It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to.

Happy Birthday. What a presumptuous statement. I don't use this space to throw a pity party very often, but I can't really think of the last time a birthday was everything I wanted it to be. Well, a couple years ago I had a little jam session birthday that was okay, although a lot of the musicians I invited didn't show up, and a few that I didn't want to show up did. (Every singer has pitch issues at times, but there is a difference between pitch issue and pitch institution.)

Maybe I just never quite grew up right, but I'm really wishing I could erase the fact that I even have a birthday. Every year I catch myself wishing it will be a great day. And, for the last few, life has been uncooperative, to say the least.

Now, the fact that I was almost killed in a car accident yesterday is not really my birthday's fault. But it did turn out to be an omen. A woman took a out a telephone pole (!!!!) right in front of me. By the grace of GOD, and Him alone, I got out of the space I occupied just before the telephone pole decided to occupy it. Others were not so lucky. This mess damaged cars in all four lanes. Luckily the only thing destroyed on my car was the antenna. Some scratches and chips that drastically underestimate how bad this could have been. The fact that the aftermath took an hour and a half and I lost out on my bid for the perfect attendance award at work this month only added a spit in the eye to the kick in the groin. But, that was yesterday.

Today, I had a real lousy day at work. Now, for a guy who gets to mess around with guitars all day for a great company, to have a lousy day at work something has to be REAL wrong. Since, in today's America, you are a racist if you even hint at mentioning a country of origin in a negative light, I will just say I don't manufacture the guitars myself, and I took serious issues today with the folks that did. All day. And while after today I can probably add the title "Miracle Worker" to my resume, it wasn't any fun. To add insult to injury, I forgot to take any salad dressing for lunch. I admire people who can enjoy a dry salad. Please, enlighten me.

So, I came home to my family that was going to make it all better. HA! Oh, what a fool believes. I hate drama, and yet I live drama. And, my lovely sister called to wish me a "Happy 40th birthday" (I'm not 40). My cool gift today was this Supercool, Superpricey 13 inch Superman Returns action figure... that I've been making payments on for 2 months. No, wait. I take that back. My wife got me four (4!!!) out of print books by one of my favorite authors, Issac Asimov. That's pretty dang cool. This is one yet one more example of how my wife is an all around better person than me. This was this morning, however, before the drama. Which, of course, I own a good part of. But that doesn't make it any more fun.

So anyway, I spent the last few hours of my birthday alone curled up with some comic books over a fine gourmet meal courtesy of El Caliente, the El Pollo Loco Flame! Which, honestly, was the best part of my day.

Of course tomorrow will be better. I'll have more realistic expectations, for one. It's also a Saturday, which helps. And, I'll probably go wreak untold damage, disfigurement, and destruction on a bucket of balls at the driving range, which also helps. No putting practice, though. I feel bad enough already.

And next year, I'm gonna have a GREAT Birthday!!!!!
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And that's enough for now.

Brian Norwood

Platypi Design