Today was my 50th birthday. People asked me what I'd be doing for my birthday - "have anything special planned?" -- Nope. Just hanging out with my 1 year-old. What more can a guy ask for?

Besides hanging out with Mae - we had breakfast together - and watched Elmo! Oh - and I got the coolest gift EVER from my wife - a new lens for my camera. Not just any lens -- but a lens I've searched for over the years - not too many of them made - and hard to find in great condition. It's a lens that was born the same year as me (the US Patent for the lens was granted the same year). It's made by a company that would become known as Nikon - they also made the very first camera I ever owned - and I still have it. I love the lens - but I know I'm going to love the photographs I take with it even more -- and when I croak, the lens goes with me.

All in all a great day -- just the way I wanted it -- no fanfare -- just a quiet day with Mae while Alison was at work -- and then a nice dinner with my family...

Fifty. Man -- who would have thunk it? I'm happy I made it this far...