It’s what one former roommate called the double nickels. How fitting, it’s the partially the title of the only Minutemen album I know! Double Nickels on the Dime.
Today was pretty good and mellow. As money has been tight due to the IRS and recent cat funerals aren’t cheap. Don’t feel sad nor worried. It’s better to have the means to get by on these recent adversities than how nightmarish it was in the past!
So what happened to celebrate. I got all the free stuff (or discounted) I enjoy scoring at the Eightbucks and Pluckers. Having a nice lunch with Anje, Wyatt and Cannon was awesome! I will be running into them again one more time before they return to the Netherlands and Qatar; Anje promised to be a guest on my newly rebranded interview podcast Guests of the Maggi. I’m just kicking myself for not thinking of this sooner! Jennifer gave me a really funny card. We hit Pinballz with my friend/producer Kathy who spoiled me with all these cool Body Shoppe stuff…or she’s telling me I smell horrible! I also had enough E-points to score a LEGO set to cannibalize for my ongoing Star Wars project. Speaking of which, the boys told me they’ve taken good care of the 727th Jump Brigade. Phew! I told them I only wanted it back temporarily for more photos and to make sure its intact to return when one of them becomes an adult.
The mailbox didn’t disappoint neither. Christina, my friend of 30 years now, mailed me the means to have a lunch/dinner on her. It would be even better if she were present as we both miss our times at the Penguin Cafe in Peoria, IL. I really hope the restaurant remains. I can’t say the same for Dynamic Graphics which is a pisser.
What else? It was just a pretty damned cool day. I’ll reflect later but I do want to bring up this as per my sensei Lester. He mentioned how life expectancy has improved by not just nutrition and medicine, attitude matters. There’s the annoying cliché…50 is the new 30. It does have a kernel of truth. When our ancestors were working themselves nearly to death, since agriculture employed the majority (it was this or massive starvation), they looked like crap by 55. I’d be a grandpa and if I lived another decade or longer, a great grandpa! Or maybe it’s just my ego keeping me in denial about my age. Nah.
It was a wonderful birthday. I have Jennifer in my life. I have wonderful friends living on three continents. I’m loved by some sweet cats. Work has turned a corner thanks to the a positive regime change and I will be learning some new stuff I’ve been itching to figure out for years! Not every birthday has to be a big deal like 20 years ago in Las Vegas. This one was more on par with another favorite weekend in 1995, the Summer Austin had finally come to fruition. Oh yeah, it was on a Saturday then too.
Next up? Taking advantage of all the Senior Citizen discounts I’m allowed. Fear not my fellow Gen Xers and Mill/Gen Z allies. I will not use my age for evil, aka at your expense. I am not a fan of mortgaging our mutual future for short-term gain.
Thank you all! I love you all. Especially in your part of making me a better person.
Glad it was a good birthday!!!