Getting old SUCKS!!

[0leman]

I’m POed at Jeff and the waiting list for a new one is over 2 years. Now if Donald decides to get a new one I might consider his but with AF One available he probably won’t be in a rush anytime soon.

John,

Even though the pain from my recent injury (toe stubbing) is going to keep me from helping you remove that snow up in Oregon.   I'm still thinking that you should patch things up with Jeff and provide him with that supervisory leadership and some guidance.

With that, I'll quit confirming how "Getting Old SUCKS" (for now) and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Rams

AND may your teeth not fall out before the turkey day.

[Rams]

AND may your teeth not fall out before the turkey day.

While I do appreciate the thought and your response.  Won't be any turkey served at our table.   I consider that  a "FOWL" meal. 

Rams

[cookiedough]

yep, after age 50 there are now things I do not attempt to do.  One is getting up on my roof to clean out the gutters, luckily for me few years ago my huge oak tree came crashing down and no more leaves to worry about.  I know a few people who have passed from a simple 10 foot fall off the roof.  The last time up on roof was sketchy was unable to swing my leg OVER the edge onto the ladder thought about jumping but my wife dragged my dead leg over the edge onto the ladder.  Something so simple to do 6 years ago was no longer easy at all.

I recently came across another classmate who just passed makes like about 4 in class of 44 total that have gone age 55 and younger, way too young. 

Am hoping 2025 am able to do stuff I did in my 40's again much easier after 2 new hips, Tuesday Dec. 3rd is 2nd hip replaced, hope 2025 is better than last 4 years or so with lmiited mobility.

[Jess from VA]

At 71, I go up on my roof all the time (wearing a Stihl 600 magnum backpack blower) to blow off the roof and gutter covers.  Up an easy 10 feet to the low side of my 3 level split, which is peaked so I can walk right up to the two story side.  The pitch is not steep on either roof.  The new 5" gutters with covers are great, but I have a 100yo white (willow) oak than makes 10 billion tiny leaves that get stuck everywhere.

The trick is to not fall off the ladder or the roof.  So far so good.   

[Rams]

Hired a company to help me erect the roof over my wife's new patio.   A young crew showed up.   The lead guy was pretty darn good technically but a damn poor supervisor.   He allowed one of his men to stay on his cell phone looking at something, not talking for about 3/4ths of the time they were at my place.   All the while the supervisor did the vast majority of the work.   He did have one other helper that was a decent worker but, that's about it.   

The cell phone worker finally got assigned a task using the battery powered framing nailer.   I watched him for a short time and noted that he was not positioning the cross bracing correctly and stopped him and made it  clear what I expected.   The Supervisor heard me but didn't say a word.

After a short time I went back to check on the framing/cell phone user and he was still doing the same thing and stated that if he wasn't doing it right then someone else could do it.   Again, the Supervisor heard it all, never said a word.

At that point I had had enough and told the Supervisor to pack up his tools and I'd pay him for what was done but, to never bring the "Cell Phone Attitude" dude back.   There are other jobs my wife would like done and the Supervisor was technically pretty darn good.

Regardless, I now have to finish the job which will entail me correcting what the Cell Phone Kid did wrong and putting up two more sheets of roofing.

I am only relaying this because, I don't like ladders or any task that makes me get up on a roof.  Have always been leery of heights and I don't like getting up there. 

So Jess, bring it on down and let's get that two sheets of roofing done. 

Rams 

[Jess from VA]

I wouldn't mind at all next Spring after it warms up Ron, except for the 12.5 hours and 843 miles each way.

My younger brother the master industrial/commercial carpenter and master mechanic has always attacked his work (of any kind) like George Patton.  He views time as the enemy and goes at everything hammer and tongs.  He's fallen off two roofs with this attitude, and decided any further roof work is out.

The only thing I know he took meticulous careful time doing was building two small aircraft from scratch. 

[Rams]

I wouldn't mind at all next Spring after it warms up Ron, except for the 12.5 hours and 843 miles each way. 

That's alright Jess, I'll work up the nerve to get up there once we get a warmer day.   
Never really expected you to make that ride/drive.   Just pulling your chain. 

Rams 

[Jess from VA]

I knew that.   

Until I mapped it, I didn't realize you lived in Eastern Arkansas.   

[Rams]

I knew that.  

Until I mapped it, I didn't realize you lived in Eastern Arkansas.  

Dang, when did Covington, TN end up in Arkansas?   Dang it, I'm always the last to know..............

Rams

[cookiedough]

Hired a company to help me erect the roof over my wife's new patio.   A young crew showed up.   The lead guy was pretty darn good technically but a damn poor supervisor.   He allowed one of his men to stay on his cell phone looking at something, not talking for about 3/4ths of the time they were at my place.   All the while the supervisor did the vast majority of the work.   He did have one other helper that was a decent worker but, that's about it.   

The cell phone worker finally got assigned a task using the battery powered framing nailer.   I watched him for a short time and noted that he was not positioning the cross bracing correctly and stopped him and made it  clear what I expected.   The Supervisor heard me but didn't say a word.

After a short time I went back to check on the framing/cell phone user and he was still doing the same thing and stated that if he wasn't doing it right then someone else could do it.   Again, the Supervisor heard it all, never said a word.

At that point I had had enough and told the Supervisor to pack up his tools and I'd pay him for what was done but, to never bring the "Cell Phone Attitude" dude back.   There are other jobs my wife would like done and the Supervisor was technically pretty darn good.

Regardless, I now have to finish the job which will entail me correcting what the Cell Phone Kid did wrong and putting up two more sheets of roofing.

I am only relaying this because, I don't like ladders or any task that makes me get up on a roof.  Have always been leery of heights and I don't like getting up there. 

So Jess, bring it on down and let's get that two sheets of roofing done. 

Rams 

same here almost, had 2 guys show up put in a new patio door and garage window and while at it, front screen door.  I found 5 issues AFTER they were done NOT done right.  I got an attitude from the lead guy he asked me if anyone ever told me I am very particular when he came back to fix what both did not do right.  I said how would you like it when the flashing was cut too short and I stuck my finger thru the gap down thru the windows side framing?   Fing cocky sucker felt like kicking him OUT and tell the mgr. of the company to get me someone else who is not so lippy.  ONLY took both tad over 1 hour to fix the 5 minor things, but attention to detal was lacking for sure.  I will not be going back to that company for anything needed for home stuff.

[GiG]

Sorry for your cellphone guy misfortune, Ron but it is funny. Gotta say we’ve been fortunate with outside help.  Lulu talks to guys everyday (barber) she gets great referrals.  One guy is building contractor & TWP Inspector, Jerry has never steered us wrong. His guy Peurto Rican Mikey’s outstanding- did the water heater, sump, more.


BTW: we’ve got an entire generation unable to perform the simplest tasks without a cellphone attached to their face; those easy tasks are guaranteed to be botchifide  

That goes for any event or performance, as well- constant streaming/ selfies … total disregard for what is Really Happening      

[Oldfishguy]

Over the years I have used recommendations from my local lumber yard.  It is not one of these big box stores, but a smaller family run outfit.  Of course they sell other things beyond lumber.  But I’ve worked with one of the lumber family members on who to use for various projects.  Of course the local contractor will buy from that lumber yard for my project.  But these family run business know who is good, has few callbacks, reliable, and is paying their bills.

To use an unknown contractor these days is just asking for trouble.

[Rams]

Over the years I have used recommendations from my local lumber yard. 

SNIP

To use an unknown contractor these days is just asking for trouble.

Maybe not a good excuse but, having only recently moved to Covington, I've not found a "local lumber yard".    There may be one but, I've only seen Home Depot and Lowe's.   Getting a recommendation from a Big Box Store isn't much of an option IMHO.   

I did use a local internet page for the Covington area in search of local contractors.   What that did was to get references for quite a few contractors all with great votes of confidence and local great ratings by those recommending them.   Turns out, most of those folks recommending the contractors were related to the contractor.   Just goes to prove, ya can't trust most folks.   Getting recommendations is like skipping through the barn yard, you're likely to get crap all over your new boots.

Rams

[Jess from VA]

Getting a recommendation from a Big Box Store isn't much of an option IMHO.   

Around here, when visiting a Home Depot or Lowes, you can often find contractors stocking up on supplies for jobs in the area.  They might have some contractor marked shirts or jackets on, or you can just tell by the quantities of stuff they are buying. 

(After 34 years) My plumber, carpenter and HVAC guy are friends who live close by in my neighborhood.  Which is convenient.  I've used them many times over the years, and most of my home improvement and upgrades are done.  If I do get a small problem I give one a call, and he drops over and fixes it up and often says "no charge" but I hand him $40-50 anyway.  And these guys are kind of a good old boy network;  if they don't know how to do what I need, they tell me just who to call.

What I don't care for is guys in my home hammering and banging and dragging things around for weeks at a time.  They may be nice guys, but I live alone for a reason.  Outside, my house is pristine, but inside the whole house needs paint (except for a bathroom I did).  I'm a good painter but don't want to do it (or pay it done).  You keep the lights low, it hardly shows.   

[Rams]

Getting a recommendation from a Big Box Store isn't much of an option IMHO.  

Around here, when visiting a Home Depot or Lowes, you can often find contractors stocking up on supplies for jobs in the area.  They might have some contractor marked shirts or jackets on, or you can just tell by the quantities of stuff they are buying.  

(After 34 years) My plumber, carpenter and HVAC guy are friends who live close by in my neighborhood.  Which is convenient.  I've used them many times over the years, and most of my home improvement and upgrades are done.  If I do get a small problem I give one a call, and he drops over and fixes it up and often says "no charge" but I hand him $40-50 anyway.  And these guys are kind of a good old boy network;  if they don't know how to do what I need, they tell me just who to call.

What I don't care for is guys in my home hammering and banging and dragging things around for weeks at a time.  They may be nice guys, but I live alone for a reason.  Outside, my house is pristine, but inside the whole house needs paint (except for a bathroom I did).  I'm a good painter but don't want to do it (or pay it done).  You keep the lights low, it hardly shows.  

Well, if I make it here for 34 years, I hope to find reliabe tradesmen to assist with projects but, that isn't the case now. 

Rams

[Hooter]

Well, I get the heavy thing! Within 3 months I had hernia surgery,  kidney stones x2, and all my teeth pulled. All of that February through  May. I've lost 25 lbs due to all of this, part of it in muscle. Everything is heavy and, with new dentures, eating is a learning process.  My Doctor says 6 months until I get things back. Ya, getting old "sucks"!

[Jess from VA]

My hernia operation was at 4yo.  I don't remember much, except my mom telling me not to pull the bandage off (it itched something fierce in there).

I had a kidney stone once.  It hurt so bad I thought I was dying.  They pumped me so full of fluids I became a human fountain.  When it still didn't pass, I prayed for death.

I've only got about 2/3 of my teeth left.  It changes how and what you cook and what you eat.

Sorry for your troubles Hooter.

[GiG]

Getting Old Socks! Is  an excellent  provision for traveling!  They can be tossed  after a day of riding or worn Yankee style with sandals!
Same with skivvies - tossed or washed in the coffee pot -  I tend to add them to the bonfire   

[RNFWP]

 

Getting Old Socks! Is  an excellent  provision for traveling!  They can be tossed  after a day of riding or worn Yankee style with sandals!
Same with skivvies - tossed or washed in the coffee pot -  I tend to add them to the bonfire   

[Rams]

Getting Old Socks! Is  an excellent  provision for traveling!  They can be tossed  after a day of riding or worn Yankee style with sandals!
Same with skivvies - tossed or washed in the coffee pot -  I tend to add them to the bonfire   
[/quote

Maybe for the more cultured but, as I was informed in the Marines, you can wear one underwear four days, just turn it around backwards for day two, then inside out and you can get two more days of wear. 

Rams