The I Miss the Old Days Complaint Thread

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  • kyoto kidkyoto kid Posts: 41,035
    edited July 2023

    LeatherGryphon said:

    kyoto kid said:

    ...I have a little line I say in my mind when I approach a crosswalk or intersection (after looking both ways, even on a one way street) that goes' "any cars to kill me?"  If its clear I "say" "guess not" then cross.  if there are I just stand back a bit and let them go. 

    I'm no longer the most agile person around and a bit of patience can be a lifesaver .  I'm retired, I'm in no hurry, unlike most of these "nuts" I see.

    And then there are the too polite drivers.  Tuesday I was on a mini-adventure to do laundry.  While there I toddled across the street to the CVS drugstore for 20 minutes of wild excitement perusing aisles of goodies, ending up only with my prescriptions and a Hershey bar, and then toddling back to the laundromat.  On the way there I take the direct path to the CVS door, and cross in the middle of the block.  It's easy enough, one just waits until the traffic light is in your favor, all the cars have passed your crossing point, and it's clear to go.  But nooo, this big semi-truck driver sees me standing on the middle of the sidewalk in the middle of the block, watching traffic and the light, and he deliberately stops and motions me to cross.  Duh, NO.frown  I can't see what's behind you or coming up on your left side.  so, I step back one step to the far edge of the sidewalk and motion him to go on by me, at which point he gives me the finger, and forgets to downshift.  Either he thought I was going to jump in front of him or he was trying to be helpful, but "hey, man, you're a huge truck, I saw you coming, so don't curse at me when you grind your gears trying to get started again."angry

       I had that happen at least once before, in Melbourne, Florida 20+ years ago.  Babcock street is a major north/south road through the city of Melbourne connecting two growing areas of the city.  There are (or were) long stretches of Babcock St. that are empty of buildings, yet the city in their infinite wisdom (and future planning) put crosswalk marks on the pavement across the heavily travelled, four lanes of traffic in the middle of the empty area, just in case you wanted to get the nothing on the other side.  No traffic light, just the pedestrian crossing in the middle of a half mile long block in the middle of a quarter mile of nothing.  At the crossing marks is a sign for the drivers that says "Drivers must stop for pedestrians in crosswalk".  All well and good, and prudent, and thoughtful, but "in the crosswalk" does not mean to slam on your brakes and stop for the guy on a bicycle taking a breather near that sign.  So there I am standing next to the road, on the sidewalk, not headed across the street, and a car slams on his brakes, stops before the crossing lines, and motions me to cross.  I'm sorry, but this chicken doesn't want to cross the road.frown  I motion for him to continue and he just sits there waiting for me to cross.  I finally had to yell at him that I was NOT crossing the street and pointed out that he was developing a long line of angry drivers behind him.  indecision

    ...the cars in the other lane" situation was a major issue in the Hawthorne distinct of Portland I frequent (inner Southeast side of the city).  Originally Hawthorne Blvd. (the main stret there) had four lanes (2 each way) and while traffic in one of the lanes would stop you couldn't  be guaranteed vehicles in the next one over would, even though that was the law here as well (you'd think if someone in the other lane saw a bunch of cars stopped they'd get a clue, right...?). 

    Well the city actually did something right and changed the lane structure to one each way with a middle left "turn lane" (previously left turned off of Hawthorne BLVD were prohibited for about 10 block  stretch).  The city also installed "islands" at the middle at mid block crosswalks so pedestrians didn't have to stand in the roadway waiting for traffic in the opposite lane to stop. it also cause traffic to slow down in the main shopping strip  which was a nice side benefit.  A couple a bit lower on the avenue towards downtown actually have pedestian activated signals which firs flashes orange and then turns red. to stop traffic in both directions. 

    Oh I still get vehicles going by when I clearly am trying to cross but the number of them has significantly gone down (in the past there were times I'd run out of fingers on my hands counting the cars that went right through without stopping, now it's maybe two at most).

    So, sometimes these improvements actually do work. 

    Post edited by kyoto kid on
  • NylonGirlNylonGirl Posts: 1,803

    LeatherGryphon said:

    I'm gett'n too old & fragile to have many more culture shocks like this.sad  But now that I have a seemingly functional Win11 system, I have several months of productive bitching ahead of me.  Stay tuned.devil

    Don't stop at several months. May you go on bitching forever. 

  • LeatherGryphonLeatherGryphon Posts: 11,503
    edited July 2023

    Complaint:  I have a few big rules about surviving old age.  Rule Number 1:  "Don't rush."  Rule number 2:  "Don't try to multi-task".

    Last night I'd chopped up a big skillet of some potatoes and ham and onions and and a third of a jalapeno pepper, and fried them for breakfast, mmmmm greasy, krispy, savory, spicy.heart  I make a big batch and portion them out in freezable servings, then put a couple in the refrigerator and freeze the remainder.  This morning I grabbed one of the prepared servings from the refrigerator, popped it into the microwave for a minute, took it out and set it on the kitchen counter next to the sink while I gathered my V8-Juice, banana & coffee to take to my breakfast table (my computer desk).  I hurridly grabbed a couple things with one hand(rule #1) and started to take them to my seat, but decided to grab the potato dish with the other hand(rule #2).  It slipped out of my fingers and flung its contents into the dishwater. surprisecrying  The remaining bowl was treated with more wisdom and was eaten with gusto while reviewing my old age survival rules.frown

    Post edited by LeatherGryphon on
  • WendyLuvsCatzWendyLuvsCatz Posts: 38,200

    I made pumpkin soup and didn't bother removing the skin

    put curry powder in mine anyway so just darker after stabbing it with the handheld blender after simmering 

    tastes the same

    lots of onion, garlic and pepper too (with chicken stock powder) I just adlibbed it all no recipe

  • Sfariah DSfariah D Posts: 26,252

    When I walk I multitask.  While I walk, I walk but also keep an eye around my surroundings.  I also breathe to the best of my ability.  Basically I let my necessary organs do their job so I can keep walking.  Sometimes I bring water, but I stop walking usually to drink the water.

  • kyoto kidkyoto kid Posts: 41,035

    ...with the high percentage of impatient mouth-breathing motorists and "devil may care" cyclists/scooter riders where I live, multitasking while walking is very ill advised.

    Particularly if you are older with creaky joints and bone gnomes which make you far less agile than when you were younger.

  • LeatherGryphonLeatherGryphon Posts: 11,503

    NylonGirl said:

    LeatherGryphon said:

    I'm gett'n too old & fragile to have many more culture shocks like this.sad  But now that I have a seemingly functional Win11 system, I have several months of productive bitching ahead of me.  Stay tuned.devil

    Don't stop at several months. May you go on bitching forever. 

    Good idea.  I think I'll design an atomic powered device to go in my casket and randomly yell out "I told you that doctor sucked!" for years and years. 

  • sazzyazzcasazzyazzca Posts: 495

    LeatherGryphon said:

    Complaint:  I have a few big rules about surviving old age.  Rule Number 1:  "Don't rush."  Rule number 2:  "Don't try to multi-task".

    Last night I'd chopped up a big skillet of some potatoes and ham and onions and and a third of a jalapeno pepper, and fried them for breakfast, mmmmm greasy, krispy, savory, spicy.heart  I make a big batch and portion them out in freezable servings, then put a couple in the refrigerator and freeze the remainder.  This morning I grabbed one of the prepared servings from the refrigerator, popped it into the microwave for a minute, took it out and set it on the kitchen counter next to the sink while I gathered my V8-Juice, banana & coffee to take to my breakfast table (my computer desk).  I hurridly grabbed a couple things with one hand(rule #1) and started to take them to my seat, but decided to grab the potato dish with the other hand(rule #2).  It slipped out of my fingers and flung its contents into the dishwater. surprisecrying  The remaining bowl was treated with more wisdom and was eaten with gusto while reviewing my old age survival rules.frown

     

    In my peer group, we have a saying, "This can go no good place".

    It is used at times such as 1) Using the rolling office chair as a stepstool, 2) Carrying that one extra thing you don't have enough digits or limbs to grasp, 3) Using implements for tasks they were not designed for, 4) "Redneck" repairs, 5) Anything that involves the combination of gasoline and imbibing, 6) Using the rickety ladder that should have been scrapped years ago, 7) Various other things one knows from experience not to do but does anyway.

    The last time I did 6), I was left hanging from the garage joist as the ladder collapsed with me on it. Fortunately, my brain was working fast enough that day that I had the wherewithal to actually grab the joist. I had to make my way across the garage "monkey bar" style to find a clear spot to drop down so I didn't fall into something and A) break my leg, B) break whatever I fell on, or C) break both. Before I went up the ladder I thought, "This can go no good place". I'm getting too old for my own nonsense. 

  • Sfariah DSfariah D Posts: 26,252

    I'm not a girl.  I can't be one at 40?

  • WendyLuvsCatzWendyLuvsCatz Posts: 38,200

    I am an old girl

    Golden Girl no that's Olden girl cheeky

  • NylonGirlNylonGirl Posts: 1,803

    I'm a Nylon girl. Lots and lots of Nylon... girl.

  • TJohnTJohn Posts: 11,094

    Tis the day of Odin (Woden). 

  • LeatherGryphonLeatherGryphon Posts: 11,503

    Non-Complaint:  Yay, another mini-adventure uptown.  Took, the local area ancient persons transport bus to the eye doctor in the local city this morning.  He says my boogered eyeball is doing well and the bubble is very small now, almost gone (I could have told him that.cheeky).  Yay!  No infections, no further detachment of the retina.  HOWEVER,  all this close examination of my eyeball innards has revealed that it's time for a laser treatment to vanquish protein deposits on the back side of the lens capsule(common a few years after cataract surgery).  I postponed it until Spring because I'm still recovering from the bills for the retina retachment surgery.frown  

    After the eye doctor, I took an Uber half-way home to a Tim Hortons where I had breakfast & picked up some donuty snacks.  A short toddle to the CVS drugstore in that area, and a peek into a branch of my bank for some pocket cash, and then an Uber home.  Nice short mini-adventure.yes

    'Nother non-complaint:  And the weather here has been just spiffy!  Partly cloudy, 70s during the day, 60s during the night, rain when needed, crops are all healthy, humidity is not opressive or even uncomfortable.   Other parts of the country/world, EAT YOUR HEARTS OUTcheeky  But check back with me in a week or so, things could go bad quickly.frown

  • PerttiAPerttiA Posts: 10,024

    LeatherGryphon said:

    'Nother non-complaint:  And the weather here has been just spiffy!  Partly cloudy, 70s during the day, 60s during the night, rain when needed, crops are all healthy, humidity is not opressive or even uncomfortable.   Other parts of the country/world, EAT YOUR HEARTS OUTcheeky  

    Has been the same here for all of July and no change in sight.

  • AgitatedRiotAgitatedRiot Posts: 4,432
    edited July 2023

    Complaint: ER Doc got it wrong, of course. My symptoms are because of a Slow heart rate. My heart rate rest in the mid to upper 40s. It should be 60 beats or more.

    • Fatigue or feeling weak
    • Dizziness or lightheadedness
    • Confusion
    • Fainting (or near-fainting)
    • Shortness of breath
    • Tires easily during exercise
    • Chest pain
    Post edited by AgitatedRiot on
  • WendyLuvsCatzWendyLuvsCatz Posts: 38,200

    apparently thrillseekers and psycopaths often have a slow resting heart rate surprise

    that's why they crave excitement 

    I am only suggesting you could be a thrillseeker devil

  • AgitatedRiotAgitatedRiot Posts: 4,432

    WendyLuvsCatz said:

    apparently thrillseekers and psycopaths often have a slow resting heart rate surprise

    that's why they crave excitement 

    I am only suggesting you could be a thrillseeker devil

    It should be easy to pass a lie detector. laugh

  • NylonGirlNylonGirl Posts: 1,803

    This huge tree branch broke off and fell to the ground in our front yard. It didn't even break during the storms. But on a sunny day with nothing but the 100 degree F heat. With the smaller branches I usually just drag them (even the ones bigger than me) into this huge pile I'm making in the back yard. But this one is just... just... huge. Forget it. I'm leaving it there.

  • Sfariah DSfariah D Posts: 26,252

    I want to upload a picture of Thor as it is Thor's day (Thursday) but the forums won't let me.  Please pretend there is a picture of Thor here.

  • LeatherGryphonLeatherGryphon Posts: 11,503

    Sfariah D said:

    I want to upload a picture of Thor as it is Thor's day (Thursday) but the forums won't let me.  Please pretend there is a picture of Thor here.

    Looks like a cat to me.indecision 

  • PerttiAPerttiA Posts: 10,024

    Sfariah D said:

    I want to upload a picture of Thor as it is Thor's day (Thursday) but the forums won't let me.  Please pretend there is a picture of Thor here.

    You can do it between 6PM and midnight Daztime. 

  • CdpiersonCdpierson Posts: 71

    Am I the only one who's annoyed that September, October, November, and December are the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th months, even though their names literally mean 7th month, 8th month, 9th month, and 10th month respectively?

  • PerttiAPerttiA Posts: 10,024

    Cdpierson said:

    Am I the only one who's annoyed that September, October, November, and December are the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th months, even though their names literally mean 7th month, 8th month, 9th month, and 10th month respectively?

    Before January and February were added to the Calendar of Romulus, they were the 7th to 10th months.

  • DanaTADanaTA Posts: 13,206

    Cdpierson said:

    Am I the only one who's annoyed that September, October, November, and December are the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th months, even though their names literally mean 7th month, 8th month, 9th month, and 10th month respectively?

    Never really thought abou it.  Hmmm. 

  • NylonGirlNylonGirl Posts: 1,803

    They probably should have added January anf February to the end instead of the beginning.

  • WendyLuvsCatzWendyLuvsCatz Posts: 38,200

    it annoyed me as a kid until I realized people ignored it for 2 millennia 

  • Sfariah DSfariah D Posts: 26,252

    A to Z, which one is easier to learn how to use, A Brush or ZBrush?

  • LeatherGryphonLeatherGryphon Posts: 11,503

    Cdpierson said:

    Am I the only one who's annoyed that September, October, November, and December are the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th months, even though their names literally mean 7th month, 8th month, 9th month, and 10th month respectively?

    Blame the Romans, they added July and August to honor Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar. 

  • kyoto kidkyoto kid Posts: 41,035

    ...having done watercolour and oil painting for many years I find "A Brush" much easier and less expensive than "Z Brush" to learn 

    Non complain number 1:  The weather here where I live. We seem to have been be protected from all the extreme heat by a slight southerly dip in the jet stream off the coast that flattens out as it reaches the shore.   Still a bit warmer than what those in New York and Pennsylvania are experiencing but nothing near what the stretch from California to Florida has been  enduring. Been pretty just slightly above , upper 70s to low/mid 80s  with an very occasional day around 90°.  The only concern is it has been dry, very dry. and while there were a few "red flag" days the situation is perfect for late summer wildfires.  Just takes one or two careless people or a few "dry lightning" strikes to set one off (usually it tends to be the former so N-95s are at the ready).

    Non complaint number 2:  In less than a month, I'll get my second "summer vacation adventure" in as many years after a very long drought when I attend the week long Washington State International Kite Festival in late August.  Haven't been there for years due to lack of transportation, funds, other RL issues, and the pandemic.  I'll be getting a ride as well as staying a friend who has a vacation home there. so very low cost adventure (hotels in eh area there are going for upwards of 1,200$ a week and more for the event).  The last time I was there a week's lodging was around 350$ -375$, but a number of the small independent motels like the one I usually stayed at shuttered for good during the pandemic (Ok, a mini complaint there).

  • kyoto kidkyoto kid Posts: 41,035
    edited July 2023

    ..ah, a bonafide complaint. this time.

    My dual window fans stopped working. A real bugger as I can't afford a new set (bought them with pandemic stimulus money and they've been a big life saver, particularly when we had those Death Valley-like temperatures here a couple years ago) and we still likely will have a few more 90°+ days before summer is over. 

    I don't think it's the motors as both would not have quit at the same time since each fan has its own individual one. Most likely It has to be something in the control unit as it also has a thermostat that turns the fans off when a certain ambient temperature is detected.  There is a setting to bypass it but they still won't start.  Will have to take it apart when I wake up later to see what the deal is.  I fear that it might be something like a temperature sensor chip that failed which I don't have the tools or expertise to fix.

    Post edited by kyoto kid on
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