Dad's Day dilemma

Scott Lundberg sees an electric razor in his short-term future. That's because Lundberg, 53, of Owatonna, Minn., did some serious hinting to his wife, Nancy. But a smooth shave doesn't come close to what Lundberg most wishes for on this Father's Day: time with his three grown children.

"I would like them to be home so I can grill or smoke a nice meal for us," Lundberg said.

His oldest daughter lives in North Carolina, but he hopes that his 19-year-old twins, Katherine and Mark, who live in Dinkytown and are students at the University of Minnesota and Hennepin Technical College, respectively, will come home for the day, "even with their laundry." Hear that, kids?

Families nationwide are expected to shell out at least $9.5 billion to honor Dear Old Dad this year, according to the National Retail Federation. While that falls short of what we spent on Mom by about $7 billion (leading Fortune blogger Stanley Bing to call Father's Day "the 362nd most important holiday on the calendar"), that's still a solid chunk of change.

The most popular gift choices? More than 40 percent of you will take Dad out for a meal, spending an average of $20. (Hmm. Maybe that blogger was onto something.)

Others will choose clothing (37 percent), gift certificates and gift cards (33 percent), books or CDs (23 percent), electronic items (19 percent) and sporting goods (13 percent). (Some give a few gifts from more than one category.) More than 100 million of you will send a greeting card, and we're awaiting an official tally of how many of those feature a remote-control joke. Groan.

But if you're heading out to grab your great big last-minute whatever for Pop, hold on. Most of the dads we spoke with, via e-mail and on the streets, echoed Lundberg's sentiments.

"I'd like a day with my kids [12 and 16], including golf with my older son," said Donald Moy of Apple Valley, adding that his kids "bring me pleasure and joy every day."

Craig Ehalt, 46, of Minnetrista, already knows that his 15-year-old daughter has bought him the "Indiana Jones" DVD series. But it's the fun of watching the movies with her that makes him happiest.

"A day with her, without interference, would be terrific," Ehalt said.

Ron Ledoux, 37, looks forward to handmade cards from his children, Evan, 3, and Lauren, 6. But what he really wants is time with another family member: his wife, Jessica.

"We don't have much family in town, and sitters are hard to find," said Ledoux, of Golden Valley.

He's also looking forward to handmade presents from his kids.

"My desk at work is covered with their creations, and my favorite are my 'fish shirts' they made one year by hand-stamping a T-shirt with a painted fish," he said. "Those are the best gifts I have ever received because they can't be bought."

After a little more thought ...

Then again, we're talking men here, not saints. Like every mom who wants time with her kids on Mother's Day and (please, please) a spa day, too, dads shared their G-rated fantasy list.

"A very close second," Lundberg said, "would be some good seats to a late-season Twins game for all of us, maybe Aug. 3 vs. Cleveland, or Sept. 7 vs. Detroit. Do you think the Twins will still be in contention by then?"

Richard Russell, 37, the father of four children, ages 11 months to 20, would love an iPod to replace one that broke. But he, too, is happy that he'll be with all of his kids in Maple Grove on Sunday.

And a tired-looking Soutsady Vilayvanh, 48, father of a 4-month-old boy, Jame, let his older son, Jimmy, 21, speak for him.

"As long as his children are happy, he's happy," Jimmy said of his father, who is from Laos. "That's it."

"But maybe clothes," the senior Vilayvanh added with a laugh. "And diamonds."

Gail Rosenblum • 612-673-7350