60

Today is my dad's 60th birthday.  I was planning on going home to see him this weekend, but cancelled my plans due to the impending storms.  So that sucked - but at least I can dedicate a post to him.  I was going to try to come up with 60 things about him, but that's a hefty task.  So I'm going to settle for as many important ones as I can think of.

• He likes  loves trains.  He has a giant model railroad in his basement.  My brother also shares his love of trains.  His grandsons call him "Papa Choo Choo."
• He has an eye for color.  If you need help decorating, remodeling a room, or choosing fabric for a quilt, he's your man.
• He's an amazing photographer.  He used to have his own photography business.  This is why I never shy away from a camera.  Both me and my oldest brother also share this hobby, though Jake is way better than me.
• He's a whiz of a handyman.  He can paint anything and knows how to fix anything it seems - just in my house, he's installed new light fixtures, installed cabinet knobs, tried to fix my dishwasher, hung up pictures and shelves, and even crafted a custom closet.  He has passed some of this on to me - at least knowing how to use a screwdriver... He also passed on wood-working to my brother Justin.  
• He loves all kinds of music.  He took me to my first concert - Manhattan Transfer.  I will always love big band music and 50's "oldies" because of him.
• He can play the piano (and banjo and guitar).  By memory.  By chords.  I don't know how he does it.  I can only play piano by sight reading.  My brother Jake also is really good at piano.  
• He's a master at computers, building websites, and making Access databases.  My brother Justin inherited the computer thing - I think they've both built them from scratch.
• He likes to cook and is a good one - if you like all those spices and veggies.  Not sure any of us inherited that one...
• He's pretty punny.  I think he makes a pun or a joke at least once an hour, even if no one hears him.  
• He never stops learning.  He's always reading something or going back to school.  No wonder I'm a school-aholic.  He has 3 really smart and high-achieving kiddos.  
• He's a pretty smart pharmacist.  I don't know how he keeps all those incredibly lengthy and complicated words in his head.  But if I'm ever sick, he's the first person I call.
• He likes business and customer service.  He passed this on to both me and my eldest brother.  
• He likes to travel - he's been to Alaska, the Carribean, the Mexican coast, Vegas, San Antonio.  When we were little we took vacations all the time - Chicago, Disney World, Dallas, Wisconsin Dells, Arizona/Colorado.  
• He's a pretty cool dad and has passed on a lot of qualities and knowledge to me and my brothers.  Now that I'm going to have a baby I hope I can keep some of the lineage going.  Rest assured, I have already bought any onesie I could find with trains on it.

So happy 60th birthday Pops!  Hope to have you around for at least another 40 :D