Happy 40th Birthday to Matt Welch
And to my high school friend Amy Riley.
And, if you’re so inclined, to me.
If you know anyone else who was also born on July 31, 1968, please wish them a Happy 40th Birthday as well.
Mine could have been better, for reasons we’ll discuss some other time. But it also could have been a lot worse, but for the intervention of a kind soul (someone you know, but who may not wish to be identified) who helped me when I could use the help.
Life is good when you have friends. Right now, I feel like life is very good.
Happy birthday.
You better tell us who it is before Obama steps in and takes the credit.
Vermont Neighbor (31ccb6) — 7/31/2008 @ 12:04 amHappy Bday, Mr. P.
Apogee (366e8b) — 7/31/2008 @ 12:06 amThe big 4-0 can be daunting, but friends lending a hand is the best gift you can get.
Felicitations on the anniversary of the day of your birth!
Beldar (0bd1bc) — 7/31/2008 @ 12:06 amAnd to Matt and Amy, too.
Apogee (366e8b) — 7/31/2008 @ 12:07 amHappy birthday, Pat.
I thought forty was traumatic, but I’m beginning to view fifty with even greater dread.
Here’s hoping you enjoyed a nice bottle of wine with loved ones to ease the pain.
Mike Lief (e6260e) — 7/31/2008 @ 12:31 ami don’t really remember turning 40….. and i don’t want to know when i turn 50.
can we open a few more bottles of wine? %-)
Westside Paso Robles Zin, preferably.
redc1c4 (ae7a64) — 7/31/2008 @ 1:53 amHappy 40th birthday, Pat, Amy and Matt!
Mike Lief,
One’s 50th doesn’t have to be traumatic. I had mine 6 months ago and it was fairly uneventful. Getting the AARP card in the mail was a bit offsetting, I’ll admit. Worse was the sudden realization that society is going to hell in a handbasket because of all those kids what with their slovenly manners and lack of respect for their elders.
Hey!! You brats! GET OFF MY LAWN!!!
Bradley J Fikes (0ea407) — 7/31/2008 @ 2:05 amHAPPY BIRTHDAY
james conrad (b2891a) — 7/31/2008 @ 3:05 amI had to look Beldar’s word up, 69 years old, and I don’t remember ever hearing it. Anyhow, in plain new American English, Have a good one and many more
felicitate[2,transitive verb]
Main Entry: 2felicitate
Hazy (d671ab) — 7/31/2008 @ 3:05 amFunction: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): felicitat·ed; felicitat·ing
Date: 1628
1archaic : to make happy
2 a: to consider happy or fortunate b: to offer congratulations to
— fe·lic·i·ta·tion \-ˌli-sə-ˈtā-shən\ noun
— fe·lic·i·ta·tor \-ˈli-sə-ˌtā-tər\ noun
Have a good one and many more.
Forgot the period.
Hazy (d671ab) — 7/31/2008 @ 3:07 amBest wishes.
love2008 (0c8c2c) — 7/31/2008 @ 3:29 amBut it also could have been a lot worse, but for the intervention of a kind soul (someone you know, but who may not wish to be identified) who helped me when I could use the help.
love2008 (0c8c2c) — 7/31/2008 @ 3:38 amI am taking a guess that this unidentified “someone” would be DRJ. Sounds a lot like her. Tell me I am not correct Patterico. 😉
Happy 40th, and welcome to the dark side.
Xrlq (62cad4) — 7/31/2008 @ 4:00 amOne more question Pat, why didnt you name this thread HAPPY BIRTHDAY PATTERICO? Or are you trying to be modest?
love2008 (1b037c) — 7/31/2008 @ 4:04 amHappy 40th Patterico!
One of my brothers has a birthday today. Sent a card but forgot to make a note to call him too. Thanks for the reminder :P!
no one you know (1ebbb1) — 7/31/2008 @ 4:14 amHappy Birthday, Patterico. So what will it be/is it? Harley, Porsche or skydiving?
nk (c1e92f) — 7/31/2008 @ 4:45 amAs somone who was there 40 years ago when Patrick was born – in the suburbs of Chicago admist the aftermath of the riots of the Democratic National Convention – the nation still reeling from the Bobby Kennedy assasination and protests of Viet Nam on every TV channel – plus it was a hot summer as I remember – it was a time of great joy in our family. We learned quickly that Patrick was unique – he wrote the word “exit” on a toy blackboard at an age that most kids were struggling with basic coordination skills – he was reading from the Chicago Times (that’s right – it’s true) when most kids were still learning basic words in Dr. Seuss books – and he was being terrorized by his 14 year old brother forcing him to watch black & white Universal monster movies while being babysitted. Somehow – despite all this – he turned out to be a pretty good kid – and someone who is truly making a difference both at his work – here on this blog – and in his life. I’m biased – but then again that’s what brother’s do. Happy 40th Birthday, brother.
Brotherico (4090b3) — 7/31/2008 @ 5:23 amWhat are you kids crying about. Life for me after 50 has been great! I’ve taken up hot rodding and will be bracket racing in October if the Democrats haven’t banned it by then.
I’ll also be driving my daughter from Los Angeles to Iowa in 2 weeks.
So you 30 and 40 somethings, take Reggie Bush’s advice, “GET UP AN PLAY ON THIS GLORIOUS DAY!”
PCD (5c49b0) — 7/31/2008 @ 5:38 amHappy birthday! Welcome to the big 4-0.
Today’s is my dad’s birthday.
aunursa (09c81f) — 7/31/2008 @ 5:54 amnk – You do not need to experience a 40th birthday to appreciate the joys of a Harley.
Feliz cumpleanos, or something like that, Patterico.
JD (75f5c3) — 7/31/2008 @ 5:57 amHappy Birthday and best wishes.
I don’t doubt it for a moment. 🙂
Stashiu3 (460dc1) — 7/31/2008 @ 6:01 amBrotherico,
Black and White Universal Monster films are GREAT!, not torture.
I remember hoping to get reception of a Fond Du Lac (WI) UHF station at night to catch those black and white Japanese Monster films.
PCD (5c49b0) — 7/31/2008 @ 6:10 amWe share something…today’s our anniversary. Happy birthday Patrick!
Old Coot (cb828a) — 7/31/2008 @ 6:37 am40? I can’t believe it. Matt must have a portrait in the attic somewhere. But being married to Emmanuelle is a foolproof way to stay young. And now there’s a little one in their lives!
Mazel Tov!
David Ehrenstein (21c975) — 7/31/2008 @ 6:40 amMOTHRA!
Racists
JD (75f5c3) — 7/31/2008 @ 6:44 am*chuckles*
Best. Nick. Ever.
Happy birthday, Patrick. I just had my 30th a week and a bit ago…
So you aren’t THAT old. 🙂
Scott Jacobs (fa5e57) — 7/31/2008 @ 6:49 amHappy birthday, Patterico! I just got an I-Pod, so I feel young, like all the kids. I hope the dark cloud passes, etc.
Matt Welch (038d51) — 7/31/2008 @ 6:55 amHappy Birthday old man. 40 is the new, um, 32, or something like that.
Seriously, buck up. I heard on the radio yesterday that men tend to get happier as they get older. (Women, the man on the radio said, are less likely to get happier).
SoxNation (483101) — 7/31/2008 @ 6:56 amJD,
GAMMRA!
PCD (5c49b0) — 7/31/2008 @ 6:59 amlove2008,
That’s a pretty good guess.
Patterico (056dc7) — 7/31/2008 @ 7:21 amHappy Birthday to Patterico, Matt Welch and all the other July 31st(ers) out there.
laddy (219364) — 7/31/2008 @ 7:26 amHappy birthday Patterico, and others.
G (722480) — 7/31/2008 @ 7:27 amRacists
JD (75f5c3) — 7/31/2008 @ 7:32 amBest wishes and Happy Birthday, Patterico.
Brotherico, what a really fine b-day wish!
Dana (1cc5ab) — 7/31/2008 @ 7:35 amHappy Happy, keep up the good work.
Dr T (69c4b2) — 7/31/2008 @ 7:45 amHarry Potter and J.K. Rowling share this birthday.
Happy Birthday!
Vivian Louise (eeeb3a) — 7/31/2008 @ 7:45 am50 ain’t so bad, Mr. Frey! That is what I tell myself, anyway. You have a great family, some job security, and good friends. What else do ANY of us need?
Eric Blair (6c5b7e) — 7/31/2008 @ 8:09 amHappy Birthday, Pat. And may you enjoy many more.
Stu707 (adbb5a) — 7/31/2008 @ 8:10 amMr. Frey, I loved the post from your brother, remembering your 40th birthday with childhood memories.
What was your favorite schlocky old horror movie? How about “Attack of the Mushroom People”? So bad it’s good! “Attack of the Killer Shrews” is good, too. In a bad way, of course.
Eric Blair (6c5b7e) — 7/31/2008 @ 8:11 amOnly 40! Bah! Whippersnappers!
Remember the old Chinese Proverb: If you want to give someone a gift, avoid anything which requires care, a better gift is to releave them of a burden.
Happy Birthday, and Best Regards.
Ropelight (2af3e2) — 7/31/2008 @ 8:19 amHappy Birthday!
h2u (81b7bd) — 7/31/2008 @ 8:22 amHappy Birthday, fellow Leo!
Patricia (f56a97) — 7/31/2008 @ 8:26 amHappy Birthday, Patrick!
I turned the big 4-0 last September, myself. Been a pretty decent year, so far.
PatHMV (653160) — 7/31/2008 @ 8:28 amClear, incisive, humorous, to the point writing must be a family trait. (Brotherico #17.) HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
Ira (28a423) — 7/31/2008 @ 8:32 amBlack and White Universal Monster films are GREAT!, not torture.
Comment by PCD
I agree 100% – but when you’re 4 years old and you see Bela Lugosi on the screen with the old cinematography trick of lighting the eyes only – and he gestures with his hand and says “Come – here”. Well – it’s pretty traumatic for the 4 year old – but (and I’m ashamed to admit) it’s pretty dang funny to this teenager and his friends at the time.
I’d like to hope that somehow my exposing Patrick to these kinds of films at an early age helped solidfy his love of Alfred Hitchcock and other directots of that time – but I’m probably giving myself more credit than is deserved.
Brotherico (60406d) — 7/31/2008 @ 8:45 amEric, you just had to bring up “attack of the killer shrews” didn’t you. Thanks
Thomas (b5d255) — 7/31/2008 @ 8:50 amHappy birthday, Pat, Amy, and Matt. Forty is the new twenty (by extension from the card I got recently that said that sixty was the new forty!)
htom (412a17) — 7/31/2008 @ 9:12 amSo 20 is the new newborn?
Fascinating. 🙂
Scott Jacobs (fa5e57) — 7/31/2008 @ 9:14 amHappy Birthday Pat…
Another Drew (8018ee) — 7/31/2008 @ 9:18 amNow that you’ve left child-hood, it’s time you decided what you want to do with your life!
Quit screwing around and get down to doing something (LACo DA would be good).
Brotherico,
Like “Forbidden Planet” didn’t inspire kids to explore space and the sciences?
What about “Twilight Zone”? It got people THINKING of what they can do and the possibilities in the world.
Better stop before I get political.
PCD (5c49b0) — 7/31/2008 @ 9:18 amIt’s never been the number for me. It’s when authority figures start having youthful, cherubic faces.
Vermont Neighbor (31ccb6) — 7/31/2008 @ 9:35 amPCD,
Funny you mention Forbidden Planet. Off topic – but bare with me – If I had been asked to write the script of Indiana Jones IV (like that’s gonna happen) – I would have had them find Marion Ravenwood’s father Abner (instead of the dreadful character John Hurt played) hunkered inside the Crystal Kingdom studying a lost alien culture that once visited the planet. And like Proffesor Morbius – weighing the consequences of exposing technology to a civilization – especially the Russians – unprepared. It would have been a great homage to Forbidden Planet and kept the ridiculous aliens at the end out of the picture. There could have even been a modern version of Robby the Robot. But alas – they didn’t ask me and the final result was (arguably) dissapointing.
Brotherico (60406d) — 7/31/2008 @ 9:41 amJD #20,
I had one at age 28. Cherry red Sportster. I sometimes would wonder why I had to twist the throttle an eighth of a turn more to pull away from a stoplight and then find it was because I was in second gear. But I liked my Kawasaki Z-1 best.
But in Patterico’s case, I was implying mid-life crisis.
nk (c1e92f) — 7/31/2008 @ 9:45 amBrotherico, fine analysis. But then C.S. Lewis’ “Out of the Silent Planet” was the inspiration. Leslie Nielson as a serious actor was great—and now it is funny, given how well Nielson does humor.
As for “Attack of the Killer Shrews,” it is worth watching for two great reasons: (1) the killer shrews are dogs with fake fur and teeth, and (ii) the heroes escape from the shrew infested islands by hiding under trashcans and walking to shore!
A fantastic movie for people to watch, seriously, if they like their SF “with a message” but also entertaining (if getting a bit old) is “Five Million Years to Earth” (also called “Quatermass and the Pit” in the UK). Well worth your time.
Eric Blair (2708f4) — 7/31/2008 @ 9:59 amHoly God. A film about Sierra Towers.
Vermont Neighbor (31ccb6) — 7/31/2008 @ 10:03 amBrotherico,
Like they are going to let either one of us near a movie lot, except after we paid admission and we are kept on the tram.
My Daughter graduated Cum Laude from the USC Film School. She showed me some of the student scripts. They were crap. The current and future screenwriters do not have any breadth of personal experience and their worldview is warmed over, 2nd hand socialism from half baked college professors.
There isn’t going to be a new SciFi classic because the powers that be in the studios will prevent it. The best you’ll get is a half baked Star Trek script. (I’m sure the Star Trek producers still hate me for my on radio criticism of the “Scotty Returns” episode of ST:TNG.)
PCD (5c49b0) — 7/31/2008 @ 10:33 amYou shut your hate-hole, PCD…
That was an awesome episode!!!
🙂
Scott Jacobs (fa5e57) — 7/31/2008 @ 10:38 amAnd the episode title was “Relics”…
Just FYI.
Scott Jacobs (fa5e57) — 7/31/2008 @ 10:39 amHAPPY BIRTHDAY PATRICK!!! Your family in Atlanta Loves you! Can’t you just hear your nephew singing “happy birthday, Uncle patwick!”? Can’t wait to see you…
yourlilsis (095089) — 7/31/2008 @ 10:49 amAnd it’s your birthday TOO Patterico? Mamma Mia!
David Ehrenstein (21c975) — 7/31/2008 @ 11:01 amThere isn’t going to be a new SciFi classic because the powers that be in the studios will prevent it. Comment by PCD
I’m holding my breath that James Cameron’s AVATAR will prove you wrong on your prediction – but I’m taking snippets of air in between in case I’m wrong.
But – also having a son that just graduated from film school as well – you’re right about their scripts not having a lot of breadth. One has to hope that creative writers come out of the woodwork to fill those gaps.
Brotherico (fd3093) — 7/31/2008 @ 11:10 am57, Scott, all I did was point out to Michael Pillar that they shouldn’t have used clear plastic Solo cups for Picard (Stewart) and Scotty (Doohan) to drink from on the recreated Enterprise, NCC-1701 (no bloody A, B, C or D, bridge as the lighting hit the extrusion pip on the bottom of the cup lighting a “Laser sight pip” on Picard’s nose.
Pillar then exploded at me about them using an 1810 Cuervo bottle for the booze, etc.
PCD (5c49b0) — 7/31/2008 @ 11:20 am61, Brotherico, hope your son had better fortune than my daughter. She’s coming home to Iowa to financially regroup. The most commercial thing she did was work on the Anna Nicole Smith movie and the Indy making notice, “Something is killing Tate”.
PCD (5c49b0) — 7/31/2008 @ 11:22 amI can barely remember my 40th and about all I can remember is that I got divorced about 6 months later. Watch out !
When you get to 70, call me.
Happy BD
Mike K (758fbc) — 7/31/2008 @ 11:27 amHappy B’day.
Peter (e70d1c) — 7/31/2008 @ 11:54 amPCD – my son has been fortunate to get some firsthand experience in several low-budget projects – serving as assistant-editor on Jon Keye’s Fall Down Dead and sound-editor on a film called Garrison. Both of these films are in the IMDB – but I doubt you’ll ever see them anytime soon. He’s currently freelancing on several projects – one that “might” become a full-time job at a new sports media company.
Brotherico (41d24a) — 7/31/2008 @ 11:58 amHappy 40th Birthday, Patterico.
And also to Matt, Amy, aunursa’s Dad, and Scott (last week).
DRJ (e4b6ac) — 7/31/2008 @ 12:10 pm— Scott Jacobs
If you go by the quantity of the whining, perhaps it is!
htom (412a17) — 7/31/2008 @ 12:27 pm66, Was your son at USC? My daughter remembers a TA by the name of Corey.
PCD (5c49b0) — 7/31/2008 @ 12:30 pm69, No – He would have liked to have gone to USC – and we would have supported it with Patrick living close by – but Corey chose to stay here in Texas. I think he might have a better chance of making an immediate impact here than fighting the odds there. But – you never know?
Brotherico (60406d) — 7/31/2008 @ 12:46 pmMaybe these young filmmakers could tour on the political trail. It sounds like room and meals are covered (and maybe incidental costs?). There might be videographers on board, but the college grad perspective is going to be valuable. Voting in numbers and all.
Vermont Neighbor (31ccb6) — 7/31/2008 @ 1:27 pmHappy and blessed Birthday to you, Patterico. I can only say that 40 “ain’t nothing..” wait until its over 60! Hope all is well. Best of success!!
Sue (4d3ef7) — 7/31/2008 @ 1:45 pmI dont know but each time I read JD’s “Racist” comments, I just lose it! I break out in uncontrollable laughter. No one can really interject that sarcasm without seeming offensive, like he does. Just wanted to say that. I don’t know…
love2008 (c7c069) — 7/31/2008 @ 2:03 pmHope it helps to make this a memorable birthday for Patterico.
Many happy returns.
PCD, #56, my soon to be son-in-law graduated from Chapman U Film School, worked by day for 4 years at UCLA and wrote at night. He just sold his first script last month. It can happen. Whats funny is that one of his night jobs was to read scripts for a studio and give them the greenlight to move them on to more serious consideration, or pan them. Not one script he ever read was given the greenlight. He too said they were bad, embarrassingly bad.
Dana (b4a26c) — 7/31/2008 @ 2:38 pmHappy birthday, Pat.
Ed (59b337) — 7/31/2008 @ 3:30 pmHappy birthday, Patrick!
(Yes, I still stop by and take a look sometimes, even if I nearly always leave shaking my head — but the birthday felicitations are sincere all the same).
Forty is still young, by my lights. Enjoy!
Tim
Tim McGarry (368b53) — 7/31/2008 @ 5:08 pmHappy Birthday, Pat! Mine is next week, but I have a decade on you already, so you’ll be hard pressed to catch up!
And life is, indeed, very good.
EW1(SG) (893a32) — 7/31/2008 @ 5:34 pmHappy birthday!
Elliott (4480f4) — 7/31/2008 @ 8:58 pmI am trying to locate Matt Welch who went to school at Villa Park High School and played football. We are having an Alumni night Oct 3 and would love to hear from him. We have a Heritage form and would love a picture. Thank you
Lana Palmer (56a0a8) — 9/17/2008 @ 7:58 pm