The lessons about life that Harry Potter teaches kids (and no, it's not how to use tongue of newt in a potion). Read the full story.

I picked up my copy of d20 Modern last week. I've given it a once over, and while I'm not ready to post a full-review, here are my initial impressions.

I spent Saturday working on three canvas posters for the baby's room with my wife Sue, my brother-in-law Dave, and his fiancee Wendy. We worked on them for hours, and actually got quite a lot done.

And not once did I have even the slightest clue of what awaited me Saturday night.

Dave and I went out to run some errands around 6 p.m. -- we had to take care of a friend's dogs, pick up a movie, and snag some more acrylic paint from the Michael's Arts and Crafts store in Phillipsburg (ok, technically I think it's in Pine Grove).

Then we came home, and I got knocked flat on my ass by a house full of people who most definitely were not supposed to be joining us for cold cuts and a movie, all of whom promptly shouted 'surprise!!!' followed by 'Happy Birthday!!!'