Yesterday was my 29th birthday, traditionally a time of reflection and recollection. Fortunately, I have long since learned that in times of great personal reflection, I tend to reflect on the worst, focusing only on my shortcomings and never on my triumphs; I turn mauldin, melancholy, and some would say become a big pain in the ass. As a result, I have taken to avoiding my birthday entirely, devising every scheme to make it pass as quickly — and with as little fanfare — as possible. And so, yesterday, to the multiplex.

A quick sidenote to my parents and friends who knew was day it was and wished me well and sent presents. The best one was a cooking class from Kym; thanks to Kym I will spent next Saturday at Sur La Table learning all about the fine art of making homemade pizza. Thank you all. You are counted among my triumphs.

Anyway, after a spirited morning of laying about, Kym and I took in the afternoon showing of The Dukes of Hazzard movie. My review — three stars. It was totally unapologetic about being dumb, fast and loud; exactly what I needed to get past the birthday blues. The plot — Bo and Luke have to stop Boss Hog from strip-mining Hazzard and save the Duke farm, all while winning the local road rally and keeping Daisy’s top on. SPOILER ALERT — they succeed at all three.

Many people have criticized the movie for being dirty, foul-mouthed, low-brow, and for appealing to the lowest common denominator. Guilty as charged. But what do you expect from a late summer remake whose two most popular characters are a hotrod and a girl’s ass? I had no problem with the foul mouths and shaking asses, except when it came to Uncle Jesse.

I’m not a moralizer, but I’d always imagined Uncle Jesse as the quiet rock of the family; a reformed moonshiner who had settled down and taken on the huge responsibility of the raising his niece and nephews. Willie Nelson plays Jesse as a dirty-old man. That was a huge disappointment.

In any case , the rest of the day passed without much fanfare. I played some video games, read some of the Baroque Cycle, and before I knew it, it was time for bed. Another birthday successfully avoided.

Next year I will hit the Dirty Thirty. Let’s hope there is an A-Team movie