Guess I'm getting old LOL

Brings to mind the phrase "Colder than a frog". But that may not be often heard in Maine...

PRD1 - mhb - MIke

Next weekend I'm thinking. Pinewood derby for the young fella we take care of this morning, then he and I will press out some 38s and 357s for the new acquisition I'm hoping to have possession of this Wednesday. Bloody cold, but wouldn't be a bad morning to let go some test rounds here. I'm still tinkering with that 44 mag Enforcer load I've been playing with

I think this counts as wisdom - knowing that you CAN spend several hours in -12 temps, but choosing to spend that time somewhere warm instead. If you were performing serious testing as an employee, we could call you unmotivated. Since shooting is supposed to be fun, I think that excludes shooting in some environments.

I will pass on the next chances to go to a range when it is 115 F and when it is 0 F. Those are my "this is no longer fun" limits

As the decades pile up, I find the cold bothers me more than the heat. Although, that does not mean I'm signing up to dig a ditch in August in Okie Land.

FROGO207 said:

I finally have to admit that my old bones can't take it like they used to. In the past when it was going to be extremely cold outside I would put firearms and ammo that I wanted to test in my jeep in the evening and test the next day. This time I chose to sleep in and stay inside. Those tests can wait until it gets a bit more hospitable out there. Not -12*F with a 30 MPH wind! Global warming my foot!!! Guess I'll make a nice moose meat stew to pass the time. Rant over.

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I hear you. My bones can feel the cold/pressure change before it gets here. The arthritis in my hands really show up when it's cold. I've been working out in my non-heated shop. Have been bundling up with my insulated coveralls and firing up the heater. Ran out of propane for my heater 2 days ago. Since the shop is non insulated and drafty it's only comfortable when your near the heater. Now my climate controlled area is nice and comfortable. I got lucky all of the freezing rain with south and stayed west of me. Had a little but did not loose power which is a BIG plus, unlike some.

I have some arctic gear that is rated for -50°F, that's used in Alaska North Slope. You can't put this suit on unless it's below freezing and then your venting the sides to keep from burning up. It does nothing for your hands and feet which are the first to go no matter what. I've used it down to -75°F with a 30mph wind. The coldest I've been in is around -110°F when I had to go in my environmental chamber to check on something during a test. All I can say with my gear, -50°F is not bad but any colder and your time is limited. I was 30+ yrs younger then.

I grew up in Michigan and Pennsylvania. The cold never bothered me. Moved to Texas in '92. The winters here for the most part are warmer, but every year it seems like the cold gets into me more than it did the year before. I don't think I could survive MI or PA these days. I also don't care if I ever see another snow flake. Y'all stay warm.

FROGO207 said:

I finally have to admit that my old bones can't take it like they used to. In the past when it was going to be extremely cold outside I would put firearms and ammo that I wanted to test in my jeep in the evening and test the next day. This time I chose to sleep in and stay inside. Those tests can wait until it gets a bit more hospitable out there. Not -12*F with a 30 MPH wind! Global warming my foot!!! Guess I'll make a nice moose meat stew to pass the time. Rant over.

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You are not alone.

FROGO207 said:

Guess I'll make a nice moose meat stew to pass the time.

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Yep, know the feeling. I got some new loads I'd like to try. My Wisconsin weather is your weather but a few days earlier.
I'm into pheasant stew. yum, yum.

I spent my first 50 years in Western Pa, so I was very accustomed to cold weather and Great Lakes snow.
I found out that I can still stand the cold for now, but it becomes less attractive to me every year.

I had to smoke a full packer Brisket on last Christmas Eve, and it ended up being 4 above zero with 20mph wind blowing, when I finally done at 2:00am.
I had a previous commitment on this that I couldn't back out of or I would have told someone it wasn't going to happen. Ended up putting one of my smokers in the shed with just the end sticking out the door. Had a single candle for light.

I got some heat from the fire box, off the Oak I was burning but this smoker has thick steel and doen't loose much heat through it.

Won't be doing that again any time soon! I put on my long underware, I fired up my charcoal hand warmers and was actually able to tolerate it quite well but I should have been in my nice warm bed.
I look back on it now and just call this stupidity on my part for getting myself into this.

I'll be sitting inside and looking out from now on if it's below 20 degrees.

I used to shoot in an unheated indoor range, I had to shoot between shivers. That wasn't any fun either.
Range I use now is heated.
Guess I'm getting old like the rest of us.

W.E.G. said:

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That made me chuckle!

I used to go to my parents place in winter when I was younger (not young… just younger than I am now) and think I was walking into a sauna. Now I am my parents. The thermostat keeps creeping up and up. Getting older ain’t for sissies, but it still beats the alternative.

Back Home, Years Ago, I didn't care... I'd go out in any weather... and that includes shooting or motorcycle riding. Age and abuse did finally catch up to me, however... and I don't like cold anymore. AT. ALL. Yes, I still work outside... but I'd take the 110F Texas summer heat over 50F... or 40F... or 30F... etc.

This week, here in the Dallas area, we had our One Cold Winter Week (an annual thing...) so it was in the 20's-30's. I don't know how many times I said 'I ****ing HATE cold weather!' to which my lovely bride would reply 'yes, dear, I know...' She doesn't have to work outside...

It doesn't get as cold down here as it does up north but temps in the 20's or 30's with high humidity and some wind added in can be pretty miserable. Especially out on the Delta where theres nothing to block the wind. I'm pretty hot natured and I guess after a lifetime of working outside I just don't wear as many clothes as most of my friends. But being retired and having more time than I had when working I don't have to play in the cold unless I just want to.

Since my war with the Fauci biohazard, extrem heat, cold, or high humidity makes it hard to breathe. I never minded cold, until it got extreme. My brother, otoh, always hated cold; put on a sweat shirt when temp dropped to 80°, wouldn't run A/C under 100°.
He retired and moved to Maine, in Sept. Supposedly, -55° wind chill, this morning. He is not having fun.

When you get old you body starts to go down hill. Most of us do not like or handle the cold the way we use to. So we change our routine to fit our schedules and comfort.
Atleast we still get to do what we like to do..

Highland Lofts said:

tleast we still get to do what we like to do..

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Only some of it.

Yep, getting old ain't no picnic. Something happened in my head 3 years ago (stroke? Seizure?, and 5 "specialists" can't tell me what/why/how to fix it) and added some "old man" symptoms. As far as reloading is concerned I have no problems, no brain fxxts, no forgetful moments, etc., but shooting has become more and more difficult. I shoot at an unimproved "range" located up a logging road and is basically a wide spot with dirt, rocks and moron's trash. Walking with a cane sucks and I fall often. I got out my 45 ACP guns the other day, a 1911 and a Ruger P90, I had a heck of a time racking the slides, too weak to do a good job. I then got my Ruger SBH, my S&W 629 and my Dan Wesson 44H out of the safe. Good golly, they have gained a lot of weight! I really don't remember them weighing that much! But I can still shoot my snub barreled revolvers, and my 9mm pistols OK which satisfies my need for "the smell of gunpowder in the air".

A few weeks ago a friend of my wife's asked me to refresh her on shooting, she drove her Jeep up the mountain and changed targets so I figger I can just mention shootin' to her and have a "range helper".

A friend once told me I had "been rode hard and put away wet" describing my condition of aging, but life is still good and I'll figger a way until I'm planted...

Although I have never lived in the cold. I have visited the alleution islands(two weeks), Amarillo Texas in Winter (6Months), Colorado Springs in Winter(3 days) and I have always described that cold as "COLDER THAN A WELL DIGGERS ASS IN THE KLONDIKE" which is very cold. Have skied USA, Europe but dressed for it. I now live in Northern Cal and the lowest it gets is a little below 32 degrees at the worst. Day time Temps are usually in the high 40's to mid 50's.

You are not getting old. You are getting smarter.

Charlie98 said:

Back Home, Years Ago, I didn't care... I'd go out in any weather... and that includes shooting or motorcycle riding. Age and abuse did finally catch up to me, however... and I don't like cold anymore. AT. ALL. Yes, I still work outside... but I'd take the 110F Texas summer heat over 50F... or 40F... or 30F... etc.

This week, here in the Dallas area, we had our One Cold Winter Week (an annual thing...) so it was in the 20's-30's. I don't know how many times I said 'I ****ing HATE cold weather!' to which my lovely bride would reply 'yes, dear, I know...' She doesn't have to work outside...

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Yep, I hope we are done.

The ice in Arlington was terrible!!!
Lots of trees, bushes etc. busted up from the weight of the ice. Gotta love "freezing rain".

Stay Warm!!!

I'm good with being a bum (a warm bum these days) I don't miss early morning flights in cold weather, let the kids takeover and have the fun.

74man said:

Although I have never lived in the cold. I have visited the alleution islands(two weeks), Amarillo Texas in Winter (6Months), Colorado Springs in Winter(3 days) and I have always described that cold as "COLDER THAN A WELL DIGGERS ASS IN THE KLONDIKE" which is very cold. Have skied USA, Europe but dressed for it. I now live in Northern Cal and the lowest it gets is a little below 32 degrees at the worst. Day time Temps are usually in the high 40's to mid 50's.

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dredd said:

Yep, I hope we are done.

The ice in Arlington was terrible!!!
Lots of trees, bushes etc. busted up from the weight of the ice. Gotta love "freezing rain".

Stay Warm!!!

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Arlington Texas?

I am in Arlington Washington .
Low 40s and light rain like usual.