I took my husband to San Diego for his 40th as a surprise. Nice hotel, a little golfing, little surfing. Lot of fun and he thought it was great. Not horribly expensive, less than $800 for the both of us for 3 days.
Happy Birthday, Alice the Goon, Happy Birthday Sarge.
Well in my eyes your a damned whippersnapper Alice and I DO get pissed off with you nippers seeking attention all the time.
But that said Happy Birthday Darlin’…
Now get off of my LAWNNN!
>new stage of my life (old)
Great, great, that’s really wonderful. Just for that, I’m giving up trying to remember for you what I did for my 40th.
Thanks fisha and Lust4Life!
As for you, Napier, look! Depends are on sale! :: points and laughs::
When I turned 40… just shortly after the earth had cooled, my wife and I threw a scavenger hunt…
we met at a local library (Item #1 on the scavenger hunt list was a Donation reciept from said library for at least $5X roughly 6 gangs, that made up for the disruption our meeting may have caused)
some of the other items on the list were:
A Chick Tract
an item dated 1961 (ie coin)
a 2X4
"outrageous " hat (Must be worn during party
Photograph of any member of search gang in a police car
an original song which mentioned mud, subatomic particles, and cheese (to be performed at party)
the oldest item (winner was a fossil sea shell)
and so on
Finally, we hid six maps at odd/embarassing public areas (on top of phone booth at police station, under desk blotter of a certain hotel, etc) that told people where party was. The maps showed the location of the party
When they had 80% of the items on the list, they could phone for a clue about location of map.
Prizes were given out for 1st to show up, most items collected, best song, hat, etc…
It was truely a blast… people still talk about it
regards
FML
Full Metal Lotus, I want to come to your next party!
I remember one of the things that I did was to try eating some things that I hadn’t eaten before.
I’ve also made it a point with the changing of every decade to set some new goal for that decade. That has worked well for me and I’ve accomplished each one so far for the 5 decades that I’ve been an adult.
On my 40th Birthday someone bought me 40 cans of beer.
Alice would you like a present sent from Australia? Probably something tacky.
I accept any and all presents. IM me.
OK, how 'bout this? You don’t get a digital camera, email me and I’ll exchange some points for your Big 4-0, as a Happy Birthday? Serious offer. Caveat is, I’ll have to have a US address for it to be shipped to.
Don’t count on a card, as that costs money.
Happy Birthday, Alice. I have always enjoyed your posts.
P.S. I don’t have instant messaging on my computer. Security reasons stuff.
I sent you an email. This is kind of crazy, and very cool. God, I love the SDMB. You rock.
Well, I’ll tell you what I’ve done so far using the excuse of turning 40 this year:
Cruise to the Western Caribbean–always thought I should go on a cruise once, went with three other women who are turning 40 this year
New car–OK, I needed one anyway but I sprang for a few extras
Beautiful vase for way too much money–I plan to wrap it up and give it to myself on my birthday since I’ll have forgotten exactly what it looks like
Regular pedicures
I really hope the list won’t get too much longer! The most important thing is two dear old friends are coming to visit the weekend after the big day and I don’t have to make the trip to see them which I usually make each year.
So I guess I put my foot down for turning 40.
Happy Birthday Alice and SSG. I’ll be 40 tomorrow.
My wife threw me a very successful surprise party for my 30th. This milestone birthday will be much more low key. A cook out on Saturday with lots of fajitas, sangria and friends. And I’m giving myself Thursday and Friday off.
Oddly enough I’m much less concerned/depressed/weirded out by turning 40 than I was when I turned 30.
I’m coming up on it as well. And my SO promised to throw me a gang bang. But I suppose that’s not a gift that works for everyone 
.
My 40th is next year. We’re going to Disney World (really!). Because growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional
Note to self: keep an eye on the mail for invitation
Alice, I have been off sick for a while. Will respond.
For my 40th, entering that new (middle) phase of life, I invited as many of my friends as could make it to a ‘brunch/ lunch/ afternoon tea / dinner/ why are you still here?’ gathering. That was at the weekend - on the actual day, myself and a very good friend took the day off work and had a day trip to a few local places we’d always wanted to see but never found time for.
Since that friend turned 44 today and I’m turning 43 on Monday, tomorrow we’re getting a group of friends together for a couple of hours cruise on a yacht. Then on Monday - my folks are taking myself and the kid out to dinner. Nice.
A friend of mine got very very drunk for his 40th, but that’s how he celebrates every birthday, so I’m not sure it counts.
I also got 50 cans of beer when I turned 50. Can’t wait until I am 90.
I got married when I was 40, but I realize this is an option not exactly available to everyone.
I always say, though, that the year I most expected to become a bitter old dried up hag (I divorced my first husband the previous year) became the most wonderful of my life.
To be 40 is to celebrate.
Well said!