Dad Of The Month!

Paul Pindell

Where do you live?
I joke that I live in Seat 10F of flight 228. I live in Eugene , OR , but my job is based in San Jose , CA . I commute back and forth most weeks.

What is your profession?
I am the Business Development Principal Solution Engineer for the VMware Partnership. I function as the technical engineering liaison between F5 Networks (The company for whom I work) and VMware. I spend my time researching new and exciting ways our two companies can partner, I present current partnership solutions to customers, and train F5 and VMware sales staff on those partnership solutions.

What is your education level?
I recently finished my MBA (May 09). I have a B.A. in Greek and a minor in Philosophy, I also spent three years studying Biblical Exegesis at the McKenzie Study Center.

What are your hobbies/interests?
I like woodworking and building things. Ok I like to start woodworking projects and building projects. According to my wife I haven't finished a project in 7 years, but hey I've started at least 50 projects.

What do you drive?
2010 VM Jetta TDI. Love it. Averaging 38 MPG overall and get 43 MPG on Highway.

What are you reading?
I am reading five different books right now. I am reading the "Iliad" with my son, Van. I am reading "The Confessor" by Terry Goodkind for a bit o' Sci-Fi escapism, I am attempting to keep up with reading the Bible in a year using a "chronological" approach (I am a few days behind right now, need to catch up) I am reading "Crime and Punishment" by Dostoevsky, on my iPhone using kobo.app, and since I spend so much time in the car commuting I am listening to "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. It is amazing how closely the story she wrote 50+ years ago parallels some of the gov't bailout stupidity we are living through right now.

What music are you listening to?
My son and I are kinda partial to the Dropkick Murphy's right now. They are a band from Boston , who plays Irish-bagpipe, Celtic-Punk music. Van's favorite song is 'I'm Shipping Up to Boston " He likes the chorus. "I'm a sailor peg, I lost my leg, climbing up the topsails I lost my leg." They are a fun hard-driving punk band with a bagpipe wailing in the background.

What's the last movie you saw? How would you rate it?
The last movie I saws was District 9 and it was bad. the last movie I really liked was "It Might Get Loud" It is a documentary with The Edge from U2, Jack White from The White Stripes, and Jimmy Paige form Led Zeppelin--I loved it.

What do you think makes a good parent?
I think a good parent provides for and protects their children when young, and then leads them to a wisdom concerning how to answer some of life's biggest questions. Why am I here? What is right and good?

How long have you been married?
20+ wonderful years. I don't know how she puts up with me, but I still love her dearly.

Kids names and ages?
Emma 14 and Evander (Van) 11.

Describe your favorite family vacation?
My favorite family vacation has to be the Big Island . We went 3 years ago for 10 days and overlapped seven of those days with some good friends. We had a blast.

How do you juggle family and work?
Not very well I am afraid. I wish I were able to do a better job at it. My job has me traveling too much. But after having been out of work for 10 and a half months we decided I should take what we could get. I am hoping that my travel schedule will taper off soon, but I am not sure when that will be.

What's your favorite thing to do with your children?
The winter, I love building a fire, making popcorn, and getting all of us on the couch to watch a movie. In the summer months, I love camping with the kids.

What advice would you give to new or soon-to-be dads?
Don't fret about it too much. It will be work, and it will be difficult at times, but many many have done it before you and have survived. And for all that hard work the pay-off is better than you can ever imagine.

What lessons have you learned from your own dad?
I learned how important it is to support your kids. Not financially support them (that is important too) but to provide them with the confidence and backing needed. I also learned the value of working smart. and the value of working hard.

How do you define your role in your family?
Wow. That is a difficult one. I see my self as more of a supporting figure and role model for my kids now that they are a bit older. When they were younger there was a lot of directing, now there is less day to day direction. Sure I have to ask them to empty the dishwasher and take out garbage, but now I can explain the benefits of doing something and they will get it and want to do it. I concentrate on things like teaching them to do the right thing even if it is hard or will cost you, doing it right the first time.

What are your major challenges as a Dad?
My major challenge is being away from my family 4-5 days a week.

How do you think the mainstream media portrays Dads? Do you think that portrayal is accurate? What, if anything, would you tell the media about involved Dads?
Dads are often seen as only necessary for the paycheck, and that children are the realm of the mother. I disagree.

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