Steve Carell takes a welcome detour from Noah and Michael Scott to a real-life version of Charlie Brown (all-grown-up and widowed but without the self-pity). Dan’s dedication to his children, especially as a single parent and despite his loneliness, is heroic and very real. Dan’s middle daughter provides a frightening (for a man with a [...]

The kids were playing with their friends yesterday afternoon, running through the house, through the yard, feet stomping up and down stairs, and all the while the non-stop sound of laughter echoed through the halls, sometimes far away, a murmur, sometimes bursting unexpectedly into glorious explosions of joy. It was comforting. Like I’m doing something [...]

It’s been compared to Little Miss Sunshine but I don’t see it.1 Juno is a much better movie. Sunshine’s dysfunctions were an end unto themselves, their fantasy problems and foibles were the plot. Juno’s characters and situations are authentic and their quirks are a natural extension of their personalities. Sarcastic, witty, cynical. But ultimately brimming [...]

Son: Dad, I got invited to a birthday party! Me: Oh, cool! Let me see the invitation. Mm hmm. Looks like fun. Son: Yah! Daughter: I wish I could go. Me: Been a while since you’ve been to one? Daughter: Yes! I haven’t been to a birthday party since January! Me: No more this year? [...]

Maybe it is, but it sure isn’t competitive. Typeracer

New post by yours truly over at The Blogfathers: Things I’ve learned about parenting and marriage.

A fast-paced, romantic, fairy-tale adventure. Mixes equal parts swashbuckling, whimsy, satire, and risqué humor. Violence runs the gamut from slapstick to quite serious. Not scary. Captain Shakespeare was hilarious and the ghosts provide satisfying comic relief throughout. Stardust is in many ways like The Princess Bride with higher production value. Recommended for the whole family. [...]

Me: So, do you like the new Doctor better than the old one? Lovely and Talented Wife: Well… Me: I know, it’s tough, huh? I think they’re both really good Doctors. Wife: They’re both excellent actors. Me: But the current Doctor. I can tell he’s grown on you. Wife, nodding: Yah. He made a little [...]

Daughter: Mom, the boy in this movie is the same boy that was in the original Willy Wonka. Wife: No, I don’t think that’s possible. Daughter: It looks like him. Wife: But he was like 10 in 1963. Daughter: Oh my gosh, he’s DEAD?!

I know where you can not get one of these handsets at a great price. You know, just in case you don’t want one. Um, thanks?