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Could be getting old.

4023 Views 28 Replies 16 Participants Last post by  JOAT, 
Bushwhacker
Hi, I don't want to bore any of you, but I wanted to share my "getting old story".
Seems I will be 75 next month. Hard to believe since I remember being just 50 a few days ago.
Could be that I missed something in between.
Any way, last year on this day, and I am sure of this because Sandra told me that it was true.
I posted a video of me finishing the touch up painting on one of those 3 way high chairs.
You know what they are, you stand it up one way and it is a high chair, lay it down and it is a desk, then flip it over and it becomes a rocker.
My Great grand daughter Sasha, flips it over herself and she is just 16 months old.
Well, her mom decided that she would be much happier if she had a tray on this high chair, desk, rocker.
So, yesterday, I began to build the tray. I cut two pieces of 1 inch maple, drilled the edges and doweled the two pieces together.
Glued the two halfs, and left it over night in clamps to dry.
Today, I laid it put and cut the shape of a tray out.
Routed and sanded the edges and got it ready to rout out the center to make the bowl shape for when she spills her milk.
I got out my Porter Cable fixed base router and went to change the bit in it.
Seems the Porter Cable takes two open end wrenches to remove the bits.
I began to search for my wrenches.
I just used the thing a couple of months ago so I knew they must be here.
I tore my shop up searching, even went through the tools i keep in the camper.
I just could not find them.
I finally went on line to replacement parts and called them to order new wrenches.
The guy on the phone said the new wrenches were 1 1/8 inch open end wrenches.
So me being not sure what size the lock nuts on the Porter Cable were, said well, let me check and I will call
back. So, I returned to my shop, and with utmost difficulty, measured the locks nuts.
When I was satisfied that they were as close to 1 1/8 inch as I could figure, I returned to the house to call them again.
Before they connect you to a real live person they tell you to be sure to have the model number and the part number handy.
Since I had left the scrap of paper with these very important numbers on it in the shop.
I kept the phone which was on hold and returned to my shop.
AS I waited, I walked around the shop ONE MORE TIME, and check to be sure the wretches were non retrievable (lost).
Just as the girl answered and ask what part I was searching for, I reach behind my tool box that I had set on the counter
just this morning to search for a wrench for my neighbor, and I laid my hand on both 1 1/8 inch open end wrenches.
I told the girl that I was no longer in need of her services and hung up the phone.
Now, I don't think any of this had anything to do with age. All day I knew exactly what I had lost. At no time did I say" Now, what was I looking for?".
I am sure that if you guys would be completely honest, you would have to admit to doing the exact same thing. Maybe more then once.

Hmmm, I need to read all that I just wrote to find out what i was working on today.
Say, what are these two wrenches doing here on my desk?
They should be out in the shop.
This is how stuff gets lost
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woodknots
David, first of all, congrats on reaching that age soon.

So, I feel for you. I've put things down in the shop and within minutes, I mean, literally minutes, can't find them and don't remember what I did with them. Geez, it sucks getting old and I've still got 9 years before I catch up to you.

Now, about those wrenches. I attach the two wrenches to the Porter Cable's electrical cord on the router with twist ties - they're always there when I need them. For my Bosch, which usually sits in a router table, I've got a small box in the table that holds those wrenches, the second collet, the key for above-table adjustment, etc. I do the same for other tools that require hex wrenches - for those, I put them in a small baggie and tie that to the cord - try it, you'll like it.
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DesertRatTom
I'm 75 now. Short term memory isn't what it used to be, that's for sure.
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JOAT
I'm 77. What did I come in here for? I knew where the tools and such in my shop were. Were that is before a batch of them apparently left when my younger son did. Still find a few, on occasion, but definitely not where "I" left them. It's not the getting old and losing track of things I just had, it's an overactive mind. I can have something, lay it down, then something else strikes my mind, and off it goes. At times I feel like it is a railroad switching yard. My mnd is a locomotive barreling along, then it is switched to another track, then another, another, another, and repeat, until I have no clue about where I started out. So, it's not your age that makes you lose track of things, rather it is sthe fact that your mind is so busy you are just overwhelmed. That's my story anyway.
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Gene Howe
I'm 77. I never lose tools. They are all right where I left them. I do, quite often, fail to recall where that is, though. But, I think my memory is as sharp as ever.

I'm 77. I never lose...hey, wait..
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Stick486
Gene Howe said:
I'm 77. I never lose tools. They are all right where I left them. I do, quite often, fail to recall where that is, though. But, I think my memory is as sharp as ever.

I'm 77. I never lose...hey, wait..
Click to expand...
.....

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M
Great story David. I have been there too.
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N'awlins77
I only just turned 59, and have those problems. By 70, i don't know....... LOL
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Bushwhacker
vchiarelli said:
David, first of all, congrats on reaching that age soon.

So, I feel for you. I've put things down in the shop and within minutes, I mean, literally minutes, can't find them and don't remember what I did with them. Geez, it sucks getting old and I've still got 9 years before I catch up to you.

Now, about those wrenches. I attach the two wrenches to the Porter Cable's electrical cord on the router with twist ties - they're always there when I need them. For my Bosch, which usually sits in a router table, I've got a small box in the table that holds those wrenches, the second collet, the key for above-table adjustment, etc. I do the same for other tools that require hex wrenches - for those, I put them in a small baggie and tie that to the cord - try it, you'll like it.
Click to expand...
Twist ties are a very good idea Vince, Thanks a lot.
That's my plan now.

david
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Danman1957
Amazing how you guys make me feel so young !
I will be 60 at the end of June and my kids claim I have OCD, but I say everything in it's place and a place for everything ! it makes it easier to find the things I look for. We moved last June and I am still re-arranging things in the shop to make it easier. Moved the kitchen clock to a different wall about a month ago and I still look where it was before I realise it's not there anymore. Humans a creatures of habit they say !
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Gene Howe
Dan, at my age I seem to have lost the O and C. But, the D is still disturbingly present.
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JFPNCM
As the old saying goes, "It's not the age it's the mileage". Keep on keeping on and all those tools will show up, typically in my case right after i buy a replacement.
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stanzee
To everything that was relayed prior to my reply I have only one thing to say.......... DITTO
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T
Well, I was going to say something funny...but...now what was this thread about?
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mimac
George Carlin's Views on Aging

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.
'How old are you?' ' I'm four and a half!' You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key.
You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.
'How old are you?' 'I'm gonna be 16!' You could be 13, but hey, you're gonnabe 16! And then the greatest day of your life! You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony. YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!
But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?
You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50, and your dreams are gone....
But! wait!! ! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!
So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50, and make it to 60.
You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that, it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!
You get into your 80's, and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; 'I Was JUST 92.'
Then a strange thing happens.. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. 'I'm 100 and a half!'
May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

Life's journey is not to
arrive at the grave safely
in a well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways,
totally used up and worn out, shouting
'...man, what a ride!'
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Duane Bledsoe
44 here. Just “pushed” it this passed Sunday, although it’s starting to feel more like dragging than any actual pushing. Yes, I realize this is young compared to others here. But just wait till you see what I’m going through.

When it comes to losing tools, I used to pride myself thinking that never happens to me. Even to this day I can say I’ve only ever truly lost maybe 5 hand tools. That is, that I never found again.

If you count how many times I have lost a tool and had to find it again I’d have enough lost and found tools to stock a capable shop twice over. I spend more time looking for tools that doing the work. Measure, mark, lay the pencil and tape down, reach for the saw and cut, then mea....whaaa? Where’s my tape? Look all around, checking places too far away to even be a possibility. Look under the bench knowing it didn’t fall off (or did it, cause my hearing is fading also). Finally find it underneath the saw I just sat down. Ok, tape stretched, make my next mark....whaaa? Now where’s my freakin’ pencil? Again, look all around, lifting tools and opening drawers. See two more pencils in a drawer, pass them up because I want THE ONE I just had. Not because they aren’t good enough but it’s a principle thing at this point. I have to find that pencil cause I know I just had it. Finally find it under the board I just cut. So, measure, mark, cut, and lay board aside. Get another board, then find the tape and pencil for the second time. Measure, mark, cut. Now where’s the drill? Find the drill and now I’m ready to screw the two boards together....whaaa? Where’s that first board?

This will only get worse. Sooner or later I’ll have to write down what I’m building so when I find the tape and pencil I’ll remember why I needed it.
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JOAT
Damn kids, gotta teach them everything. Why do you think God invented pockets? Answer, so men could put thing in those pockets. I carry my cell phone and money clip in my T-shirt pocket. In my shirt pockets, is my camera, the other side has a small pocket knife, magnifying glass, two mechanical pencils, five pens, two markers, and a spare cell phone.

Pants: Left front pocket, wallet. right front pocket, pocket knife, spare set of car keys, large set of keys including car keys, small flashlight. Right rear, hanky. Left rear, spare pocket for paid bills, etc.

Jacket or vest. Left bottom pocket, 4 loaded magazines, grocery store cloth bag - for when I have a lot of mail. Right bottom pocket, usually 2 sets of spare car keys, roll of electrical tape, tape measure, hanky. Top right pocket, small crank flashlight, different type of magnifying glass, top left, forget. Inside pocket, carry.

It is possible I forgot something, but that pretty much covers the basic essentials.
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JOAT
Damn kids, gotta teach them everything. Why do you think God invented pockets? Answer, so men could put thing in those pockets. I carry my cell phone and money clip in my T-shirt pocket. In my shirt pockets, is my camera, the other side has a small pocket knife, magnifying glass, two mechanical pencils, five pens, two markers, and a spare cell phone.

Pants: Left front pocket, wallet. Right front pocket, pocket knife, spare set of car keys, large set of keys including car keys, small flashlight. Right rear, hanky. Left rear, spare pocket for paid bills, etc.

Jacket or vest. Left bottom pocket, 4 loaded magazines, grocery store cloth bag - for when I have a lot of mail. Right bottom pocket, usually 2 sets of spare car keys, roll of electrical tape, tape measure, hanky. Top right pocket, small crank flashlight, different type of magnifying glass, top left, forget. Inside pocket, carry.

It is possible I forgot something, but that pretty much covers the basic essentials.
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woodknots
Geez, Theo - you carry a small pocket knife in your shirt pocket, a pocket knife in your pants pocket, spare set of car keys in your pants right pocket, two more sets of car keys in your vest pocket, and magazines, flashlight, camera and a cell phone and a magnifying glass, and mail.

Sounds like you're going on a field trip. The only thing you're missing is a sandwich and a map.
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JOAT
vchiarelli said:
Geez, Theo - you carry a small pocket knife in your shirt pocket, a pocket knife in your pants pocket, spare set of car keys in your pants right pocket, two more sets of car keys in your vest pocket, and magazines, flashlight, camera and a cell phone and a magnifying glass, and mail.

Sounds like you're going on a field trip. The only thing you're missing is a sandwich and a map.
Click to expand...
Actually, have car keys on my big set of keys in my pants pocked, along with the spare set. The magazines are loaded, not for reading. I locked my keys in my vehicle once, cost me $85 and an hour or so wait to get it open, so made very sure I have spare keys on me, and have locked them in the vehicle at least twice since. A spare cell phone, so I can remember where it is. Mail? No mail, just have a cloth grocery bag so if I have a lot of mail can just carry it in the bag, much handier. Nope, just daily stuff. When God created pockets, he commanded man to fill them, so obey. Carry flavored water in the truck, stop to get a sammich when I get hungry. Map? Map? Don' need no steenkin' map. Good thing I don't carry a bunch of unnecessary stuff, isn't it?
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