This is a thread for ILXORS IN THEIR 50's

Not there yet myself dude. You might have to wait a while, wait for the return of Martin Skeedmore, who can out-[Controversial Moderator Edit] them all, whatever his age.

"ilxors in the '50s" would be a fun photoshop thread

ned at the sockhop

abbott being a sexy cold war scientist

huh

I got it, it wasn't hard to follow it was a simple piece of business.

i just want to see abbott as a sexy cold war scientist is all

I am a 53 year old ILXor in the Naughties. Does that count? My only time in the 50's occured when I was aged 0-5, from November, 1954 until Dec. 31, 1959.

did you see ned at the sockhop

NO

The sockhop ended some time before I entered high school in Sept. 1968. I was not inconsolable over this happenstance. I was a rotten dancer.

sept 1968 was like the gayest time to enter high school

everyone cool in those days were entering college

u cursed by the stars aimless

everyone cool in those days were entering college WAS GETTING DRAFTED TO 'NAM

yep -- that's where my pops was in '68 -- sent there two weeks after i got borned! booh hooh.

--a sometime ilxor in his 40s

everyone cool in those days were entering college WAS GETTING DRAFTED TO 'NAM WAS NOT ME, BY ANY STRETCH OF IMAGINATION! Skinny, geeky 13 year old, I'm just sayin'.

nED AT THE SOCKHOP OH MY GOD

aimless serious q did you at least smoke a lot of pot? and at least know a kid like trip fontaine?

if not you have destroyed any reason i have to respect actual early 70s HS kids

I am 10 years shy of 50 but this thread is making me feel old.

momus is almost 50

There's a Guided By Voices song about this.

nED AT THE SOCKHOP OH MY GOD

I really, really don't know how to react to this.

weve all reacted by blotting it out

Well I know that you're in love with him,
Because I saw you dancing in the gym
You both kicked off your Keds.
Oh, I dig that rhythm and Ned!

(I thought JBR's suggestion at first was an age progression of ILXors into their fifties and was thinking "oh it won't take much to imagine some of that.")

Ned, all you have to do is put on the socks. That's all. And we need a hardwood floor, and XTC's "Life Begins At The Hop". Now who will film this????

did you at least smoke a lot of pot?

I think the first time I smoked pot was roughly summer of 1970. Didn't do much for me. My friends included several 'heads', but I was just a dabbler. My older brother was into it pretty far by 1971. He still tokes up now.

I didn't really get launched as a pot smoker until college, where I spent most of 1974 stoned. Made my own bong from a glass lab beaker. I quit entirely around 1977 or so. I can't say I miss it.

and at least know a kid like trip fontaine?

Hard to say, because I don't have a clue who trip fontaine is. I did know a lot of druggies and hippies in the 70s. They were as common as daisies back then.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3Pgo2kaznFU/RqsBjrRCKMI/AAAAAAAAARs/7wAJzhaYC3A/s1600/964.jpg

that link 404'ed me

(xxpost) Trip Fontaine is a character from the book/film "The Virgin Suicides"

Start at about 3:30 here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_smJP8oRnE

Btw, Frank Kogan, who posts to a couple of the rolling genre threads on ILM, is 54.

Also:
Most of the time I dwell in a state of unreality, where I have amazing superpowers. And I am 50 years old.

-- Beth Parker (Beth Parker), Monday, February 5, 2007 12:29 PM (1 year ago) Bookmark Link

Our cohort is few, but mighty.

abbott being a sexy cold war scientist

OH MY GOD WHY WAS I NEVER THAT

I remember Howdy Doody.

and i thought i was old for remembering leaded gasoline!

madonna, michael jackson, prince and ME -- i am now 50 and 1/2.

sept 1968 was like the gayest time to enter high school

everyone cool in those days were entering college

there is truth lurking here -- people in our sub-generation have a complicated relationship w/our older sibs, the 60s baby boomers. this usage of "gay" is uhm, anachronisitic, or something. (I entered HS in 72 FWIW.)

anachronistic! edgy, you mean!!1!

so is bimble part of this exclusive club?

I didn't expect to get shoulder and back hair this late in the game.

ha was wondering what you meant in the 40s thread

what's up y'all

had a cardiologist call me at 7am to cancel my appointment (snow)

this morning the dentist said that my teeth with metal fillings will all eventually need crowns; seems legit, the youngest of those fillings is 40+ years old

i went to the dentist for lots of work this past year, first time since forever, and it was all space aged nano whatever shit and i think the dentist and his assistant were legit smirking at my one old iron ore filling from when i was a teenager, fifty years ago, in an eastern bloc nation

oh hi, I'm 54 now

peeing takes a long time

backache is a thing

(knocks on wood)

As hinted above, I have a cardiologist now! My primary doctor, who has pretty amazing raw skills -- like hearing -- apparently, thought he heard a murmur in my heartbeat last month. GREAT!

It turns out I have an "unconcerning" prolapse which is a "2" (not a 3 or a 4), so it just has to be checked every year from now on.

Aging is a motherfucker.

Tomorrow is colonoscopy day, hooray

colonoscopy day >>>> prep day, imo

That’s for sure.

I know it's important for general maintenance, but my first colonoscopy led to a few frivolous health boondoggles (including a second colonoscopy coming up) that have really been a pain in the ass (no pun intended). Lots of, hmm, you should do this because A, and then, we didn't find A, so now we have to test B, followed by, OK, it looks like A is fine after all, but when we tested B we decided it would be prudent to look for C, and then C is clear, but it would be smart to test for D to make sure there is no E. Oh, and we did find a small F, too, which is OK, but maybe we should test for G, just to be safe. And so on. Never revealing anything serious, just furthering the parade of "just to be safe" procedures. Which I'm fine with, on principle, but a big waste of time and money all the same.

I thought prep day was hilarious, like being a human cartoon, or a one-man cast *and* audience of Jackass.

I just reached out to my primary physician to schedule #1 and *crickets*... its a big HMO that has gatekeepers everywhere, so I'm going to have to push for something I'm not super thrilled about

I do know the waits are long these days. It's funny, Americans and their doctors like to or used talk of the exceptionalism of US health care - "yeah, it's expensive, but everywhere else in the world you have to wait for months to even be seen!" etc. - but (for example) I had to schedule both of my colonoscopies six months out.

I used to think the colonoscopy prep was just a funny part of the deal, but this last time wore me out and aggravated more hemorrhoids.

Maybe that's why I walked 95 miles through the woods last week.

First you get the runs, then you get the walks.

Third you slowly spread the neck uh wait.

We've had enough colonoscopies in the family that the big Huddle House breakfast afterwards feels like a tradition now.

That first meal is a treat, I'll say that.

I am *way* overdue for a followup colo. My last one they found and removed polyps, and I was put on a high-priority callback list, which they started hounding me about around 2-3 years later. Problem was that was bang in the middle of covid, no way in hell was I going near a hospital at that point. So I told them to take me off the waiting list and... now I'm on the general waiting list, which means it could be a year or more til i get seen again. Ah well.

(lest anyone thinks "why dont you just book in somewhere for one?", being on the public waiting list means this is done for zero cost).

58 in a few days time, graduation from this thread looms ever closer. Have celebrated by purchasing my first blood pressure monitor.

Today at the grocery store the clerk asked me if I was 55; I said no, and she glanced up and said, "Oh, I'm sorry - I didn't even look at you before I asked," because on Thursdays customers over 55 get a discount. I didn't tell her I only had nine months to go...

the wisdom of life experience and senior discounts are really all we have to look forward to

I took my mom to visit a local seniors center here and saw on the sign on the door that it was for anyone "over 50." I was like, no no no I'm just bringing my mom!

yeah my ex's mom moved into a senior 'community' that was 55 & up, and one of her neighbors looked about 60 if that

xp lol I take shameless advantage of my senior discount in the local thrifts

(55 and up here)

I did Cologuard in 2024 because I have no family history....but I guess I should do the full monty?

I had a pretty significant surgery (with bonus appendectomy!) because a colonoscopy found something earlier in my 50s, so I def do it. that being said, I was very psyched when they said "see you in 3 years" after the latest one in 2025.

I turn ol'55 in 2 weeks. Senior discounts etc dont kick in here til 60 I dont think, but by golly am I getting all I'm owed.

hell yeah

xxp I've been doing the 'poop on the paper' every year for awhile but I think it's time to have a look around up there

I did Cologuard in 2024 because I have no family history....but I guess I should do the full monty?

I did Cologuard the first time around, 10 years ago or whatever (they recommend this stuff pre-50 now). But apparently the Cologuard stats are not in your favor. If you have nothing to find, it is pretty good at confirming it. But if you *have* something to find, iirc there is something like a 20% chance it misses it. The great thing about the full monty is that if they find anything, even an innocuous polyp, they can get rid of it while they are in there anyway, before it even has a chance to turn into something else.

I know you all know this, but colonoscopy prep is just the worst

x2

does prepping your butt help? like some lotions, emollients? asking for a friend

not really imo

(I think I've had four so far?)

what helps is some straight up mint leaves that you can huff/chew between gulps to kill the taste of that godawful crap you have to drink

or Altoids, whatever

I always think of this thread <3 crut

If I hear the words "barium shake" ever again I will barf.

It definitely transforms you, yes.

Last time I think I had a shit ton of miralax and a lot of gatorade mixed together. I’ve heard about the awful stuff to drink but never had it.

I don’t mind the taste actually

I can deal with the colonoscopy prep drink, it just tastes like a weird metallic gatorade.

The one I could not bear drinking was the pre-CT scan stuff. No idea what it was (not barium I dont think? I cant recall) but it made me SO nauseous but I knew I couldnt puke or I'd just have to start again.

Christ I dont even recall what I was being scanned for now.

It's too late for DJP now, but the best help with the prep is a restrictive diet preceding the procedure. Simple, plain, white/clear foods for four days beforehand.

The drink was fine for me. I had a can of Sprite handy, and some crystal light. I would prepare a big glass of the drink, spike it with crystal light, then reward myself every few glasses with some Sprite.

yeah that would work

First time I did the miralax gatorade mix and it was totally fine, flavor-wise. Especially if you like gatorade.

The second time the prescribed the liquid. It came as a powder in a big plastic jug and I mixed it with water. It was fucking vile. I despised it.

Even more fun, the next morning they called me right before the appointment said they hadn't realized I was do for a stress test due to some talks with a cardiologist, and they won't do a colonoscopy until the cardiologist cleared me. Note, both doctors were part of the same hospital. I was NOT happy.

The third time he prescribed that again and I said "wait a minute, can I just to the miralax gatorade thing this time?" and they were like "sure".

The fourth time I said "let me stop you right here, can I do the miralax gatorade thing?" and they said "actually we can just give you some pills.

There's a lot of pills and they're big and you have to take them over a period of time, and you have to stay hydrated obviously, I think I drank a lot of apple juice.

I think some doctors don't trust the pills as much, but it was fine for me.

My knee is much better.
I haven't had a job with benefits since the 90s, so preventive care is pretty much off the table for me until I'm old enough for Medicaid, if it still exists then.

I think when I have my next one my leadup food might be a fair bit of plain miso soup (ie without kombu or anything)

"the wisdom of life experience and senior discounts are really all we have to look forward to"

In the UK pensioners get a free bus pass. That's one thing to look out for. You know, I had always assumed it was given out when you reach 60 - which is an attainable goal if you've made it to the age of 50 - but after doing a bit of research it seems to vary. Like so many things in life I had never really thought of it in great detail.

It appears that in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland you get a free bus pass when you're 60. In London you get a Oyster free-travel card when you're 60, although confusingly there's also a Freedom Pass that kicks in at the age of 66 and does the same thing. It appears that the Oyster card costs £20 while the Freedom Pass is free. "Free" as in the band Free, not "Free" as in a mispronunciation of the number three.

I learn from the internet that Michael Rosen is a hate-pig-demon because he has successfully applied for and received a Freedom Pass despite being really rich. Now, I'm not suggesting that there's something wrong with Michael Rosen, but I always remember that they realised Goldfinger was up to something when he cheated at cards. In just a few short weeks he went from cheating at cards to irradiating Ford Knox. Technically that's not real life, but the point still stands.

Whereas for people who live in England but outside London the free bus pass doesn't kick in until pension age, which is probably now 78 or something. Which seems unfair. I'm going to suggest to Reform that they can win some more votes by telling the people of England that they are being oppressed by a mixture of metropolitan elites and a shadowy "other". Then Reform will make me their head of strategy, and all the people who ridiculed me, mocked me, spurned me will suffer. I'll turn that party into the Enclave from Fallout, also technically not real life. But it can be real. And Michael Rosen will be arrested because I'm not having him irradiate Fort Knox.

All that beautiful gold.

Way xp...

For my first colonoscopy, I was told to begin the prep meds at 6pm. I do just that. At 6:15, the doctor's office calls me and says, "So, sorry, the doctor had a family issue and can't perform the procedure tomorrow. Can we reschedule?"

Oh that is terrible

I had a friend whose wife was scheduled, but something came up at the last minute and she had to go out of town, so he basically claimed the appointment for himself with like a day's notice. Worked out OK, but kind of a high pressure situation, so to speak.

First you get the runs, then you get the walks.

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, February 26, 2026 1:49 PM

I don't have to say it, but I enjoyed this, Josh.

A lot of this thread is devoted to physical ailments from aging. I feel pretty good, on that front, I'm guessing because I got into a daily routine of high-intensity workout classes. I just turned 58 last week. I tend to feel the aging more psychologically, from nostalgia, feeling / worrying that my best days are behind me, etc. I've always had that kind of ... melancholy, but aging tends to bring out a new aspect of it. Idk.

On that hike, I came within a few hundred yards from a tri-point of three counties. Kind of a neat geopolitical oddity to get a picture of, but going down 400 feet (and then back up) didn't seem worth it.

And I had to admit to myself, this is it. This is the only chance you're gonna get on this one. If I was 22, I could've told myself, Sure, you might swing back by here within the next 30 or 40 years. But that just ain't happenin' no more.

Xp. Thanks, DJP.

It frankly has been a lot. Last year I had a colonoscopy. Doctor calls. “You have what looks to be a cancerous tumor. We need to operate in….2 weeks. However we need you to come back for another colonoscopy so we can tattoo the areas so we know which sections to take out when we operate.” When I go in for the consult, doctor says im the poster child for colonoscopies. Back in again the next week. Same prep obviously. They do that procedure and the prep for the surgery is much the same - maybe a little more intense. But I get the surgery.

Cancer free, I go in for my surgery follow up. Now, I had no tattoos which is kind of a big deal since im in the Portland area, so I ask the doctor, “so, did you take out both of the tattoos?” His response was, “well, I really only needed to remove one section.” I replied, “well, it’s gonna get really interesting if someone asks to see my tattoo.”