Tick, tock, goes the clock…

I didn’t turn forty-eight until today, but I’ve been thinking of myself as that age for most of this year. As my birthday approached, I began dwelling on the number fifty. It loomed on the horizon, its grey, loathsome bulk blotting out the sun.

Maybe it was a defense mechanism, maybe a moment of clarity, but I then began to consider that perhaps turning fifty in the not-too-distant future won’t be such a horrible thing. After all, Vicky will be fifty this December, and she’s looking good.

So maybe it will be acceptable to be in my fifties come 2014. At least until I spot the even larger, more abhorrent mass of the sixties in the not-far-enough distance.

Jerry Van Dyke, my bête noire, turns 81 today. Curse his unfunny hide.

Dave General Jerry Van Dyke, one year closer to death

And here we go again. Another year down.

Jerry Van Dyke continues his attempt to outlive me; he turns 80 today. Tenacious bastard, that Van Dyke.

The last couple of times I went in for a doctor’s appointment, my blood pressure has been elevated. I don’t know that it’s serious cause for concern just yet, but it’s a reminder that it’s all downhill from here.

Ironically, I’ve had less to raise my blood pressure lately. While my job will always generate a certain amount of anxiety, crisis mode seems to be on hold for now. And I’ve been enjoying my new stint as producer of Illinois Gardener–relaunched last Thursday as Mid-American Gardener–much more than I anticipated.

I’m getting back into weekly boardgaming, and even resurrecting my Dungeons & Dragons campaign. I’m especially excited about the latter, as it’s an opportunity to use all of those maps and miniatures I’ve been stockpiling. All in all, life is beginning to feel a little less lonely than it had a few months ago.

I’ll be spending my birthday in Indianapolis shopping at the Lego store, eating at the Old Spaghetti Factory and enjoying a free downtown hotel stay courtesy of the Marriott Rewards program. Really, it all sounds pretty nice.

Dave General Jerry Van Dyke, one year closer to death

It’s another milestone birthday for me today. Forty-five is clearly too old. Please, I’d like to stop now. (Aging, that is.)

Let’s see how I stand up against other notable people born on July 27. Well, I’m doing better than E. Gary Gygax, co-designer of Dungeons & Dragons, who died last year at age 69. Also actor Keenan Wynn, frequent Disney bad guy, who died in 1986 at age 70. And I’m way ahead of Alexandre Dumas (not the Three Musketeers one, but the other one), who died 113 years ago and is almost certainly not looking good.

On the other hand, Jerry Van Dyke–one of several celebs born in nearby Danville, Illinois–is still ticking at age 78. However, he will always have to live with the knowledge that of the Van Dyke brothers, he is the one that sucks.

Other celebrity birthdays: TV producer Norman Lear is 87. Figure skater Peggy Fleming is 61, and is still hot. British actor Simon Jones–who played Arthur Dent in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy–is 59, and is still a hoopy frood. Yahoo Serious is 56, and is, unfortunately, still Yahoo Serious.

On the other side of 45 are Maya Rudolph (37) and A-Rod (34). Also, according to Wikipedia, today is the 31st birthday of Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Cork Hurler. Apparently, that means he participates in the sport of Hurling and is from Cork, not that he is some manner of angry wine aficionado. Finally, turning 14 today is Princess Mafalda-Cecilia Preslavska of Bulgaria. Happy birthday, M.C.!

I plan to spend the day lying like a grotesque hump of flesh in my basement papasan chair, watching some favorite flicks. Go, Speed Racer, go!

Dave General Jerry Van Dyke, one year closer to death, Princess Mafalda-Cecilia Preslavska of Bulgaria

Today I turned forty-four, which is least fifteen too many. Despite that, it’s been a good day. We borrowed our niece and nephew for the weekend, and have spent much of the time down in the basement with the Wii.

Right now, Vic and Kelly (the niece) are in the other room playing Wii Sports Baseball. One of the things I love about the game is the way it randomly fills out the team rosters with whatever Miis happen to be stored on the system. So it is that the players include our friends Dave L., Rob, Chris and Christine, plus such luminaries as Mr. T, Weird Al, Mr. Spock, Einstein and Adolf Hitler. In my just-completed match against David (the nephew), Adolf knocked one of the park. That’s Hitler for you!

My birthday turned out to have an unintentional Lego Indiana Jones theme, in that Vic bought me both the Wii video game and one of the building sets: the temple from the first few minutes of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Cool!

And there were brownies. Yay!

Dave General happy happy joy joy, Indiana Jones, Lego, one year closer to death, Wii