Turning the Big 4-0

"We don't understand life any better at forty than at twenty, but we know it and admit it." ~ Jules Renard

So it's come and gone...my 40th birthday.

This past Wednesday, I officially hit the big 4-0. I figured I would blog today about something profound that comes with turning 40. I Googled "good things about turning 40" and found a zillion (well, a lot anyway) websites, including one called turning40.net. So if you're approaching a milestone birthday, I guess you can find comfort and humor by turning to the Internet,

But I wanted to think of my own profound statements to make. I thought I might have some kind of wisdom. I thought I might feel differently. But really? I don't, not much. In fact, the only thing I really feel is pretty damn pleased. When I look at my life -- my career, my relationships, my health -- I can't ask for more. I'm satisfied -- really, completely satisfied. This is not to say that there aren't things I still dream of (that six-figure book advance would be nice), but I have to say that every day I wake up happy and healthy and full of energy and surrounded by good friends and excited students and family who love me.

Can't really ask for more than that, can I? 40 is just a number. I figure I've earned my wrinkles, my heartache, and my accomplishments, every one of them. So yeah, I'm gonna celebrate and keep on living just the way I am. Here's to the next 40!

Monday's Mentionables: A Day in NYC!

Spent this past Saturday in New York City as part of an exchange student day trip (which, by the way, I don't ever recommend...NYC in December, that is). While we did luck out on the weather (4o and mild), the crowds were CRAZY, especially in mid-town Manhattan. Having said that, though, we enjoyed some nice sights....AND had a terrific surprise at the end of the day (scroll down to the last pic to see what it was!)

The tree in Rockefeller Center, with all the skaters below


Enjoying the view on South Street Seaport (and a gang of drunken Santas, behind us)


We headed uptown at the end of the evening, to Columbus Circle and the mall there...


Where we went into Borders and found my latest release on the shelves in the romance section!!! I almost fell over in disbelief! No better Christmas present for my writing career :)