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Welcome to Kicking the Seat!

Ian Simmons launched Kicking the Seat in 2009, one week after seeing Nora Ephron’s Julie & Julia. His wife proposed blogging as a healthier outlet for his anger than red-faced, twenty-minute tirades (Ian is no longer allowed to drive home from the movies).

The Kicking the Seat Podcast followed three years later and, despite its “undiscovered gem” status, Ian thoroughly enjoys hosting film critic discussions, creating themed shows, and interviewing such luminaries as Gaspar NoéRachel BrosnahanAmy Seimetz, and Richard Dreyfuss.

Ian is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. He also has a family, a day job, and conflicted feelings about referring to himself in the third person.

A Star is Born!

It may seem odd that I'd disappear from my own newly created Web site a week after launch, but my wife and I have been a tad busy.

On Friday, July 23rd, at 12:05am, we welcomed Hunter Frederick Simmons into the world.  He's named after my favorite author, Hunter S. Thompson, and Darlena's grandfather (one of the first pictures we took reminded me of the rear dust jacket photo from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, pictured above).  By way of cosmic coincidence, we recently discovered that Hunter's due date of July 18th was also Thompson's birthday.

At ten pounds, four ounces, Hunter is a big kid; but he's not a fat baby.  I can only assume he's either got incredibly dense bones or a massive brain--either of which is fine by me.

I'm really enjoying fatherhood.  Yes, the constant up-and-down of feedings and diaper changes--and the occasional bouts of annoyed crying--have worn me out; but I've learned a lot about myself in the past few days.  I've had little trouble fighting through the exhaustion. And I'm amazed by my constant amusement at Hunter's slightest smirk, and the thrill of discovering new textures of poop.  In short, I'm becoming a lame dad, and I love it.

I look forward to raising Hunter with Darlena, and hope to instill in him the same spirit of wonder, compassion and adventurousness as his namesake.  We're very lucky to have a happy, healthy baby. My new purpose in life is to make him feel as loved as possible.

And to show him movies.

Lots and lots of movies.

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