Dinner with my Dad

Mike & Angela's house
Mike & Ang have a gigantic backyard

Family dinner pic's

A candid shot of Dad in Angela's living room before leaving for dinner

Last week-end Dad took the entire family out to dinner at B.D.'s Mongolian Barbecue to say good-bye before leaving for the winter. Dad hopes to be somewhere "warm" most of the winter, though he said he will probably make a couple of trips back to check on things at home rather than being gone a solid 2-3 months.

Last year before he left I gave him a journal to keep track of his travels and a package of matches. I told him if he got lost, he should set his tires on fire to draw attention to his location.

This year, I gave him a flashlight on a headband (actually, Chuck says they are quite handy when working in the dark when you need your hands free). I'm sure it was the most expensive flashlight he'll ever get because dinner for all of us can get quite expensive!

It was also the first time Dad had a chance to see Mike and Angela's new house. They are only the second owners of the house. So far they have stripped layers of wallpaper, painted almost every room, refinished all the hardwood floors throughout the house, replaced some plumbing and upgraded the entire electrical system (with Chuck and Brian's help). They plan on remodeling the kitchen and bathroom in the spring.

The house is in a very nice, quiet older neighborhood with lots of trees. Angela says after living on the Plaza, moving to this house was almost like moving to the country because it's so quiet. I don't know how long they plan on staying in this house before flipping it. They have been very successful on the other houses they have bought and sold but I think Angela would like to stay in one place for a couple of years if she gets her way.