You Know You Are Old When

[Sigarms]

Friend of my wife's grandson said he was going to join the pipe fitter's union after high school. Great! The work was too hard, pay too low, and he stopped after just a couple months. Then went to work as maintenance in some factory. Quit that, too for same reasons. This kid is an athlete. Star baseball player. Good grades. I don't get it.

My dad always said I could bench hundreds of pounds but I could never turn the hot water off completely when I lived with them LOL

That said, I learned over time to utilize my brain more, and blessed enough that I don't have to do what I use to do years ago because there is no way I could last a week doing what I use to do when I didn't have to use my brain as much.
Years ago we hired a kid (19 years old) who came in on his grandfathers recommendation to me (guy I respected). I was working with him, and he just came out and asked me how much I made a year. Almost fell over dead. Basically told him none of his business. He then asks me in in all sincerity how long it would take him to make 100 grand a year, because he left his part time janitors job making 50 grand a year. I told him right there he should go back to his part time janitors job. Kid left us because he said he wasn't making enough money. Found out a year later he was asking for his job back. He didn't get it.

Grandfather called later apologizing to me for the recommendation.

Keep in mind, I live in NC. Money goes a lot further here per cost of living vs the Northeast or out west. I remember some of the guys from California telling me what some of the wages are out there. Need those wages for what it costs to live there IMO.

 

[newbury]

Well when you consider that the minimum wage now in mid north west N.C, is $7.25 (based on linky ) and the minimum wage slightly further north in Virginia is $12.41 that's a difference of over $5/hr, or $10K/yr. For crossing a state line.
And most of TV seems to be produced in Ca., where everybody is rich so young people just expect Ca. salaries.

 

[MossRoad]

My dad always said I could bench hundreds of pounds but I could never turn the hot water off completely when I lived with them LOL...

My dad was 6'3" tall and 135 pounds when he joined, ah, err, got drafted into the Army!

I was a bit huskier at 6' 135 pounds when I got out of high school.

Looking back at all the men on my father's side, they were all tall and thin. No fat. I figured I was in for the same. However, I was up to a whopping 154 by age 24 the day I got married. No fat on me. Kept working out, doing physical labor, swimming, etc... by age 42 I hit 225, still no fat. I feel that was my peak as far as strength, stamina, etc...

It was all downhill after that.

 

[MossRoad]

I've never told anyone what I make other than "average wages", which is true. It's none of their business.

I had a coworker in IT that snooped into the accounting system to see what another coworker of ours was making. When he found out, he got highly offended and started complaining.

What he failed to grasp is that the higher paid coworker had a college degree, 20 years of experience in IT, 15 of which were at a steel mill and 5 as the director of IT at a local college, and he was hired in as management, while his resume was a high school diploma and silo construction. Nothing to do with IT. He was strictly for wire pulling and desktop support.

Didn't help that he constantly told everyone he was going to quit and open a shaved ice stand in Florida with his wife as soon as possible. So the company never invested in him. He could have taken advantage of the education benefit they offered (I did many times), but he didn't.

Anyhow, finding out what your coworkers make seems like a major pastime for many folks at about every place of employment.

 

[ultrarunner]

My dad always said I could bench hundreds of pounds but I could never turn the hot water off completely when I lived with them LOL

That said, I learned over time to utilize my brain more, and blessed enough that I don't have to do what I use to do years ago because there is no way I could last a week doing what I use to do when I didn't have to use my brain as much.
Years ago we hired a kid (19 years old) who came in on his grandfathers recommendation to me (guy I respected). I was working with him, and he just came out and asked me how much I made a year. Almost fell over dead. Basically told him none of his business. He then asks me in in all sincerity how long it would take him to make 100 grand a year, because he left his part time janitors job making 50 grand a year. I told him right there he should go back to his part time janitors job. Kid left us because he said he wasn't making enough money. Found out a year later he was asking for his job back. He didn't get it.

Grandfather called later apologizing to me for the recommendation.

Keep in mind, I live in NC. Money goes a lot further here per cost of living vs the Northeast or out west. I remember some of the guys from California telling me what some of the wages are out there. Need those wages for what it costs to live there IMO.

$20 an hour fast food and now minimums for janitorial in some cities…

I’ve managed a small duplex 40 years with 1 bedroom on each side.

Elderly tenants had very modest utilities…

A 25 year single mom was always in a night gown and opening the door was like opening an oven door…

She was 8 times the previous tenant and 6 times the next tenant…

65 degrees and 80 or max makes a difference…

 

[CalG]

Wh

I miss the Ridged tool calendars. Can't seem to find them anymore. Wish I would have kept a couple for old times sake.

May need to order a Dillon precision calendar.

When those calendars where in every shop,

We all had ridged tools.....

 

[jyoutz]

Don't need to be old to appreciate them. I've been using some sort of kneeling pad since I was in my 20s, might be just an old scrap of carpet but indispensable.

I wore them last week when I was planting garden plants and doing weeding. But I still ended up with blisters on my knee.

 

[CalG]

A question for the followers of this thread regarding "healing".

I got a tick bite on a rather sensitive bit of flesh the other day. Pulled off cleanly and went into the wood stove to swim in the ashes. The itch and redness is "healed" in two days.
Stacking wood in the shed a few days back, I lost my footing and stretched my left shoulder a good one. I could not lift that arm to level for love or money. I thought it was a torn rotor cuff for sure.
Could not sleep and moaned with pain all that first night.

Four days later, It's not right, but it's OK. I just now fully lifted that arm a half dozen times in testing.

A year ago about this time, I popped something in my right knee. It took all summer to get so I wasn't limping. I needed a pillow under the knee at night to sleep
This past winter's skiing, I just needed to pay attention, and not do stupid things. Now, The one knee is no worse than the other (not saying they are good and solid ;-)

I am troubled about healing after injury.

I guess I might be getting old...

 

[jyoutz]

A question for the followers of this thread regarding "healing".

I got a tick bite on a rather sensitive bit of flesh the other day. Pulled off cleanly and went into the wood stove to swim in the ashes. The itch and redness is "healed" in two days.
Stacking wood in the shed a few days back, I lost my footing and stretched my left shoulder a good one. I could not lift that arm to level for love or money. I thought it was a torn rotor cuff for sure.
Could not sleep and moaned with pain all that first night.

Four days later, It's not right, but it's OK. I just now fully lifted that arm a half dozen times in testing.

A year ago about this time, I popped something in my right knee. It took all summer to get so I wasn't limping. I needed a pillow under the knee at night to sleep
This past winter's skiing, I just needed to pay attention, and not do stupid things. Now, The one knee is no worse than the other (not saying they are good and solid ;-)

I am troubled about healing after injury.

I guess I might be getting old...

Sounds like an orthopedic doctor would have lots of work to do with you.

 

[CalG]

Sounds like an orthopedic doctor would have lots of work to do with you.

Nothing to do at the moment, I'm all good!

But tomorrow is another day! ;-)

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Tonight I was ordering fuel filters for my mowers and almost ordered 36 before I realized I won't make it to 200 y.o. so I ordered 2.

 

[not2old]

When I was a little kid, maybe 5-6 years old, my dad was having one of his VW's worked on at a local dealer. The mechanic took us back into the shop to show my dad what was wrong with the engine and that's when I saw my first extremely graphic photo of a female as it was posted on a toolbox. My dad saw me looking at it, slowly put his hands over my eyes and turned me around while never breaking conversation with the mechanic.

My dad was a fisherman and they had graphic pinups all over the net loft I didn't stare but here was no reaction from dad.

 

[MossRoad]

We recently did a recount and confirmed that between me, my dad, and my two grandpas, there were just us 4 guys.... and between the 4 of us we had 4 wives and 14 daughters. No other men.

So 4 guys and 18 women. Pinups were verboten.

 

[WinterDeere]

Tonight I was ordering fuel filters for my mowers and almost ordered 36 before I realized I won't make it to 200 y.o. so I ordered 2.

My FIL feeling pretty old and beaten-down after a series of falls once said, "I don't even buy eggs more than a half-dozen at a time, anymore."

 

[BackRoad]

A question for the followers of this thread regarding "healing".

I got a tick bite on a rather sensitive bit of flesh the other day. Pulled off cleanly and went into the wood stove to swim in the ashes. The itch and redness is "healed" in two days.
Stacking wood in the shed a few days back, I lost my footing and stretched my left shoulder a good one. I could not lift that arm to level for love or money. I thought it was a torn rotor cuff for sure.
Could not sleep and moaned with pain all that first night.

Four days later, It's not right, but it's OK. I just now fully lifted that arm a half dozen times in testing.

A year ago about this time, I popped something in my right knee. It took all summer to get so I wasn't limping. I needed a pillow under the knee at night to sleep
This past winter's skiing, I just needed to pay attention, and not do stupid things. Now, The one knee is no worse than the other (not saying they are good and solid ;-)

I am troubled about healing after injury.

I guess I might be getting old...

Athletic guy I know was complaining of similar symptoms as you. Aches, joints, slow recovery after working out. Lots of tests, no results.

I suggested he might ask for a Lymes test...bingo! Treatments cleared up the symptoms for him.

There's a period of time needed for ticks to be attached to pass Lymes, so possibly not from the tick you found...but from the one a while back that you didn't find.

Something you might consider Mr. CalG.

 

[Oaktree]

On a side note, the norm now is just to text that you quit.

A 24 year old Marine out of the service lives up the road from me. Met him and his wife and kids when I invited them to come over to go sledding because we have one of the best hills for sledding behind your house you'll find in the area. Talking with him, asked him if he was looking for work, he said yes, we hired him. I told him the only thing I ask of him is don't text and quit the same day.

Guess what he does 2 months later?

Sadly, that seems to be the only way anyone under 40 communicates these days.

At least you aren't in the dating world. That is how people break up now... no more looking your partner in the eye and saying
"This isn't working".

21st century version of the dear John letter I guess.

Glad I got out of the dating scene before smartphones existed (wife and I met in '02). Don't think I've ever sent a text in my life. I'm sure my cheap-o flip phone will do it, but it would be a major PITA

 

[Runner]

I'm sure my cheap-o flip phone will do it, but it would be a major PITA

Confirmed.

 

[Oaktree]

My FIL feeling pretty old and beaten-down after a series of falls once said, "I don't even buy eggs more than a half-dozen at a time, anymore."

Well, for what they cost these days who can blame him?

 

[jyoutz]

Well, for what they cost these days who can blame him?

I get a half dozen a day from the chickens. I have no idea what eggs cost.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Athletic guy I know was complaining of similar symptoms as you. Aches, joints, slow recovery after working out. Lots of tests, no results.

I suggested he might ask for a Lymes test...bingo! Treatments cleared up the symptoms for him.

There's a period of time needed for ticks to be attached to pass Lymes, so possibly not from the tick you found...but from the one a while back that you didn't find.

Something you might consider Mr. CalG.

I felt weak a few years ago and went to local walk in clinic asking for blood test for tick bite. The doctor refused! I said I'm not leaving until they draw blood which they did reluctantly. Few days later doctor called "blood tests came back negative!". Then phone rings later...same doctor..."Well, uhhh, you ARE positive for Rocky Mountain Spotted Tick fever!". I said "call in Doxycycline immediately!" & she did.
Last year felt weak...positive this time for Lymes. My doctor gave me prescription for antibiotics to keep on hand after that.
Last week I removed a dozen or so ticks & yes now I'm weak, muscle aches, flu-like. So I started Amoxi-Clav 2/day. I really should have blood work done though.