Running out of gas

[BeatersRus]

kerosene fumes inside of a closed space would not be good for you..just saying.
plus itll coat your lungs,and everything else in your garage.

 

[1STMP]

kerosene fumes inside of a closed space would not be good for you..just saying.
plus itll coat your lungs,and everything else in your garage.

I've used them before without any problems.
Even in the house when the power was out
for a week. Just got to make sure it's adjusted
and burning correctly. Cracking a window is
also a good idea.

 

[1STMP]

dont worry,the chinese will steal the design and theyll be selling a clone of that lift for a grand next year

imp,i know how you feel.
my only suggestion is the one you dont want,
medicinal pot,or edibles,or even vape pens,altho you Really want to be careful w those.
i thank God every morning,and night,just for another day.
best wishes to you.

May have to give the MJ thing a go. The wife
smokes some, but I've never tried it. A secret
security clearance kinda puts the brakes on
that one. But I'm retired now, so that would be
of no concern.

 

[Kern Dog]

This sounds stupid, but the older I get, the more I realize it's not fair to work your whole life and retire when you can't work anymore and sometimes you hurt too much to have fun.

Just a few years ago, I read a summary of a study that Boeing reported on their retired employees. I'm a little fuzzy on the exact numbers but I recall something like this:
Those that took early retirement in their mid 50s lived to approximately the average life expectancy of mid 80s.
Those that retired at 62 lived to their late 70s.
Those that retired at 70 lived 4 years.
Yeah.....working longer resulted in a shorter life span. Not good! They worked until they broke down, then checked out earlier than others.
Many people are lucky and don't deal with daily pain or discomfort.
I've been fortunate to have worked in construction since 1986 and can still get around quite well BUT I have had some back injuries that put me on the couch for a week waiting to heal.
During that time, the mind can play tricks on you. There is something that happens to me when I have some injury.....my mind sometimes goes to the extremes and brings out thoughts that I'll never heal right, that this is my life now and that there is no hope.
I hate that. It takes a concerted effort to snap myself out of that corrosive way of thinking.
Normally, what gets me down the most and makes it hard to motivate myself is the winter. I hate the cold, I hate the overcast days. Short daylight hours kill the mood too.

 

[Hey-O]

Just a few years ago, I read a summary of a study that Boeing reported on their retired employees. I'm a little fuzzy on the exact numbers but I recall something like this:
Those that took early retirement in their mid 50s lived to approximately the average life expectancy of mid 80s.
Those that retired at 62 lived to their late 70s.
Those that retired at 70 lived 4 years.
Yeah.....working longer resulted in a shorter life span. Not good! They worked until they broke down, then checked out earlier than others.
Many people are lucky and don't deal with daily pain or discomfort.
I've been fortunate to have worked in construction since 1986 and can still get around quite well BUT I have had some back injuries that put me on the couch for a week waiting to heal.
During that time, the mind can play tricks on you. There is something that happens to me when I have some injury.....my mind sometimes goes to the extremes and brings out thoughts that I'll never heal right, that this is my life now and that there is no hope.
I hate that. It takes a concerted effort to snap myself out of that corrosive way of thinking.
Normally, what gets me down the most and makes it hard to motivate myself is the winter. I hate the cold, I hate the overcast days. Short daylight hours kill the mood too.

I totally agree!!
I slept 4 hours a day, worked 12 hours a day, 7 days a week and flipped houses for most of my life. I have tennis and golf elbow in both arms and corporal tunnel in both wrist. Knees that are shot and a torn rotator cuff that happened when I was a first year apprentice. I couldn't afford to not work so I never had it fixed. Fingers reattached, pins from car accidents. It makes no sense to even go on with the rest of the list because this is not meant to be a competition on the most injurys acquired over the years. It's about the body and how much it can take and for how long. The harder you beat it the sooner it will break down. You may think you can talk your way through a beat up body with positive thinking, good luck, it doesn't work that way. Most pioneers and Indians died younger because of working a body to death. I wasn't about to die on the job or get out in time to live a few years and then die. When you see day light, run towards it. Anyone that thinks they love their job and never want to quit and work their bodies hard everyday, you can't pray for new body parts, it doesn't work that way.

 

[1STMP]

Just a few years ago, I read a summary of a study that Boeing reported on their retired employees. I'm a little fuzzy on the exact numbers but I recall something like this:
Those that took early retirement in their mid 50s lived to approximately the average life expectancy of mid 80s.
Those that retired at 62 lived to their late 70s.
Those that retired at 70 lived 4 years.
Yeah.....working longer resulted in a shorter life span. Not good! They worked until they broke down, then checked out earlier than others.
Many people are lucky and don't deal with daily pain or discomfort.
I've been fortunate to have worked in construction since 1986 and can still get around quite well BUT I have had some back injuries that put me on the couch for a week waiting to heal.
During that time, the mind can play tricks on you. There is something that happens to me when I have some injury.....my mind sometimes goes to the extremes and brings out thoughts that I'll never heal right, that this is my life now and that there is no hope.
I hate that. It takes a concerted effort to snap myself out of that corrosive way of thinking.
Normally, what gets me down the most and makes it hard to motivate myself is the winter. I hate the cold, I hate the overcast days. Short daylight hours kill the mood too.

Well stated, KD. I'm an optimist and rarely
let anything get me down. But pain has a
way of interfering with that outlook.
I used to love the cold, and looked forward
to 80 mph zooms across a frozen lake,
layered with 6" inches of wet snow. I also
did a lot of waterfowl hunting which also
tipped the excitement scale. Those days
have become fond memories.
I appreciate the reminders and encouragement
to stay positive. With this current attack on
my worn out, used up vessel, at least I can
painfully get off the couch to use the bathroom.
No bottle this time.

 

[moparedtn]

I've written novels on here about my various maladies, both incurred and earned.
I can certainly relate, especially of late, of motivational issues regarding continuing to carry
my own gigantic pain bucket, too - and to be honest, I'm struggling now from that too,
@1STMP .

The first 40+ years of life went by with just the usual arthritic knees, bad rotators, stuff caused
usually by injuries or what have you - but the last 20+ years have been a war, with seemingly
a new life-threatening issue rearing its' head every few years.
Odd to say, but I've come to expect those anymore...

Suffice to say my own biggest totals are cancer(6x), flatline(3x), organs
removed(2x) and collapsed discs/nerve damage/sciatica (2x). Of the latter, it's the two main discs
that matter - the one that the nerve wiring going to your arms/hands and legs/feet come out of,
which leads to lots of that burning/pain/weakness in all extremities.

As you might imagine, all that in one "bucket" gets heavy, even for a big fella...
I've always been able to just get back up.
Some call it "willpower" but it's more than that - it's sheer WILL. The fuel for such will for me is
something hard to admit to, but honestly? It's a combination of stubbornness and a seemingly
bottomless supply of just being meaner than whatever or whoever it was/is trying to hold me down.

Every morning, it's a new entry in the "get on top of it" contest - where it's good I don't sleep a lot
at night anymore, because I'd be hell to live with if anyone else had to deal with me while fighting
the daily fight to "get normal", i.e. gain control of the pain bucket for that day, whatever level it was at.
Lots of silent cursing, taking of all the various life-necessary meds, animal noises, mental exercises...
that sort of thing, distracting myself by things like coming to FBBO and reading new stuff while the war
is fought.
Next day - lather, rinse, repeat.

I've always needed motivation to go through all that (I imagine we all do) and there's been a plan afoot
usually - something not done yet, projects or such that need to be seen through and finished.
I'm not done yet...
Motivation has never been an issue as a result - until these last few weeks, that is.
Now? I find myself questioning how much longer I can keep up this charade.
As each day brings even more physical challenges (there are repercussions to all that stuff I've been
through), I'm given daily reminders of what the surgeons told me when I asked, point blank:
"How much longer did I just buy here, doc?"
The typical answer was what you'd expect - some manner of blowing me off, not wanting to answer.
The best in the country at my kidney cancer though - he was special and quite bluntly honest when
I asked.
He looked at me for a moment, then figuring out I wanted it straight said "10 years - if you're lucky".

Well - true to those words, I'm on year 11 right now and the batteries are noticeably, startlingly growing
weaker by the day - and honestly, I'm not doing anything earth-shaking by staying above dirt at this point,
anyways.
I've gotten the bulk of the "have-to's" checked off my list; my wife will be fine after I'm gone
and the little bit of family I still have are afar and quite well off, so they don't need me either.
Even my employer, my job - isn't essential anymore, honestly - after it seeming to be SO important for
SO many decades, somebody else will pick it up where I left it off when I'm toast there, too.
So no, none of those usual motivations really work for me anymore...
and I find myself in a similar boat as our OP here.

The only motivations to continuing the fight are boiled down to two, only one of which is valid:
1. Purely selfish reasons - I want to take care of some bucket list things, see the country, that sort of thing.
The last words of my father ring out to me when I think of "retirement" though:
"Don't you EVER stop!"
His own health went to hell when he retired, true enough - so I've never even considered it.
2. Purely spiritual - He has seen fit to keep me around through all this hell for a reason and only He
keeps the stopwatch on any of us, honestly.
Until I get done what His will is, I reckon I'm not supposed to go anywhere?
Well, He best hurry up. All I'm saying...

So, after all that typical Ed blathering, what motivation do I have to offer our friend @1STMP ?
I'll try my best here, man - but it'll sound a bit like a self-motivation, too (because it is):

We continue to go through whatever we each have to in order to function each day because that's our
jobs - that's what He put us here to do and only He can pull the plug on us.
His call on when it's time to quit, not ours...and in the meantime, it's up to us to give it all the hell
we can muster and try to do His will in the process.

I'm damn proud to still be standing, pissing off some and amazing others around me.
I want to be the last M-F'er standing.
I want to take on each new malady like it's an effing war - because it is.
Lastly - I want folks like @1STMP to see what is possible and to take away some motivation from what
I've survived - and you know what?
THAT may be what He has kept me around for all this time - after all. Who knows?
It sure as hell ain't for the cookin' or wrenchin'.

 

[1STMP]

Moparednt,
Your testimony gives prudence to the meme
that there is always someone worse off than
ones self. You're to be commended for your
tenacity.
I thank you for your input, and pray your spirit
stays strong. I will draw on that strength you've
displayed. The man put you on this earth for a
reason. I think I see why.

 

[moparedtn]

Moparednt,
Your testimony gives prudence to the meme
that there is always someone worse off than
ones self. You're to be commended for your
tenacity.
I thank you for your input, and pray your spirit
stays strong. I will draw on that strength you've
displayed. The man put you on this earth for a
reason. I think I see why.

Me? Heck no, it's so many of YOU that bring the positive contributions to this place!
There is a real sense of Fellowship here at FBBO - we help one another, commiserate
with one another, sometimes just "listen" when someone needs to vent...

One of the first things I do in the morning (like what, 2-3am?) is check out what's
happening on FBBO. Usually, all my tiny contributions are found in the "welcome" threads
and funny memes and such, but sometimes I actually can help, too.
That I sometimes decide to write novels on here, well, that's tolerated by the powers that
be at best - but some of you all seem to like them and they do me a world of good, too.

But make no mistake - when it comes to fighting the good fight and staying upright, the
best I can do for others is to be a mascot for how much a human body can withstand and still
be on the good side of the dirt - and if that helps anyone, that's wonderful.

 

[Budnicks]

@1STMP

I don't know what to say will help
but I like how you're going about it

I know, the don't ever give up too

I don't think 'my ailments', gripes
aren't anywhere near as bad as yours are

I did take a few supplements for a couple of years
1,000 mg IIRC glucosamine & chondroitin/MSM,
vitamin E, C & D (Zinc too)
on a specialists/Dr's recommendations
my joints feel great compared to prior
I no longer take them, unless I get a flare-up
even then I don't like the risks (I'm only 62)
but it may be of some help

I even tried the smoking dope/MJ **** (or CBD oils, some nasty ****)
on another pain specialists/Dr's recommendation
but IMHFO, it makes you too stupid/lazy for my liking
the pain pills are similar feelings too, I don't take any now...
(it did help my golf game )
But;
I don't want to be stoned, in a fog & out of it,
the rest of my whole existence

I had (still sort of have) a chronic bad back, bad neck,
bad shoulder & turf toe (football), bad knees, bad toe from frostbite
& some hearing loss, from racing & all the damn loud construction tools
(neck was from the back overcompensation, from my back)
mostly my ailments are from Construction
bending over working on ****, carrying ****, hammering ****
drilling or digging/shoveling ****
working on all my cars/trucks, racecars
walking all day on or laying on cold concrete etc.

Even taking care of the animals...

My knees were toast, from doing tile work & concrete work...
I did all aspects of construction's physical labor...
I never made my guys do anything I wouldn't do...

My back was/is/still has 2 compressed discs
& 3 degenerative vertebrae from the bad discs (car wreck)
my shoulder was fully separated/dislocated from Football in HS...
I had a broken collar bone, from football too
I broke my sternum when I was 18, had a 68 Charger fall of jack-stands
all of which that seems to ache when it's cold
(Funny part is it's usually my neck that hurts, not the actual back or other parts)
& stuff from a few bad wrecks drag racing & even from commuting
all are long stories

damn I was a walking wreck

I've tapered off on the 'hard part of work'
it takes me a lot longer to do **** now
but I have to work smarter not harder now
it's frustrating as hell sometimes too
It's not my old 7 days a week, 16+ hrs a day
like I used to do anyway...
For about 15 years now, I'm actually seeing healing
& feel the best I have in over a decade
like I felt when I was 40 or so, even my hearing is better...

All things I was told, "that would never heal"
so far I've proven the Dr's wrong

I think a really good diet (not a bunch of junk-food or booze) is key too
what you put into your body is everything

not sure any of that will help you

sounds like a lot of US here can somewhat relate
maybe not as bad as you, but we do understand

keep up the good fight,
it sounds like you are too, GOOD LUCK

 

[1STMP]

Th

@1STMP

I don't know what to say will help
but I like how you're going about it

I know, the don't ever give up too

I don't think 'my ailments', gripes
aren't anywhere near as bad as yours are

I did take a few supplements for a couple of years
1,000 mg IIRC glucosamine & chondroitin/MSM,
vitamin E, C & D
on a specialists/Dr's recommendations
my joints feel great compared to prior
I no longer take them, unless I get a flare-up
even then I don't like the risks (I'm only 62)
but it may be of some help

I even tried the smoking dope/MJ ****
on another pain specialists/Dr's recommendation
but IMHFO, it makes you too stupid/lazy for my liking
the pain pills are similar feelings too, I don't take any now...
(it did help my golf game )
But;
I don't want to be stoned, in a fog & out of it,
the rest of my whole existence

I had (still sort of have) a chronic bad back, bad neck,
bad shoulder & turf toe (football), bad knees, bad toe from frostbite
& some hearing loss, from racing & all the damn loud construction tools
(neck was from the back overcompensation, from my back)
mostly my ailments are from Construction
bending over working on ****, carrying ****, hammering ****
drilling or digging/shoveling ****
working on all my cars/trucks, racecars
or laying on cold concrete etc.

Even taking care of the animals...

My knees were toast, from doing tile work & concrete work...
I did all aspects of construction's physical labor...
I never made my guys do anything I wouldn't do...

My back was/is/still has 2 compressed discs
& 3 degenerative vertebrae from the bad discs (car wreck)
my shoulder was fully separated/dislocated from Football in HS...
I had a broken collar bone, from football too
I broke my sternum when I was 18, had a 68 Charger fall of jack-stands
all of which that seems to ache when it's cold
(Funny part is it's usually my neck that hurts, not the actual back or other parts)
& stuff from a few bad wrecks drag racing & even from commuting
all are long stories

damn I was a walking wreck

I've tapered off on the 'hard part of work'
it takes me a lot longer to do **** now
but I have to work smarter not harder now
it's frustrating as hell sometimes too
It's not my old 7 days a week, 16+ hrs a day
like I used to do anyway...
For about 15 years now, I'm actually seeing healing
& feel the best I have in over a decade
like I felt when I was 40 or so, even my hearing is better...

All things I was told, "that would never heal"
so far I've proven the Dr's wrong

I think a really good diet (not a bunch of junk-food or booze) is key too
what you put into your body is everything

not sure any of that will help you

sounds like a lot of US here can somewhat relate
maybe not as bad as you, but we do understand

keep up the good fight,
it sounds like you are too, GOOD LUCK

View attachment 1234694

Thanks, Budnicks.
I'll try some of the remedies you posted. These
types generally take time to build in your
system. Guess I'll just have to learn to be
patient.
The Wall Of Text doesn't bother me, just as
Wide Open Throttle. The acronym for both
WOT....
A wall of text can be interpreted as wide open
throttle.