Wasted Time

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Well, my 40^th birthday has come and gone and I want to thank everyone who came out to join us at Jackson Acre for the celebration. I greatly appreciate all who came out to Jackson Acre for the festivities and I hope everyone had a good time. I certainly had a lot of fun. It was so much fun, in fact, that I’m toying with the thought of having another 40^th birthday celebration next year!

We’ll call it the 2^nd Annual 40^th Birthday Celebration!

Of all my birthdays, I would have to say that this one has been the best one in a while, although my tenth birthday was also pretty good. That would’ve been 1978 and I vividly recall it being a Star Wars-themed birthday. On that birthday I received Star Wars action figures and a Star Wars Landspeeder vehicle for my action figures. The Landspeeder was cool and held my Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi action figures, with little wheels hidden underneath that made the Landspeeder look like it was floating on the air, just like in Star Wars. It was cool.

But as cool as that Landspeeder was, this birthday’s gifts have also been pretty cool. This was the year that I finally got my second tattoo. And this was also the year that the wife and I got to see Van Halen in concert (which is why I never got around to posting the strip for May 8, because we got back from the concert late). And I got to go back to Big Bend and paddle the Rio Grande again this year.

Other reasons why this birthday has been a good one? Well, since I bought a new motorcycle this year I need to get a new helmet, so I’m shopping. And plans for drying up the swamp on Jackson Acre are under way, so here’s hoping it’s a success.

On a related note, many guests mentioned to me that the yard looked good and dry and they were very surprised to NOT see any water in the back yard. Evidently lots of people expected to see a small lake behind the house, complete with gondolas, ducks, and a dock! Trust me, we cleaned Jackson Acre up as best we could for the party and it turned out pretty good. The beautiful weather also helped make things seem nicer than they usually are. Today we’re back to normal: we got three inches of rain and the usual wet spot has standing water as I write this.

Anyway, turning forty has been lots of fun and I got to do a lot of fun things this year. It’s like I’m forty going on twenty! And I want to thank everyone who helped us celebrate here at Jackson Acre, because you certainly made my passing into the 40′s more enjoyable.

And those of you who didn’t make it? Well, look for my second annual 40th birthday party next year! Thanks for celebrating with us!

Forty Going On Twenty!

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I’m going to be 40 years old in less than a month.

And I think I’m taking it pretty well.

For example, I went to Texas in March and spent five days paddling a kayak down the Rio Grande river. We covered 75 miles in those five days. And by day five, I was paddling stronger than a lot of the guys ten years my junior. Who says being 40 means you have to be slower or weaker than the young guys? I say it means being wise enough (from your advanced age) to know how to pace yourself.

It’s like that one Bowflex commercial, where the guy is working out on his Bowflex saying how he’s 40 and in the best shape of his life. And that he’s in a rock and roll band, living the life of his dreams! Then he flexes for the camera and grins through his cheesy goatee, saying how his body “is a Bowflex body!” Yeah, I think being 40 is like that, only without the cheesy goatee or Bowflex.

Here’s another example.

Today I put a deposit down on my next tattoo (this will be my second tat). I’m getting it done the week before my birthday. It’s a design that I’ve been carrying around in my wallet for the last five or six years, something I made up myself. It represents three stylized H’s, for my wife and daughters. (It’ll actually be bigger than that).

I told myself I’d get it before I was 40. The clock’s ticking.

And what about all those other things I said I’d do when I had time, or when I had money? A lot of them are still waiting to be done. It seems that rarely does anyone ever have enough time AND money at the same time.

We’re thinking about throwing a party here at Jackson Acre, to celebrate Spring, and maybe kick off my 40th year of existence with a bang. It’ll be an Open House kind of affair, BYOB (bring your own beverage), with maybe some brats and burgers on the grill for those who show up at the right time.

Yes, this could be your opportunity to actually visit Jackson Acre and take in the sights. Imagine it! You could actually see the scummy pond that is our back yard! Or admire the tile work in the bathroom (maybe even take a shower)! And meet the dog! My eldest child suggested having a Civil Servitude prize giveaway for all our guests. I’ll have to see if we have any more of those Made In China coffee mugs left.

More details on the Open House at Jackson Acre to follow. In the meantime, please enjoy the further adventures of Miller.

Wondering If My Tattoos Will Eventually Sag …