Birthday Boy Blues

I'VE BEEN SO SERIOUS AND PENSIVE LATELY.

NOTHING LIKE A DINNER OUT WITH THE KIDS TO CHANGE THAT.

So on Sunday night, I brought my daughter and my son out for dinner to celebrate his 16th birthday. And it gave me joy and it made me laugh and snicker in spite of all that's going on around me.

And this, with a few little details pointed out along the way, is a pictorial of that goofy and night...every single picture I took, off-centre or not...

On the left, right beneath my son's ugly face, I'm holding my ancient cellphone...while my two kids are showing off their cellphone/camera/text messaging machines, which put my cellphone to shame, I know...

Below, we are now at the restaurant, which is called Applebees. I can't exactly remember, but I'm sure my daughter is giving me hell about something or other.

My son? Who knows what he's looking at or thinking, if he can think at all...

This shot was taken after I teased my daughter about her fish-hook earrings, the longest and most garish in the solar system, as far as I can tell.

She is accustomed to me making such remarks, which always are true and correct. The neat thing is, she doesn't care what I think.

Attractive girl, isn't she?

Here's my goofy son being, well, goofy, knowing I'm trying to take his picture and covering himself up. I think I gave him sh*t, but it was exactly what I would have done....duh...

The appetizer arrives...daughter, of course, takes control...

After piling his onion rings on top of his fries to erect some sort of tall ship or monument or something, my son dines...

Daughter dines...

Look at my son, particularly. What a dork, but I can't help but laugh and see me in him...

Very appealing pose, Monica...

With identical cellphones, they're both text-messaging me: "Dad, you're a nerd."

Daughter, after being told by dad to enter her and her brother's cellphone numbers into my phone, because...I don't know how.

The birthday boy.