Wednesday, December 13, 2006

lordy, lordy

Like the above rinkside bench in the empty lot in my back yard, my blog has been quite vacant lately. I think I'm quite possibly experiencing the I'm-about-to-turn-forty syndrom. My birthday is on Saturday and I've tried to be quite grown up about it but, try as I might, I believe that I'm a little more conscious of it than I would have hoped.

My mind is telling the body that a little more effort is required to maintain that youthful appearance. The financial advisor is advising more financial responsibility if I ever hope to achieve Arizona status. The literacy team suggests greater compliance with the new incentives so that we can have more accurate records to store away in files so that we can say that we have files stored away. And the church, well...there's always the church.

I've never been the kind of person to put much stock into making New Year's resolutions. But I feel the need to make some sort of commitment as I pass from the third to the fourth decade of my life. It's a bit of an itch that needs attention. If I scratch too hard...

Have you ever had this rash?

13 comments:

andrea said...

Don't tell me my nagging actually worked...? As for me, I've had that rash. Turning 40 was harder than I'd anticipated. It's s big number so Happy Birthday in advance, Brian. I'll be celebrating/sympathising with you.

Brian the Mennonite said...

Yes, Andrea. If there was anyone out there that I was thinking to keep appearing for, it was you. Your nagging was quite effective. I wouldn't define it that way though. More like an older sister's encouragement. :)

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday! Thought I'd better comment because I told Ali to bug you a bit about the vacant blog. Glad to see you back!
-Heather

Anonymous said...

Well, well...someone else feeling a little fragile about the Big Four O. Brian, as one who has already passed the Big Six O, I can tell you the 40s are not that bad.So far, my 60s are pretty good, too.
Why not drive across town for a commiserating drink with HE. Oh, no, he's holed-up in his attic til the Feds leave!
Well, have that drink anyway. Any kind of drink.Water's fine. Just make the toast "TO ME!" And remember that a little hedonism is healthy.
I'll have one for you on Saturday. And one tomorrow, 'cos I'm ahead of you guys!
Cheers!

andy said...

Ah, youth – yes, I remember that... ;-)

The web page I was on just before yours happened, quite by chance, to be this one; I'd accidentally clicked on the link to Amazon and this book was on my wish list. I didn't remember it, so I went to have a look. It may be just pop psychology, or it may be something more – but this phrase stood out: "You are what you do".

When I turned 40 was about the time I started doing a whole lot of things which now define much of who I am. Life seemed to open out (even though my latest blog post says something very different about the here-and-now!). The kids were growing up and I started to have time for myself, or even better, to do more challenging things together with them. Camping, rock climbing, bass guitar playing – they’re all pursuits which took off largely in my 40s decade.

Turning 50, however, that's a different matter entirely... ;-)

Oh, and Happy Birthday!!

esther said...

LOVE the picture brian!!! That is so beautiful!!!

Happy Birthday?!?!...

TheTart said...

I LOVE that photo. WOW!

Happy happy happy B-day, dude!

Smoochez,
The Tart
; *

Anonymous said...

Two more sleeps!

More like one and a half 'cause you have to subtract the time getting up to go pee in the middle of the night even though you peed before you went to bed and you'll still have to pee when the alarm goes off.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Brian!

From your MUCH younger sister! :)

Romeo Morningwood said...

HOORAY!
You'll find that the decrease in testosterone production really helps..instead of wasting countless hours scheming about 'removing' competitors
(any other males from 16 - 75)
from your 'territory' and harvesting all of the then available females...you can exhale, relax and make time for painting or buildings benches or blogging....you're done!
Give yourself a pat on the back and enjoy being out of the fray.
You have made upstream and spawned so it's off for a leisurely swim into the shallows to die or be eaten by voracious Bears!
Just kidding..LIFE BEGINS at FORTY..except that now 40 is the new 30?!?! Hmmm
I'll figure it out tomorrow after some liquids.

Brian the Mennonite said...

Heather: Alice did mention a few times that I wasn't producing enough blog product lately. She did it in a nice way though...hardly a nagging at all. Thanks for the birthday wishes.

Dinahmow: I like your advice about having a drink with HE, but he will be coming to my house tomorrow for my B-day bash. I'll save the tipping of the rims for then, although it's fun to do at ANY time, isn't it? Water, sure...but not nearly as much fun as a single malt scotch.

Andy: Thanks for your words. They gave me a better sense of perspective of the fantastic opportunities which lie ahead. I think I'll behave similarly to you and embrace wonderful activities that support and encourage personal growth.

Esther: Thanks. That's the empty bench where we were the other night with you guys. But you probably knew that.

Your Tartiness: Thanks for coming around from time to time. I'm assuming that a Texan like yourself likes to take these little trips up to Canada every few days to cool off or something. Thanks for the birthday greetings. Smoochez to you too.

Rod: Thanks, and I'll see you tomorrow. PEEbrain!

Janice: Thanks Sis. Your turn is coming.

Homo: Let's figure it out together. Liquid encouragement provides the medium for great thought. I'm worried about that whole dying in shallow water thing though...thanks a lot, man.

Anonymous said...

Is it Fortyday yet on the prairie?Ah! I'll just raise (another) glass of shiraz to an unseen friend. What the hell, what the hell.(note to self:stop quoting a cockroach.)
You have a good one ,as Australians say. A good what, I want to know.
Happy birthday.
Dinah

Anonymous said...

The cockroach was quoting the cat, but you knew that!