44hunter45
Well-known member
Where to put this thread? It's about elk hunting, truck repair, new shops, and aging bodies.
Not moping, just talking about how even a good life can be a resiliency test.
I've talked about my L4-L5 slippage (spondylolisthesis). I have been in the "no surgery until it hurts too much" camp for some time. I have most of the usual associated pain symptoms, but it's been manageable.
Enter the new-to-me truck. (New Truck Thread)
I've cut, split, and stacked about a 1/2 cord of firewood I chain skidded onto the county gravel road, but I can't take the truck off-road because of the fire danger of the leaky exhaust. Ive got 4' round bales out in the pasture that need to be brought in before the rain comes.
I can't wait until the shop (New Shop Thread) is built to put new exhaust under it. The best price I got locally for the job was $1200. I ordered the parts from LMC Truck for a DIY.
On Wednesday I jacked the truck up in the yard like a good redneck and set to work. Stuck a sheet of plywood under it to try to use my mechanics creeper. No joy there. It's not really flat and I can't stay under the work. When I lift my hands to work, I roll downhill. FML.
I started tearing out old mufflers on Thursday. Spent about 2 hours on my back. Being alone, you are crawling out and standing up every time you need a tool or it rolls out of reach on the plywood. Had all the wrong tools. My SAE socket collection has diminished since 1983 when I bought the first Toyota. The 1988 GMC is metric, too.
Chucked out the creeper, just gonna crawl now. I started working on the manifold flange bolts. Jury rigged a socket extension with 1/2" and 3/8" extensions and reducers. Immediately split my 3/8" drive deep 14mm (9/16") FML again. I crawled out again and came back with a can of P.B. Blaster and hosed down all the nuts and bolts. Went to bed thinking I better take some Advil Dual Actions, but I didn't
I woke up Friday morning and I couldn't walk. The back pain has been excruciating. I still have an active prescription for Gabapentin, but I hate it. I think it was responsible for my difficulties on my 2024 Idaho moose hunt. (story here) For those who think that thread is TLDR, I spent two days in my tent shivering from Gabby withdrawals.
I've stayed off the stuff ever since.
Hobbled around all day Friday. The job has to be done so I had to crawl back under there on Friday. I needed to refresh my SAE tool collection, so headed to Napa first. Our spendable cash buffer is gone with the deposits on the shop build. I actually have to do the math before I plunk down the plastic. I had enough in a savings account to buy the tools with $10 to spare. The weren't cheap. 1/2" drive long extension set, some deep impact sockets, and SAE ratcheting box end wrenches. Buy once and don't cry because you know the money you have in a CD is maturing soon...
So back home and under the GMC again Friday. I'm pretty sure the neighbors 1/2 mile away are gonna call my pastor and have me recalled as a Deacon. There were some "excited utterances" from under the truck. The P.B. Blaster had done its job. With a quality socket and 24" breaker bar I got the manifold flange nut loose without twisting the studs off. One Small Step. I got the old pipes hauled out from that side. I still have to remove the hangers, which the previous owner decided to tack weld the nuts on. I will be heading back soon with my angle grinder.
I also replaced the frayed parking brake cable while I was under there. Check that off the list.
I did take the Advil before bed last night. I had a few ouchies turning over in the night, but had a decent night of sleep. I was thinking it was going to be fine until I tried to get out of bed. SLAM!. Hobbling around again.
Where does elk hunting come into this? I've been out once and this is taking up all my time and energy. I'm too laid up to go pack out an elk today, for sure. Family and work obligations will prevent any more early cow season outings. I guess I better get to shooting my bow if I can. September is coming fast.
Not moping, just talking about how even a good life can be a resiliency test.
I've talked about my L4-L5 slippage (spondylolisthesis). I have been in the "no surgery until it hurts too much" camp for some time. I have most of the usual associated pain symptoms, but it's been manageable.
Enter the new-to-me truck. (New Truck Thread)
I've cut, split, and stacked about a 1/2 cord of firewood I chain skidded onto the county gravel road, but I can't take the truck off-road because of the fire danger of the leaky exhaust. Ive got 4' round bales out in the pasture that need to be brought in before the rain comes.
I can't wait until the shop (New Shop Thread) is built to put new exhaust under it. The best price I got locally for the job was $1200. I ordered the parts from LMC Truck for a DIY.
On Wednesday I jacked the truck up in the yard like a good redneck and set to work. Stuck a sheet of plywood under it to try to use my mechanics creeper. No joy there. It's not really flat and I can't stay under the work. When I lift my hands to work, I roll downhill. FML.
I started tearing out old mufflers on Thursday. Spent about 2 hours on my back. Being alone, you are crawling out and standing up every time you need a tool or it rolls out of reach on the plywood. Had all the wrong tools. My SAE socket collection has diminished since 1983 when I bought the first Toyota. The 1988 GMC is metric, too.
Chucked out the creeper, just gonna crawl now. I started working on the manifold flange bolts. Jury rigged a socket extension with 1/2" and 3/8" extensions and reducers. Immediately split my 3/8" drive deep 14mm (9/16") FML again. I crawled out again and came back with a can of P.B. Blaster and hosed down all the nuts and bolts. Went to bed thinking I better take some Advil Dual Actions, but I didn't
I woke up Friday morning and I couldn't walk. The back pain has been excruciating. I still have an active prescription for Gabapentin, but I hate it. I think it was responsible for my difficulties on my 2024 Idaho moose hunt. (story here) For those who think that thread is TLDR, I spent two days in my tent shivering from Gabby withdrawals.
I've stayed off the stuff ever since.
Hobbled around all day Friday. The job has to be done so I had to crawl back under there on Friday. I needed to refresh my SAE tool collection, so headed to Napa first. Our spendable cash buffer is gone with the deposits on the shop build. I actually have to do the math before I plunk down the plastic. I had enough in a savings account to buy the tools with $10 to spare. The weren't cheap. 1/2" drive long extension set, some deep impact sockets, and SAE ratcheting box end wrenches. Buy once and don't cry because you know the money you have in a CD is maturing soon...
So back home and under the GMC again Friday. I'm pretty sure the neighbors 1/2 mile away are gonna call my pastor and have me recalled as a Deacon. There were some "excited utterances" from under the truck. The P.B. Blaster had done its job. With a quality socket and 24" breaker bar I got the manifold flange nut loose without twisting the studs off. One Small Step. I got the old pipes hauled out from that side. I still have to remove the hangers, which the previous owner decided to tack weld the nuts on. I will be heading back soon with my angle grinder.
I also replaced the frayed parking brake cable while I was under there. Check that off the list.I did take the Advil before bed last night. I had a few ouchies turning over in the night, but had a decent night of sleep. I was thinking it was going to be fine until I tried to get out of bed. SLAM!. Hobbling around again.
Where does elk hunting come into this? I've been out once and this is taking up all my time and energy. I'm too laid up to go pack out an elk today, for sure. Family and work obligations will prevent any more early cow season outings. I guess I better get to shooting my bow if I can. September is coming fast.
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