That’s my plan!
(Fair warning, Chicago dopers, I can toss a remarkable freakout and we’ll be in Chicago on my day in mid-August - might want to duck and cover)
Y’all let me know how it goes and I’ll decide whether or not to go through with it in October.
As a fellow Tucsonian, I would recommend a nice breakfast at the venue of your choice…but don’t eat too much…concentrating on the good things you usually deny yourself, followed by a walk in the Park Place Mall in the morning, followed by a film at the theater complex…followed by a nap, then a nice meal from the BBQ grill outside at home (taking a dip in the pool if available). Be sure to stay out of the pool if the monsoon is in full throttle with lots of lightning. Drink as desired after you get home, and relax totally.
Hmm…that pretty much describes what I would do…don’t know about you…but Happy Birthday, and don’t worry, you are just old enough to begin enjoying life!
It does sound nice- breakfast at Mimi’s, some shopping, a bbq; I don’t have a pool and I try to avoid the sun, as it is not my friend, but maybe playing some pool would be fun.
A gang bang is a valid birthday gift choice for some, but at this point I’d settle for a solo bang.
It’s hard to gather up the energy to plan a big outing when it’s 108 outside. But I’m planning on having a nice “me” day as above, and later, some rather adult fun with my homies.
It’s already shaping up to be a memorable time in my life- as a single mother of 3 and being very independent and motherly towards others, it’s rare that anyone focuses on me. I’m usually the one taking care of others. But when it’s my turn, like if I have a need that’s just out of reach, or if I have an important event, my friends and family and coworkers and neighbors and even complete and total strangers really come through to make me feel cared for and special. I am very lucky. I don’t like things like this to happen often, as I don’t really like attention and prefer to keep a low profile, but once in a while this is cool. Very cool. Turning 40 is going to be awesome.
Happy birthday, maggenpye!
Well, I could tell you what farang (Western) guys do over here for their 40th birthday, but I fear that option may not be available in your neck of the words, or desirable if you’re a lady. It does, however, often involve “getting together with 4 or 5 girlfriends.” 
Oh, and Happy Birthday!
Be grateful you’ve lived as long as you have and enjoy yourself. Promise yourself you will continue to enjoy yourself for as many years as you possibly can. Tell your friends you love them every chance you get.
Go out and score some drinks and talk nasty about young people.
Sound advice- and look forward to being 50.
My 40th is in October also. I am now taking two weeks’ vacation over The Day, so that should ease the blow!
Well, it’s over. It was yesterday. In the end, I decided to go out to dinner with my BFF, (one guy, no women) and it was fantastic. We went to Fiorito’s, an Italian restaurant near my house, that I, surprisingly, have never been to, but is sure to be a regular of mine from now on. After an appetizer of the most tender and delicious calamari I’ve ever had, I had sea scallops with sweet pea risotto and a pomegranate burre blanc. I had a foodgasm, it was so good. I drank a Mike’s Hard Lemonade before leaving the house, then at the restaurant I had a chocolatini and two glasses of Chardonnay.
I came home, threw up, and went to sleep. I’m such a lightweight.
Still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I’m 40, but so far it feels good. I’m a “mature woman”, and I’m actually okay with that!
Thanks for all the suggestions, and the well wishes, and happy birthdays to those coming up.
You’re doing better than me, my phrase was; “I’m a grown-up now - cool!”
Glad you had fun, even with losing the calories after.
Best of all, there was no crying involved, even though I was really drunk off my ass when I got home. Well, there was no crying on* my* part- there may or may not have been tears on my BFF’s part when he got the bill. 
They said I would freak out when I turned 30, but I didn’t. They said it again for 40, and once again, no. And 50. I didn’t freak out at 50, but it did give me pause to reflect on the years in a way that I did not feel the urge to do at 30 or 40. Having my birthday midyear helps a lot, I think, because I invariable start thinking of myself in terms of my new age after January 1, so I’m used to it once June comes around.