Mike Burke... The man of wisdom...

I gotta say... I love my Dad... but for more than just the fact that he's my "dad", but because he's a great friend. I would have to say, the older I get, the more I find myself becoming like him and for the majority, that's awesome... especially since I became a dad in 2005. I can remember so many great one-liners that my dad has had, I would be here all day reciting them... needless to say, everyday in the Burke house (Burke Palace), was full of adventure and excitement. Dad has a couple staple mannerisms that are unique to him... Josh can attest... Like when we were little, he would stand over top of you while doing your homework in the silent room and you could hear him breathing so loud, and then you'd know before you were about to get corrected, by the half-second pause before you hear, Read that again son... or his signature Mike Burke throat clearing, I find myself doing all the time... not to mention the absolutely hilarious statements that come from this man... to this day, and I guess I should be ashamed of saying this, but I have never laughed as much when I heard someone cuss the way he does... it's hysterical. I had the privilege of working beside my dad for several home projects and in my late teen years, working as a member on his crew doing construction... those were probably my best times in life... most recently, I have expressed an interest in "getting back out there" and starting to date... I was talking to dad about this and he offers some great advice... But before I can share that advice, I have to lay it out for you... I typically like women EONS out of my league... High-maintenance, prissy, girly, want to get their nails done every week, take two hours to get ready to go to dinner at McDonald's type of chicks... don't know why, I just do. As I was telling dad about some of my "interests" he said, "Well Jonathan, I think that you are truly a catch for some woman. You're honest, a great father, you take good care of yourself, you make good money, I think that there are no women that are out of you're league." My dad is a pretty good hype-man... then he follows up with, "But I'm gonna tell you what my dad told me" (so you can now see that it didn't start with him, he's just keeping the rediculi going), I said, "What's that dad?" He said, "Don't marry one of these drop dead gorgeous women, marry someone who is just plain... The gorgeous one's always will leave you." So I said to him, "Dad, an ugly girl can leave you too..." His reply, "well, yeah they can... but who gives a s**t?"... That's my dad... and the best part, he was dead serious... and so was his dad... Funny as I don't know what!!!