a mom. (My husband says I play pool and pitch manure left handed.)
Gonna have to give the mouse a try left handed and yes….I am pretty sure that is why it is called a cursor!
You’re being too modest, Faye. I’m sure you can pitch manure with either hand. LOL!
Bwhahaha…maybe in more ways than one?
Happy Thanksgiving, Al!
I know how frustrating you must find the mouse situation. I switched to left handed mousing because of a nerve problem (sort of carpal tunnel like.) It took a long time to get decently adept. Then I switched back to the right hand when the nerve settled down. Oddly enough, the left hand proficiency didn’t stick all that well at all!
I didn’t switch the left/right mouse buttons – makes it much quicker to switch from one hand to the other – which is what I do now when the right hand just starts to feel numb…
Wow, that sounds exactly like what I am going through, Margy. I getting better with the left hand except fro some things, like doing online jigsaw puzzles. Hope you had a wonderful day. Your Thanksgiving is at a different time isn’t it?
We celebrate our Thanksgiving (a celebration of good harvest and good thing in general) in mid October. By then, harvest season should be over – except for years like this when we get heavy snow in September!
I hold you in my heart, my Bro. ❤ Love to you both. ❤ xXx
And back at ya, sis.
Hi Al,
I am right-handed and I have just tried to use my left hand to scroll on my laptop trackpad. Oh dear, I am hopeless! The page was flying around in all sorts of strange ways!!
I hope the mouse training is going well for you – yes, maybe give it a few months before attempting to chew gum at the same time 😉
Happy holidays!
Your blogging friend,
Carly
I’m getting better by the day, Carly. It’s a hoot when you first try it.
By the way, Katie’s parents and sister just spent a week in Madrid visiting with her. Had a great time and toured several cities.
Ah, I’m glad you are getting better at it!
Brilliant that Katie’s parents and sister enjoyed themselves here in Madrid – it’s a lovely city 🙂 I hope Katie is doing well. I haven’t heard from her, so I assume she is happy.
Best of wishes
Carly
She is. Very busy with school and her host family. They had their first child during her stay and Katie was thrilled to be a part of that. She will be returning home mid-December. She was selected as one of only 20 students to attend a semester at a special environmental studies section at her school (George Mason University, just outside Washington, D.C.) He was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Anyway, it was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up as she has changed her major to environmental field. Her proficiency in Spanish will stand her in good stead no matter what. Sorry you didn’t get to meet up but it made me feel better that she had you as a outlet if needed. Holiday shopping is beginning around here. Let the madness begin!! Hope you are still coping well.
Your pal, Al.
Wow, well done Katie! What an amazing opportunity! Yes, it was a shame we didn’t meet, but I was always here, just in case 😉
I hope she has made some happy memories here and will always remember her time in Madrid with a smile.
Best wishes,
Carly
Believe or not Al, at home I use my mouse with my right hand, at work I used my left. I know, l’m just weird 😂.
Ambidextrous, eh? You know, the Yankees are looking for a good switch hitter…….
🤣🤣🤣
I am right handed but my mother, my spouse and my granddaughter are lefties. Since Mom taught me to tie my shoelaces the lefty way my bows are always crooked. The builder of our house was a lefty so doors and cabinets open the wrong way. Left right..right left..tis a very confusing world even when you think you have it all figured out.
Guess it’s up to you to show them the “right” way to do things, eh?
Sorry, Al. As someone very famous (so famous I can’t remember his name) said”Old age isn’t a battle, it’s a massacre.” Yogo Berra? Norman Mailer? Shakespeare?
Hadn’t heard that one, funny. In that case, just call me General Custer.
That cursed curser! I mouse with my left and do everything else with my right. I’m sure its good for my brain.
When I get frustrated with the left-handed mousing, Susanne, I just say to myself, “What are you, a man or a mouse!?”
From one born lefty to the newly acquired, Happy Thanksgiving! It’s funny do most things with my left hand but the mouse has always been on my right. Of course I use scissors with my right hand too because at the grammar school I went to they only had one par of green lefty scissors for us lesser southpaws to share. I adjusted, lol.
Hope you heal up quick Al.
I would expect nothing less from you Tricia. Always keep to the right when possible, he, he he. Thanks for the well wishes. It’s not serious so far.
Lol Al, but of course!
Hi Cuz,
I wonder if a Trackball would be more comfortable and easier to adjust to.
I love my Right hander from Logitech.
I looked into that, thanks, Marc. It’s not that I can’t use my right hand, I just need to rest it. It’s not painful to use it.