My annual patriotic post.

A number of people have posted the Declaration of Independence, so I'll do something different.

Patrick Henry's Speech to the Virginia House of Burgesses, March 23, 1775

( Give me Liberty... )

So, this is 40.

(looks around) Hm. Nothing seems to have changed that much.

I think the reason I'm not making a big deal about this birthday is that my thirties were occupied with cancer. Fighting it, surviving it, dealing with all the fallout from my illness. It impacted every aspect of my life, financial, social, physical, mental. I spent much of the last decade off-balance, reacting to the crisis de jour.

Despite that, I managed to start writing, become a huge baseball fanatic, and take many positive steps in my life.

So, what are my plans for the Fabulous Forties? Well, before I'm fifty I'm going to write a novel and have it published. I will own a motorcycle. I will get my Class A driver's license.

I think those are three good goals. Oh, and I will see the bloody San Francisco Giants win a World Series.

Hippo birdies!

figmo and Amanda, who cannot be 18!

Birthdays=Food.

Last night we got together with my sister Ann, her family, and my mom at Chili's to celebrate the 40th/35th birthdays. Much good food, and Kylie the Wonder Baby stole the scene (and came close to stealing the waitress' order pad.) Mom gave me a nice pair of cammo cargo shorts and a new t-shirt.

This morning, we went up for breakfast at IHOP with the other 7/4 kid in this gang, the UCLA-bound Amanda. Met up with murphymom, n_1_n, Stefan and Ron. Lot's of fun, although my food was pretty cold by the time it got out. When you're having biscuits and gravy, cool is bad. The flavor was alright, we'll just have to go back when its not a major holiday.

Amanda's really looking forward to school, and is going for a pre-med track. I think everyone at the table who was over 19 was really envious of her. Ah, to be 18 again and just heading out on your own again...

Kiri wanted to go see the fireworks from a BBQ place, but I'm tired and frankly can't eat what they make there. BBQ is great, but it needs molars.

The tub finally drained after several applications of Drano Gel. So at least I don't need to worry about that any more. That's part of the reason I'm so tired - I was stressing over that for most of the the past two days. The process of scooping water out of the tub and pouring it down the sink was laborious and awkward. Now we just need the plumber to come back and reattach everything. We're getting all new taps, and he said he was bringing a better tool to clear the drain of all obstructions. Luckily, I'll be at work for this evolution.

Thanks to isomeme for the gift card. I'm dithering over several choices right now in another window.

Doing some laundry right now, and I need to make sure that everything is set up for tomorrow morning. It is after all, my first day of riding to work.

Kirsten and I are thinking about going out to a VW dealership and seeing what they can do for us about a new Rabbit.

OK, who said it?

The following are quotes from a WWII leader. Who said these things?

"Sweat saves blood, blood saves lives, and brains saves both."

"Mortal danger is an effective antidote for fixed ideas."

"The best form of welfare for the troops is first-rate training."

"Don't fight a battle if you don't gain anything by winning."

"In a man-to-man fight, the winner is he who has one more round in his magazine."

"Courage which goes against military expediency is stupidity, or, if it is insisted upon by a commander, irresponsibility."

"In the absence of orders, find something and kill it."

Referring to Italians: "Good troops, bad officers. But remember that without them we wouldn't have civilization."