I think my favorite Star Trek movie of all time is Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan. This is nothing original since it is many a fan's favorite film, but I am also fond of VI (Undiscovered Country) because it was a wonderful signing off of the original cast (literally), and I like First Contact because it was intense, action-packed, and a film that reached beyond Trek fans to a more general audience.

I've seen all of the films several times, dating back to the days when I was a young little pip. But Christy is only a fan since we got married...and her conversion to Trekkie-ness is a story for another time...
But Christy wants to get back in the Star Trek groove because she read some book about it and is all fired up. She even wants to watch The Original Series...so here we go again...and we started last night with Star Trek: The Motion Picture...a.k.a. possibly the most boring movie of all time.

But the next one's waaaay better...

OK. Trek nerds unite.

What is YOUR favorite Trek movie?

...and I'm expecting to AT LEAST get comments from Travis, my parents, my sis, Scotlas, Mike, Heidi, and a few more of you...come on...don't be shy...

Noah has recently grown deathly afraid of flies. We have no idea why...and we get a lot of them in our house because they seem to come in the back door a LOT...especially WHEN LITTLE PEOPLE LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN ALL THE TIME.

Not that I'm annoyed at that or anything.

Anywho, it's pretty funny. Yesterday Noah took his breakfast from the kitchen nook into the dining room because he saw a fly. So cute.

SO

Yesterday we got in the car and started our trip to San Diego, and all of a sudden Noah shrieks, "AH! A FLY!"

So we do what any good parent would do and embark on the ritual of getting the fly out of the car...for pretend.

"OK...let's roll down the window and get the fly out!" Christy exclaims as she rolls down to "let the fly out". Of course, we don't know if the fly really gets out...but hopefully Noah feels better.

I, on the other hand, actually see something go out the window and think we were victorious.

60 seconds later...

"AHHHHH! A FLYYYYY"

"Oh no! There must be another one!"

And we repeat the ritual of rolling down the window to let the fly out...

All is right with the world (but I think the fly is still in the car...shhhhh...we won't tell if you won't)

Then Christy does another one of our weekly rituals, "Who wants to pray for our trip?" (this is the time we pray for a safe trip...)

Noah says, "I DO!" and proceeds to pray this prayer:

"Dear Lord. There's a fly. Amen"

He says it at such a low volume that we aren't REALLY sure what he said...we ask Nathaniel...he confirms the content of the prayer. We reply, "No, Noah...try again. Pray for our trip."

He prays, "Dear Lord. Make all flies...get away. Amen."

Best movie of the year.

Fastest movie to gross $200 million in ALL OF HISTORY

...and probably will be the fastest to gross $300M.

It's breaking all kinds of records. Why? Cause it IS FREAKING AWESOME!!
Not to mention the TONS of repeat business and post-release online ticket sales.
I mean, people are still packing out theatres on week nights. This doesn't happen...it's...a...phenomenon.

So...why haven't you seen it yet?

I'm sorry...but this has to be said.

I DID NOT LIKE WALL*E

Yes...I get it...the robots are more human than the humans...we need to save the earth...Americans are a bunch of fat, lazy slobs...we're destroying the earth... I GET IT. I GET IT. I STINKING GET IT!
So why do you have to slap it across my face like that, Pixar? I recycle. I pre-ordered a Prius. I'm even showering and shaving less to save water! (wait. did I say that out loud??)
Ugh.

I know, I know...my heart is black and cold...I'm an emotionless robot. Yes, yes...

But when I look back at the movies I've seen over this Summer--Dark Knight, Ironman, Get Smart...and thousands of others--Wall*E just comes up short. Or like...at the bottom of the list (if the top would be my favorite, and the bottom NOT my favorite). The only movie I think I liked less than Wall*E was You Don't Mess With The Zohan (which I walked out of--too gross and stupid).
 
I liked Kung Fu Panda waaaaaay better...

So why is everyone raving about Wall*E?

And if my heart is black and cold, then why would I cry at Hellboy 2?

I leave you with these questions, oh blog-masters of the universe.

The other night Christy and I were talking after she had a particularly bad day at work, and I just flat out told her she had to work less. Even though I thought it would be great for us (in my head) for her to be working more...it is NOT GREAT IN REALITY.

HA!

Thank you, Lord for this great lesson to all...

When Daniel freaks out over finances...just ignore him...he's an idiot.

Anyway--so Christy tells her boss to keep her at a 20-hour-a-week MAX so that she can actually be a mom again, and LO AND BEHOLD Daniel gets some writing gigs.
Nothing too fancy or glamorous, mind you--I mean, John Williams hasn't called YET--but real-life paying gigs.

Glory be.

AND things just seem to be groovin' for me on the work front. Good deadlines...enough work to keep me busy...building up my contacts and such...it is starting to feel awesome and not as much like I'm a bum.

Yay!

Today is Nathaniel's seventh birthday.
As astonished that I am by this fact, this blog is about Noah...

Today Noah slept longer than all of us.
This isn't usually the case--usually Nathaniel wakes up, proceeds to wake up his brother, and the two of them run around the house making all kinds of commotion waking the rest of the world up.

But not today.

Today I went into Noah's room, turned off the fan (good white noise for sleeping), and then stood on a stool to look at him on the top bunk. He stirred a little bit and then flipped over quickly from laying on his tummy to laying on his back (like a cat-but the opposite), looked me straight in the eye with a huge grin, cocked his head to the side, and said in a crystal clear (and quite loud) voice,

"Dad? Did you beat me?"

Of course, now I'm confused...

"At what?"

And in a split second I'm scrolling through my head all of the possible things at which I could beat Noah...Mojo...Lego Indiana Jones...dancing...awesomeness...WAKING UP?
That must be it...waking up...

"Yes, Noah! I did beat you!" I replied...

...I didn't really know...but THAT didn't really matter...

...because....in the end...I win. No matter what. Even in waking up...or whatever Noah meant...

I

WIN.

This weekend my family came down from Twain Harte (out of their dark caves) and joined Christy, the kids, and I at Knotts Berry Farm and Legoland. We had a blast!
Legoland was perfect for kids under the age of 12 and didn't have much for folks over that age, but Knotts Berry Farm had some rides that were a lot more exciting! I actually went on a few roller coasters (something I haven't done in a long time) and was only scared that they were going to fall apart during my turn on the ride a liiiiiiiiiitle bit.

Fun times.

If you get a chance to take even just a couple of days off this summer, do something with your family or close friends and HAVE FUN doing it.

Having fun is really rejuvenating!

Thanks fam for coming! We gotta do it again!

P.S.
Have you seen THE DARK KNIGHT yet?
No?

GOOOOOOO!

I am reading several things here...

Amy Poehler is supposedly set to star in a new Office spin-off, but then I read an article that said it wasn't going to be a spin-off of The Office, but rather a new comedy that is possibly set in an office...so I'm confused. Can anyone clear this up for me?

P.S.

THE DARK KNIGHT WAS AMAZING.

We're trying a new game here at Daniel's blog (and yes, I'm talking about myself in the third person).

It's called "Daniel Gives a Title and YOU Write the Entry".

It doesn't have to be long...it could be a shorty...but give it a whirl all ye who lurk here...

Let me just say I CANNOT WAIT to see what you come up with...

(P.S. family visiting, I may be silent for the next day or two)

GO! WRITE!

Stay at home dad = craziness...chaos...constant talking...

How do people do this?

I mean, I love my children, but they are driving me nuts!!

I know I promised you an iPhone story...but I'll just say this. I called the Glendale Galleria (location of closest Apple Store) to inquire about the line that would be forming for the iPhone...I called actually about TEN TIMES and got a different story every time. No one will be allowed on the premises before 6AM...the line will start around 5 or 6...it'll begin at around 4 or 4:30, you can call back...
Finally around midnight I called again and asked what time I could come...another noncommittal answer by the security team over at the Glendale Galleria. So I followed up with another question, "Ok...is anyone waiting out there right now?"
"Oh yeah...there's some people waiting out there now in their cars and stuff..."
"THANKS A LOT!" I said and slammed down the phone (ok...I just pressed "end call" on my old iPhone...but slamming it down just sounds much more dramatic).
So I ran out of the house a few minutes later after gathering together the essentials: fully charged iPhone, fully charged laptop, a vitamin energy, vitamin water, and a few other snacks...and a camping chair to sit in.
And thus began The Great iPhone 3G Experience of 2008.

Other Highlights:
-Being 15th in a line that eventually became over a thousand people
-Meeting a producer in front of me in the line...and talking about movies and stuff for about the last two hours before getting our phones.
-A 5AM trip to Starbucks to download a music file that I had to work on that the composer had literally JUST finished writing. Thank goodness for free AT&T wifi at The Bucks!
-Daniel being ineligible to buy the phone because I had forgotten to pay my cell phone bill. OOPS! But I called and paid it right there, so it all worked out...phew!
-Not waiting ALL DAY in that line, but rather, all night...I still went home and worked AND met an 11AM deadline for that music I had downloaded and worked on at 5AM.
-Having an iPhone 3G
-Hanging out with friends the whole day
-Feeling like poop for most of Friday since I didn't sleep a wink.

Christy started working at Starbucks last week. Can you say 30% discount?
YEAH BABY!

THIS is where we win all our money back...

Oh--and Starbucks releases new drinks today. A couple of Sorbettos and a new healthy protein drink or something. Check it out! You KNOW I will...

Having internet woes today. Can't get it in the studio right now and my email is freaking out. Argh!
Anyway....that may be why you aren't hearing from me right now....