noattentionspan

Of course that clarification is required in the title as I know more than a few people who have turned 39 multiple times. Eventually I think they’ll turn 44 for a few years and then stay 49 forever if they can pull it off.

Whatever happened to aging gracefully anyway?

Last year on my birthday I remember sitting back and looking at the snow, something I hadn’t had on my birthday in a long time. Of course not everyone was so happy about the weather, but who cares, I sorta feel like it was nature’s present to me. This year I have been doing the same, looking at snow out the window at home and at work. This lightens my spirit in an undefinable way and brings me back to being 7 or 8 and playing in the front yard making snowmen and angels on my birthday.

Focusing only on the changes in me over the year (after all, the year in review post is coming in just a couple of weeks), the year has had more ups than downs.

In the little bubble I call me things have been OK. I started running again after my birthday last year, and biking, and swimming. That has resulted in me dropping a bunch of weight which, except for a couple of burbles I’ve managed to keep off, staying over 40 pounds lighter than I was on my birthday last year.

With my stress fractures healing I’ve managed to get back up to 10km , half marathon and then full marathon distances. I have completed a variety of races over the course of the year. I’ve even registered for Ironman in 2010, aiming to have that accomplishment under my belt before I turn 40 (shockingly, the year after I turn 39!).

From a work perspective things are sitting in a trough. Not a bad thing given the economy, but no growth to speak of. I don’t plan on rocking this boat in the next year though with all the training I need to do for Ironman. Heck, any work situation that gives me a bit of flexibility to account for extra training and doesn’t ask me to take a pay cut is a good situation.

Friends and lovers? More of the former by far. A big change from my younger years when I could count my actual friends on one hand, after it had been in a thresher accident. It’s been a good year for developing friendships that are relatively new and rekindling friendships that had started to wane with time. Is this going to change in the next year? My libido certainly wouldn’t mind a shift in focus, but again, my focus is on Ironman and I can live with the blue balls for a few months to get there. Given that I’m an un-attentive self focused SOB anyway, it would be much worse for any partner for the next 8 months

Kids and being a father? My relationship with Miranda has grown and deepened as she’s gotten older and I’ve been able to spend a lot more one on one time with her. Conversely I haven’t seen Gabrielle for more than a visit in ages and have no clue what’s going on in her world. Carly has grown into an adult, almost, and that changes how we deal with each other, but I like where that’s going, she’s turning into a good shit. Kyle is starting to grow up and out of his angry teenager in a man’s body, but only starting. Things have been strained there. Cody is deep into his angst filled angry teenager phase and is generally unpleasant, but there is still the core of him that exists. Curt and I are spending more time together lately with running and training for a half marathon in February and I’m liking that. I want to actually get to know him as he grows up and before he enters the angry teen phase that his brothers have hit with a vengeance. My hope is that he won’t hit this phase… who knows eh?

I have plans for this coming year. Goals that I want to accomplish. My 40th year on this planet is going to be a good one.

Nutrition for the day could have been much worse given it’s my birthday. It could have, of course, been much better.

Breakfast:
- Carnation Instant Breakfast

Lunch:
- Burger and fries
- Can of Coke
- Chocolate bar (Elizabeth, a Cadbury Wunderbar to be specific)

Snack (0):
- Can of Coke

Dinner:
- 4 medium slices of pizza
- Small bowl of ice cream