Re: 60+ Questions

From: Michael McKenney (michaelmckenney_at_sbcglobal.net)
Date: 11/18/04 

Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 21:40:24 GMT

Sure, but not for a week or so. My wife and I often take "mini"
vacations on the weekend, sometimes to Door County, somtimes the Dells,
and sometimes even west of Madison to the Mississippi River for a scenic
drive and get-away. If it wasn't for Wisconsin being almost #1 in
America for taxes (especially Milwaukee County), I would love it here.
At 66 (another 6 years), we are planning on possibly moving, maybe even
to Anchorage. The winters there are actually at times even milder than
here in Milwaukee because of the "bowl effect" of the mountain ranges
surrounding Anchorage. But, that's at least 6 years away, so in t
meantime we will enjoy this state, especially the northern part which is
somewhat rural and truly beautiful.

CyberCafe wrote:

>Michael McKenney wrote:
>
>
>
>>The chicken is not bad, but their specialty is fried, and I have long
>>ago stopped eating fried chicken. They do have great ribs, though,
>>(which is probably just as bad as fried chicken :-\ ).
>>
>>
>
>Sounds like my kind of food if my guts would hold up to it.
>
>
>
>>You're right about one suburb ending and another beginning. It is
>>always hard to tell just when you are in West Allis, Hales Corner,
>>Wauwatosa, or even Brookfield now, as everything has seemed to "merge"
>>together over the years as more and more construction takes place, which
>>I guess is par for just about all of America. Oh well . . . . . .
>>
>>
>
>Do you ever get a chance to get out of the city? You know, maybe like going up north
>for a week or so?
>
>Barb
>
>
>
>>CyberCafe wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>Michael McKenney wrote:
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>>>
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>>>
>>>>I live on 86th and Lisbon, which is right on the border of being in
>>>>Wauwatosa, but my address is actually in Milwaukee. There is a
>>>>restaurant a couple of blocks from my house that has been there for
>>>>ages, sort of a landmark, called Champion Chicken, if that helps you
>>>>place it. :-D
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>Is the chicken any good? Like most other big cities, you can't tell where the
>>>city ends and the suburb begins. My family used to live on 72nd and Cleveland
>>>Avenue, which technically is West Allis (1/2 block outside Milwaukee). I went to
>>>the old West Allis Central High on 76th and National. Boy, it's been years since
>>>I've been home.
>>>
>>>Barb
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>BTW, thanks for taking the time to respond and for your input!
>>>>
>>>>CyberCafe wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Michael McKenney wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>I'd like to take an informal, unscientific survey regarding age-related
>>>>>>difficulties as MTs.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>First of all, are you 60+ years of age?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>No, 57. Is that close enough?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>If so, do any of the following play a role in your day-to-day
>>>>>>activities/responsibilities as an MT?
>>>>>>1. Joint pain in hands/fingers (osteoarthritis/degenerative joint
>>>>>>disease) that slow your typing.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>Yeah, I have joint discomfort, both hands, and carpal tunnel on the right
>>>>>side. My hands generally ache, if they're going to ache, in the evening.
>>>>>The aches and pains are spreading as time passes, but it hasn't slowed my
>>>>>typing speed down.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>2. "Senior moments" or possibly slight memory problems, i.e.,
>>>>>>recalling terms, keeping a myriad of details with technical issues in
>>>>>>order, etc.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>3. Sheer physical stamina.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>4. Ability to concentrate as long/hard as before.
>>>>>>5. Other.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>Regarding 2 and 4, since I started taking an antidepressant, the
>>>>>memory/concentration stuff has improved dramatically. But I have complex
>>>>>partial seizures (diagnosed at age 43!), so I don't know if people with
>>>>>"normal" brains could experience such a dramatic improvement as I had with
>>>>>the memory/concentration/focus/interest in work stuff after taking an
>>>>>antidepressant. For some reason though, I've always been able to remember
>>>>>medical stuff.
>>>>>
>>>>>Regarding 5, I have to be careful with my legs because I've had DVTs several
>>>>>times. My sleep schedule is totally screwed up though and seems to be
>>>>>directly related to work.. I can go for 24 hours (30 hours is the longest)
>>>>>without sleep (hey, I am tired but either can't fall asleep or wake after a
>>>>>short time).
>>>>>
>>>>>The positive things about getting older: We know more. It doesn't mean
>>>>>we're smarter. We've just lived longer and have had more time to pick up
>>>>>information. Since I do nonmedical transcription as well as MT, this has
>>>>>been a big plus for me. Another thing is my body has actually gotten better
>>>>>in some areas because when I was in my late thirties and early forties, I
>>>>>just had some nagging symptoms that nobody could figure out. Then when those
>>>>>things blew up, they could figure out what it was and do something about it.
>>>>>So I'm actually better healthwise now.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>The reason I ask is, turning 40 for me was no big deal, nor even turning
>>>>>>50. But when I turned 60, that seemed to be a significant milestone in
>>>>>>my life. I do have a cardiovascular history with an acute MI, 4-vessel
>>>>>>bypass, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, etc., as well as major back
>>>>>>surgery (Harrington rod with 7 vertebrae fused), spinal stenosis, etc.
>>>>>>but I also try and take care of myself, eat healthy, exercise daily, etc.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>However, I get very little sleep and spend many long hours at the
>>>>>>keyboard. Over the last year or so, it seems that my productivity,
>>>>>>concentration, overall stamina, and just general abilities have
>>>>>>deteriorated somewhat, and my wife swears this is a natural part of
>>>>>>aging and that I now need to consider cutting back.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>What do you think?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>Well, I think getting health problems under control helps a lot. If there is
>>>>>any inkling of depression, I'm telling ya, that can really spoil a lot of
>>>>>things including ability to be productive, your sleep, etc. I know the lack
>>>>>of sleep problem can be troublesome, but don't feel guilty about it. I mean,
>>>>>my family and appointments, I just don't let those things dictate my life
>>>>>like they used to. Those people have to be adaptable to my needs and not me
>>>>>to their needs.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Michael in Milwaukee
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>What part of Milwaukee? I was born and raised there. My family still lives
>>>>>there.
>>>>>
>>>>>Barb
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>
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