My brother, the best conversationalist I know

All of you out there must be jealous. I am the only one who has Matt for a brother.

Today I was in a spiritual lull as I sat in the waiting room at my wife's fourth dentist appointment in two days - this time the tooth was out, no doubt. It was my brother Matt's birthday, so, feeling a little guilty that I 1) hadn't been able to make the trip to Austin for the premiere of his new film, "Crawford", and that I 2) hadn't caught up with him since that event, last weekend, I decided to give him a ring.

Matt, of course, was at work on his birthday. Over the past year, he's put in more time in his edit bay than most first-year ER residents. But that didn't keep him from brightening my day.

Our 27-minute conversation covered the following topics:

1) Film Festivals
2) The intricacies of editing and color correction (explained so that I could almost understand)
3) Fantasy baseball
4) Marc's inability to type in his native language
5) The Rockets' 20-game win streak
6) Novels
7) Movies (Michael Clayton, and All About Your Mother)
8) Traveling
9) Recording sessions
10) Impromptu birthday parties
11) Facebook

My brother was 1) at work, 2) in the midst of a period in his life vastly more interesting than mine currently is, and 3) the birthday boy. But the way he talked and listened made me feel like I, in an oral surgeon's waiting room, had something of equal value to contribute. I guess it's because no matter how mundane my life is, he still is genuinely interested in its contents.

Well here's to me, because I'm the only one who has him for a brother. Joke's on you, hosers!

Nails