14 Kids?  Were your parents Catholic?

Yes, now stop making me think about my parents having sex!

What number are you?

I’m the 9^th kid and the 4^th son.  While not technically the “middle child,” 9 out of 14 is close enough.

What was it like having such a big family?

Noisy.

Yeah, but you always had someone to play with, right?

And we always had someone to fight with too!  During the blizzard of 1978, I spent more time at Shawn & Craig Honnerlaw’s house than my own.  I walked through a blizzard with snow drifts taller than I was in order to keep myself from going crazy at home.

You guys could have fielded your own basketball team!

If by team you mean unathletic, uncoordinated people who were 5 feet 5 inches tall on average, then you are correct!

What did your dad do?  Did your mom work?

My dad drank.  A lot.  For money, he worked as an accountant.  We weren’t allowed to discuss money so I didn’t know how much he made until he co-signed my student loan.  In 1984, he made $45,000.  That’s roughly $93,000 in today’s money, so he didn’t do too badly.  The house was paid off, so that helped.  Mom worked during my teen years, but only as a way to stay sane.  She could get drunk on less than one beer.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the metropolis of Wilmington,Ohio.  It’s located about 45 minutes from Tri-County and 45 minutes from the Dayton Mall.  I always stopped at Dingleberry’s whenever I went to Dayton Mall.  First, I went there because of their prices and selection of albums.  Beginning the summer before my senior year in high school, I shopped more towards the front of the store.

Wilmington, huh?  Did you live on a farm?

Fuck you and the stereotype you rode in on!  Small town America isn’t all farms!  I spent a summer detasseling corn, which was pretty damn tiring.  I made good money, but I learned I’m not cut out for that kind of work!  I think our house was the farm house before they built the Southridge subdivision, but that was before our time.

Are you married?  Do you have any kids?

I got married at 20 and divorced at 35.  We have three sons, 23, 20, and 17.  I was married for 15 years and I’ve been divorced for 15 years!  I love my kids and I’ve remained active in their lives.  I don’t think I’ve been active enough, but they turned out to be extremely well adjusted, productive members of society.  Remaining friends with their mother may have helped with that, but I’ll give her the credit she deserves.

Are you seeing anyone now?

In the 15 years since I’ve been divorced, I spent 6 years being the King of the One-Night Stand.  I didn’t want to be in a relationship because, if I did, it would have been a horrible idea.  I spent the next 7 years trying to be in a relationship with a woman who had two young children.  That ended after many years of me trying to help raise her kids while she was their mother and also an expert in early childhood education.  I was a fool to even disagree with her!  I then spent about 6 months alone until I met the woman I love who wants to be the next Mrs. Whittenburg despite all warnings to the contrary!  She’s like the character in the horror movie that makes you yell at the screen “DON’T GO UPSTAIRS!!!”  She never listens, she goes upstairs anyway, and she dies a horrible death.  Whittenburg men (with a few exceptions, maybe), don’t make the best husbands.

Why do you smile like that?

Like what?  Like Two-Face from Batman?  Like Sylvester Stallone?  Like this? – http://www.chacha.com/question/when-you-have-a-crooked-smile,-what-does-that-mean-about-your-personality

My smile is a byproduct of a doctor using forceps to help speed up the delivery while I was being born.  He severed the nerve that controls the right side of my face.  I can’t raise my right eyebrow or the right side of my smile.  The great thing about that is when I think I’m raising my eyebrows, I look like I’m intentionally raising just the left eyebrow.  That trick comes in handy sometimes!

Are you really as awesome as you seem?

No!  I’m way more awesome than that!

Is this the last question you’re willing to answer today?

Yes it is.  Please use the comment section below if you want to know more.