Ugh, that's the worst. It's like the houses are stuck in a loop, and you're just along for the ride. Makes you wonder what else from that era is just waiting to surprise someone.

What solvent are you using on that carbon ring?

Spot on. I see this with my mom's arthritis too. She stopped gardening because her hands hurt, and they just got stiffer. Her physical therapist had her start squeezing a soft ball for a few minutes a day, just a little bit of pushback. It's not about forcing through sharp pain, but that tiny bit of daily stress tells your body to keep the area working.