Shock in the mail

Dear Family and Friends,
When I opened the mail today the letter from Blue Cross contained a big surprise.  There was a check made out to me for $389, well that was great but the letter went on to say thats all they are paying toward the $4,500 sleep study.  Why, because the sleep study company does not accept Blue Cross, the two companies have no working relationship.  All of this was news to me.  My doctor's office arranged for me to have a sleep study, they all had my insurance information and no one mentioned that there was no coverage.  So now I'm stuck in the middle with this huge bill to pay, let me assure you I'm a long ways from paying the bill, there are avenues to pursue.

I worked on and completed an appraisal this morning that I had mostly completed last night.  This morning when I opened it the computer said parts were lost so I had to carefully reread the whole report to discover what was lost and type it back in again.  Lots of fun.

Then I tackled an appraisal for a property that I had inspected in August.  This is a quadruplex that was actually cut in two pieces and carefully moved several blocks to a new location so a freeway could be constructed.  The building has massive problems and has been a money pit for the poor owner, a great guy who paid too much in the first place and with the economy going soft now is upside down by hundreds of thousands of dollars.  The worst thing is there is about $100,000 of work that needs to be done before the property would be updated and nice again.  What a mess this poor family is in.  Finally in desperation they fixed up one of the units enough so they can live there and they have one other unit that they rent.  Two have no inner walls, no bathrooms, no kitchens.  The building has a wonderful carefully installed new foundation but there is so much work to complete.  There was a time that a perfect version of this property would have been worth $650,000 but now even in good condition it would only fetch about $400,000 and in it present condition its worth a lot less.  He hopes to use my appraisal to get his taxes lowered and to get the mortgage company to consider lowering his loan amount and payments.  To make this situation even sadder during the time he was working on the building he fell off his ladder onto a hammer which tore into his back causing severe damage to his back bone.  It took months for him to recover enough so he could once again start work on the repairs that are needed.

Mid day today I took Starr out to the front yard for a brief exercise.  While we were there the family with two little pugs came by and stopped to chat.  Starr enjoyed seeing her fellow pugs and even was on good behavior today, no biting or snarling.  She walked better after her time outside and it was cute seeing her greet the other pugs.

I am once again in the position of having almost no work to do.  I have one review to do for a purchase here in Discovery Bay and then I'm caught up.  Oh that I could see a bunch of orders come in.  This does not bode well for the future.  I'm told that there is just about nothing happening appraisal wise with any of the companies I work with.  Oh Lord please send work and more importantly send your guidance.

Sending love to all,

Tim

ps  Mia says hi

Cold Weather Sunday

Dear Family and Friends,
Ken and I decided not to walk in the rain for fear of melting, one just can't be too careful!  That let me sleep in until nearly 9 am.  Starr was very ready to come down and eat and let me know.

I made a great breakfast with sausages, scrambled eggs and whole wheat English muffins.  Oh it was as good as it sounds.  I then proceeded to attempt to work but kept finding many things that needed my attention, like cleaning the kitchen, dumping garbage into the can outside and this evening Ray and Lois tempted me out of the house with a burrito in Brentwood.  For 3 bucks the burrito is great but not Weight Watcher approved I'm afraid.  It has rice, whole beans and cheese and it is so good.  With no lunch in between I was really ready to eat.

Today I rented the motorhome for a 3 week trip for a family in late July and August this summer.  Their deposit came through securing the place.  Two other trips are also planned so far which I am very excited about.  Renting the coach certainly helps the bottom line a great deal!

I heard from Sylvia tonight.  She is traveling and is having a super time.  She was saddened to learn that her next trip which was to take place shortly was cancelled.  Can you guess where the trip was too?  Yep, Egypt so now she has lost her exciting tour down the Nile.  Yet she is glad she was not there in the middle of this disaster.

Well I'm sending my very best wishes out to all for the upcoming week.  Please remember to pray for our dear brave friend, Carrol Sorenson who is back in the hospital with an infection at the surgery site.  She has had more than her share of challenges this year and I know she is touched by your prayers.

Love to all,

Tim

Papa Day Care

Dear family and friends
This has been a day where I knew I helped the family. After walking 3miles this morning in the nasty fog I took the girls to sabbath school. That was a great time. Then we made few stops before ending up at Olive Garden. The girls were well behaved.
Then we drove home but Kallie had fallen asleep in the van. Not wanting to wake her I sent Keanna into the house, reclined my seat and we both slept for the next hour.
Later we drove to my home for a few hours.
This evening we drove back and spent the evening making biscuits and snow cones. I finally saw them to bed. Now I'm recovering my strength.
What a glorious day in spite of the two diapers from hell.
Love to all
Tim

At Peace

Dear Family and Friends,
The most enchanting hour of the week!  Kallie came to visit at 4:30 this afternoon.  This time it was just Kallie as Keanna was busy with her mother at a party.  Kallie came in, asked to feed Starr a treat, played quietly with her toys, got the DVD player out and inserted a DVD and enjoyed watching it.  We talked, I listened she told her her opinions on many things, oh the very special magic wisdom of a 2 year old, what precious minutes with this delightful child.  I just marveled at how enjoyable it was to observe and interact with her.  What a huge blessing to have Kallie in our lives.

Tomorrow morning we will attend Sabbath School in Tracy and then I'll take the girls to Olive Garden for lunch.  Then it will be home for Kallie to have a nap and perhaps Pappa can have a little nap also.  Nikki and Steve are having a day to themselves at a motorcross event somewhere and I'm delighted to be able to help out by watching the girls.  Young parents have far too few chances to have a day to enjoy.

I've had a fire burning for the last couple days.  Its been cold all day today here, up to about 40 degrees at the warmest.  And the wood fire keeps an even heat flowing into the room.  Plus it is just fun to make sure it keeps hot and burning slowly from piece of wood to the next piece.  Perhaps its a guy thing, just the fun to make and keep a fire going.

It looks good for renting the motorhome to at least two parties in the summer months.  One family is going to be gone for 22 days and the other family wants to take a trip to Eugene.  They will be sending in their deposits soon which will help cover the cost of caring for the motorhome.  In spite of a very slow week I do feel grateful for the work I've had to do.  Its been special to have Keanna come to visit three afternoons this week, the place seems less lonely when she is around.

Well the call just came in from Ken so we walk in the morning at 6:30.  That means getting to bed soon.
Its very nice to have the Sabbath hours once again, weekends are for people to care about people.  What a privilege we have to live in America, a land that in spite of its problems which are serious remains a very special place to call home.

Love to all

Tim

A good day

Dear Family and Friends,
Its early evening and I'm waitng for the fire to catch.  So far smoke but nothing else.  Come on I want flames.

This morning was an in office time until a call came in from a owner in Tracy confirming that I could see her home today if I wanted.  When I was at the bank making a deposit of a check for the last RELO I did I learned that Sylvia could use a ride to pick up her ailing car so I drove to her home and we rode over to the repair place.  I'm trusting that the fix worked since she had errands to run and I never heard back later that she was stuck someplace.  It was great to see Sylvia and to catch up with her adventures, there are always so many to hear about.

The home was a lovely property with abundant evidence that a family with young children lived there.  I actually ran into the other appraiser while I was there and that is always interesting to observe.  He carried a huge tape and a laser device to do his measuring.

As I worked I became more and more aware of just how hungry I was.  For lunch I had just taken time to have a boiled egg and a slice of wheat toast.  So I decided to treat myself with Olive Garden.  I sat in the bar area where one can get seated instantly.  My ice tea, eggplant and salad were excellent.  What a feast and by ordering the lunch size the price is much lower.  I'm glad I made that decision.

Today I was honored to hear from friend Art who along with his trusty wife Connie has just returned from a serious trip in their beautiful 5th wheel RV.  It is so nice and they have been dry camping, an adventure in its self.  Dry camping means the motorhome is not plugged into anything.  You live off what is held in the tanks and what the tanks can hold without gaining power or water from the campground.  Its a real test of the unit and Art says they did fine.

At the present time I have a request from a family that wants to rent my RV for a month next summer.  That would be a big help in making payments and I think they would enjoy themselves on the trip.  We will see if it takes place or not.

Today was also nice in that I was able to speak at length with my sister Sibyl and brother Jerry.  They are both doing well, Sibyl in Ohio where the ground is covered with snow and the nights are freezing and Jerry who lives in the shadow of Mt Shasta and also has cold nights and more of a winter season than I do here in the valley.

This evening I got to talk to Loren Dunston, my friend in Tracy.  He has been under the weather but is feeling better.  It was good to catch up a bit.  He used to ride with me when I had properties to see all over the plac and even helped me fix my front bumper ont he  bug.  By the way the bug is turning 236,000 in less than 200 miles.  Thank you Lord for keeping it going.

Well time to jump start this fire, I want flames!

Take care of yourselves and please love the one you are with as often and as well as you can.  Life is too short not to reach out and touch that special someone.  Take it from someone who has known it with and without.  With is better.

Love

tim

Passing the time

Dear Family and Friends,
6:30 walk 3 miles, 8:15 depart for Stockton, 8:55 arrive at 100 year old home for an inspection, 9:30 leave home to shoot comps, 10 arrive at Starbucks for warm up decaf mocha  11 arrive home, take power nap, 12:45 pickup Keanna, work in office for early afternoon, 2:30 take Keanna to gymnastics for make up session, 3:30 drive home for more office work, 5:30 depart for spin class, 6:00 arrive late for class, use broken bike, head home

Make dinner: baked potato, vege burger, Lima beans, cottage cheese, fresh tomato    a feast.

Now its time for bed, sitting with Star in the recliner, fire roaring in the stove, floor littered with popcorn pieces that Starr did not eat when Keanna shared with her.

I had a touching moment at child care at the club.  After spin class I went over to drop off Keanna's backpack and Kallie caught sight of me.  Her little face lit up bright, she came racing over a hug and would not let me leave for a long time.  She just wanted to have me hold her and talk to her.  What a sweet heart she is and what a precious moment for a pretty ordinary day otherwise.  Keanna does her homework so fast and well when she first arrives and then we have time for her to watch some disney TV, she knows how to use the DVR much better than I do and this afternoon in the car she was watching some UTube movie on my phone.

I was so glad to obtain an order this afternoon.  Its another RELO and they pay much more than a normal appraisal and are so enjoyable to prepare.  Yes they take a long time to write but when you are done the results are rewarding.  In addition they pay promptly so I was very thankful to get the order on the iphone this afternoon.  Using the iphone I accepted the order on the spot so you could say the phone sort of paid for itself in that one order.
I'm really wrestling with the ACN business.  Good friends have expressed caution and its true, many people on the web have really written terrible things about the business, much of what is said is true but written by people who started, failed and are bitter.  One thing I know is that if I decide to go down this route it will take a lot of work, I'm not kidding myself that it will be easy at all.  Secondly I've have to get over my fear of talking to people, funny I find it very easy to talk to people but to ask them to do something, that is another story, it would be something I would have to practice and learn how to do yet I think it could be possible.  I really appreciate the input from my friends and family about the whole process.  It does matter to me what people think.
For now I'm signing off, I'm bone tired having walked this morning and then done spin class this evening.  I'm still praying for more orders and I need to settle down and write up the ones I already have.  Time to discover some discipline once again.

Sending love to all,

Tim

In a meeting.....

Good evening,
I'm writing from the Crowne Plaza in Concord. Jim invited me to see the new ACN.
The speakers r great. Very interesting but I'm very wary.
Multiple marketing scares me. There r hundreds of people here tonight. The line to get in was as far as I could see. ACN is about to start selling gas and electric energy. They are about to start their own cell phone company.

So there is a lot to consider.

Keanna came to visit this afternoon which lit up the day.

Right now im just tired and will be glad to hit the hay. I have to be in Stockton at 8:30 in the morning.

Hope your day went good.

love

tim











L

An Interesting Night

Dear Friends and Family,
After I completed the blog last night things got interesting.  I was very sleepy and carried Starr up to bed.  She could not settle down, she was complaining and just kept moving about.  At 3:15 I turned on the lights and examined her.  She was covered with fleas, poor little thing.  So I stripped the bed, made it up with new linen, came down and put her little dog bed in the washing machine, found some Front line and applied it to her neck like I remember seeing Nan do in the past.  Then we went back to bed and she was finally able to settle down.
This morning I gave her a bath, first time I've ever done that in my life. Then I dried her with a huge towel and the air dryer.  She tolerated the whole process and the fleas went down the drain.  I used Dawn as Lois says it kills fleas.
Then Lois brought her a huge bone from Safeway and she thinks she is in heaven.  No more complaining or whimpering, just bliss.  I also was able to find some wet food at half the price.

keanna came this afternoon and we visited Safeway to get our free dozen of eggs since I joined on line, then went to the back and moved money around.

I vowed to be in bed at 9:30 but I've been working on an appraisal order that came in and by the way prayer seems to help, I took in two orders today.  Can we say amen!

Sending love to all,

Tim

Long day

Finally I got to help someone.  Mid morning Pam made contact and let me know my help would be appreciated.  She has recently moved to a new position with a school district near Hollister, has rented a nice home there and needed to move the bulk of her worldly possessions from Lodi.  She had already made several trips moving important items but there was lots more to do so I joined the happy band of workers, Terry, her cousin from Wales who is here for a few months to visit and Shawn from Lodi.  They already had the job well along when I joined the group.  Pam has many plastic boxes, I mean many of them and we loaded them up with the things that were left in the various rooms of the house.

Our goal was to leave Lodi for Hollister by 3 and we ended up leaving around 7.  I had my van which we filled with delicate things like wall art, Pam had her car and Shawn drove the truck.  It was a trip of a little under two hours but the fog complicated things slowing us from time to time.  I arrived first being led by my trusty GPS that Nikki and Steve gave me for Christmas.  It took me right to the door.

The unloading process took much less time and we found humor as we unloaded box after box.  Pam fed us some really delicious food and then we headed back to Lodi so Shawn could be home ready for his 6 am rising.  After that I headed back through the fog and arrived home at around 2:15 this morning.  I've lifted more and pulled and pushed the dolly than at any point in the last year.  This was harder then moving wood yet my body seemed to respond well and while feeling tired now it does feel very good to have been able to help someone.

Tomorrow is another day, can I ask if you would pray that orders can come my way this week.  I would appreciate that very much.

Love

tim
ps  special thanks to Sylvia and Jerry who helped keep me awake with stimulating conversation while I drove the long miles.

Taking it easy

Dear Family and Friends

Normal day, Ken and I walked, then it was off to church since the girls were busy with their mom.  I stayed for potluck which is always an interesting experience, nice to see everyone though I don't know as many people from the church as I once did when I was the pastor.  I enjoyed seeing Michael and Beatrice who are enjoying married life.
Once arriving home I had a mailbox of bad news, stuff that is just hard to deal with financially.  Then I pulled Starr up into the recline and we napped for awhile.  Once again I felt I had no energy whatsoever.  Late in the afternoon I went out and using the huge wheel cart I moved three loads of wood to the back deck but by then I was just out of energy totally.  I'm not sure what is up but I am not feeling well.
Tomorrow afternoon I've agreed to help Pam.  Shawn is driving a big truck down with household items Pam needs moved to her new rental and he needs a ride back so I've agreed to drive down and bring Shawn back to Lodi.  Perhaps I can connect with Bart and pick up some things Dolly had sent to me while I'm there and I hope to be able to see Carrol too.

My hope is that by getting out I might wake my body up a bit.  Otherwise I'm off to see the doctor on Monday.  Got to find some energy again.

For now I'll just bid you a happy good night.

Love

tim

Its over

Dear Family and Friends,
Finally this dreary week has come to an end.  My day started when I discovered a nasty case of vertigo this morning, it continued through the shower and well into the day.  Not sure what is going on, felt low and had no energy during the day.
At 2:37 I picked up Keanna and we drove to Brentwood to the Dollar Store.  There Keanna shopped and ended up mostly shopping for things for Kalie.  She has come up with a board with stars and when Kallie does helpful things then there are stars which could lead to a trip to the gift box, Keanna bought things for the gift box today, very sweet and at the check out counter she carefully counted out her money, it was precious indeed.
Later I returned her to her parents and then I came home to collapse.  I've had a roaring fire going this evening, in fact right now its way to hot to stay in the family room.  For dinner I made pasta and used spaghetti sauce, mushrooms, frozen peas and a bit of cottage cheese.  It turned out great and this time I actually put some away for another meal.
Tomorrow I do not have the girls, they have an appointment with their friends for a play day over in Pleasanton so I"ll either lie low and rest more, or drive somewhere for worship service and try to get my head back on straight.

I'm glad this week is over, it started so well with the day at the aquarium but with almost no work to do its been a very down week.  Sylvia came and worked hard to get the files in order, that was a huge step forward for the business and for me personally.  I've just felt like I had no energy to do anything this week, not sure what is wrong but I don't like it at all.

I hope each of you have a good weekend and worshipful Sabbath.

Love

tim

A low day

So they can't all be wiz bang, high energy days can they?  This one was started late, 7:20 I rolled out, light breakfast of whole wheat bagel with avocado, two fried eggs and OJ.  I worked the morning away in the office and for lunch found brown rice with some good vege meat Sylvia had brought.  As the day progressed my energy level fell lower and lower, I ended up with 2 naps and very very little drive to do anything.  Keanna and Steve came mid afternoon to retrieve Keanna's homework she had left yesterday and Steve consulted with me about fixing the slide on the motorhome and after that I had even less energy than before.  I just felt I could hardly move from place to place.  Later I rolled under the motorhome to see if I could see how the slide was assembled and when I started to get up I just about lost it, I felt so lousy and dizzy.  I checked my blood sugar level twice today, at lunch it was 112 and this afternoon it was 138 so there was no answer there.
I know I'm depressed over work, one order in a week now and its done and emailed to the lender.  Today I just fixed conditions for prior appraisals and sort of just slid through the day.
So I'm hoping and praying for work, lots of it and to feel better, this is sort of scary.
This evening I had dinner with the girls in town at a Mexican place, the food was good and since then I've felt a bit better, just not great.
So good night,

Love

tim

Spin class

Good Evening,
I'm back in my semi comfortable office chair after enduring spin class tonight.  While I had some doubts as to whether I should even go or not I decided to take a chance on exercise and go.  Kim was in her usual mood, urging each of us to do our best and pushing onward and upward.  The music is so loud while the AC is blowing about 55 degrees yet it all seems to make sense when you are in the middle of it.  I've lost my headbands which I need to find as they keep some of the water out of my face as the workout intensifies.  Otherwise you just swipe your face and head with a towel once in awhile.
The class unfolds like this, you sign in at the main desk just after entering and running your token over a laser beam.  You select which bike you want and take a card that shows you are on that bike.  I try to select a bike at the rear of the room and in a corner so I'm exposed to the curious younger generation which makes up the riding population.  I've arrived with my bike shorts already on and a bottle of water in hand.  Then there is the long walk through various exercise areas and up the stairs to the second story room.  You walk in, find your bike, try to get the seat the right height, the seat the right angle and then you try to get your shoes into the stirrups attached to the pedals.  Once you mount up you never stop the motion for the next 40 minutes.  Once the starting time is reached she starts yelling out orders, turn up the tension knob.  It makes the pedaling harder or easier.  Then she has you come out of your seat and ride standing up, then leaning forward, she calls it butt out and then you go back to sitting again all the while riding as fast as you can.  Various versions of what I just described fill the next 40 minutes.  Part of the time we are "climbing a mountain" so the tension has to be turned up further making each cycle of the pedals more difficult, then you race down the mountain with less tension and whirling as fast as you can.  Because the bike has a huge flywheel you don't just stop pedaling ever, you would be thrown to the floor by the forces.
Eventually you get to stop, stretch, get off the bike and stretch some more and then you are released to attempt to walk the distance back to your car.  When we all leave we look like refugees, shirts soaked, faces flushed and red, stumbling gait and then there is the stairs back down and finally the car with its soft seats.
Yet the workout results in a real wake up call to your whole body.  The blood flows freely for 40 minutes and you know you've accomplished something good.
This morning I inspected a home which was just purchased in September.  It is amazingly beautiful and has a huge 15,000 sf lot.  They are trying for a better interest rate and it was a pleasure to inspect the property.
I picked up Keanna as today is Wednesday and then we did McDs and Strawhat.  I just had a salad as the numbers for pizza are just too high, pizza is loaded with fat and calories.
Keanna had her homework done before we left Strawhat and so she was free to do her computer play and watch some Disney Channel programs this afternoon.  I had a nice fire going and it was a nice afternoon.
Now it is evening and I'm about to wind it down for the day.  I'm really praying for work as I've had one order in the last week now and I inspected it today.  Published reports say that refi starts are down 75% over October and I can believe it.  There is almost nothing going on out there right now.
Although symbolic there was a vote taken today reversing the horrible health care bill that was crammed down our throats last year.  There seems to be a disconnect between Washington passing bills, spending bucks and the reality that someone has to pay for all this waste.  One usually spends money after it has come in but instead the tax bite for the "rich", successful working people grows larger, the number of people paying no taxes at all has increased and the destructive spending seems to have no end.  Everywhere I go people are outraged at Washington and their anger is growing in intensity as time passes.
Someone I met on Eharmony said they hoped their future mate would have a passing understanding of national events.  How could one not be interested when it touches our lives so directly.  I'll have to say that so far our new governor seems to be taking no prisoners, I think he feels he has nothing to lose by making the hard decisions so he is making them.  If he can stand up to the unions, to the pensions we just might survive in this poor state.  Otherwise we are on a path to nowhere.  Nearly every day I see homes where people are leaving the state, most are moving to Texas where growth has continued unabated through the last few years.  Austin is doing great and wise people are making the move to where the jobs are.  One can't blame them at all.
Today an email arrived from my rep at PNC bank, the bank that holds the loan for my home.  In the email she said that she had submitted new paperwork to the investors and hoped to hear back by the end of next week.  I hope, I pray that there will be some good news and I can resume my life.

Good night family and friends,

Love

tim

The sun shines

Dear Family and Friends,
I'll write now so I won't forget later.  I'm just back from Weight Watchers where they say I have lost 2.2 pounds since I was last there.  News to me but I'll take it.  The room was jammed with dozens of people and hardly a place to sit.  The regular instructor was ill so we had a sub.  She was OK but not great.

On the way home I hit Safeway for diesel and food.  I ended up spending $150 for the two stops.  It sure is easy to spend money in this old world.  I stocked up on things for the future, frozen vege food, bread, cottage cheese, cans of refried beans, almost bought ones with LARD in them, yuk.  Found ones without.  Sylvia walked me through making a simple burrito yesterday and I tried it today, tasted great.  Nice to learn new things.  For the fun of it I added brown rice to the mix today and grated my own cheese.

The waiting is over, an order came in today and its a full fee one from my bank, that is great news. At the moment I'm listening to opera through XM.  The human voice is so beautiful, this is a duet with choral backup.  Its great, Mass in C Major by Beethoven.  Lovely music, so touching, almost evokes tears it is so moving and powerful.

The day started with caring for my girls.  Keanna came down fairly early and was sleepy eyed at first.  Later when I went up to get Kallie I opened her door and picture this, she was sitting up in her little bed surrounded by many books which she was reading, she looked up with a huge smile on her face.  We did the diaper and she insisted on doing the shirt herself, she did it and then we went down for breakfast.  They are great little girls and its so much fun to start the day with them.

After they are delivered I cam back to settle in to work.  First I built a huge fire to warm the place up and at one point it was 73, up from 62.  Outside the sun was working its magic dispelling the foggy gloom of the last weeks.  For fun I dumped the motorhome tanks, I have a fairly low fun threshold these days.

So I need to complete an appraisal for a little place in Pittsburg, ship it out and then get to bed.  6 comes early and I always wake early, my body seems fearful of missing the alarm when the little ones are at stake.

I hope your day has gone well and that you've had people contact with those you care about.

Love


tim

Sylvia provides a huge helping hand

So now the files are in order, this woman can become obsessed with a goal and you'd be wise not to step into the way of that momentum.  Tonight the files are all in order, in boxes ready to be transported to their final resting place on the shelves of the garage.  In two days of working smart and hard she has transformed the files and the lower office from piles and piles of files to order.  She picked up where Marilyn left off this summer and with my help doing data entry we have the files totally up to date and have a system in place that should avoid large piles of unsorted files for the future.  Wow.

I ended up staying over last night and had breakfast with Jason and Timothy this morning, held Mia for a while and then quickly prepared the motorhome for flight and left the summer morning to drive home.  Soon I was in light fog and then it was heavy fog.  I was in high fog for most of the way home and I could feel the chill come over the motorhome after the warm send off.  Timothy, Mia and Jo stood in the driveway waving to me as I drove away.  Leaving is never fun and knowing how much Timothy enjoys seeing me really made a deep impression on me.  How I love these little kidos, all unique in their own way, but so bright and so active and loving.  For those of you unfortunate to be old enough to have grandchildren my heartfelt sympathies go out to you, soon you too will pass the test and become a grand parent.  Soon you too will know what real status is.

The trip home was pleasant.  I wish I could convey to you how enjoyable driving the motorhome really is.  You glide above the mundane, you make slight course corrections, you plan ahead, you control the temperature, the speed, the lane changes effortlessly.  It is the ultimate boy toy, the motorhome.

So I came back to find Sylvia already hard at work and while I did data entry she waded into a real mess I had let happen.  Nice way to use a holiday, yet Sylvia says she really loves it.  I spoke to her about the need for therapy, serious therapy but she maintains that she get a thrill out of order.  Thank you Sylvia!

So now its time to head to bed, I have the girls in the morning at 6:30 which will be nice to do again, its been awhile.  Steve has the chance at several days of work and I love to help with the girls so we all win.

Sending love to all,  I'll not soon forget the night last night, clear skies, hooting owls, distant surf crashing, it was a perfect winter night California style!

Love

tim

Monterey Bay Aquarium with Family

Dear Family and Friends,
Today had everything but most importantly it was filled with family. 

Jason texted me this morning letting me know breakfast was ready.  He had prepared vegan waffles that were so good and filling they lasted for hours.  Nikki and the girls drove down this morning but first had to make their way through heavy fog and then cows that had invaded Vasco road. 

We drove down to the aquarium, found free parking and appreciated entrance with passes Jason and Jo found for us.  Raymond and Lea met us there so it was a happy group.  First we had lunch at the little cafe right in the aquarium and then started checking out all the interesting things.  There were exhibits of just about everything aquatic and living, slanted exhibits about the looming nature of global warming, some seemed a bit behind the actual data but hey they have a lot invested in caring for the creatures the God created long ago.

There were many children there, Mia, Kallie, Timothy, Keanna and Raymond and Lea's two little ones so that made the day much more interesting.  Keeping an eye on little ones who are mobile, bright and motivated presented us all with a real challenge.  What great kidos.  Not all were happy at the same moment and they splashed their way through exhibits where they could touch the water, stared at the amazing creatures behind the glass, played, napped and were all very tired by the time we left.  Every hour and a half all day I walked a few blocks to move Nikki's car to a new location and in doing so avoided having to pay for parking.

Once we left we joined up again at the Whole Enchilada, a 30 year old place on the way back to Watsonville.  The food was good but the service was very slow, it ended up taking about 2 hours to get our food, get it down, keep the kids on target and finally get the check and head home.  Nikki dropped me off at Jason and Jo's and then headed home in her trusty Pilot.  A couple hours later she texted that there was fog but she was safely home.

What fun to see the kids sitting together, playing together, growing much faster than a Pappa would like.  Mia was a great little gal today.  She took in the sights with wide eyes and seemed to enjoy everything around her.

Once I was back at the motorhome I went back in to play with Timothy a bit more.  After he went to bed he asked for me.  When I stuck my head in the door he asked if I cold stay the night in my motorhome with Starr so he could see me in the morning again.  Well that sealed the deal and I'm staying tonight.  No reason not too, the bed is warm, Starr is ready to sleep and this way I'll get to enjoy the kiddos a bit more in the morning before I head home.  I've been told that tomorrow is a holiday anyway but I have things to write up at home.

As many of you know who follow the blog I'm not all that jazzed about living alone, at having to go forward without my wonderful friend and companion for the past 37 years.  But at moments like today where I am surrounded by active and caring little ones and their parents life really glows again.  I have no idea what the future holds for me, I trust God has a much better idea than I do but I am eternally grateful for the family I am blessed with.  This has been a great day and even though we all ended up tired it was a day for the history books for our family.  I love all of you, family and friends.

Love

tim

At MBA again

Dear Family and Friends,
I've just back into the motorhome after walking Starr.  Outside the night was pleasant with a glorious sky filled with stars and the moon while in the distance breakers were crashing on the sandy shore.  It is a beautiful night and I feel the peace surrounding this place.

First came the walk this morning in the damp foggy air and then a lovely warm shower.  From there the day took a dip, when I arrived to pick up the kiddos the orange fuel light had come on in the bug so I was caught in a quandary, do I chance it to drive to Tracy and arrive on time to Sabbath School or do I do the prudent thing and go buy fuel.  Turned out the question was to be answered in another way.  As I opened the door for Kallie to get into the back seat I discovered that her safety seat was not there, it was in the van at home in the garage.  And as I loaded the girls up I managed to overlook the diaper bag Nikki had placed in my way before leaving.  So it was back to the house to pick up the van.  Then we drove to Tracy using the back roads and arrived nearly 25 minutes late.  It was when I was unloading Kallie that I discovered the missing diaper bag.  I prayed that she would not need one until I got her back home.

We hurried into the church and the girls found their respective rooms.  Kallie had a great time with Kim leading out.  She really loves the program, the activities and the snacks at the end.  Keanna was creating things under Pat's direction and had fun.

We left after the program was over and drove to McDonalds where happy meals filled the empty stomachs as we drove back home.  Kallie had not needed a diaper change and I was able to deliver the girls safe and sound in time for the party they were attending this afternoon.

I then drove back home and began to load up the motorhome.  That only took a little bit and I was able to begin the journey to Jason and Jo's home.  As I drove into the driveway Timothy appeared on the porch and smiled from ear to ear.  He came down and hung out in the motorhome for a bit, gave Starr and treat and glanced through my new Car and Driver magazine.

Soon we were inside and greeting Mia who has grown so much.  What a precious little tyke.  Timothy and i played cars and I was able to read a couple books.  All of us were pretty sleepy so now the four of them are all sleeping and I'm about to head to bed once I finish this blog entry.

All of us who are fortunate enough to have families and loved ones know on a deep level just how special it is to be able to spend time observing, chatting, eating and enjoying the fruits of relationships.  There is nothing I would rather do than be with my family.  And due to being married so many years to Nan I feel very close to all her family as well.  People caring about people, God's great gift to us all.

Love to each and every one of you,

Tim

Its a wrap

Well here we are, Friday night and another week in the history books.  As I reflect back there are a few high points that come to mind.  First off its great when Keanna comes to visit and its great when Timothy calls to say hi.  Its always nice when orders arrive and even nicer when they get paid for.  One special high point is the helpful and joyful visit of Sylvia yesterday.  It was so much fun and so helpful.  This is a lady with great humor, totally organized, brilliant and a great friend.  Oh that everyone could be so fortunate to have a friend like we all have in Sylvia.

I've seen some nice places this week but that is par for the appraisal course.  I usually see a few decent places each week.

I'm considering driving down to visit Jason and Jo tomorrow.  Plans are still up in the air at this point but I know for sure I'll take the girls to SS in the morning in Tracy and then decide what comes next.  I would love to see Timothy and Mia.  They are so cute and precious, a great reminder of what is really important in this life.

So I may be blogging from the motorhome at MBA tomorrow night, it would be fun to enjoy the sunshine there with the family.

Well for now I'm wishing each of you a great weekend and this time for many its a long weekend so that will be extra enjoyable.

Love to all

Tim

Sylvia, the organizer

Dear Family and Friends

So here it is late again and I'm still up.  I need the whole house on a timer and at 9 pm it just turns off.  But until that I'll just have to figure out how to start new habits that are more healthy.

Ken and trudged around the lake this morning in the cold, chilly wind.  Then I set to work knowing Sylvia was coming.  Having a guest you respect really is a good motivation to tidy up a bit.  First the tree went to the back deck, then the floor was swept and the recliner restored to its rightful place.  I miss the tree mostly because it was decorated by the girls and Nikki.  It was festive and cheery.

Once Sylvia arrived I had completed an appraisal and shipped it out.  Then whirlwind Sylvia arrived with bags of goodies, plans and energy of a teenager.  She taught me how to make the vegetable soup I've been planning on making and it turned out so good.  I was amazed as she just kept pouring in spices from little bottles I had unopened.  I have soup for several days on hand now.  Yea!

We discussed what actually happens in my business file wise and then she made suggestions and we threw away piles of old dusty papers and unused stuff.  She is pretty good at throwing away stuff.  Then she sat to work creating boxes to hold files and devised a system to keep them in order once I get caught up with the loose files.

Finally at 5:30 she cashed it in and drove away.  She did a whole lot of good in her time here.  She always does.  I feel like I'm a native in some backwards village and she the missionary comes to visit and introduces me to all the modern ways.

How encouraging to be on the receiving end of this kind of loving help.  She truly is amazing.

So now its time to close the book on this day and move to the next one.  Our weather was lousy today with wind, rain, cold and gloom everywhere, but inside we had a happy day.

So good night my family and friends,

Love to all,

Tim

Vit. E the natural way today

Dear Friends and Family,

After days of dark, gloom, rain, cold, wind the sun came out today.  Ken and I walked this morning in spite of a very painful heel, then it was blessed shower time which felt so good.  My morning schedule was so tight I had no time to eat.
I left and using back roads arrived at my 9 am appointment 10 minutes early.  Everything went smoothly and the two very vicious sounding dogs turned out to be just curious, still it takes some guts to turn your back on a Pitt bull and do your job.
Once I had the Pittsburg job completed I turned to Union City.  This one was just a drive by and it went very smoothly.  While I had taken a cutie to eat, a nut and oat bar and a Starbucks Mocha I still was pretty hungry as I drove back to the bay.  The GPS told me I had a couple minutes to catch a burrito.  Of course as I neared the end of the burrito I hit a trove of onions which nearly turned my stomach inside out.  I decided to drive right back through the drive thru lane and complain so I ended up with the right burrito which I ate on my way home.
Upon arriving at home I discovered that two checks had arrived today.  They totalled $1,450 which will certainly help the bank account.  I quickly prepared a deposit and then drove back to pick up her highness Ms Keanna.  As usual she came out dragging her heavy pack and with high energy, lots of things to report and excitement in her eyes.  We did our drive through at McDs and then the deposit.  Keanna is learning about checking accounts, deposits, banks etc.  Must be interesting through her eyes.
Once we got home I went to work on a report and she went to work on the DVR, her new shows and doing homework.  I prepared popcorn and washed some grapes for her.  She played quietly and did her work and only once split the air with some serious screams.  Turns out I had a wasp that had landed near her and she was having none of it.  She has the lungs.
Nikki came at 4:30 or so and collected the child and then it grew quiet again.  What a huge blessing it is to have the opportunity to see and help with the kidos.  Mid afternoon the phone rang and it was Timothy and with his mother's help he just wanted to say hello and that he loved me, he wanted to come over and I told him we would get together soon.  What a nice way to spend the afternoon, chatting with some very precious little ones.
This evening I've sort of cleaned the kitchen a bit since Sylvia is coming to help organize the file management system.  For years Loree took care of everything, she was wonderful and very careful with details but since work is so slow I've not been able to have Loree work in the office, lack of funds.  The stacks of files are growing deeper and since Marilyn went home this summer they have seemed to blossom everywhere.  So Sylvia is riding her white horse tomorrow to come to the rescue, well actually a dark green Odyssey.

This afternoon I called Marilyn who lives in  Rhode Island.  Amazingly she related that they had 17 inches of new snow just today and were expecting more.  She said that pretty much everything had come to a halt, no school, streets were being plowed but they were warm and comfortable in their little mansion on the corner.

So that's it, this time I did not forget to blog and as the evening progresses I'm thinking of going to bed early.

I'm really working on border line blues these days.  I've sort of slipped off the Weight Watcher wagon though not eating anything that bad, the pizza last night was over the top, should have stopped with the first piece.  There was a time when I could stop at one and of course I weighed 150 pounds back there too.

I received an encouraging email from the rep at my home loan company.  She said not to give up, that it can take a long time.  I was glad to hear from her, it was great.

So good night family and friends,

You are worth your weight in gold, which means by today's gold prices you are really valuable.

Love

tim

Did I forget something............

Dear Attentive Readers,
It appears as if I happened to forget something last night, like writing the blog.  This might not be a good sign of my mental state.  While I was soaking away in the jetted tub all thoughts of writing the nightly episode slipped from my mind and I kept wondering why I was in bed so early.  Well now we know.

Today has been uneventful other than its just way too cold.  I know there are many other colder placer but this is California and to be cold day and night gets old fast.  I will tell you this that having a fire sure helps, its a place to put wet things to dry, to back up to to warm up and to find the animals who know where to get warm.  I took out a pile of ashes yesterday as it had been days since the fire had really been out.

This afternoon having seen the IPHONE warning about upcoming rain I decided that when I completed a report I would head out and move wood.  Would you believe that as I walked out of the garage the rain started.  Lousy timing for sure.  I started moving loads of wood to the pile but by now the pile is so high that is probably is dangerous, it could easily fall down.  I stopped to search for the new tarp I know I own but was unable to locate it in the maze I call a garage.  But I did find what Nan and I called Puppy Pads, that is huge pads with a waterproof side and the other side is absorbing material.  The pack has been here since Nan needed them for the bed under various medical devices that tended to leak at times.  So I opened the package and placed them end to end on the stacked wood pile to keep the rain off.  Then I drove to town to get a real tarp so I'm ready if it starts to rain a lot.

Wanting to fill the wood holder on the back deck by the family room door I discovered that if I filled the cart about half full I could get it up over two sets of steps and to the right place on the back deck.  Now that device is filled with wood, the stack is very high and I still have more wood to find a place for, meanwhile it is covered with vinyl table clothes I found that used to live in the motor home.  Sometimes inventions happen through need.  The wood pile in the driveway looks real festive now.

In a few minutes I'll go have pizza with Ray and Lois, tonight I think that will be more fun than another depressing weigh in at Weight Watchers.  I'm not quite ready to get fully back on the wagon.  However for lunch today I discovered some frozen vege chicken pieces and decided to give them a try.  First you brown both sides of the large chicken piece and then you add water, cover and cook on low for a few minutes.  I mixed it with brown rice and it was very good.  I topped the meal off with some Concord grapes.  So excellent.

More orders came in today for which I am very thankful.  I'll see one at 9 in the morning and then see another one on the way back to pick up Keanna at school.  Is it Wednesday all ready?  Hard to believe.

I've included a photo of the wood pile taken just now from over the fence.  It gives you an idea of just how much wood a cord is.  Jerry told me the dimensions but I can't remember.  It is a whole lot of wood so right now I keep a fire going with no concerns about running out again this year.

There is so much to be thankful for and in spite of many uncertainties life is still good.

Love to all,

Tim
ps Same workout as the club but with fresh air thrown in.

Ready or not here it comes..............

Well here comes the new week, frankly I'm not that excited about it, actually I'm not that excited about much right now.  I did enjoy a nice mid afternoon lunch with Nikki today sans kids.  It was nice to be able to talk with her instead of manage the little ones.  We had delightful food at Strings, oh so good, oh to be able to cook like that and create such wonders.  I'd have guests all the time if I could learn how to manage that.

Ken and I walked in 37 degree weather this morning and we could feel it.  I dug out this really nice pair of long underwear so my legs stayed nice and warm for a change.

After the walk was over I drifted back into the house where I built up a really warm fire, made breakfast, toast, eggs, stripples, OJ and a banana.  I tried some new coffee I got last evening at Safeway.  It is supposed to have chocolate flavors but I had to pour it out.  It was truly terrible.  I've yet to make coffee here at home that even comes close to what I get at Mimi's, Olive Garden and of course Starbucks.  Mine is never good,  I just find it really wasteful to put tablespoons of coffee in the pot for a simple cup of coffee.  Any ideas other than just give up.  Now my mocha from the can is great, I love it but its about 75 calories every time and that adds up.

This afternoon I stripped the bed and grabbed every blanket in sight and washed them all.  The washer and dryer have been going for hours but doing a very good job. 

Tomorrow morning I'm to be in Santa Clara at 9 am so I think that means I need to get away from about 7 or so due to the traffic I'll encounter along the way.  Then on the way back I'll do a driveway in San Ramon and try to get to the county courthouse to register my fictitious business name, mine for the company has elapsed and I really don't want anyone else to grab it, plus I can't open a new business account at Chase Bank without having a current business name on file.  Then I'll come on home and start writing things up.

At the moment I have to admit I'm finding life pretty boring.  Short days and long nights, little work to keep me busy so I eat and then eat some more.  Need to break out of this cycle but so far it has not happened.

Love

tim

The Girls go to Sabbath School

Dear Family and Friends,

As I write this evening I'm relaxing with Starr beside me, a very hot fire burning attempting to hold off the falling temperature outside and a past episode of  The Closer on the screen.  Earlier this evening having napped and relaxed this afternoon I ventured outside, located the big vinyl wheel barrow and started in on the cord of walnut wood.  I can now confirm that Oak is a very heavy wood and moving it is much like an evening spent in the gym.  What a rush to haul load after load of firewood from the driveway to its proper location along the eastern fence line where I store my firewood.  I think I have over half of the wood pile moved but I ran out of steam as muscles gradually began to scream and complain.  Gradually it did not feel so chilly outside at all as the sweat formed and then made little rivers down my chest and back.

It has been said that a good stack of wood heats twice, once when you are moving it and a second time when it is burning in the stove.  It is true what they say.

This morning I was able to watch as the VCR came to life at 8 to record a special program on the Hope church channel for Sylvia.  This afternoon I checked the tape and it did record the correct program and it appears to be all in order.  Now I can retain some of the good programs that come on the Christian dish.  I just wish there was a program guide for the system but of course there is not, just too many channels from too many different sources to form a guide.

I was especially interested in programing that came on this afternoon while I was napping.  It was a whole afternoon from Australia with excellent music, very upbeat and nicely done.  Not something I would expect from Australia but then what do I know about church life down under.

This morning I collected the girls into the van at 9.  They came bounding out of the house happy and dressed so cutely.  Keanna read her bible the whole way to church and Kallie kept up a running commentary on whatever came to her mind.  In Sabbath School Kallie took part in many different things Kim had planned.  It was a great program and I so admire Kim for doing this week after week.  This quarter the program is about the boy Jesus and the various activities are ones that really appealed to Kallie.  From lying on the floor with her little mat to putting red lips on the felt board, sharing stick horses and eating snacks it was a fun filled half hour.

We took our chances on Olive Garden and the girls found enough to eat and we had a good time.  Kallie gifted me with a diaper after the meal that reminded me of why parents should be admired, they put up with that stuff all the time, wow.

I wrote to several EHarmony contacts this afternoon, at this point I'm enjoying sharing friendships with several people and learning a lot about the human experience for folks my age who are trying to get back into the game again.  It is not easy.

Ken says we walk at 8 in the morning.  My phone tells me its going to be 29 degrees tonight.  Due to the hard working fire I'm cozy and comfortable right now.  Oak wood puts out heat like you would not believe, I even have the ceiling fan on in the winter direction to spread the heat around.  I'm about to take a stab at making vegetable soup.  Sylvia has helped with the various steps and I think I have the stuff to make it happen so the next step is to just get ready and do it.  I hate to fail so I hope it turns out well.


Good night to each of you faithful readers.

Love

tim

Another week is history

Dear Family and Friends,
Well here we are with the first week of the new year behind us.  Its been pretty much like the last week of last year, tedium mixed with pleasure, friends, meals, clients, uncertainty, negative weather, positive fireside times and several brushes with exercise.

Today found me in Bethel Island at 8 this morning.  Shooting photos through the fog, helping a nice guy who is trying to buy the family home after his dad died, one friendly sister and one very unfriendly sister, same old story.  Human nature is never as fragile as when there is something free after a death, people show their real colors and sometimes what we see is not that pretty.

As soon as I could get away I raced back to the office and joined a seminar on a confernce call with an expert on doing relocation appraisals.  She was originating from the east coast and was very good at what she does.  It was a great way to spend an hour, pure learning.  After using the same forms which were created in 2003 a new form has been introduced for us to use.  It looks like it was created by a committee, its wordy, more challenging and I'm not sure produces a better result but now I realize the motivation behind the form.  Turns out when a company moves an employee they offer a package to intice them to move.  They promise to purchase the employee's current home if it does not sell in a reasonable time.  It offers the guy or gal a chance to relocate without being stuck with two homes.  The company doing the moving, Frito Lay, ATT&T, GM  has two relocation appraisals done by appraisers who are not allowed to speak to each other at all.  They hope we will be within 5% of each other value wise.  We often are since we are using the same comparable pool but if we are more than 5% apart then they order a third appraisal hoping to bridge the gap.  I love doing these appraisals.  They pay very well and for once they really just want the truth.  What is a value that will get the house sold in 120 days.
The seminar helped fill in some of the gaps in my understanding of what the new form is looking for.
After the seminar was over I turned to other work, submitted new forms to the mortgage company that has my own mortgage.  I'm still trying to get a modification and its been almost 6 months.
At 2:37 I picked up Keanna and after a quick stop at McDonalds for a snack (meal) we came home and went back to work on a desk review of a property in Union City and Keanna played in the family room.
This evening I've been enjoying the fire, the Christian Dish programming and at Sylvia's request I've found out how to reconnect the old VCR so I can tape a special program at 8 in the morning which features someone she knows who used to be a pastor in Northern California.  Reaching back in time I was able to remember how to set the clock and then program the VCR to record both programs she would like to see tomorrow.  Now if all goes well the recorder will come on, record and then wait patiently to be viewed later.  Hope hope!  There is a sea of cables behind my TV, cables from two different dish systems, a DVD player, the VCR, the receiver and a CD changer that holds 250 CDs.  All of that equates to a whole lot of cables all competing for the same space.  Somehow it all works well.\

So having made it through this week I'm ready for Sabbath hours and the calming changes they bring.  I get to bring the girls to Sabbath School in the morning.  Keanna was set to try out for a part in Annie in Brentwood but they could not locate a director yet so the trials have been put off for a bit.

Love to all and please continue to pray for Bob and Carrol as they cope with the aftermath of her fall and broken hip.  They need to know we care and we are sending our prayers and love.

Tim

Freezing fingers

Back again,
After a long day I'm finally sitting here with Starr at my side, Dark Blue in on the DVR,  and the fire is unofficially burning on this NO Burn day.  This afternoon as Keanna and I drove along I was trying to make a point to her re: dealing with authority, mainly obeying her mother and father on a regular basis.  I explained to he that I didn't like to obey rules sometimes and to make my point I told her about no burn days and how i could not have a fire burning today since it was a no burn day.  She was understanding fine up to the point where we walked into the family room and there the fire was burning brightly.  Seems the fire I had going last night simmered and finally blossomed this afternoon.  It was really funny, she was terrified that the police would come and bust her Papa so I went over and shut down the draft and of course the flame went out.  She was mollified when there was no more "fire".
This morning I drove to San Ramon and pulled up in front of a huge complicated house.  Inwardly I groaned as it was very cold outside.  I had my favorite Alaska heavy sweater on and pulled a coat on over it.  Then I started to measure this monster, I mean lovely home.  It seemed to take forever and then it would not come together.  I'm told there is a lovely view of the golf course from behind the home, of course it was totally obscured by fog so think I could see nothing.  And then there was the boxer who decided he needed to take a piece out of my leg, I felt his teeth on my ankle but it did not make the full bite before the agent showing the house came and took him and his smaller side kick to the garage.  The home was beautifully decorated inside and was one of those places you could see yourself moving into.  It even had a courtyard with a full fireplace, I wish it had been burning as the longer it took to get the home measured my fingers grew more and more stiff. 
Once I got inside it was warmer and eventually I completed the inspection taking a photo of every room in the house, we do that for relocation appraisals.  Once I was safely back in the car seat I started the engine and fired the heater up to high.  Thawing out I discovered that I was very near to being out of diesel.  I already had 521 miles on the tank so I started to wander about until the Lord delivered me to a nearby Safeway where I filled the tank and consumed a nice hot chocolate.  Finally after shooting my comp photos I turned the little car towards home.
At 2:37 I picked up Keanna at school and she played quietly while I kept at the Clayton appraisal.  It ended up having 10 comparables.  In the old days we used to have just 3 but that just won't cut it anymore.
After emailing the report to the lender on time I joined the girls in Brentwood at a great little Mexican place for dinner.  The food was super and the girls were fun too.
So the day has been an adventure of sorts, freezing fingers, report writing, fire building and looking for work.  The email brought me an order but before I could even set it up they placed a hold on it, not so fun.

At 8 am I have an appointment to see a property out in Bethel Island, a nearby waterfront community that has very few sales.  This one is for a family trying to settle an estate.  I've agreed to see the property and have the report written by the end of the day.  Of course it is COD and the account needs funds like usual so I'm very thankful for the order.  I just hope that I can see the property through the fog in the morning.

I received some very troubling news today from friend Bob in Lodi.  Carrol took a tumble in the kitchen and broke her other hip.  She has already had the repair surgery but she was just recovering from a knee replacement and before that in the fall a broken hip.  They both need our prayers.  Their spirits are really hammered right now.  Enough is enough and this is overload.  Please pray for Bob and Carrol Sorenson, dear friends for many years.  They are brave, loyal and incredible people.

Love to all,

Tim

Living the good life

Dear Family and Friends,
Any of you that need exercise and don't belong to a gym?  I have a great new opportunity for you.  This afternoon Keanna and I went on a search for firewood.  We started our search in hopes of finding a 1/2 cord of Almond and ended up with a full cord of Walnut in the driveway.  Let me tell a full cord is a big stack of wood!  There are many wheel barrows of wood waiting.
This was a Keanna day and I picked her up at 12:45 after shooting comp photos in Clayton in the fog this morning.  This afternoon she did her homework and then watched some TV, munched on popcorn, we checked out the park where they have taken all the children's play equipment away, said it was unsafe, that is after kids played on it for the past 20 years.  They have purchased all new stuff that is PC safe and totally boring.
So here I am with my new cord of fine burning wood and tomorrow is a stupid no burn day.  Nikki sent me an article which stated that there are 70 idiots who roam around tracking down odors including smoke on no burn days.  They can fine someone with a fire burning up to $400 but don't do it until they have issues some warnings.  What a stupid waste of tax payer money, no wonder the state is broke.
This evening when Nikki picked up Keanna she brought Kallie in to visit.  Kallie is so fun, she headed for the play house and the barbies but when she went home she wanted to take them with her, it was a tense moment or two but Keanna saved the day letting her take one Barbie home with her.  It stopped so big tears from rolling down her cheeks.  Nikki happened to mention that I could still make it to spin class.  All day I had thought it was Thursday and thought I had missed spin class.  So after thinking about it for a bit I dressed down, biker shorts and t shirt, sneakers and off to the club.  When I stopped to sign up all the bikes were already signed up for except for 2 and when I got to the room there was someone on the bike I had signed up for.  Well there was another one empty so I jumped on and rode.  What fun, what exhaustion and what a sense of accomplishment once I had finished the session.  The young woman in front of me rode like she were a machine, she never missed a beat, rode fast, rode hard and had muscles that flexed.  I thought what different levels of fitness human beings come in, my level which is obese and trying and she fit, lean and strong.  Of course since it is the beginning of the year there are lots of people who have decided to do better and they filled the room.  One poor boy of about 12 gave up about half way through and left.  He looked very tired and his face was red.
Once the sessions was over I walked to the car and started home.  On the way I called both my brother and my sister.  My sister Sibyl is still in the hospital.  She said she went in on the 22nd and so spent both Christmas and New Years in her hospital bed.  That was so sad.  She was in great spirits and is enjoying the results of having a lot of fluid pulled from her body with lacix.  Now she is considering having the surgery to bypass the majority of her stomach.  All of her doctors are on board agreeing that it would be very beneficial to her.
I woke this morning to got walking in the icy morning air.  Ken and I nearly froze in the 32 degree temperatures and felt the cold over the entire walk.  When I returned and was preparing for my shower I happened to look in the mirror and discovered my left eye was filled with a broken blood vessel.  It was so red that it was a bit scary, by far the worse I've ever seen.  My vision is good but Keanna had a hard time looking into my face, it frightened her.  I'm not sure what happened but I think it might have been caused by a combination of my existing medicines with a new one Jim gave me to deal with the heel pain.
Well its time for bed now.
Why the good life?  Well its not bad really and tonight I have the memory of Keanna, Kallie and Nikki visiting, of a huge pile of firewood in the driveway, of a gradual improvement in how I feel and of having survived yet another spin class.
Love to all,

Tim

Winter doldrums

Good evening,
Its 9:45 and I'm tired of being cold but the sunshine today was nice for a change.  Starr and I ventured out this afternoon to snatch the mail and walk about.  She enjoyed the chance to sunshine and the chance to stretch her legs.
This morning Ken and I walked in the cold, dark, damp morning air.  I'm not sure how much help that is to the lungs but I do enjoy the return to the house where it is warm and a hot drink waits.  No matter what we did the cold crept in around the scarf, gloves, parka, hat.  It was just cold but of course to be fair it was only about 34 degrees, not really cold like some of you experience.
I stoked the fire when I returned and heard Starr complaining.  This morning she was sleeping so soundly under the covers that I left her on the bed while I was walking.  She was very ready to get up once I returned and voiced her complaints.
This morning I tuned into XM and connected to the classical channel so I enjoyed lovely music all morning as I worked.  I brought the appraisal for Pleasanton to a conclusion and emailed it out.  A phone call changed the day as an appraisal I had to finish today was cancelled so I'll just be paid an inspection fee.  Oh well.  This afternoon I decided on comparables that need to photographed in Clayton and surrounding areas.  However before I could get them shot the day got away from me so I just drove to Brentwood to the Weight Watchers meeting.  I was amazed to find the room packed to the walls with many many people, many were signing up for the first time and others of us were there to check in.  It was a mess really, not enough chairs and of course my day was spoiled by a defective scales, well at home it was 216 and there it was 222.  Now can clothes weigh that much?  Of course there were those 3 burritos I made and many other tasty items during the day.
After the Weight Watchers meeting was over I went to my health club.  Its the first time in a while and after 5 of the machines I didn't feel so well so I quit.  My body was not up to the task and when I walked to my car I didn't feel so well.  My blood sugar was very low and I was glad to make it home.
I stoked the fire, checked emails and then created a plate of food with some vege steaks as the base and covered them with freshly cooked Lima beans, corn and some tomatoes.  The meal was very tasty.
I certainly am praying for orders.  I'm coping with having almost no orders.  At the moment I have a new relo order which I will see on Thursday.  They pay very well and I also have a new order for a property in Santa Clara.  That one pays very well too.  So its not like I'm out of work but I'm not dealing with the volume of work I need to keep the bills paid.  Many of you know first hand what I am talking about, a shortage of funds or job uncertainty.  We are headed into a declining economy again, rates are up for loans, unemployment is up sharply in many cities, foreclosures continue to hit people and this government knows nothing about job creation.  There is no one in the current administration that has ever had to meet a payroll or run a business.  How we need new blood.  I have great hopes for the new congress, perhaps someone will care about the huge whole the government is spending us into.
Yet in spite of everything that is happening we have each other, we have friends and family to relate to and enjoy.  Tomorrow I'm going to start teaching Keanna piano lessons when she comes, its just a little thing but she has been asking, what a golden opportunity to use the 6 ft Kawai for a good purpose.
So tonight I'm sending mixed messages, not all is well financially but health wise I'm gradually feeling better and better, still have chest congestion, nasal congestion, some coughing and a lot of heel pain on my left leg but I find life pretty good.  Not great, I could not begin to say that but OK.
I so often long for a chance to sit on a park bench with our Lord and just fellowship, understand what His will is, how He would like to use me.
This evening my friends Art and Connie are at their southern home in Indio.  They traveled there yesterday through winds, rain and even had to detour due to Highway 5 being closed due to snow. Talk about adventure!  The Lord blessed them with a safe trip.
So I extend my love to you all this evening,

Tim

Still on cruise control

Good evening
Once again it is nearing the time for sleep.  A nice thing happened today, well actually several nice things.  First one is a chance to help with Keanna on Friday afternoon and take her to a special gymnastic session at Black Diamond.  That will be great and will get me back in the area at a decent hour on Friday afternoon which has been a goal of mine for some time.  Secondly Ray and I got to play with wood toys today.  He has this really great wood splitter which is driven by long handles that you pump and then the ram pushes the wood into a sharp wedge and the wood splits.  Sometimes it sort of explodes when the pressure gets too high.  It is totally a great piece of equipment.  We also played with his gas chain saw but there was a lot of smoke from the chain.  Not sure if it was just because the wood was so hard or the chain was not oiling enough.  Wish I knew more.  Then this evening at dusk I decided to take Starr out front for some exercise in the front yard.  Patty, my long time friend from the grief group was driving by, she saw me and came back.  We then proceeded to talk for a very long time about life in general.  Meanwhile Starr found her legs better than at any point in days, chased a boy on a bicycle, wandered into yards on both sides of mine and eventually came back to sit beside us while we talked.  She had a blast so everyone won.
The mail was good to me today, it brought a check from Trimavin, a management company.  Then the email turned kind as well.  A simple message said that 360 Mortgage had deposited $890 into my Paypal account.  Well that was great news.  Knowing the money was coming allowed me to make the Honda payment and take care of some smaller things as well.  Meanwhile I tried my hand at browning some whole wheat tortillas and then sprinkling Cheddar cheese that had been grated and add in some pinto beans.  It turned out pretty tasty but a bit more crunchy than I would like.  Not sure how to keep them soft like at Taco Bell.  I did learn that with frequent turns both sides will brown nicely.
I had a most interesting experience with EHarmony.  A person who has been communicating with me and lives nearby reacted negatively when I mentioned I was a Seventh-day Adventist.  I've learned to get that information out early as some people who attend churches which are not SDA tend to really have a strong reaction to my being one.  Best to get it out there early in the process.  She said she knew nothing of SDAs so looked in Wikipedia, somehow I doubt one gets the real full essence of ones church from that source.  She was concerned that there was no dancing, no popular music, basically no fun.  My that is certainly different than how I feel about my church.  So I wrote back explaining about Loma Linda Medical School being one of the best in the nation, about our educational system being the largest other than the Catholic system, about how Adventists tend to live much longer than the normal citizens and about how much we like to help people medically or in whatever area they need help.  It was a fun exchange and I've just read her response.  She's not dated for 16 years and is pretty terrified about the whole process but feels led by her Lord to move ahead,  very interesting!

So now its time to shut down the lights and end production for the day.  One of these days I'll have to start working again.  I feel much better now, nearly well again and I've got to think all the rest has helped, that and a very cold and damp 3 mile walk with Ken the drill master this morning.  Let me tell you a hot drink sure tastes and feels good after the time out there in the elements, brrrr.

Sending love to all, I got a wonderful clip today of Mia smiling and happy.  Wish I could share it but I don't know how to do that yet in a blog.  I'm sure that it can be done and then you would just click on it and you could watch a very cute baby do her thing.

Love

tim

The Winter Chill

Dear Ones,
Tonight marks the ending of one of the least productive days work wise I've ever had.  Frankly I've done NO work all day.  I've taken naps with Starr under the little Alaska blanket on the love seat several times, I've had numerous mocha drinks and this morning I started with a cup of decaf Kona blend that ended up tasting pretty good.
Mid morning I ventured out into a rainy and windy morning to drive to Modesto where I brunched with my friend Sharon.  It was a perfect encounter, the food was perfect, Sharon was in a great mood fresh from a day of painting as she transfers her new home from bland to spectacular.  At the moment she has 5 different colors painted on her walls as she tries to decide which is just the right color.  Sharon is a very pleasant soft spoken lady who I grown to know through EHarmony.  She works long hours as a part of a GI team at a Modesto hospital and is often on call in addition to her normal hours.  I really enjoyed our time spent in sharing what is happening in each of our lives.  I was able to show her photos of the kiddos and even snapped one of her in the process.
Once I arrived back home I was tired so found more time to nap and enjoy the warmth of the ever glowing fire.  Early evening I made some open faced cheese sandwich's which I decorated with small cherry tomatoes cut in half.  At Food Max I was able to buy a whole little basket of these delicious tomatoes for $1.00.  What a treat for the middle of the winter.  There is something very unfortunate happening outside.  My precious wood pile is just about depleted.  Keeping a fire going takes it toll on the wood stack so tomorrow I'll start to search for a new source of more wood.
You know in some ways I find life so confusing right now.  Of course there are mixed emotions swirling around the Christmas and New Years holidays with family so precious and alone time to tedious.  I've never been very good about satisfying myself with my labors, I enjoy feed back, ideas, challenges but I'm not good at creating my own scenarios from which I can derive pleasure.  I don't like going solo and as I remember back I came to the point where I enjoyed doing duets more than doing solos.  There is something so special about blending two human minds, ideas, emotions into one outcome.  It is richer, more melody filled, more far reaching than a solo.
Do you like to go it alone? Or do you prefer to join hearts and hands together?

There is something so special about two people living their own lives to the fullest yet under one roof where at times they can do joint ventures.  I'm thinking that the world I grew up in where the man was the final authority figure and tended to be the boss never really worked that well for women usually are the ones that really make good thing happen, they tend to have the wisdom and ability to come to important decisions more quickly than men, yet we need each other.

Well my family and friends, its time to move on with this non productive day.  I have a fire to watch and some sugarless cookies that need attention!

Love

tim

Resting

Dear Family and Friends,
Its late so I'll not write a big entry tonight.
Ken and I had planned to walk but we got rained out.  Then I just fell asleep under a little blanket with Starr at my side.  Finally I got up, showered and drove to Tracy for the Worship Service.  I didn't make it for much of the service and then slipped away to Olive Garden for Soup and Salad.  It was incredibly good.  I then drove home, rested the afternoon away until Steve came with his friend and we loaded up the reef tank.  Now I need to paint the wall where the tank stood.  I'm very glad Steve has the tank but once again I was caught by a pang of regret over the chapter where Nan loved her tank coming to a close.  I'm glad the tank is out and if it can help Steve in any way that is a good thing.
This evening a friend came and we watched a funny video and chatted like good friends do, the fire was wonderful and kept the room warm and cozy.
Now I'm heading to bed because task master Ken wants us to walk in the freezing cold wind in the morning. Then its off to brunch with a friend in Modesto.
I'm gradually feeling better, slightly but so much nasal congestion to cope with.  Last night when I went to bed I remembered that I had washed my breathing mask in the dishwasher.  Well it had not dried at all so had to go to sleep with some very soggy straps leaking water down my neck.  NOT fun at all.
If rest helps a person get well then I should be healed by now.
How is your new year going so far?  Mine is pretty much like the old year so far.
I've been thinking about the value of friends today, between friends and family I feel very blessed, yes even rich.
Love

tim