Birthday #40

 

It was a day like any other, except it was my birthday, and I reached the beginning of my fourth decade on this glorious ball of dirt. I dreaded this birthday like I dreaded my 25th, my 30th, my 35th, and my 39th. However, there was a certain amount of resignation from the whole deal.

I've been shown over the past year how fleeting life can be, so I've kinda thrown my hands up. No, I'm not giving up on life, I've just given up on buggin' out over the inevitable.

Does that mean I'm happier about the passage of time? Getthefuckouttahere. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to be alive, more so than I have been in the past three years. But, if you think I greeted this day with open fuckin' arms, you're dead wrong. No, I wasn't a knuckle-dragging sad sack. Just quiet, y'know? Reserved. I just let it happen to me. And it was fine.

I talked to my man Chris Pointon last Friday (we were doing our Draw Mob thing) about the turning 40 thing, and he talked about how he got through it by not looking at his life as a list of accomplishments, but a series of experiences. That worked for me. I've done some cool shit and seen some cool shit.

I hope there's more cool shit to come. God-willin', I'll be around to see it.

Birthday #38

I've been 38 for over a week now. Feels all right, so far. Right now, I'm writing this blog post, listening to an interview with Laurie Rosenwald, and getting ready to draw some stuff for the Manitoban. There are a lot of things I wish were better in my life, but I can't complain about how things are at this very moment.

Dante: Birthday #2

Two years ago, Dante came into our lives, and he turned everything upside-down.
I wouldn't change a thing.
Happy birthday, you beautiful little guy.

Birthday #37

Above: Gifts from wifey. Below: Epic hangoutz.

I've proven over and over again that I'm just not much of a birthday guy. Passage of time, regrets, a year closer to the grave, yaddayaddayadda. With that said, I like to think I'm getting better at the whole thing. I decided to spend the evening of my birthday with friends, which is something my wife has been after me to do for ages.

So, I did! My homies Jeope and Chris joined me at Kawaii Crepe for all sorts of geeky chat, which was a reprise of out last get-together. No complaints here!

And yes, I do own that (empty) jar of Nutella now.

P.S.: Public shout-out to Chris for the cool comics and tchotchkes! Thanx!

One Year Old!

Dante and his pirate self (which was used in his birthday party invite).

My lil' man turned one today! After all this time, I'm still in disbelief that he's here. We had his birthday celebration the week before, because Sarah had to return to work today (BOOOO!). Many thanks to everyone that showed up that day. It was truly special.
For a chronological look at the dude, look here and here.

Birthday #36

Me, at Hu's Asian Bistro - January 8th, 2011.

If I've learned anything from the previous birthday, it's that your born day is best spent away from work. That may be an incriminating statement, but I'd be saying that if I were the head sleeper at the mattress factory that resides in my brain.
Can't say that I'm in the best frame of mind right now (really, when am I ever?), but I do have to keep in mind that I've got it pretty damn good.

1.11.11. Here's to me, I guess. (Raises a can of Pepsi Max)

Birthday #34

Me and my new Dakota hoodie (thanks, Mumzy!).

I'm not much of a birthday dude. For me, they serve to mark how far I have to go, and how much I've fucked up, and my impending mortality. Yeah, leave it to me to be positive.
However, I'm fully aware that I'm blessed, and you can't tell me otherwise:

• I've married my best friend, a woman that truly changed my life for the better.
• My mom rules, even when we don't see eye-to-eye, which is rarer nowadays.
• I was born and raised in Winnipeg, that perennial underdog of Canadian cities. There are times when this place drives me crazy*, but I can't think of a more nurturing environment be from. Anytime I think of leaving (there have been many), it's the little things about Peg Gritty that draw me back.
• Speaking of Winnipeg, thanks to this place, I know what community is all about. Just by stepping outside, I'm bound to run into rappers, members of killer rock n' roll combos, painters, film buffs, writers...all of whom I'm connected to not because of the possibilities of personal upward mobility, but because we just want to make cool shit and a little bit of sense in this crazy-ass world. And we genuinely like and /or love each other. And we're sexy. Because of the cold-ass winters.
• Through gigposters.com, I've been taught things that college couldn't. The site has given me the eyes and ears of the most talented people on the planet, which has pushed me to be a better illustrator and designer. And in the case of certain assholes that have hung out there, past and present, I'm also a better human being. Eternal props to you, Clay, for giving a place to hang out and learn something.

So yeah, even though it doesn't always sound like it, I'm thankful to be alive. Thanks to you.

* To see what I mean, y'gotta visit Winnipeg: Love and Hate, run by Bryan Scott. Unflinching admiration/condemnation for the place I call home via breathtaking photography.