and yes I said yes I will Yes.

[collisionwork]

It is the 104th Bloomsday, as such things are counted. For a fine fine superfine look at Joyce's Ulysses and the reasons it is set on June 16, 1904, check in with the foine foine superfoine Ms. O'Malley HEREIN.

It is also my 40th birthday.

If you want to be precise as to time and all, it's about another hour or so as I write this (which is when I will be expecting the yearly call from Mom, who remembers the minute quite well).

Thanks to all who have sent cards and gifts, real and virtual.

I had various plans for today that have not panned out - first, there was to be a party, but that proved too complicated and tiring to deal with immediately post-Ambersons; then I was going to get away from the city for a few days and relax and write for the August shows that need it, but the car is in the shop and by the time it's out, even if it's today, there's no point in going anymore; then B & I thought of having one of our private birthday times together (usually done for her) where we go down to Coney Island and play a lot of Skee-Ball and drink pina coladas and eat at Nathan's and maybe go on a ride or two that scare the hell out of us and we regret immensely, but a look out the window combined with the weather forecast makes this unlikely (and very glad we didn't have the party, too).

Now, I'm thinking of spending the day dealing with the DMV, as my driver's license expires today (one of the reasons I was going to Maine, to renew it there). Unfortunately, I've checked their website and discovered that they apparently absolutely require a piece of ID I haven't seen in years (my Social Security card), so I may be screwed on this. A fine birthday this is.

So, I'm 40. Better, as they say, than the alternative, but still odd. Not the 40 I expected for at least the first three decades of my life, but all good, all fine, OK, OK, really. So, it'll be just another day on earth today - I'll be bored, I'll nap, I'll wait to hear about the car, I'll maybe get some writing done. Maybe we'll have a nicer dinner than usual. Oh, I have a wrapped present sitting around from my in-laws-to-be waiting to be opened, that's right - well, that's a nice birthday-kinda thing to do.

Not exactly a powerhouse day in history for events and birthdays, this one - though Bloomsday ain't too bad and I've always enjoyed that connection (right, I have to read some Joyce today, that's a ritual I never miss). Let's see . . .

I share this birthday with Adam Smith, Geronimo, King Gustav V of Sweden, Stan Laurel, Arthur Pierson, Ona Munson, Murray Leinster, Helen Traubel, Jack Albertson, Ilona Massey, Enoch Powell, Anthony Sharp, Katherine Graham, Irving Penn, Faith Domergue, Bebe Barron, Vilmos Zsigmond, Bill Cobbs, Ondine, Jim Dine, Erich Segal, Joyce Carol Oates, Lamont Dozier, Joan Van Ark, Roberto Duran, Gino Vannelli, Laurie Metcalf, Ian Buchanan, Arnold Vosloo, Adrienne Shelly, Jenny Shimizu, Tupac Shakur, and Tom Lenk - who are all the people I've ever heard of from the various lists I've seen.

Them! was released on this day in 1954, and Psycho in 1960. The Monterey Pop Festival opened on this day in 1967.

In the Catholic Church, it is the feast day of St. Benno, the patron saint of anglers, weavers, and alliteration, St. John Regis, the patron saint of lacemakers, and St. Lutgardis, patron saint of childbirth and the handicapped.

Also on this day: In 1858, Abe Lincoln delivered the "house divided" speech; 1903, the Ford Motor Company was incorporated; in 1933, FDR opened the New Deal program; 1961, Rudolph Nureyev defects; and in 1963, the USSR launched the first woman in space.

Whaddya know, Mom didn't call at 10.45 am (probably thinks I'm sleeping in today, when I haven't been able to sleep past 6.30 am in weeks). Ah, well, back to figuring out what to do with the day . . .

1985-86, 17 years old:

August, 2002, 34 years old:

Same time, with Berit:

2005, 36 years old, with Stacia French:

2006, 38 years old, with Vaclav Havel:

2007, 38-39 years old:

2008, 39 years old:

Wish I had more handy . . .

Well, the car is fixed, and maybe I'll drive up to Maine anyway, just to have something to do . . .

Comments

Happy birthday, and thanks!

[justjohn.livejournal.com]

I was fretting over finding something to post, with nothing I could think of that wasn't nasty or political or both.* But then you provided this!

And so I've relayed your news.

So happy birthday, and welcome to the beginnings of worrying about middle age.


_{* Not that I have anything against that. But I didn't have anything nasty, political and original to say.}

[daveroguesf.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday, Cap'n.

Didn't call

[(Anonymous)]

Beau: I plead guilty at not making the yearly 10:45 am call! And it is not because I am in denial at having a forty year old son. On the contrary, I am amazed and delighted that this day has come.

I love being your mother and I am so very grateful that you can go where your passion takes you. I am also so happy that you found the perfect partner (also known as the "squelched voice").

Happy Birthday, Beau. It has been a wonderful 40 years! LOL, Mom

Re: Didn't call

[justjohn.livejournal.com]

Lady, you got quite a son, there.

I wish I was that good looking at 40!

[mcbrennan.livejournal.com]

Happiest of birthdays to you, Mr. Hill. A Bloomsday baby! I am a mere Valentine's baby, and but a mere eight months or so behind you in the race to 40, and I shudder to consider what my photo essay will look like. I love the list of people who share your birthday...Jack Albertson! Vilmos Zsigmond! Ondine! Adrienne Shelley! Gino Vannelli?! Faith Domergue!? Ian Buchanan!! Wowsa. You're in good (and weird) company, sir.

I am sorry you didn't get to Coney Island...but perhaps not getting to the DMV today is your birthday gift from the universe. Hope you and Berit have a lovely happy day and I hope this year brings you lots of happiness.

[missgyder.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday!

Loved Ambersons, btw. Add me to the list of people who'd love to see it again, in 13 months!

Happy Birthday

[midnightmoth.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

Glad indeed I am that you were born! Be well and enjoy your day!

Timothy

Re: Happy Birthday

[(Anonymous)]

I didn't realize it was a new decade in my earlier message. I never forget your birthday, because it was on my father's favorite day, Bloomsday--the day my parents scheduled their wedding for. Hoopsa, boyaboy, hoopsa! Hoopsa, boyaboy, hoopsa! Hoopsa, boyaboy, hoopsa!

EAE

Happy, happy

[(Anonymous)]

And a happy Bloomsday to you! I was just wondering why I hadn't heard from Berit about Rock Band... Congratulations on the 40th, and on your super-gothy Robert Smith look at age 17!

Re: Happy, happy

[(Anonymous)]

-D McK