out for a steak and a beer?

[lloyd3]

Came home early from a little family vacation to see grampa and grandma because I had to work, so...3-days of no family (except maybe the dog). Got off from work tonight with zero plans or obligations and thought maybe I'd get the car out and go get a steak.  Then the phone started to ring, not immediate family but still folks I need to talk to. Then the dog needed a little spin down to the dog park, and then it happened......I started thinking about all the food in the freezer and all the money I just spent while visiting out of State.  Dang, even when you don't have to be an adult...you still are. I got a bite to eat and got everything cleaned up. I even opened the garage door.... but just ran out of steam. I've got to get up fairly early (5-ish) to get showered and up to the airport to pick everybody up and, and, and......I'm just flat-out of steam.   What the heck is wrong with me? This getting old stuff isn't for sissies, I gotta tell ya.  I got lots of fun just sitting there ready to go, and I let everything else get in the way.

[polywideblock]

life is what gets in the way while your making other plans   

[1965gp]

Is this an ad for Low T?



Seriously- that shit works for exactly what you are talking about.

[ws23rt]

life is what gets in the way while your making other plans   

I agree life gets in the way of our plans but our plans are not yet our life.

[lloyd3]

It's more of the husband and father (and brother, and friend) stuff than the low-T thing.  Maybe even a little wear and tear on various body parts too?  By the time you're well into your 50s, your life is interwoven with many others (if you're lucky). Stepping away for a little time for yourself becomes something of a rare luxury.  These cars were far-more fun when you were unencumbered, and even better...when you were out looking for love!  I've been married for almost 30-years now and it still seems a little strange to be out driving it and not be looking for women. Old habits die really hard.  I'm fairly sure my wife is only luke-warm about it for exactly that reason. 

[Lord Warlock]

If you're noticing that time no longer favors you, and there is always too much to do, and you start getting hounded to join AARP, welcome to getting old.  29 years of marriage, last kid leaves for college in 30 days.  Was driving the car when I dated my wife, so she wants to see it on the road again, she isn't crazy about my other toys. 

But before you complain too much about feeling drained, realize that it will continue so best get used to it and push yourself if you have to.  After a recent diagnosis, I got a shot to stop the body from making testosterone.  I'm amazed at what the difference has been energy wise.  I was slowing down before, I'm crawling now.  I am so glad that I put in a lot of time assembling and getting the old car close to being done (enough to drive at least) a few months back before the shot.  Even though it is mostly little stuff now, I still have one nagging spot to fix, may have to force myself to work on it some tomorrow, won't get back to it again for two weeks. 

[1965gp]

I completely get what you are saying. Was joking about the Low T because I went through that.

I have two little girls, married for 10 and travel for work every week. It took some balancing because I used to get home on Friday and head to the garage (hey- I worked all week!?) but soon realized that wasn't fair. Now my wife and I break up the weekend into tasks that we each want / need to get done. I get to spend a lot more time with my girls this way as well.

One thing that I had to do was eliminate some of the things that were less important. Biking the trails on the weekend, having big groups of people over, even hitting the cruise every week.  All things that sadly didn't fit into my schedule anymore.

But- eliminating things that I sort of like - or even slowing down on them helped me focus on the challenges I was really interested in.

[hemi68charger]

It's all the natural order of things......... I as well find myself closing the garage door drained ( high humidity and temperatures will do that to you ). I find that I get a good balance if I come in and wind the day down with the family and a movie on the tv.... I do push myself as I get older ( I'm disciplined that way with 21 years of Air Force ) to accomplish things that are hard. After all, not all good things come easy. Everyone has their own personal balancing tactics. On top of that, we all have "important" people in our lives and they too are all different..... Life, live it..............

[myk]

Take comfort in the fact that you're doing the right thing, by being a husband, father, brother and a friend.  Modern society would have you indulge in yourself above all else, but it's good to see that some people believe in the honorable tradition of serving others and keeping to your obligations.  The drive will come, and when it does, it will be even sweeter because you know you have truly earned it...

[triple_green]

Sounds like all your priorities are in the right order to me!

Just remember to take time for "little pleasures" for yourself once in a while. Like a drive in the charger and rev or two of the of the motor.

Mark

[twodko]

If you're not eating right, there's no better time to start than right now. Fish, poultry and occasional beef. Beef is harder to digest the older we get. Salad with dinner every night, fresh vegetables and fruit. Try having a fruit and English muffin/toast breakfast every other day. Have whatever the other days. Try to make water your primary beverage.
Enjoy booze as a treat when out for dinner, BBQ's etc but not daily. I used to enjoy two glasses of wine every night
with dinner plus dessert.........when I was forced to stop for a while for surgery stuff I found that I've lost 20lbs! 224 from 245 @ 6' tall over just a several week period. I don't miss the indulgences either.
Go out for a walk at least every other day, doesn't have to be a long walk but WALK. 

[bakerhillpins]

    I'm in the same quagmire for all the same reasons that everyone here has posted. 

life is what gets in the way while your making other plans   

How right you are. I have this really cool 69 Charger in my driveway that I just can't seem to even get to the simple stuff on. I keep my sanity by forcing in a day of work or tinkering on it every month. Nothing gets done and I keep ignoring the big projects on it because I know it will result in it just sitting there in pieces. I have been in house renovation mode for the past 15 yrs and it's slow going. I just never give up. I set a plan and keep chipping away. Eventually something gets done and pieces of my plan come together. But rarely is it quick or easy. I bought an engine block to build up with the boys and it's now on the wait list for a few months. LOL  I'll get there, someday. I always do but like I said, it's a lot of never loosing hope and chipping away. Key is to recognize the little goals along the way so you don't get discouraged.

Anyway, the stuff that "gets in the way" isn't all bad, lots of good and important too. Like spending time at my kids games, or time for just the wife and me.

[bakerhillpins]

If you're not eating right, there's no better time to start than right now. Fish, poultry and occasional beef. Beef is harder to digest the older we get. Salad with dinner every night, fresh vegetables and fruit. Try having a fruit and English muffin/toast breakfast every other day. Have whatever the other days. Try to make water your primary beverage.
Enjoy booze as a treat when out for dinner, BBQ's etc but not daily. I used to enjoy two glasses of wine every night
with dinner plus dessert.........when I was forced to stop for a while for surgery stuff I found that I've lost 20lbs! 224 from 245 @ 6' tall over just a several week period. I don't miss the indulgences either.
Go out for a walk at least every other day, doesn't have to be a long walk but WALK. 

I have to say that Tom has it square. I started this a bit shy of a year ago now. We started slowly but making a big difference.  I didn't take part in the surgery though. 

[twodko]

Spot on. Little goals, don't get discouraged and never give up.......which is different than
folding a bad hand at cards.

Protect your backs guys and gals!!!!

2 spinal surgeries in the last 6 weeks. Thank gawd for the VA, they did an
awesome job and I'm on the mend. Some life style changes and I plan on
being go to good the rest of my long life.
At 60 I just don't bounce back like I used to though.........prolly take a couple more days. 

Pain, sutures, hospital beds and opiate meds.......all bad.

The worst of it is I've missed two big car shows this year. 

[lloyd3]

Well said myk, thank you.

Right there with you Twodko!  Two (maybe 3?) buldged disks in the lower back, bad hamstring, peripheral neuropathy problems, etc. It's the old saw "If I'd known I was gonna live this long..."  Glad to hear the VA did right by you (not what the news is braying lately).

As far as diet goes, zero wheat tolerance anymore, and little-to-no alcohol has left me very few vices (besides ice cream). I do have a new pup that walks me every morning.  I also love to hunt ruffed grouse and fish for trout so walking is critical to me.  I'm out there every morning in Summer (before the heat of the day comes on) to get ready for the Fall.