Happy Birthday, Brian

Today is Brian's 35th birthday. He and our daughter, Beth, have been married for twelve years and just had their fourth child. Last night I conducted a phone interview with Brian. Here's how it went (and as always the pictures accompanying the questions may or may not have anything at all to do with the questions):

So Brian are you surprised that I'm calling you and the reason has nothing to do with computers? Yes I am a little surprised it's not to do something with your computer.You're going to be 35 tomorrow. Does that feel like kind of a milestone birthday for you? It does. Does that bother you? I'm trying not to think anything of it.

I know you work tomorrow and then have class tomorrow night so are you doing anything special to celebrate this year? No No, Never? Hahaha, not that I'm aware of. Well, we haven't celebrated your birthday yet so we have to do that right? I don't know. I really never have to do the planning. What do you want for your birthday? I would love a longer day. I'm afraid we'd have to talk to God about that but what might you want from Dad and me? I think the seven Harry Potter movies are out on Blue Ray.

Do you have any other special birthday wishes or gifts that you're hoping for? Besides the extra hours I'd sure like a new Guitar Hero.

How do you like being the dad of four children? Very exciting. There's never a dull moment from the time you wake up until the time you go to bed so there's never a reason to be bored.

Do you every find it overwhelming to be part of such a large and growing extended family? It's really amazing because every time I see the nieces and nephews they've changed so much and there's more of them; and seeing everybody again is pretty cool.

What do you enjoy doing in your downtime? Usually, after I finish with the kids' stuff and I get done with work stuff and school stuff and then I try to do some house things like honey-dos, I like to play the Wii or watch a movie.

I know you do a lot of driving for work, what's your favorite way to pass that time? Hahaha, I typically listen to talk radio. Why do you laugh? I don't know.

If you could play any professional sport, what would it be? I think I'd like to be the long snapper for the Bears. Theirs just got injured.

You're an IT Server and Storage Architect. What do you like best about your job? The flexible work hours. It's really helped us make things work at home.

What do you find the most challenging? People don't know what they want and they expect you to deliver something they can't really define. How about trouble calls in the middle of the night? Oh, I don't mind those. They're exciting.

Is this anywhere near where you saw yourself being ten years ago? Yes it actually is. There are more kids than I had envisioned but I knew we'd be in Indiana and I'd be working in Chicago doing computer stuff and I'd be happily married with Beth.

What do you see ahead - say ten years from now? The same amount of kids and absolutely attending lots of sports activities, math competitions, and creative writing contests.

You're taking MBA courses and you should graduate in a year. How will that change your work status? I'll be better qualified to move into senior management.

How do you feel about always being on call for the whole family's computer needs. I don't mind that at all.

You like to party? Absolutely!

What haven't I covered that people might find interesting about you? I watch a lot of movies. When? Usually in the middle of the night when I'm trying to get the baby to sleep. I'm really not interesting. I was an Eagle scout and I'm very happy that Noah's interested in scouting. I'm really looking forward to watching him grow up in scouting.

There's lots more I could tell you about Brian. He's unfailingly kind and considerate and probably one of the sweetest, most considerate people I've ever meant. He's patient, smart, and hard-working. And, if we call with a computer problem when he's right in the middle of the four other things he's trying to do, we don't know it because he makes everything work. Brian, you rock!

We hope your birthday is the best ever but not as great as the many, many more to come!