I had no idea that today was System Administrator Appreciation Day — that is, until I got a very sweet note from a colleague thanking me for maintaining the dev server at CDRH.

Sysadmins are sometimes thought of as occupying one of the lower rungs of the technical ladder (and most are fond of exploiting that fact with lots of self-deprecating humor). But really, most of us secretly enjoy the engine room. For me, system administration is sort of like fixing your own car. I really don't have to do it, but I like doing it. I love a good, well-oiled (up-to-date, secure, tuned) machine, and when there's a crisis, I sometimes feel like the Master Chief on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. Pilots get all the glory, but it's the guy with the wrench who keeps the birds in the air. Thanks, y'all.