Jon Levine

Today is my 36th birthday.  I don’t know how to feel about that.  Let me first qualify by saying that I’m sleep deprived right now having travelled cross country last night and, when I am in this mood, tend to be more melodramatic.  It’s only fitting that I would be in this state on a day that most use to reflect on their own life and mortality.   So, while the following is what I’m feeling right now, it may not be what I feel tomorrow after a good night’s rest.  Or maybe it will be.

While I received an outpouring of birthday wishes today, there were a few notable absenses. Unfortunately, it was this time last year that I was at a completely different place in my life and I thought it was going in a completely different direction.  Yet, here I am, a year later, back in the same place I was before.  Starting from scratch.  Back on the hunt. While I truly believe that this is a better place to be, my mind can’t help but to reflect to a year ago.

I need sleep.

As my best friend loving pointed out, forty is rapidly approaching.  I think that 36 is an age when forty joins the conversation.  It’s not the featured guest, but it certainly has a seat at the table.  Forty. Where will I be then?  What will my life be like?  My head hurts to think about it.

What happened to thirty?

I don’t feel different.  Maybe a little bit more experienced.  Not apt to repeat some of the mistakes I’ve made in the past, yet poised to make new ones.  I don’t think that ever ends. Will I ever learn?  Not likely.

The family is celebrating on Wednesday.

My father’s birthday is three days from now.  We’re doing a dual-celebration dinner on Wednesday.  It will be nice to see everyone.  I wonder how reflective I’ll be then.  Maybe I’ll be more focused on my father’s remaining years than on my own.

Hopefully, I’ll be better rested.

I was supposed have a date tonight.  We were to meet up at a local lounge for a drink at 7:30.  At 6, she called and told me that she had to go to her sister’s house because her nephew jumped off the bed and landed on his head.  The sister, fearing the worst, was taking the boy to the hospital and she (my date) was going to go with her.

Now, that’s a perfectly plausible story. Kids jump off things.  Hell, some even launch themselves in balloons, sort of. I truly hope that this kid is OK and he didn’t damage his noodle too badly… that is, if it really happened.

And that’s the problem with a last minute cancellation of a first date, it’s never believed.  No matter what the situation, no matter how dire, if you call to cancel a first date within 2 hours of the date beginning, you’re a liar. Sad, but true.

So, that being said, I find myself at home which, as a Dodger fan, is a good deal.  I’ve got a cold beer, a big TV, the Dodgers and the Phillies, and I don’t have to make small talk with a fibber.

So, what do you get when you cross this windshield mount, the iPhone 3G S, a Mini Cooper convertible, and my bad singing?

This video.

So you know, I bought the mount so that I could use my GPS app.  It occurred to me yesterday that I could also mount the iPhone backwards and film myself while driving.

Yes, I do have too much time on my hands.