I'm 40! 40 years old!

In one more day I will be in my 41st year. I turned 40 this month. I understand this is a milestone year for most people, but for me it has not been too big of a deal. This June was certainly better then last June, as my LF can attest too. Since that craptastic month last year things have certainly improved. As I reviewed my electronic photo album I realize I am a pretty lucky lady. All in all it has been a great year. Here is a recap.....

After getting past last June with my relationship barely in tact, my 40th year started off pretty good.

July....

We traveled out to MN to celebrate our friends Moe and Charla. We needed this weekend so bad, the whole month of June was a rainout in Boston. What a spectacular weekend all around.

and we had a fantastic time with Amanda and Maia while we were at it.

Spent some time in Ptown with a friend, who was having a rough time.

The pups came too, it was gorgeous and I got to be super gay and sing at a piano bar.

Ran a 5K on one of the harbor islands and met the mayor.

August....

Helped Ellen ring in her 50th, awesome party at a mansion.

With my BFF.

Watched the Sox lose in a bad way.

And sadly said goodbye and paid my respects to a great man.

Sept ...

Ended the summer in Western Ma. at Camp Scully! Finally Kayaked.

and got to hang with my grad school peeps.

Celebrated Jro.

And watched Jen cry in her beer at one of our annual Sox v. Angel games.

October....

Finally got to a game with Stratts, my sophisticated NYC friend who I miss terribly.

November...

Is pretty much about Football, not only the game I play but the game we enjoy watching together. Especially since Mel's team is The Saints.

The Violent Femmes celebrated in style once again, this year it included a wall retrospective of 12 eventful years, each milestone marked with a football and a story. My milestones were the day I met Monica with a game of catch and the first down it took all of the first season for the Violent Femmes to get. Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose.

20+ years of friendship.

As usual the Soiree ended up a dance party.

I joined the team for the playoffs after taking the season off.

Though we lost, we gained some great new players and friends.

Of course watched as the LF's Saints beat my Pats.

Ran the Gooble, Gooble Gooble 4 miler so we did not have to feel guilty about Thanksgiving dinner.

December...

Finally we started getting snow so we could hit the slopes. My new obsession.

Rang in Christmas with a bad back that immobilized me for the entire weekend, but gifts were exchanged, even as I was high as a kite all weekend.

I managed to ring in the New Year still standing. This is pre Midnight.

January...

This is post Midnight.

Us oldies and our crazy traditions...at 3am no less.

February...

Was all about hitting the slopes. It was amazing. Too many pics to post, but I look legit in this one.

We celebrated the Saints Superbowl win with King Cake from NOLA.

Made our first trip to Frog Pond with every little kid in Boston.

And made sure we rang in Leigh's birthday with some Beatles Rock Band, anxiously waiting for Nugget to arrive.

March...

We were sad to see the winter end. Last snowboard of the season. Still cannot wait for next year.

We saw some art in Western Ma. at MassMoCa

April....

Yes!! Baseball season. LF indulges me for a couple of games. First one is always cold.

MN friends Charla and Moe visit for Boston Marathon.

Beer Tasting at Cyclorama, there was nowhere to put jackets except around waists(much to Jro's chagrin). Little did I know these three sneaks took part in a secretive plot to obtain the cool poster from event for upcoming 40th birthday. There was a turtle on it.

May....

What a better way to start a month then the arrival of Baby Kempinson. Alexa B Kempinski made her appearence on May 1. So appropriate.

We celebrated Melanie's birthday.

And we had one of the best Florida visits ever with the family. May was a pretty good predecessor to my birthday month.

June...

Finally Birthday Month, and it has been eventful!

Mel and I did the harpoon 5 miler.

We celebrated the 40th anniversary of Boston Pride. It was not lost on me that Boston Pride and I are the same age.

Parade with friends who now have their own amazing families.

Jen hosted her 2nd annual Pride BBQ, it was fun though it rained. Not sure what I am doing in the picture but I thought it was funny.

Birthday week was eventful. I had two Sox Games. Melanie and I took the day off and finally did the Sam Adams Brewery Tour.

Then dinner at Rocca. A good day though the Celtics lost.

Jen generously hosted another birthday dinner at her place. Here I am holding the poster my

sneaky friends stole a couple of months before. It is so long I had to stand on the deck to unroll.

Interestingly enough I look like the turtle in that poster blowing out my candles.

Starting the beer making process with the brew kit Melanie and friends gave me for my Birthday. The gift that keeps on giving. Hefewiezen is brewing as I blog. Ramona is brewmaster.

So that is my 40th year in pictures. They are just a small sample of the hundreds of pictures I took this year to celebrate my friends, my city, my family and life in general. I know I tweet, Facebook and social network my way through life, but it gives me the chance to share how lucky I am with those who care enough to be interested. Thanks to everyone in these pictures who make my life super fantastic, and support me through the good and bad.

Of course it would not be complete with out....

My geriatric dog.

Asshole of a cat.

and of course this hottie.

Happy Birthday to me!