FuglyStick

...which means I have the experience of 40 years of gaffs, missteps, and faux pas at my disposal to share.

Take advantage of this opportunity to ask a jackass a question, and escape the fate of boneheads when they reach middle age.

__________________
AZIZ! LIGHT!

Cynthetiq

happy birthday. does it feel different?

__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

lostgirl

Happy Birthday!

Does it hurt?

__________________
We're about to go through the crucible, but we'll come out the other side.
We always arise from our own ashes. Everything returns later in its changed form. - Children of Dune

FuglyStick

Nope. I didn't get up today with a sense of dread or anything--it's not like I didn't see it coming. But I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a prominent milestone--this is, officially, middle age.

---------- Post added at 08:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:24 PM ----------

TY.

The slight aches and pains have been slowly creeping in, but not bad. Just enough to remind me that I'm not 20 anymore.

__________________
AZIZ! LIGHT!

grumpyolddude

Happy day, young fella! I can recall some of being 40, but not all. Must not have been important, eh?

So, have you done anything with your 40 years worth doing again?

__________________
"Regret can be a harder pill to swallow than failure .With failure you at least know you gave it a chance..." David Howard

Kingruv

Congratulations Fugly,

A lot of people in a lot of places never made it this far, period

Many more won't make it behind you.

If you look through history it's been people over 40 that have made the big differences. (both good and bad)

Now get out there, live big and make the difference. Happy Birthday

FuglyStick

Not really. The past, both the good and the bad, is a good reference, but has less to do with your life than the future. The past gets you to the present; how you anticipate the future is what determines how you approach the present. Like the saying goes, "every day is the first day of the rest of your life."

---------- Post added at 09:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:09 PM ----------

There's a reason why you have to be at least 35 years old to run for POTUS. No matter how intelligent you are, there are some lessons that can only be learned through time.

---------- Post added at 09:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:13 PM ----------

BTW, this is how facebook congratulated me on my birthday...

Does that look like a "mature single" looking to hook up with a 40 year old man?

__________________
AZIZ! LIGHT!

Baraka_Guru

I'd hit that.

Just do the 40 divided by 2, plus 7.... and you get....

Never mind.

...

Uh...happy birthday.

Looking forward to seeing how this unfolds for you. I'm only 7 years behind you.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

FuglyStick

I just wish I'd known about that little perk, or I'd have turned 40 years ago.

__________________
AZIZ! LIGHT!

Tully Mars

Congrats! Hey in 5 years you'll catch up with me. Wait, that logic doesn't work. I blame age. See what you have to look forward to?

__________________
I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo

Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club

Xerxys

Happy Birthday. Fugky,

Say, at 40, will I ever be mature enough to learn or understand others?

FuglyStick

No, but you will become more secure with your own limitations and understanding, which will make your dealings with others more productive and enlightening.

__________________
AZIZ! LIGHT!

Xerxys

Ohh no. This has happened more than once. Fugly, I swear to GOD that someone is editing my posts and adding in the incorrect spellings.

Thanks for the answer.

little_tippler

I'm a little late here, but as women sometimes say, don't worry honey, 40 is the new 30...

What is the best thing in your life that you have to show for these 40 years?

__________________
Whether we write or speak or do but look
We are ever unapparent. What we are
Cannot be transfused into word or book.
Our soul from us is infinitely far.
However much we give our thoughts the will
To be our soul and gesture it abroad,
Our hearts are incommunicable still.
In what we show ourselves we are ignored.
The abyss from soul to soul cannot be bridged
By any skill of thought or trick of seeming.
Unto our very selves we are abridged
When we would utter to our thought our being.
We are our dreams of ourselves, souls by gleams,
And each to each other dreams of others' dreams.

Fernando Pessoa, 1918

ring

hey decade baby!
me is fifty.

I am so glad you joined the forum.

Every moment is just a drop in time's river ride.

I give you the gift of the present.

FuglyStick

Hard to say. When I was twenty, this is not what I imagined 40 being. There have been ups and downs, but my mistakes have not cost anyone other than myself.

I am a better person than I was when I was twenty, so that's a sign of progress I suppose.

__________________
AZIZ! LIGHT!

Poppinjay

Thanks for reminding me I'm getting close to 41. Whippersnapper.

__________________
I think the Apocalypse is happening all around us. We go on eating desserts and watching TV. I know I do. I wish we were more capable of sustained passion and sustained resistance. We should be screaming and what we do is gossip. -Lydia Millet

newtx

I think 40 is the new 30. All I can say is every year goes by much faster than the year before. Make every moment count. I don't think I would go back to 40. (as if I could) proud member of the old fart club. Happy Birthday to ya and I am wishing you many more.

Iliftrocks

I'm a little late, but welcome to the club

__________________
bill hicks - "I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out."

Charlatan

Happy Birthday... I did 40 last year and it was not nearly as traumatic as I thought it would be. The only weird part is to realize you are getting closer to the end. Time is running out to do all the crazy things you wanted to do. So get to it!

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

pointbock69

I could chime in here, as I will be 40 this year and have REALLY noticed some changes, mindset wise. One of things I have found is that I never really listened to my elders. 10 years ago, I would have said "I don't get them and they don't get me, so I don't really need to listen". Now, I am thinking, holy crap! I better listen up because I don't know an F'n thing unless they tell me what is on the road ahead. So basically, it is the same concept as Fugly, look at your future (elders ARE your future, like it or not!), see what their successes and failures were, then prepare yourself for it!

Plan9

Congrats, Fugly. Did you get any hot-hot birthday surprises?

I'm going to buy myself something ridiculous for my 40th.

...

I found a gray hair today. I'm 40 on the inside.

__________________
Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

pointbock69

Sorry, but further to that reply, here is an example: My Dad took us fishing my whole life, I never backed the damn boat trailer down to the ramp, that was HIS job. But one day my brother said, "Dad, can I try it?" and sure enough, Dad taught him how to do it. Well, I was like screw that, why should I learn, I got people to do it for me. Time goes by and here I am with my own boat and what a mess I am backing that trailer down the ramp! You would think I had never been to the lake before. Sooooo, learn from your elders every chance you get, you will be better for it! (don't wait until they are gone to figure it out...)

mdrky1

Happy birthday...as I have been told, you are as only old as you feel.

Aurakles

Happy birthday. I'm headed that way in six more trips.

__________________
Our truest life is when we are in our dreams awake.

loquitur

FWIW, Fugly, I turned 50 yesterday.
When are you gonna catch up to me?