SO! How the heck has everyone been?!

[DJ_Zath]

since I crawled out of the woodwork again, I'd thought I'd check in and see how everyone is doing!

how about a nice CHECK IN!

-POKE- ! 

[milky]

Well, you are probably aware that Jumpin' Jeff resigned to follow his political aspirations, and, apparently, the link to this site has been deleted from the Ots site, so we don't get much traffic these days. Other than that, Lane continues to provide us with server space, and I think most of the admin are still lurking.

I try to check in at least once per day, but I am very busy with rolling out the covid-19 jabs, particularly to our older population. I voluntarily do home visits to administer the vaccine to those who can't get to one of the many pop-up inoculation centres. Australia, by comparison with many other countries, remains largely untouched by the virus, mainly due to very good management and border control, but there is a big push to attain "herd immunity" where most people have had their two injections. With a population of 25 million, it is still quite a big job.

At the personal level, I am still in a holding pattern from the carcinoma (SCC) removal operation I had in December 2019, but I am also looking at options as cancer was also discovered in my prostate back then. I have been submitting blood tests for PSA every three months since, and the results hover around 7 to 9  (anything above 4 is reason for concern). I've also had two biopsies and, coincidentally, I am awaiting a phone call from the specialist on Friday after the second one, so it is almost decision day, based on the results of the biopsy and his recommendations.

Because of covid, my health, and my desire to step up to the plate and assist in the fight against it, I wasn't able to run my music bootcamp last January, but I have conducted many Zoom sessions with young musicians when time permits.

[Jigger]

Still around Zath and of course we are all getting older, as Milky has said very quiet around here as you can see a few of us check in. I stll use Ots daily but only to play music around the home.
Its good to keep in touch.

[Kev]

Always lurking! Still use Ots but more for social use only. Retired from the DJing in 2013, did commercial radio engineering until 2019.
I must drop in to your IRC again shortly for my annual visit!

[scott hanna]

I still prefer ots over VDJ. own both.

Still holding out for OTS to follow through on their 2006 promise to finish karaoke😄

[Mike Sinclair]

I still DJ (for now)... going on 55 and still discouraged with the path OTS took. When it first came out, it was the greatest thing since sliced bread, but the lack of support for more modern controllers and lack of updated features forced me to switch software. I still hold out hope that there will be a big surprise one day with a "super update" but I don't expect that will be the case. They are having another 50% off sale right now. Sometimes they do that right before a new release. Again, not holding my breath. With that said, this group was always amazing... really helpful and courteous of each other. Thanks for that!

[Jigger]

I agree Mike I don't think we will get anything new from ots other than what they said about windows 11 update.

[DJ Nikki]

Im still around too. I try to check in on occasion...not out of loyalty to the brand necessarily...but because all of you have been a part of my life for 21 yrs. We may not get to chat often, but I
love you guys and want to check on you.

It's amazing at how much things have changed in 21 yrs. Even in the last year and a half, since covid. I was in finance for 20 yrs til business took a hit when covid started and turned my 50+ hrs a week, into 15, so I had to leave and get an essential job at a cheese factory. After a year, hours started to get less and less at the factory, since cheese protein isn't in as high of demand as it was during the first 10 months of the pandemic..so a month ago, I changed jobs to working in a casino...servicing the machines. I look like I have been beaten...with all the busted knuckles and bruises on my arms and legs LOL. My chiropractor asked if I was in a domestic violence type situation...and I said yes...my job...can I get a prescription for that please? LOL. He said that it would
be a good idea to find a different job..so I have. Next week I will start working from home...and start taking better care of myself. I have osteoperosis from cancer treatment a few years ago. So all of this excessively physical work has been a challenge. 

I got the opportunity to officiate my (step) son's wedding last week. First one ever. It was a great experience. He was extremely nervous...very emotional and started looking like he was going to pass out, so I started skipping the frills, and getting to the nitty gritty and got the i do's done..without incident. It was one of the happiest days of my life. I talked Dave for the first time in a couple years. His wife is a very nice woman. He always picks great women..LOL. They seem like they are doing well. They live a block away...which was odd in the beginning, but now we just wave and keep driving. That's an accomplishment, if you know the back story.

Anyway, I love you guys...and hope you are doing well. And remember kids...if you go to a casino and walk out with winning cash...don't roll around on the bed with your money...it was likely in 'the G string of a stripper, the night before. Believe me when I say, I have seen EVERYTHING.

[Tim Gainer]

Yup...still alive and well! Popped in to ask for some guidance on S&L and thought I'd let everyone know I'm alive and kickin'!

Hope all are well after the whole COVID thing and beyond. In the words of Bob Weir: "what a long, srange trip it's been!"

[milky]

Hi Nikki and Tim. Nice to "see" familiar faces again.

I finally bit the bullet and had my prostate completely removed. The hospital I attended has a robotic machine, where only three small incisions are made, so there is far less intrusion into the body than the old operation where the entire torso was opened up. I get the final pathology report in a couple of weeks, but there was no question that there was a thumb-sized tumour inside the gland, so I'm pleased it is completely gone.

There are some life adjustments I need to make - learning to pee (and stop peeing) is one, and there are new rules and limitations in my sex life, but, in general, the prognosis is good. Any men, especially over 40, should get their PSA levels checked regularly. If you let it go, it's a slow, nasty loss of vitality, versus a bit of short time pain for a very big gain.

[Jigger]

Good to hear from Nikki Tim and Milky I am glad we are as well as we can be as we all get older take care everyone.

[DJ_Zath]

hello Mr. Gainer, Doctor Milky, Jigger, Mr Sinclair, Kev and NIKKI (XOXOX)!

I'm glad peeps are still alive and kickin'... and, though maybe the product we all love may not be, at least, many of us are still "doing our thing" the best we can!  and, as been mentioned, above, about an edargpU for Windows 11? ooOOhh... I won't even consider TOUCHING that junk (I mean Windows 11!), so I'll keep on going with what I have for now.. (but I DO hope they, at least, figure out the audio issues and get those fixed!)

again, I hope everyone stays SAFE, HEALTHY and HAPPY (these are surely TOUGH times and we are living though HISTORY...)

[Jigger]

Stay safe yourself Zath and take care.

[Dr.J]

Good to hear all the familiar voices. I'm still around every now and then to play catch up and enjoy the musings.

[clover-leaf-productions]

Greetings Zath & Friends ALL!

As stated by many it is good to hear the regular cast of characters is still doing well. In terms of myself not being around, it is not necessarily by choice, or lack of caring about any of you. My life circumstances have changed due to some wonderful career opportunities, that have also forced me to restrict/curtail any type of public social media. So there is the major reason I have not been around.

As many have mentioned, as we get older our health continues to deteriorate, and I am no exception in that case. Like with others deterioration of health has forced some interesting life changes for me. Sometimes changes force us to become stronger people in other areas then we realized we could be. I can think of several friends here who might agree with that statement.

Of course since COVID the parties, and weddings have pretty much all dried up for our DJ business. We did have the opportunity this past year to do several outdoor car show events, which had been banned the year before. So it gave us a chance to get the gear out, and at least have some fun in the sun.

I make no promises, but I will try to be a better friend, and at least poke my head in from time to time to see how things are going around here. I wish you all the best, and to know that I think of you all often.