That moment when you realize you're not 25 anymore.

Passed 25 almost 34 years ago. I was pretty bullet proof back then. 30's were my best years, all-nighters done with before 40, weight gain at 45 and aches and pains started at 50. Knee surgery at 54 but it was my job and hours that drove it in the ground. And paying for the sins of your youth... prolly. Doubt I could get back to where I was at 50 right now. Time matters, it's a compromise, work vs family vs projects etc. I usually come last.

No more anxiety over projects, that used to keep me up at night. They get done when they get done or get sold. Dealer or indie service on my DD's but toys are all mine. No more climbing on the roof or cleaning gutters, pay somebody. No running w/ these knees anymore, I'm a walker now. Used to cycle bike trails at least 25 miles/ week, that stopped w/ troubled knees. Really oughta get back in it.

I pace myself on everything anymore... why didn't I do this earlier??

Still have the aches and pains, doubt that will ever change. Need to write more reminder notes but been doing that for 20 years. Could stand to lose 20 or so pounds to be easier on the knees. I value quality sleep now more than ever.

Had to slow down a lot since the younger days but really like my pace now.

EastCoastMojo wrote: You know you're getting old when you injure yourself in your sleep.

Hell, I did that when I was 21, which was... er... 18 years ago. Waking up to the situation that you need to visit the ER is not the best, but it does at least get you woke right the berkeley up, so there's that at least.

Last week I woke up in screaming pain in my right elbow, and my arm was a bit numb south of the elbow, and I couldn't grip anything without more screaming pain in my tendons/muscles. I still have no idea what happened, everything slowly got back to normal after 48 hours or so. Blood clot? Slept with my arm twisted over/behind my head? I dunno.

mndsm wrote: Musically related- I was explaining to a youthful co worker that Marilyn Manson had done his first major single as a cover of the eurhythmics. Then I realized, both the original, and Mansons cover...had come out before this kid was born.

If it's any consolation, I do remember hearing "Lunchbox" on college radio in 1993 and thinking, hey, these guys sound pretty trippy in a good way.

We have this "kid" at work. He keeps talking about back in the day at this or that job, and I asked him when he was born. I told him that I started my first job working on cars professionally before he was a year old. Didn't shut him up though Hell, I was like that too at his age.

Most people who hang around the shop (friends of Da Boss) apparently thought I'm in my late 20s. They forgot that I've been working for my current employer for almost 13 years. It's actually kind a weird, Da Boss and I went to the same high school and had the same autos teacher, and he was a senior when some students were freshmen, and they were seniors when I was a freshman, so we kinda sorta knew a lot of the same people.

...When I took a pass from my sixteen years old and tried to dunk a basketball. Can't do it anymore. (Wasn't that hard at 6'-5"). Hurt to jump. Hurt to land. berkeley, lately it hurts just to shoot.

...When my mid range vision fell off a cliff.

...When I could no longer eat until I got tired.

...When hair started to grow rapidly out of my nose and ears.

This documentary (this is just the trailer) inspired me to eat better. And exercise more.

https://youtu.be/Gv3vEXy_EwU

Fortunately the city adult pool dropped the age floor from 50 to 40. It's time to get after it.

When all I have to do to throw my back out is sneeze.

Tonight at a Primus show. Jesus hell, my feet hurt.

But like any good 25 year old, I'll be up in 2.5hrs going to work.

I am dumb.

Ok, really, WTF did I do to my shoulder?

OK, hair has stayed away from the ears, but what the hell is up with the nose hair? Those bastages grow at about an inch a week.

Bobzilla wrote: OK, hair has stayed away from the ears, but what the hell is up with the nose hair? Those bastages grow at about an inch a week.

Look at the bright side. Those hairs will make an excellent air filter if you happen to find yourself in a dusty space.

Yeah, nose hair is a bitch. The gal who cuts my hair will wax it and that lasts for about 6 months, but it hurts like a mother berkeleyer.

I'm paying for the sins of 25 at almost fifty. Sore joints and such, but I've found the key is stay active. working around the house, riding my mountain bike, water skiing. I look at the old guys I know (60+), and the ones who are in the best shape are the ones who stay active all the time.

The one thing I wish I'd taken more care of was my hearing. The tinnitus is overwhelming some days.

Bobzilla wrote: The one thing I wish I'd taken more care of was my hearing. The tinnitus is overwhelming some days.

This is the thing that amazes me--I've worn earplugs while mowing, wore my ipod earbuds out of my ears because I couldn't turn the volume low enough, etc. I was very careful, and I still have some minor hearing loss and tinnitus. How did people who had the earbuds in and loud enough that I could hear it from 5 feet away survive? blows my mind.

mtn wrote:

Bobzilla wrote: The one thing I wish I'd taken more care of was my hearing. The tinnitus is overwhelming some days.

This is the thing that amazes me--I've worn earplugs while mowing, wore my ipod earbuds out of my ears because I couldn't turn the volume low enough, etc. I was very careful, and I still have some minor hearing loss and tinnitus. How did people who had the earbuds in and loud enough that I could hear it from 5 feet away survive? blows my mind.

I think, like so many things, there is an element of genetics involved. My hearing is not great, I listened to too much rock and roll through a Craig Powerplay 8 track player, and I've worked in welding and mechanical shops all my life, and haven't used hearing protection nearly enough. I have a friend who has been absolutely diligent about hearing as long as I've known him, to the point that he will wear earplugs on long trips in my car, which has a Walker Dynomax muffler on it. He is deaf as a berkeleying post, but doesn't believe it. Terribly irritating in restaurants, as he seems to be ignoring the wait staff...

In reply to Streetwiseguy:

true. I was doomed from the start anyway, all the Miller men were/are deaf. Add in shooting thousands and thousands of rounds of 7.62x39 and .45 and 12ga along with loud cars, louder music and all that .... Yeah, I pretty much screwed myself up. I hate loud restraunts as I can't hear a damn thing

Bobzilla wrote: The one thing I wish I'd taken more care of was my hearing. The tinnitus is overwhelming some days.

I'm really hoping it's not too late for me to start.

For the most part, the only time I ever wore hearing protection was while shooting, but usually not when shooting handguns. I had big loud sub woofers in all my cars, often directly behind me, and years on job sites with all sorts of equipment.

I never noticed a problem until a few weeks ago when I got my welder. Standing in my sheet metal car port echo chamber, laying beads down then grinding them off left my ears ringing for a day. I promptly went and got some ear muffs and have been wearing them while working sense.

My mom started losing her hearing around 38, and has had hearing aids for well over 20 years. And not the good kind, the annoying buzzy barely hear anything anyway kind because expensive. I have absolutely no interest in suffering that same fate, but I think the damage and genetics could already be done.

My hearing loss started back being around un muffled air plane engines with no sort of protection. Then unmuffled race car engines. Hearing aids help but can't match natural hearing, so protect those ears.

Technically my hearing loss started with marching bands and concert bands.... years of sitting in confined rooms with trumpets blasting away at my head.

Appleseed wrote: Tonight at a Primus show. Jesus hell, my feet hurt. But like any good 25 year old, I'll be up in 2.5hrs going to work. I am dumb.

Swmbo threatened me with tickets to this November 10th. Fortunately places like the hard rock has seats for old farts.

Bobzilla wrote: The one thing I wish I'd taken more care of was my hearing. The tinnitus is overwhelming some days.

Thanks for the reminder. Will bring hearing protection for the King of the Surf Guitar Sat night.

pretty much the day after any wrenching session on one of the cars. we used to do stuff all the time in a crappy apartment parking lot, and never think twice. I do 1/2 a day of minor wrenching and i feel like i got jumped the next day.

chandlerGTi wrote: When all I have to do to throw my back out is sneeze.

I am pretty active. I lift pretty often. One night I was doing front squats with only 135 or so. After a few rounds I stopped at the top of the squat to readjust on my shoulders. At that point I coughed and I felt something in my back tweak/pop. It was very uncomfortable.

I dropped the weight, did some stretches and generally felt fine. Picked it back up to see how I felt. Started a squat and... nope. Dropped it again and quit for the night. I think I was out of commission for most lifts for over a week.