OT: getting old sucks

I use a elliptical machine most days and try and walk a bit. I use a cane and with chronic low back and legs pain, it's not easy.
Frustrating stuff because in NYC it's fun to walk the streets and people watch.
I'm finding my maladies to be more of a annoyance than a major drawback. Just get annoyed with my inability to do what I'd like to do.
Food is a real issue but I've been doing okay.
A year ago or more I was 270 pounds and now am between 235 and 245 so that is good.
Blood work is good and while I have AFib it's controlled by blood thinner medication.
Sleep apnea is another thing and it gets better with weight loss.
I often wake up sitting on the side of the bed because I'm not breathing well and that concerns me.
Generally I stay positive and enjoy life.
One needs purpose in life and that keeps me going.

Glen

Well, we got home yesterday from Italy. Actually had a great time, my gut did not create any issues.
Minor rant:
Until yesterday I had never personally encountered the "would you be willing to swap seats" scene.

We are boarding in Milan for the 8 hr flight back to Newark. I had booked (and paid extra) for window seats for my wife and I. She gets to her row (behind me), and there is a family there--man-wife and one little one and a 2 yr old sitting in the window seat. Dad asks my wife to swap with him so to "not break up the family"--several rows back and a middle seat. Wife says no. He says, "thank you for breaking up the family, good luck".

Jerk Move. No, we are NTA here.

mattam said...
I haven't flown for about 10 years and I'm hoping I never fly again for a couple of reasons. I have watched a lot of Air Disasters episodes since retiring….

I have no fear of flying but I know there are sites that have compilations of dashcam videos of crazy drivers that might make some reluctant to leave the house. Where I live, we have a very high rate of drunk driving and hit and runs. The night before last, drunk teenagers were throwing beer cans at passing cars from the top of a parking structure. When the police showed up they drove off, ran a red light, and t-boned another vehicle. Everyone involved is hospitalized. The offending driver is 15-year old female. Last night a drunk driver slammed into another car on a curvy uphill road a mile from my house. He took off on foot leaving his passenger behind who ID’d him. This stuff goes on at least weekly.

As for the other passengers on planes, I flew to Italy and back last year and had zero negative experiences. However, a few months before that I was flying out of here to Arizona and it was snowing like crazy. The de-icey ran out of juice and had to go for a refill. Then he messed up and had to start over. By that time we’d been on the plane for over 3-hours and people were demanding to get off and citing a federal regulation. They let us off and then had trouble rounding everyone up but finally did. They pushed us back for another round of de-icing. When that was complete one of the engines wouldn’t start and after a long wait the captain informed us that they’d overloaded one of the turbines with de-icer and the flight was now cancelled. People were screaming. They pushed us back to the gate but the ground crew had already gone home so there was no one to connect the gate to the plane until they got them to come back from home. By the time we were getting off, the crowd was getting unruly and dropping f-bombs. This was over 8-hours after we’d first gotten onboard. We were told to exit the plane and remain in the the gate area. When we got off we were met by at least a dozen police officers. They let us go a few at a time, I think looking for a few particular trouble-makers.

BTW, I received a full refund, an $250 voucher, and a couple hundred dollars cash (via text). I figured I made over $40/hour that day.

60Michael,
Yes, magnificent mountains and the only sad aspect is that whenever the park was named probably before the 19th century, there were a lot of glaciers. Now the way fewer ones that are left are quickly disappearing.
Finished our all day hike yesterday that took us up through a tunnel blasted at top of Ptarmigan Pass, a shear cliff trail on the other side that was also built by these same men in the dirty 30ties and spectacular views of glaciers, Iceberg lake, historic horse packing Red Gap Pass that could only be seen by backpackers.

Dave

To be clear. I'm not unable to fly over fear of crashing. I'm very claustrophobic and don't want to be stuck aboard for hours.
The taxi the landing and much of the flight is great and enjoyable.
I just don't want to be stuck on the tarmac while they wait for some part like we did at Clearwater one day.
They had to change the altimeter or part related to it. Luckily they allowed us to deplane for the wait.
All the way home I could swear we were flying too high and would flame out but I knew that didn't make sense.

Glen

Halbert: glad your trip went well!

On flying: Its the most inconvenient/unfun way to travel. Between security, cramped seats. delays, lost luggage etc

On crashing while flying: remember its not the drop as much as it is the sudden stop!

Stephen S said...
On flying: Its the most inconvenient/unfun way to travel. Between security, cramped seats. delays, lost luggage etc

security: TSA Pre
cramped seats: upgrade to at least premium economy
delays: flexibility
lost luggage: only take carry on

Pratoman said...
Add to lost luggage solution... Insert Apple AirTags in checked luggage

Yes. I have a bunch of them stashed in my cars, motorcycle, backpack, etc. They do work really well.