Tag: Getting Old

Birthday List – 2018

/ Matt Talley / Leave a comment

My birthday is almost here. The big 45.  If I am super lucky and healthy, this is the MAXIMUM point in life that I can be before I am Middle Aged.  Seriously, if I live to be 90, I am just a few days from being 1/2 way there.

Like most years, I will be taking the day off from work, the next day as well and enjoying doing stuff that makes me happy! A haircut, brunch, an afternoon movie, steak dinner with my wife, cookies, etc… Below is a short birthday wish list in no specific order.

The #1 want for my 45th year on this green and blue rock: For the Adults in the room to take the reins of the American Political System

Things that would also be nice:
Heifer International: Bees (I really like to give the gift of bees) Goats, Chickens, Llama, or the whole Ark…
A little cash to Doctors Without Borders/MSF
Go give blood and send me a post card
Filson Overalls
A bottle of good American Whiskey
An Amazon Gift Card
Book: Campaign Furniture by Chris Schwartz
New Propane Forge
Rounding hammer
1000 followers on YouTube
A gift card to Hardwick’s Hardware in Seattle
Genetic genealogy testing from 23&Me
Starbucks Gift Card
A card from each of my kids
New brown DocMartin Wingtipe – UK 8.5:  these or these or these
The 1-day or 2-day Rally School Course at Dirt Fish
Mavic 2 Zoom Drone
Amber 2ga. Plugs (bonus points if they have insect inclusions!!)
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey
A nice bottle of Porto

Knee Surgery

/ Matt Talley / 1 Comment

I swear to God, I am falling apart!  Being over 40 is NOT for Pussies.  I tweaked my knee on the last day of snowboard season this year – a season where I took it REALLY easy because of my hip reconstruction surgery last year.  Well, the knee kept bugging me and I finally went in early this summer to the same orthopedic surgeon who did my hip for a check out.  After a few x-rays and an MRI, it looked like I had a small meniscus tear that he could fix in a few minutes and 2 arthroscopic poke holes.  I waited until after The Ruminator’s summer visit last month and went in for a quick “procedure.”  That is where reality deviated from my plan…  After getting into my knee, the doctor found a second tear: 90+% full thickness and a ligament issue.  Two hours later I am out of surgery with a full meniscus repair, lots of stitches, a knee brace for like 6+ weeks, two weeks of bed rest, and months of physical therapy in my future.

Stamps With Foot is not happy.  I have been banned from snowboarding, skateboarding, parachuting, jumping on or off anything at all, no powered paragliding, or “any other stupid boy shit you decide to do” unless I have express Doctor’s permission and clearance.

I HATE the post-op pain killers.  They make me loopy and make it so I cannot poop.  You don’t know how important that is until you cant do it for like 5 days.  Seriously!  Have decided to take it easy, follow my recovery plan exactly, and I may heed my wife in all of her wishes this time as I am tired of bed rest and hydrocodone and could do with out either for a few more decades!


Video Update:

Birthday #44… F*ck I am getting old!

/ Matt Talley / Leave a comment

My birthday is almost here. I will be taking the day off from work, the next day as well and enjoying doing stuff that makes me happy! A strait razor shave, brunch, an afternoon movie, steak dinner with my wife, cookies, etc… Below is a short birthday wish list in no specific order. Just putting it out there:

Peace on the Korean Peninsula
For the Adults in the room to take the reins of the American Political System
Heifer International: Bees (I really like to give the gift of bees) Goats, Chickens, Llama, or the whole Ark…
A little cash to Doctors Without Borders/MSF
Go give blood and send me a post card
Money for Diabetes Research
Some time in a Tattoo Artist’s chair
An Amazon Gift Card
Book: Campaign Furniture by Chris Schwartz
Book: Bees of the World by Mitchner
A gift card to Hardwick’s Hardware in Seattle
Genetic genealogy testing from 23&Me
Starbucks Gift Card
Coupon for The Art of Shaving
A card from each of my kids
Sign up for the 2-Day Rally School Course
An Ash Pack Basket (Sling-style harness)
Amber 2ga. Plugs (bonus points if they have insect inclusions)
A fine Anejo Tequila
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey
Porto (Cálem Vintage, Ramos Pinto, or a Taylor’s)

Hip Rehab Milestone

/ Matt Talley / Leave a comment

Today was a big day for me:  I got rid of the crutches and started using a cane.  My grandfather’s cane to be exact.  Also, I drove to work.  The first time in 6 weeks that I have been behind the wheel.  It tasted like freedom.  I was temped to play hooky from work, call in sick, and drive to Montana or Alaska or Mexico…

What I want Thursday – Birthday Addition 2014

/ Matt Talley / 1 Comment

In about 3 weeks I will celebrate the 13th anniversary of my 29th birthday and the current plan is to spend the weekend in Porto, Portugal.  While there, I want cake (moist yellow cake with chocolate butter-cream frosting), snuggling, a nice glass or 6 of Port, laughter, and a few well thought out gifts. I will NOT work that day – just not going to happen – and I plan to pamper myself with a haircut and a strait-razor shave if it can be found. I might buy some new wingtips, just ’cause they make me happy. Cookies will be eaten and beef will be consumed in quantity.   

Below is my birthday wish list – mostly for my wife and children, but feel free to peruse and suggest.

I already have a bunch of crap, so my first request is that you give to a worthy cause.

Heifer International: Bees, Goats, Chickens, Llama, the whole Ark… 🙂
Doctors Without Borders/MSF
Diabetes Research

If you DO want to get me a little token of your love and appreciation:

Books:

Anything from my Amazon wish list
A signed hardbound copy of Campaign Furniture 
Theodore Roosevelt: a Strenous Life
I would like a signed copy of Chris Schwartz’s The Anarchist’s Tool Chest
Founding Foodies
A volume on handplanes or a tome on traditional woodworking
Twilight at Monticello
A Lost Art Press volume of The Essential Woodworker
James Krenov’s Cabinet Maker’s Notebook
Two Classic books on Shaker Furniture: here and here.

Stuff:
Don Julio Anejo Tequila
F3 Architect’s Wallet
Porsche Design TecFlex Fountain Pen (F Nib)
New bad-ass cufflinks or these or these…
A Global Chef’s knife, bread knife, and ceramic sharpener
Classic Cartoon DVDs (Bugs, Tom&Jerry, Loony Toons, Road Runner, etc…)
Stainless Omega Seamaster 007 or Planet Ocean with inscription
A fantastic sport coat

Tools:
A pair of 1/2 round molding planes
A Pair of Snipe Bill molding planes
A set of Mortise Chisels

Update:

In addition to a fine long weekend in Porto, my wife gave me a cute desert cookbook, awesome mustache cuff-links, and a watch that I have been asking for. My Father-in-law sent me the funds to buy a nice bottle of port. My Mom hooked me up with an apron for BBQing and the thoughtful gift of Heifer bees. Bottles of good wine and great beer from friends here in France and I got cards and online wishes galore. It all made me very happy. Thank you everyone very, very much!

What I Want Thursday – 40th Birthday Edition

/ Matt Talley / Leave a comment

I am a big ol’ baby about my birthday. I want cake (moist yellow cake with chocolate butter-cream frosting) and laughter and a few presents. I do NOT work or go to school, I pamper myself with a haircut and a strait-razor shave. I might buy some new shoes. Cookies will be eaten. Steak or BBQ will be consumed with a proper German wheat beer and there will be cuddling later. As this year will be the 40th anniversary of my birth – I plan on it being a good one and I am going to pack some great stuff into the 24 hours a year that is officially mine.   Below is my birthday wish list – mostly for my wife, but feel free to paruse and suggest.

Books:

I would like a signed copy of Chris Schwartz’s The Anarchist’s Tool Chest
A volume on handplanes and a tome on traditional woodworking
A Lost Art Press volume of The Essential Woodworker
James Krenov’s Cabinet Maker’s Notebook
Two Classic books on Shaker Furnature: here and here.

Stuff:

I NEED a proper shaving mug
A pair of 30X700 CycloCross tires
Classic Trident Mariners 3/4 sleeve jersey – Only sold at the Marniers team store (Stadium or SouthCenter)
Large classic Adirondack pack basket – 18-22″ tall – lea ther straps preferred, but I will take cotton
I would like a heavy-weight safety razor
A badger hair brush
New bad-ass cufflinks
A Global Chef’s knife, bread kinfe, and ceramic sharpener
Classic Cartoon DVDs (Bugs, Tom&Jerry, Loony Toons, Road Runner, etc…)

Tools:

Hardwick’s Hardware gift certificate.
A set of Mortise Chisels
Woodcraft gift certificate.

The Truth of Lavatory Lighting

/ Matt Talley / 1 Comment

I fly a lot. A lot lot. As I move above our earth in a metal cylinder I will occasionally have to visit one of the lavatories. I try to limit these visits since one of my worst travel memories involves me being curled into the fetal position on the pee soaked floor of a transcontinental flight, running a 102 degree fever and puking uncontrollably for over an hour – I am sure you understand my aversion… Anyway, the one thing that I have noticed on my occasional trips to the airplane potty is that the lighting over the mirrors in them is some of the most honest lighting I experience. It shows any blemish, scruff, tired eyes and all the road miles of life.

I am in the middle of of a particularly hectic three month long road-warrior-fest that involves over 70K miles of travel, 4 transcontinental flights, plans for a move to France, late night emergency aircraft repair calls, drama at my J-O-B, my daughter’s high school graduation, 5 countries, crappy food, sleepless nights, a bed bug incident, canceled/delayed flights, lost & pilfered luggage (who takes one shoe?!), a busted iPhone, and lots of jet lag.

On a flight from Seattle to Atlanta I took a long truthful look in the mirror as I washed my hands and I almost didn’t recognize myself: I was puffy, had sad tired eyes with dark circles, I was mortuary pale, and had deep creases on my forehead and eyes, and what were hints of laugh lines have now turned into deep canyons.

I whipped out the iPhone and snapped a couple of shots. Whether I like it or not, this is me today, a breath from 40. The truth of airplane lavatory lighting…

Back when my daughter wore ribbons in her hair.

/ Matt Talley / 1 Comment

My daughter, LOL, recently turned 18. Eighteen should a magic birthday and I am sure it is for her. For me though it is a milestone in her life (and my own) that is fraught with a goulash of emotions. She will graduate from high school this year – very proud of her, is looking into colleges, before long will find a career, a mate, buy a house, procreate… In addition to the elation of seeing my child flower into an adult, all of the changes make me feel very old all of a sudden. She should still be in pretty little dresses, running around in the grass with matching ribbons in her pig tails. Her days should be filled with snacks, naps and cartoons and I should be skinny and have all my hair. Where has all the time gone?