Random thoughts on the greatest day in the history of mankind

This afternoon I skimmed the pool. Then I brushed the pool. It needed to be done - we have recently gotten our pool fence changed so that it runs across the entire back yard instead of stopping and turning into the house, so that made a bit of a mess. Then we had the deck painted and the calcium deposits removed from the tile lining the pool, so that made an even bigger mess. So I skimmed the pool, then I brushed the pool.

Then I got in the pool. Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh! The only saving grace of living in Hell is that the pool is ready in the middle of May. It's not bath water warm yet, but it's very nice. It felt very good, especially as the temperature hit 100 last week and has remained high since then. When I take Mia to school at 9 o'clock in the morning, it's already 90. That shit ain't right. But the pool makes it all better.

Going briefly in the pool was my birthday present to myself. Yes, today is my birthday, which is why it's the greatest day in the history of mankind - or it will be, once I am dictator of the world. Right now it's just a day. I'm 35 today, which means I'm about middle-aged, if you believe my life expectancy is in the low 70s. Give it a year or two and I'll be ready for my full-fledged mid-life crisis. Krys will just have to deal with the nubile girls I'll be bringing home. Isn't that what all men do?

I like to reflect a bit every year on my birthday about what I've been doing, since it's much more appropriate than, say, an arbitrary date like 1 January. This day is my New Year's Day, after all. This past year has been pretty good. Norah was born, Mia started school, and both made progress. Every year I promise I'm going to write more, and this past year I managed to get all my old short stories typed up anew and ready for publication. I have a bunch of literary magazines bookmarked and this summer I'm going to sift through them and send out my stories. Someone has to like one of them, right? Now that that's done, I have slowly begun researching my novel again, which is tough. I'm writing a historical novel that is set in the Balkans and Asia Minor, so I have to study up on the region because I'm largely unfamiliar with it. I have taken a lot of notes but I have a long way to go. I've been setting aside time every day to do it, and we all know that slow and steady wins the race. I may get the book done by the time I'm 40.

It's been about a year since I lasted had a job, and that was only as a substitute teacher. It kills Krys that she is working and not spending more time with the kids, and I would like to work so that she can stay home, but right now it's just not feasible. I'm hoping that in the fall when Mia goes back to school and Norah spends some time in day care that I can go back to working on my teaching certificate, but Arizona's credentials don't transfer easily to other states, so it might be a waste of time. Because we're still looking for a different place to live. Every year about this time I'm reminded again why I hate this place so much.

So I'm a year older. I still feel pretty good, despite gaining about 12 pounds since this time last year. Yes, I suck. Now that Norah is sleeping a little better, I'll have time to swim, which is fun and good exercise. And, of course, as she gets bigger and able to walk, I hope we can play together, which wouldn't hurt me.

Anyway, Happy Birthday to me. I'm still the luckiest guy in the world, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Thanks for reading. I'll try to be more entertaining next time.