It is pretty crazy that it is already May 2010 and so much has changed over the past two years. Life can definitely throw curveballs and be exciting can’t it?

Since December I’ve been busy skiing, sledding, kayaking, climbing, caving, hashing, hiking, driving, riding, walking, packing, unpacking, working and playing.

In January I went to Kartchner Caverns, skiing at Sunrise, went to see George Winston in concert pretty much just took it easy as the new year started.

In February the parents visited for a while, I got a speeding ticket (WHAT?!) and don’t understand that because I always drive so slowly. Oh well. Converted my old Trek mountain bike to a hybrid road bike and did some skiing.

March was a month filled with fun. I went to see the Moscow State Radio Symphony which was really wonderful, went to driving school (SUPER FUN!) and moved into a new home. Mooch got his first summer haircut at the end of March and he looks great! Mary at Petsmart always does such a great job cutting his fur.

April has been a month of unpacking, helping others move (tons of people moving!), hashing and getting settled into the new Kleinpad. The dogs like the yard and I really enjoy having grass again even though it’s not the most eco-friendly here in Arizona. I went to the Tucson Rocky Point Hash in Mexico and had a great time with the hashers, and even had some time to myself. My roomies and I went kayaking in the ocean and met up with dozens and dozens of dolphins which was one of my best experiences!

Into May I went! The first week I planted two trees for the backyard which will provide years of shade and a great place for birds to rest, nest and sing as loudly as they’d like. I’m sure Isabella will love chasing them.

The best surprise happened for my 40th birthday. Yes, hard to believe this youthful looking guy is already 40! Ha, oh well. Nice thing about the past two years is that I have completely changed my life and became a much more healthy person. Forty pounds less than I was (36 waist back down to a 32) in the summer of 2008 and feeling really great. I hope the next forty years are like the last two for health and even happier for happy.

Anyway…So my eldest brother Jeff calls to ask if he can stay with me for a week since he’ll be here for a conference and my new home is close to downtown. Made sense to me and it was a week before my birthday so I didn’t really think much about it. So Friday comes around and there’s the expected knock on my door and there is Jeff! Great to see Jeff since we rarely get to spend quality brother time together. As I am showing Jeff the guest washroom, bedroom, etc. there is a ring on the doorbell. I say, “Who could that be?” not knowing who was at the door and when I opened it my entire family (minus two nephews, a brother and sister-in-law) was standing there yelling surprise!!!!  I should have known they would do something like this, but since it was a week early I figured the surprise 40th birthday we do for us kids is something that wasn’t going to happen for me. Well, it was! I was (and am) so happy and surprised that everyone was here. What a perfect present! We spent the night talking and eating some take-out pizza and then had a great birthday party for me at my Aunt Jane’s home with the rest of the Arizona family.

On Mother’s Day we all got together at the Airport Marriott (where Jerrod & family was staying) for a great Sunday / Mother’s Day brunch. It was such a wonderful weekend and so nice to see everyone.

On my actual birthday weekend I was driving to Las Vegas for a work conference. I had a very nice dinner that evening and on the third day of the conference I got a 1.5 hour massage at the Luxor Spa which was very good. All in all my birthday was quite nice. I had family time, friends time and alone time to think about the past forty years and what I have accomplished. Not as much as some, but more than many.

The past week has been extremely busy at work and I’ve taken Mooch to the dog park for our weekly visit, played and walked with Isabella, hiked, run and ridden this Memorial Day weekend with good friends. What more could I ask for?

Well, onto July and more fun! Hope you are all having a great year so far.