| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | That's a tough one... there wasn't much that was especially wonderful or terrible in the early years. I suppose the trip to Disney World was pretty fantastic. They had the ninja turtles there! The NINJA TURTLES! Who knew turtles were made of rubber? I sure didn't. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | Father - As I've grown up I've slowly, but surely, turned into my father. It's not just the big stuff either, like ideals and worldview and all those attributes you expect a child to borrow from his parents, but also the little things, things I have to point out to people before they recognize the similarity. I have his sense of humor. I have his tendency to value (strongly) good customer service. I even use the same phrases and patterns of speech. Recordings of me could be mistaken for my dad were it not for the voice. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | Honesty, integrity, practicality, critical thinking, sense of humor, work ethic, and kindness. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | Fortunately for me, funny things generally happen to OTHER people, not me. However, there was one time my sophomore year of high school when my football pants mysteriously came up pink after being washed, the very day I was supposed to play. As coach said, you've got to make a big show of being tough if you're a lineman playing in pink pants. It also helps to roll in mud right before the game. You know, just in case the toughness doesn't come through. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | Japan - It's seems like such a fascinating culture. They value hard work, appear to almost idolize American culture, and hunger for technology more than any other culture on the planet. I'd love the chance to explore a culture that embraces technology to that degree. I understand the food isn't bad either. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | It sounds a bit narcissistic, but I happen to think my personality is worth passing on. I have a good dichotomy going on I think - a good work ethic coupled with a laid-back attitude; a sense of humor matched with a sense of when and where it is appropriate; intelligence and natural ability along with an appreciation of attributes like honesty and integrity that cut across people of all ability. I've found it rare to find someone that is willing to work hard without being overbearing, or someone that enjoys cracking jokes but can put it aside to accomplish something. It's also rare to find someone who was gifted with talents far exceeding those of average folks, but that recognizes the value of attributes unrelated to intelligence and natural talent. Too often (especially in technical fields) people are eager to look down at the bus driver and the farmer, and it's a shame. Those people that I have found with personality traits similar to me are a joy to be around, so these are the traits I'd like my children to have. |
