What does 40 look like?

I've been waiting for inspiration to strike. I figured at some point, some mood would strike me and I would be able to say something profound about this day I turned 40. But the truth is I've kinda been looking forward to it. I don't know how many people have said to me today, "you know that 40 is the new 30?"

I've had two responses to this: I hope this version of 30 is better than the last version of 30, is the first. The second simply says: Good. I think I deserve to live my 30s over again. 

On my 30th birthday I was 7 months pregnant with my first child and it was so friggen hot out I was wearing shorts -- obviously this has been a very different weather year -- and my (now ex) husband threw me a "sorta" surprise birthday party. Sorta surprise because he cleaned the house, on his own, with no prompting. Sorta surprise because there was no ruse about taking me out somewhere and coming home to a houseful of people. People just started showing up and I didn't know they were invited. 

I, of course, couldn't drink that night, which was OK by me because I didn't drink much back then anyhow. 

That moment, by the way, is on the list of "very nice things" my ex did for me while we were married. That was in the first 2 years of our marriage. 

Anyways, I no longer want to talk about my 30s. They are done.. and rightly so. I'm happy. 

I woke up to a child-free house and marked papers because even though it is my birthday, work has not disappeared and I'm in a bit of a time crunch that doesn't stop for birthdays. I did however avoid more than one email from students who failed my research course. 

Speaking of work, this blog has been silent for a month or two because I've been consumed by THIS. 

And if you actually bothered to click on that link, NO SILLY, I haven't been consumed by volleyball player's butt cleavage, I've been consumed by the Women's course I've been teaching since January. It forced me to put a little redirect on my emotional and creative energy. 

And, I'm not entirely telling the truth there but [butt] close enough. 

I rode my bike today, of course. I rode it especially to get to my workplace and get bought lunch by this awesome man. Today, FINALLY, he gave me a hard time about writing that blog entry. I've been waiting. Took him long enough. ....  I sat around my work place caffeteria in the mountain bike pants I won after coming in 2nd 40 year old woman at Cross Provincials (the first moment where I had to admit outwardly I was going to be 40) -- those pants are, admittedly, tighter on me than they were the day I won them -- and my latest addition to my jersey collection from the Twin Six family. And silver shoes because that's what I had under my desk. And I looked like a sporto geek who landed in Oz but, somehow, I am OK with that.

Then I rode home and madly rushed to pick up the kids from school and head to the bike store to pick up Kermit who was at the Alter Ego Spa for some pampering and got a hug from my favourite bike shop boy even though he was all greasy. I was OK with this too. It's busy season in the bike stores folks.... I suspect --  actually I know -- he's drinking tonight. And deservedly so. 

Then it was off to be a Mom. I showed my kids how to use the Apple TV. I think it took my 9 year old daughter about half the time it took me to get the hang of it. They searched Kung Zhu You Tube vidoes and played Dynamite over and over again while the boy demonstrated his breakdance moves.  I absolved my children of homework although I would not allow my daughter to skip swimming. While she swam I took the boy to the U of M Faculty of Nursing; Shoppers Drug Mart, where I discovered that condom packaging has changed DRASTICALLY in the last couple years (and NO, unfortunately, I was not purchasing, but I did have to stand and stare longingly for a while); and Tim Horton's for hot chocolate as, for better or for worse, I stopped drinking coffee two weeks ago. I'm still not sure how I feel about that. 

In the meantime, I got one unexpected email, one even more unexpected text message, and about 35 or so "Happy Birthday's" on facebook: the land of my imaginary friends. 

Then I met my parents at Mona Lisa Restaurante on Corydon where I drank both white and red (sacrilege, I know) and spent most of the evening listening to a 14 year old punk band playing in the party room. And I don't mean the band has been around for 14 years, I mean the players were 14 years old. And they were damn good. 

So it has been a good day and the week's not over. I have 5 papers and 33 presentations to mark. There is more wine, more bikes and a big ass ride on Friday, distance yet to be decided -- maybe 150 if I am feeling stupid. I missed Bruxelles, the gravel road race from hell. It was on the agenda but it was also my last weekend with my kids for a couple of weeks so, I chose them. 

Then on Saturday I get on a plane and fly to Los Angeles. I will explore the Malibu area for a couple days with Jenn and then on Monday we get on our bikes and ride for 5 days straight looking a views like this: 

Life does not get much better than this.