World Travelers return

Dear Family and Friends,

What a great weekend.  Last evening I got to have dinner with the girls, then caught up with Steve who was enjoying time with his friends, they often gather on Friday nights.  This morning I took stock of the day and decided to drive to MBA.

I wasn't sure when Jason and Jo would return but I just decided to go visit the kiddos and their caretakers, Julie and Clayton.  I encounters severe weather on the way, high winds, heavy rains and as much challenge as California weather can throw at a little car. 

I was glad to arrive and discovered that the power had been out for a couple hours.  So after greeting the kiddos Clayton and I went to Watsonville to get take out chinese from the Golden Dragon and pick up a few things from Nob Hill Foods.  Then it was back home where after a few minutes the lights came back on.

We enjoyed a very good lunch and the kids did such a great job of eating.  Julie and Clayton have really done a great job caring for the children over the 10 days Jason and Jo were gone.

Our travelers were tired but very happy to see their little ones.  The kids just could not get enough of their parents and enjoyed the gifts that kept popping out of the suitcases.  It was a happy time.

About 6:30 I started on my journey home and before long the weather was really bad again, not so much wind as just a lot of rain.  But here I am now safe and sound and there was money in the mail today!

Now tomorrow I'll have to settle down and get some serious work done.  There are many orders that say that they are due on Monday.  Plus I have to deliver the motorhome to a Pittsburg address where people will live in it for 2 days while their rental home is tented and processed for termites.  I'm being paid well for the rental and I hope it all works out well for the people.  Just wish it was not raining as the motorhome has been know to leak a bit here and there!!

Well its bed time now and up early to work tomorrow.  I have felt God's blessings this weekend and I'm thankful.

Love to all

Tim

A Varied Friday

Good evening
Its started with the alarm at 6, roll out, shower, breakfast and office.  Then it was research the three properties for the day.

Eventually it was time to start the little diesel and rattle out and down the road.  How I appreciate that little car.  This morning was yellow light time, that is when the fuel is down to about a gallon.  So even though I was starting late I stopped at Safeway for $4.30 diesel.  The car had 565 miles on the tank and I spent about $54 filling it, count it up, that's less than .10 a mile, not bad for these times and in solid comfort, XM radio, Ipod for books, water for sipping, Starbucks for waking up and plenty of power to keep up with traffic.

My first stop turned out to be very interesting.  A lovely young woman met me at the door with her Mercedes coup in the driveway.  She and her husband are Iranian but met in San Jose.  Three years ago they purchased this Glen Cove area of Vallejo home near the straits.  It was totally bare inside and out.  Now it burst with color, new paver sidewalks and patios, terraces, fruit trees loaded with citrus and a large chicken house with special chickens.  I had such fun inspecting the home and my client was so proud of her husbands work.  While we were in the backyard she cried out in anger, there up on the top of the fence between her back yard and an open area was a opossum looking at us.  They are not friends.

As I left she packed up eggs for me to take and they now rest in the frig in my kitchen.  What a special visit with Persian rugs everywhere, lots of evidence of updating work, just a great visit.

Once I was through with this neighborhood I set the GPS for San Francisco.  There I found a totally different kind of house.  Two story with both sides constructed with about 1 inch of air space between they and the neighbors, very interesting and the two teens showed me through the home.  Once I left San Francisco I then headed to Antioch and amazingly the traffic was good even over the Bay Bridge, through the Caldicot Tunnel and Highway 4.

This little home was a gift to the young couple three years ago when they got married.  They have been doing their magic on the place and its coming along nicely.  Once I left that final inspection for the day I went by and Amber cut my hair.  What a great job she does.  Then I talked to Nikki and enjoyed dinner with she and girls at Bethel Island at La Villa.  Super food and fun times with the girls.  Did I mention that my phone is dead this evening, games wore it down.

Tomorrow I may just climb out and drive down to see Timothy and Mia and Julie and Clayton.  Not sure yet how I feel.  I'm so tired and wiped out from the week.  I know Jason and Jo get back tomorrow but I'm not sure when.  I'll check all this out in the morning.  right now BED.

Love to all,  thank you Lord for watching over all of us this week.  guide us every step as we try to live loving lives for you and for each other.

Tim

Good Thursday evening

I'm told I failed to produce an epistle last night, shame on me.  You see I had worked just about 16 hours straight and after completing a difficult relocation report I just fell in bed.  I honestly thought I had blogged but obviously I had not as my brother and friend Karen both reminded me of the error of my ways.

Today has been yet another whirlwind.  By 8 I was in Stockton inspecting a short sale, then on to Brentwood to inspect an incredibly nice place with pebbletec pool, waterfalls etc.  Then it was back to the office to work up some things Steve had written between 9:30 and 2 am. Talk about dedication.

All too soon I ran out of time trying to learn how to create a special document on the San Jose MLS board.  When I left I still was running in circles and their help department wasn't much... They tried.

I drove to Pleasant Hill and searched for 20 minutes for an obscure condo development.  I finally found it and found some grown up hippies, all doing very well but with a highly unusual living model.  Here is this condo project, they look just like townhomes.  Their heat and hot water comes from a common boiler at the end of each building, they have a common garden plot, a meeting building with large meeting hall, kitchen, small den, two apartments for guests, kids room, teen room, pool and a while lot more.  Turnover in the development is very low so there are no sales since last spring and nothing else like it in the whole area.  So what do I do for comps for this one?  I've done one years ago and remember pulling my hair out over it then too.

So I limped home without shooting any comps, stopped by CostCo, oops the food is still in the car, and now I'm home trying to work but dead tired.  Tomorrow morning I hit the ground running again by going to Vallejo, then San Francisco and back to some other place with mean dogs or not!

The one thing that makes this week really positive is enough money in the bank to stop worrying for a week or so.  Finally the mail lady has been nice this week.  Keanna was here that day and she called me to tell me that lots of checks had arrived.  It made us both happy.

Well I'm signing off now, love to all and please join me in prayer for my family tomorrow.  Jason and Jo are flying home from Paris and Steve and Nikki face their own challenges.  We all need to pray for one another.

Love


tim

Slow day before the storm

Good evening

I woke before the alarm this morning and was so hungry and even weak.  Breakfast helped a bit but my blood sugar was not low, can't fully understand why the weakness other than advanced age!

I was set to walk out the door to drive to an appointment when the lady called to say she was ill and going to the doctor.  So I regrouped and took a healthy deposit down to the bank and went to Brentwood for a few comp photos, phone rang and it was client, could not see doctor, could I come after all.  So I restarted my plans and was there at 12:10.  I found one of those places that a few years ago was a dump but the present owners have just done everything to the entire property, pool is perfect, pavers are in, flowers are blooming, interior is updated, I just want to say to people like that, good job.  You've made the whole area better for your investment and dreams.

By the time I finished up I was so hungry and weak so I went to Spaghetti Factory.  They know how to deal with weak there!  Senior citizen portion of whole wheat pasta but the bread got me along with the dish of ice cream.  Wow I felt different once I left than when I arrived.

Home to put in orders, many of them, so many due on the 2nd.  Wow how can I do all this?  Help!

And they are located in SF, Vacaville, Stockton, Livermore, Pleasant Hill, Brentwood - some driving coming up I think.

So now its bed time, love to all, how I treasure hearing from you.  Please keep my family in your prayers. Jason and Jo will be heading home on Friday I think and we are all trying to survive this winter with all its challenges.

Love to all,

Tim

Another long one

Good evening,
So glad to be back home.  Left this morning after finishing a desk review only to be blocked when I tried to submit it to the lender, bummer.  Drove to Castro Valley, enjoy meeting some really sweet people with a cute place, then on to Berkeley where I found a work in progress, pretty amazing what people do.  The drove to San Jose to see a perfect property both outside and in. 

At that point I turned to Highway 17 and drove to MBA to see the kiddos. Mia was already down for the night but Timothy was up and we had a great visit.  Julie and Clayton are doing a super job of caring for the kiddos but are axiously awaiting the return of Jason and Jo this Sabbath afternoon.  They both look tired but are doing a great job.

Now I'm worn out, have driven about 250 miles today, have been blessed with safety, saw some nasty accidents and was able to drive by and keep going.

Today was a banner day, money actually came in so tomorrow I can pay the house payments, yea, thank you Lord for that!

Love to all,

Tim

Snow Country

One thing about this job, every day offers something new!  Today it was driving up into an area where last night and this morning snow was falling.  I was even a bit concerned that I might encounter it on the road but the roads were wet but clear of snow.

I found a very nice place, set in mature trees, hand constructed and in good condition.  The father had passed away in December and was a pretty amazing guy, life time military, wood working craftsman with a full shop of tools, love parent and all around good guy.  Now the family must decide how to settle the estate and an appraisal was needed.  I enjoyed my time with the older of the three children and found out they had driven up from Brentwood.  Amazingly the comparables I had found were all within a few blocks so once I was through with the home the comps were quick and easy. 

Once through with the work my condition told me I needed to locate food and soon.  So I asked my faithful GPS to find lunch.  The first place it found was also located in Pollock Pines and it was long closed up tight, the second looked inviting but a warning on the door sent me back to my car, no credit cards or ATM but checks were welcome.  The third place was perfect.  It was a burger joint but they gladly made me a garden burger, it was great, filled with shredded lettuce, got to learn how to do that and sweet potato fries.  That was my second and last time to enjoy those.  I had two huge diet cokes in real coke glass filled with ice, they kept filling it.  That was good at the time....

As I started down the mountain to Sacramento it became more and more apparent that I would need a restroom, could I hold out for the one off Florin Road?  Sure, but then I took the wrong exit and wandered through a neighborhood becoming more and more desperate.  Finally I found the Burger King and all was well.

The entire day involved about 250 miles and a lot of boring driving but with XM radio and an ipod loaded with good books I managed just fine.  All day long the diesel prices were $4.49 so I just purchased a couple gallons and got home.  My own Safeway had the best prices of the day and with discount I paid just $4.30 so I felt good about that.

Tomorrow I'm off to Castro Valley, Berkeley and then San Jose.  If I feel up to it I'll slip over the mountain and see the kiddos and Julie and Clayton for awhile.

Right now its bedtime, long day, had those traveling mercies I spoke about for which I'm grateful.

Sending love to all and lets make this a week of getting those things done we have been putting off.  For me that means a 1 hour phone call to IRS, never fun but can't avoid it any longer.

Tim

A Sad Service

Her name was Jennie, a person I've never met but through her mother and dad I've felt I knew her a bit.  One of two children she was 40 when last Tuesday she died.

This morning Patty and I attended the service for her.  We knew her mom and dad well as they were part of the grief group we attended at the local church.  Pastor Dan led that group and gradually we grew to know each other.  The Tiptons were there because Dave was struggling with Multi meloma and sometimes had great weeks, other times they were terrible.  A fireman all his life he was a man's man and a great guy.  We finally lost him about 7 months ago, then Sandy, his wife had a heart attack a month later and this week her daughter dies, perhaps as a suicide.  Pastor Dan led us through a very remarkable service and openly spoke about how much we need to move beyond what is obvious with each other to hearing what is really happening inside, about how this could possibly been avoided if somehow someone would have known the suffering Jennie was feeling.  The church was packed with so many from the community and it was the right thing to go and be there.

After coming home and finding just one letter in the mail, something worthless I came in and rested for a bit, then baked a potato and along with peas and some other good things enjoyed a real meal.  Late this afternoon I was bored with doing nothing productive.  The Christian dish was fading in and out due to past wind storms and even after I found a long extended pole and pushed on it the service still was not perfect.

So I decided I would try to trim some bushes in the front yard, dump the motorhome tanks, park the motorhome back beside the garage, start the weedeater (never an easy process) and give some attention to my front yard.  Well of course the 4 stroke weedeater did not want to cooperate at all and I discovered a broken line that carried excess fuel back to the tank.  A quick trip to Ace solved that and then it still would not start.  So for the first time in my 63 year old life I used starter fluid.  And after a few cranks it tried to start, then it tried more and finally it came to life.  I was so pleased, felt like I won the lottery.  I quickly used it to trim the edges of the lawn, cut out all stray weeds growing up through the driveway and then I attached the blower and blew it all into the street.  Feeling like I was on a winning streak I pulled out the lawn mower and it started on the first pull.  Quickly the front lawn was knocked down and tonight as it rains everything looks much better.  I am so sore from actually doing something but its a very good sore!  I think you know what I mean.

During the day I heard from Nikki who was driving back with the girls up Highway 99.  They were hoping to stop and see friends but I've not heard. I do know they were all looking forward to sleeping in their own beds tonight, hotel beds are different.  But they got to visit their Grandmother and ride her ponys, stay the night there and that is a very important part of the trip.

Tomorrow morning I'm driving to Pollock Pines and I'm hoping that there is not snow falling up there.  I'm doing one of those personal appraisals for a private individual and it will be cash at the time of inspection.  It will be a nice adventure and I pray for traveling mercies as we used to say, I like that term.

Patty and I talked about some of our religious journey today and we both decided that knowing how to love like Jesus is the bottom line of being connected to Heaven.  Yes there are rules for living, commandments which protect us from sadness and pain but most importantly is caring for individuals whether family or friends with genuine compassion and love.

Once again tonight I urge you to reach out in your own ways to those you love, those around you and hold them, listen to them, support them and let them know you are in their corner, that you have their back in this very crazy and fast paced world.

Love to all,

Tim

At Home again

Dear Family and Friends,

At long last Friday night has arrived.  The fire is burning, the hot chocolate is finished and bed time is approaching.

This evening I heard from Patty, my dear neighbor, who told me a very tragic story.  A friend of ours from the grief group who just lost her husband a short time ago and has had a string of bad things happening, her own recent heart attack and such lost her daughter this week through taking her own life.  So Patty and I will attend a service tomorrow at 11 in the local church in support of our friend.  There are such awful things happening in this world all around us.  Oh that our Lord could come.

I've spent the day on the road.  I left this morning for Pinole and inspected a home there.  The wife was a Russian bride, it was easy to tell due to the accent and what she shared. She was beautiful and has two children, happily married and was a delight.  So there is an option!

Then it was on to see a place in Richmond.  Now Richmond is not that safe, lots of really bad people roaming the streets, one is always glad to be driving out of town.  Well this time it was an enclave of nice two story homes on several streets, carved out of lousy neighborhoods and very appealing.  The home was perfect and all the comps were right there in the neighborhood, fenced, some former streets that passed through have been blocked off, a little oasis in the middle of a pretty rough area.

Then it was off to Alamo, a totally different world.  Nice homes, mature trees, wealth everywhere.  A day of contrasts once again.  Finally at about 4 I headed home and have been playing lazy ever since.  i built a fire which was great for all evening and made a stir fry with mushrooms, brown rice, mixed vegetables and a few pieces of vege meat.  The kind I purchased the other day at the conference office has NO taste, Won't be getting anything from that company again, cedar lake or something.

Well now its time for bed and a much deserved rest.

Love to all

Tim

Mustard Inn

Good evening friend and family,

To having just heard from Jason by email from Spain and from Nikki by text and phone call the world seems better.  Jason and Jo are feeling the distance from their little ones, they are literally a world apart right now.  Nikki and the girls have been wearing themselves out at Disneyland today so with little sleep they are getting tired.  Yet it sounded like they were having a good time.  Jason reported that their flight over went very well and the tour group upgraded their hotels throughout the trip so they are enjoying comfort and safety.  He says they have a great tour leader who knows his stuff and does leading all the time.

Meanwhile I've been working in today and getting used to eating a lot less food than in the old days.  Ken and walked this morning and that allowed me to plug in the calories spent walking which made the menu a little larger today.  Now just back from having Subway with Lois, they had soup and the little 6 inch sandwish was so good.  I have about 175 calories left at this point for the day.  I found that boiled eggs have very little calories as does wheat bread and avocado is really low when used a little at a time.  The bread for the sub was a hit at over 200 calories but its wheat and worth it.

Now I'm back and ready to keep working on appraisals, tomorrow is promising to be a big day in the field and Sunday I have to drive to Pollock Pines to see a place for a private individual.

Well thought I would jump on this early tonight and then go back to work.

Love

tim

ps, Mustard Inn, a have a guest staying in the motorhome for a few days.  He is a friend of a neighbor and needed a place to spend the night so why not.

A hard day with a soft landing

Dear Family and Friends,
This has been one of those intense days which I consider a measure of whether I still have it or not.  I do.

This morning at 6 the alarm beckoned, I responded by asking for another hour and rolled out at 7.  Then it was into the tennis shoes, a gift from Nikki and Steve at Christmas, and onto the treadmill.  The program gives me 30 minutes of a pretty good workout with elevations of up to step 5 and speeds up to 3.4 miles an hour.  I use up about 167 calories and the heart rate gets up to 150 but is mostly 112 or so.  What a change takes place from when I stumble onto the machine and when I step off.  I go from cold to warm, from sleepy to alert and ready.

After a quick shower I went down to have a special K breakfast with soy milk.  Then I worked for a bit before leaving to meet Steve at a place at 9:30 locally.  We worked that one and then split up, he to breakfast and I to Antioch for a 10:30 appointment.  Then back to Brentwood for a noon appointment.  The guy started out grumpy but we parted friends, in fact he followed me to my car and talked through the window for a long time.  His wife of 53 years is in the hospital once again and not doing well, he is lonely, scared and filled with angst.

Once I was through there I found a Starbucks as my blood sugar was really low, as I eat less the blood sugar is dropping more and more.  That little drink got me to a new store, Fresh and Easy, a cute little store with lots of good choices of fruits and veges.

Once I got home I waded back into an appraisal but had to leave for Manteca at 4:30.  What a joy it was to meet the people.  Just transferred to Dallas they are hoping for more value than is probably possible, its been that way all day.  Do you know values are the worst I've ever seen right now in nearly every market, the worst in 24 years!  So I tend to break hearts every day with nearly every appraisal, but I'm not paid to be nice, or please people, I'm paid to prove a point, what is the house worth on the day I see it and I base my opinion on what other people have paid recently for their homes nearby.  Its not a perfect science but as close as we can get to solving the riddle of value.

Now I'm home and heading for bed.  So tired. Oh by the way I had enough calories left to dine at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Stockton tonight, of course with the ice cream and salad and bread I'm now over a couple hundred calories but the last two days I've had a hundred or more calories left each day.  The food was great.  I had the senior portion of whole wheat pasta, very enjoyable without stuffing myself.  Oh the bread was good, warm and melted in my mouth.  Wow!

So good night one and all, Jason and Jo are still in the air on a KLM flight to Spain and Nikki is safely tucked into a hotel near Disneyland tonight. 

Love to all,

Tim

Scare

Good evening
Not having Ken to walk with this morning, he is a busy guy with tax season and all I decided to jump on the tread mill for 30 minutes.  I went from sleepy, after all I went to bed at midnight last night when I finished the rush appraisal, to awake and sweating and enjoyed the last half.  Then a good shower and down to breakfast.  With the lose it app in my mind I had a bagel with avocado as a spread and OJ.  Then I made a pot of decaf and went to work.  I've got many conditions cared for and then set up orders that just kept coming in all day, can we say amen to that?  I talked to Nikki several times as she and the girls drove to Steve's mom's house so the girls could catch up with their grandmother, great grandmother and enjoy some rides on the horses.  Tomorrow Nikki will venture into LA for Disneyland for a couple days.  I just pray that they will be safe.

In the morning Jason and Jo fly to Spain for a guided tour of students and parents from MBA.  Jason and Jo are the leaders of the tour and Julie, Jo's mom is watching the kiddos while they are gone.  Suddenly I feel even more lonely than usual.

Right after lunch today I experienced something I've never endured before.  As I came back to my desk I noticed that everything seemed very bright, I couldn't make out what was on the screen and I had to turn my desk lamps off, then it developed into a head ache. Ray was here at the time but together we could not figure out what was going on.  Eventually it got some better and I went to the bank to make a deposit.  The girl behind the desk wondered if it was a migraine as when she gets them her vision gets very bright and blurry.  I had a little mocha and the caffeine seemed to help. 

I was able to come home and finish the report I was working on and this evening I've not been touched by anything so seems like I'm OK.  It was downright scary, I didn't know if I should drive to the ER or lay down or what and of course my online doctor Sylvia is safely tucked away in Panama, I tell you when that girl leaves town things fall apart!

This evening I've been enjoying texting a friend names Sherri.  She is an amazing woman and has endured some real hardships, I admire her a lot on several different levels!

So now its bed time and I'm so ready!  Tomorrow is going to be busy, Steve and I see one in his area at 9:30, then I see one in Antioch at 10:30, then back to Brentwood to see one at noon and then yet another one, a RELO, yea they pay more, at 5:30 in Manteca.  I know by then I'll be very tired and deservedly so.

Sending love to all,

tim

The workday is just ending...

Good evening
I've just completed an appraisal of a round house, situated on a ridge top in Lafayette and I inspected it this afternoon at 5:15 so I've been fairly busy.

Ken and I walked this morning at 7 and then I settled in for a bagel with acocado, a tiny glass of OJ and then I hit the work.  Around noon Nikki called to see if I wanted to go to lunch and as I was very ready for a break I met her at a local mexican place and we had whole bean burritos.  Then it was back to work again.  At 4 I left for the appointment which was about an hour away.

Today I gave the app for my phone called Lose it a try.  I really like the way it works.  Ron Berenchi really gave me a good tip.  So this morning after breakfast I plugged in what I had eaten and then plugged in the exercise and it told me how many calories I had left for the day.  Right now I'm sitting here with my calories used up but knowing where I stood has helped a lot today, great little app and I'm encouraged.

I did have one bump in the road today.  After I left lunch I started to feel like I had low blood sugar.  I was not sure how that could be but when I got home and checked it I found I was at 101.  No wonder I felt flat.  So I ate an apple and in a few minutes I was OK again.

Did I tell you that last night at Safeway a heard a little girl whisper to her mother as I went by, mommy, is that Santa?  It was a crack up and the mother smiled and we both laughed.  At least there is one job I could do!

Right now I'm heading to bed.  I'm way more tired than someone my age should be.

Love to all,

Tim

Evening

Good evening

Its been a slow day today, Keanna spent the night in Nikki's old room since her room was not completed yet.  I'm told it is really beautiful and when Steve and Nikki tackle something it usually comes out pretty nice.  Keanna woke at and we had breakfast, she snuggled under a blanket in the now semi famous recliner and consumed her breakfast.  Nikki came and collected her later in the morning and then I set to work.  I'm done with a challenging one from Brentwood, 3 acres and a nice place right in the middle of a little subdivision of normal sized homes on little lots, at least little compared to the 3 acre parcel.  In addition there had to be a rent survey as well so I had to located three rentals of ranchettes in the area.  Now it all done and emailed out.

Then I set to work on the next file but never really got it open as I started messing around.  Eventually I ended up outside and pulled weeds in the very cold winter for awhile.  I'm so out of shape that pulling the weeks was a big deal.  This evening I was desperate to do something else so I drove to Safeway and picked up the things on the list.  No beautiful grandmothers tonight, sometimes its extra fun to shop.

Now I'm preparing to crash early tonight.  This morning when I first woke up I just pulled on sweats and did the treadmill for 30 minutes.  It started off hard and ended up easy, felt good to do something again.

So here comes the new week, I pray from God's guidance, for his inspiration, for his intervention for our whole family.  We need his help in so many ways.

Love to all,

Tim

A Sabbath change of pace

Dear Family and Friends,

It started great this morning with Keanna staggering down the stairs after her sleep over.  We had waffles and then I dropped her off at Safeway so she and her mother could sell the last of the girl scout cookies.  Then I picked up Kallie and we arrived at Sabbath School.  We walked in to discover that Kallie was the only child.  Kim started the program and soon other children arrived.  It was a great School School and Kallie was at her best.  We got to see Kim, Dr. George, Sylvia and other friends too.  I happened to see Ron and was amazed at his weight loss.  So i asked and he told me about "lose it" an app on the iphone.  So i check and sure enough i had already loaded it at some time in the past.  He just got in the habit of reporting his intake and when he had enough calories eaten he quit eating.  Now he is 75 pounds lighter and looking really great.  It was very encouraging.

Kallie and I went to McDonalds at her own request and she enjoyed playing in the two story play area, met several nice kids and ate her lunch as well.

This afternoon after a slight break for a short nap I cut up some wood that has set by the side of the house for 6 years.  I cut into into little pieces and it is great at starting a fire.  At this moment I need to stoke the fire but I've enjoyed a fire all afternoon started with some junk wood.  Mid way through the afternoon I started feeling really weak and finally decided to check my blood sugar level. It was  99 which for me is low, seems I have a higher threshold for when the low blood sugar hits, normally people aren't a mess until they are 75 or lower.  So I made some sandwiches with vege steaks and after a bit I felt better.  I've put the motorhome away in its place at the side of the house, have a heater on low where the carpet is wet from a roof leak and Nikki just called to say Keanna needs to stay over another night, her beautiful room is not quite completed.

So I will end this epistle and wish you well.

Good night

love

tim

And the rain fell 40 days and 40 nights!

Well it sure seems like it.  Of course in my wisdom I scheduled appraisals of 3 properties this afternoon, the first was for a family where the mom died a year ago and they need an appraisal for the estate, then on to a corner located home with many new things and a very nice guy owner, then on to another place with beautiful landscaping, new kitchen and $300K spent in upgrades and remodeling since the home was purchased.  It shows.  By the end of that appointment I was so drenched that I didn't even get dried out on the way to UNOs to celebrate Nikki's birthday. 

We had a wonderful time and they sang to Nikki and she got a big cookie with ice cream on the top, it was good, I helped.

Now I'm home and Keanna is doing a sleep over as her room is being painted and only the primer is on so far.  I'll trade her to her mom at 9 so she can sell girl scout cookies and I'll pick up Kallie for Sabbath School.

Its nice to be needed!  Last night I woke at 11:30 after going to bed at 11.  I was so awake that I came down and finished writing a full appraisal, I emailed it in at 2:30 and then went back to bed where I slept fine until 8.

Sending love to all,

please reach out to the one person you are next to, do it while you can and while you are thinking about it.


Tim

Plugging away

As I was reading the GIST website tonight I learned that a guy named John just died.  He was a real charmer, if he is who I think he is, Nan loved him and they talked a lot.  When we went to Long Island for the GIST walk he met us at our motel and we ate with him later at a get together.  It filled me with sadness to realize once again that another family has suffered a loss that cannot be fixed, only gradually forgotten over time.  Life is so fragile and people take it so for granted, I do even now.

The gloom of the weather and my heart seems almost overwhelming the last few days.  The bright spots are friends and family but they have their own lives to live.  I've stopped even considering looking for someone, I'm heavy, that is a road block that seems impossible to surmount.  Besides pursuing a relationship takes effort, time, money and work seems to keep me pretty busy right now.

This morning I made a little fire and that was nice, took the chill off of things for the whole day, in fact it became so warm that I had the ceiling fan on for part of the afternoon.  Now its bed time and so look forward to it, just wish I could sleep the whole night and wake up rested.  Its hard to know what God has in mind for me, right now I feel like I'm running in place making no progress but not falling beside the path either.  My work quality output is pretty good with few kickbacks or calls for revisions, I've been seeing some pretty impressive properties along with a lot of average ones.  How I long for the days when there was someone who really was interested in our life together, who introduced exciting foods, travel to fun places, humor etc.  Is that possible again?  For many guys it seems like they do it so easily, married 9 months later, everything is roses.

Well its really time to go to bed and please continue to pray for our family and we all face big decisions almost on a daily basis.

Love

Tim

Rainy day in paradise

Right, who lives in Paradise?  Discovery Bay is less enjoyable when it rains, the lake loses it luster and the chill hangs in the air.  So this evening when I thought about talking to my brother in his honor I figured out how to make a fire start in the stove, I clipped a few branches from the Christmas tree which sadly stands on the back deck and along with a cardboard box and some small oak pieces got a fire started. At first it was touch and go but finally the flames reaches the fir branches and then it was fire time.  As I sat and enjoyed episodes of Burden of Proof the fire burned warmer and warmer until my flannel shirt felt too warm.  Jerry is recovering slowly from his knee surgery, keeps working at it every day and attends therapy twice a week.  He being a much older person than his younger brother needs to take it easy but he is doing well.  The weather around Weed is bad, wind, rain and snow on the horizon once again.  But they have such glorious seasons in Weed, it would be fun to live there.

This morning I rolled out and wrote on an appraisal that was needed two days ago.  Then at 10:30 I pulled up to a nice big home for a relocation appraisal.  This family is being moved to Ohio and for them it is going home as they are mostly from that area.  The home was splendid with designer paint, a pebble tec pool with two waterfalls, spa and stamped concrete patio areas.  Once I was completed I shot some comps and drove to the school where I fought my way through a sea of suv's, vans, hummers and some little cars to the place where I could collect Keanna.  Today all the children were released at the same time 11:40 and with the rain there were a lot of cars there.  So we just had to have some patience but it all worked out.

Then Keanna and I went to shoot more pictures needed for an appraisal and stopped at Burger King for lunch.  On the way home she learned that she could go spend the afternoon with her two friends so the office became quiet and I could work again.  Later in the afternoon I drove down and picked up the motorhome and even later I walked back to bring my car home. 

This evening I had a baked potato, some vege burger over it and some fresh tomato slices.  The fire helped take the gloom off the room, not all days are exciting or even enjoyable.  I'm finding it difficult to settle down to work right now yet I know I must do so.

Tomorrow is yet another day for us all and my prayers are for my family members that things will work out well for them in the coming weeks and months.  How I love them all and soon Jason and Jo will be in Europe guiding a tour of young people from MBA and some of their parents.  Grandmother Julie is coming from Denver to care for the children and uncle Clayton is coming too.

Love to all

Tim

Some rain must fall

And fall it did, here and there in blotches and drips, nothing really serious, just a reminder that winter is not quite over.

Walked in the cold wind this morning, felt good.  had breadfast and showered, waded into making appointments, doing research, fixing things etc and then it was time to leave for Gilroy.  It was an easy drive down, little traffic, funny old shows on XM and then I turned to the book reaching channel which was partly good and partly boring.  I arrived in Gilroy nearly an hour early so shot the comps first and chatted with Art while I was doing so.  He has just 10 treatments to go in Loma Linda, he is very brave and the team of medical people do everything they can to minimize the side effects.  Art is a real trooper through it all and now Connie has returned from her South American Cruise.

After completing the appraisal of the Gilroy house I once again got back on the road and then the rain really started for awhile.  As I neared Brentwood I began to shoot comps for a home that I inspected the other day, a home right in the middle of town but with 3 acres.  So I shot comps until it was dark and then hooked up with Steve, Nikk and the girls at BJ's, a new eating place in Brentwood.  I took the girls to my booth and Steve and Nikki joined a group celebrating his friend's birthday.  Service was slow but we had finished our food before Steve and Nikki got to order.  So once we were through I took the girls home so they could head for bed.

Now I'm home looking to head to bed also.

This afternoon I called a friend who lives in middle america and who reads the blog.  She was a GIST friend with Nan, had her own GIST surgery 7 years ago and has not had any tumors come back.  We have never spoken before but we often talk through emails.  She is a marvelous lady and we talked for a very long time.  It was just wonderful to finally connect with such a true friend to Nan.

Well its bed time,

Love to all

Tim

Smooth sailing

Dear Family and Friends

While I expected rain today it turned out sunny and warm.  My first stop was in Tracy where I found a very nice nanny, two cute little tykes and a very cute home.  The nanny was pleasant and excited about the early stages of her own pregnancy and the little children.  Then it was on to locate comparables, discovered I had lost my blue tooth so back to bother the nanny some more, she found it in the closet where I had to brush by lines of clothes to get to the attic.

Then it was to Nations, a place that Clea introduced me to, lunch was great and I had the harvester, a gardenburger on whole wheat bun.

At 2 I inspected a little place located on a very nice deep water setting very near fast water so the value tends to be higher.  The owner had driven out for the inspection and could not have been nicer, a great contact and someone who loves our own Cathie Marples.  Now Ms Marples is sort of like an institution to Discovery Bay.  She knows everybody, owns several real estate offices and is really good for our values.  She is a real pro and I enjoy getting to work with her from time to time.  Her referrals keep me going.

Once the inspection was over I deposited the check, well why not, no use for it to gather dust.  Then I drove to San Leandro to conduct a driveby of a very nice place overlooking the whole SF bay, drove the comps and headed home.  Amazingly I had no traffic on the freeway, just sailed right along until I got to my own Vasco Road and then it was slow.  Still not bad.

This evening I've made appointments and worked up the one I saw this afternoon, it was due today and now its in their hands.

You know once I drive into my driveway and garage I just thank the Lord every time for a safe trip.  In many ways I'm blessed, just fail to pause very often and remember.

Well good night friends and family,

Love

tim

Wow

Dear Family, friends and especially Karen!

What a busy day this has turned out to be.  I woke up once, went back to bed and slept more. Then I rolled out and into the shower.  My steel cut oats were steaming in the slow cooker and they tasted great with a little brown sugar and soy milk.

Then it was to work in the office.  At 11:45 I headed out to observe Keanna play indoor soccer.  Even though she played her heart out her team got beat today.  Wow is it ever busy as the ball never goes out of bounds so they just keep running.  She got one of the two goals today and really tries hard. One more game for the season and then she moves on to the swim team. 

Since were nearby we went to lunch at Olive Garden and I got to catch up with Nikki and her busy life. Then I drove to Pittsburg to do a house that was empty.  That went smoothly and I moved toward home.  I knew I faced the huge one, big house, perfect in every way on a ridge with 6 acres.  What a challenge to do it right, to make the right adjustments, to find a value it most like what a willing buyer would pay, that is the bottom line of an appraisal.  I ended up with 7 comparables and I've just now at 11 pm emailed it to the client.  By morning it will be back with suggestions of how to make it stronger.

So for now thats it.  All day I planned on calling Karen, a long distance friend who lives a long ways away and every time I did something came up.  So we will chat another day!

Love to all,

Tim

Pappa Day Care

Fun stuff, I would never have imagined years ago that I could handle caring for a 3 year old and an 8 year old on my own for the day. But the girls make it easy.  They are so full of life, energy, ideas, battle and cuteness it is great.  We started the day this morning when I arrived at 8:50 to find the girls dressed, hair perfect and they were helping Steve plant seeds in a device for starting plants.  He carefully guided the girls in planting until it was all completed, each row was labeled and he had everything in order.  Amazing.  Nikki was long gone back to work at the twins sale in Pleasanton so once the planting was completed we left for Sabbath School.  Keanna went her way to be with Sylvia, Rod and Wes and Kallie guided me to her place where Kim was in charge.

We had an interesting time with lots of singing and activities including a craft and snacks.  The after a brief visit with Dr. George and with Sylvia we headed out.  Keanna had made Kallie her hot chocolate like she always does and we loaded up.  We drove the few miles to Olive Garden and were nearly the first people there.  Holding it all together with the girls through a whole meal is always a challenge but we walked out an hour later full and happy.

We drove to the girls home where Kallie went to bed for her nap and Keanna played and planned.  Then it was the park for some fun in the sunshine.  Then it was back to the house where the ice cream truck made a stop and $5 later we were all enjoying a treat.  Nikki arrived home a little later and then I turned the responsibility of the girls over to their very capable mother and I drove home.  I've spend the evening catching up on old CSIs from Las Vegas and enjoyed them along with an episode of  Blue somthing about New York cops, love that show.

Now its bed time and I'm thankful for such a great day with the girls, last week it was with Mia and Timothy and today it is with Kallie and Keanna. What a huge blessing these little ones are!  They really light up life in a way that nothing or no one else can do.

Love to all,

Tim
ps a special thanks to George and Yvonne who several weeks ago handed us a sack that was filled with a variety of things that the girls have enjoyed.  One very nice thing is a set of CDs with stories by Eric B Hare.  The girls are enjoying the stories very much and ask me to turn the sound up when we are driving.  I love it as the stories all support obeying ones parents and being honest and true.  Thanks

Rousing time with the kiddos

I'm just back from having dinner with the very lively Kallie and Keanna.  There are very few dull moments when herding those two.  Who gets to put the sugar into pappa's decaff or salt the chips, or even sit on the same side of the table with pappa.  Very interesting.

Nikki is busy over in Pleasanton Fairgrounds at the Twin's sale, a very glorified yard sale that has grown to encompass two buildings there with thousands of items for sale.  Nikki says it is even more organized and bigger than ever this year. One can dress a child for a whole lot less buying there than at a store at the mall.  Nikki won't be home until late tonight and then must be back in the morning at 7:30 to start work again so her sleeping will be limited tonight.

Tomorrow I'll take the girls to Sabbath School and then lunch so Steve can help a friend with a big project.  We'll have fun and enjoy our time.  But I notice that after awhile they are sure glad to head home to see mommy and daddy.  Tonight Keanna was talking about how nice it is to have two parents and about how hard it would be if there was only one parent.  That girl amazes me with her reasoning and skills.

It must be spring, here we go with Daylight Savings Time on Sunday and my front yard is overgrown with weeds, just calling for my attention but who has the time.  And to make that point my friend at Property Sciences called this evening to ask if I wanted to take on three more orders.  One is in Gilroy but friend Art is in Loma Linda, just might get to catch up with Pam when I do that one.

Over the years Sabbath has always meant something but what a series of changes in how I "keep" the Sabbath.
In childhood the weekly bath was scheduled just before Sundown on Friday and tensions seem to rise as everyone tried to get ready for the Sabbath, we were pretty much legalists back then but didn't know it.  In Academy Sabbath was marked by cinnamon rolls picked up on Friday night, kept in the window over night and eaten on Sabbath morning so kitchen staff would not have to work.  Mrs Whisbey made the worlds best cinnamon rolls and it was a great tradition.  While at Laurelwood academy I learned a lot about music and choir trips and singing opportunities filled weekends.  Sabbath nights were always special with gym nights or banquets or something going on.  Sometimes there were movies but someone was always ready to put their hand in front of the projector if anything really good came on, you know kissing and stuff like that.  Boys and girls each had their own sidewalks and only rarely did we get to walk together but of course there were the woods and they were less likely to be patrolled but the risks were way to high for me.  I had no other place to go if I lost the academy.

In College someone took record of who was at services and you needed to show up for several a week or the axe fell.  Sabbath took on a much more relaxed reality in College but once again singing trips, the Fellowmen group, pro musica provided great opportunities for Sabbath enjoyment.

Come seminary we were assigned to a little church near the University in Berrien Springs Michigan.  The Niles church became our Sabbath home and we loved the people, the preaching chances and learning how to minister to the folk.

Once out in the real world in Sacramento Central Sabbath became a very busy day with youth services, youth afternoon activities to the community, bike rides along the American River, trips to Tahoe to Lammerdings cabin, trips to Leoni Meadows which was just getting started as a church gathering retreat center.  Sabbath became a hard work day.

Then there was Tracy where being the pastor meant being there nearly every Sabbath, at church that was, holding elders meetins or planning sessions, teaching Sabbath School classes and of course preaching.  Then there was Sabbath afternoon bike rides along the canal, weekend campouts, hosting guest speakers and enjoying famous potlucks with church members and guests.  Sabbath became a full blown hard work day and the family suffered, Nan endured mostly silently and did all the kiddo things by herself.

Then there was appraising and freedom of any duties on Sabbath, what to do, well join a choir, first the Roger Peden choir and then the Adoration Singers.  So on many Sabbaths it was pretty clear what to do, drive to the church wherever it was and sing your hearts out, eat whatever happened to be offered, then do it again in the afternoon and limp home that evening.  It was a great time with a super group of people, friends for eternity.

Then Nan began to grow more weak and we dropped choir, spent less and less time in church, pews and tumors don't mix, then there were wheel chairs and walkers and we tried to bring Keanna whenever we could until Nan was no longer able to handle it.  After she was gone it was hard to be in church, alone, hurting, feeling displaced, unsure, faith wavering.

For the last few years its come down to bringing the girls to their Sabbath School programs which they love and then due to their schedules and expectations I drive them to lunch and then home.  Sabbath has become a time of kiddos and rest, of trips in the motorhome to spend weekends with Jason and Jo and the glorious beach.

But through it all Sabbath has not changed.  It remains one of the most wonderful gifts God has granted his family.  A time to drop all the rat race stuff and spend time with Him, His children, family, nature when ever possible and just rest.

How has your journey with the Sabbath been over the years?

Thanks for thinking with me tonight.

Love

tim

Getting caught up

This business seems to go in cycles, tons of orders, can't keep up, finally start to get caught up, few new orders because you took so long to get the last ones done, then new orders start to trickle in, then a new flood arrives.

This evening my motorhome is parked three blocks away serving as a bedroom for guests who have come for a happy wedding weekend.  Arranged long ago I delivered it this afternoon and walked back after getting it set up.  Then just a minute ago a frantic phone call, they could not get the door open, been there before so I drove down and showed them how it works, problem solved.  They are set for the night. As easy way to pick up a couple extra bucks.  Patty had the curtains in order today, nice new little cloth rope hangers all in place but even nicer was her suggestion that she should make new ones, she can do it and has already talked to her supplier who has agreed to sell the materials at cost.  That will be nice as these curtains are 9 years old and are showing their age.

Tomorrow afternoon the girls are coming to visit as Nikki is extremely swamped with the "twins" sale, a huge sales event held at the Alameda County fairgrounds.  Nikki has been tagging for days to get her stuff ready to sell.  its really amazing how much stuff they sell at the sale, thousands of items from clothes for every child age to toys, games, beds, strollers, car seats, just amazing.  Nikki helps behind the scenes with the running of the sales so is very busy for the next couple days.  I'll help with the girls tomorrow afternoon and get to see them as well as relieve their parents.

So now its bed time once again.  Please keep praying that God will lead, perhaps I can explain later.

Love to all

Tim

ps please pray for Jo who has pretty nasty blisters from a kitchen accident.  She is recovering but the blisters are huge and painful.

Back on the road

Wish I could find a way to get paid by the mile as I sure seem to be on the road a lot these days.  With nearly 100 orders so far this year things are looking up and they are coming from a variety of sources, some even pay full price which is always nice.

This morning I rolled out and felt refreshed after a good nights sleep.  I was in Richmond by about 10:30 to see a little duplex property and I do mean little.  What a contract to the beautiful property in Lafayette yet the Lord loves the owners of each of these two contrasting properties just the same, now its much tougher for the multi millionaire to feel the need of the Lord, much tougher indeed yet God's love has a way of reaching into all hearts who will welcome Him in.

As I was driving to Lafayette to shoot the comp photos for these 3 million dollar plus mansions I found myself hungry so not wanting to get out of Pinole without eating as there is almost no fast food in the rich towns, they don't like "fast food" to be seen there.  I happened on a Carl's and discovered they will make a cheese sandwich, it hit the spot and I was back on the road.  There is a narrow connecting road that stretches from Highway 80 to Highway 24, from Pinole to Orinda and it winds beside a great lake of drinking water, has a hillside that loves to slide when it rains and is beautiful.  Then I was in the midst of huge properties and it took a good hour to locate all these huge properties, some are tucked behind massive gates, others are just hard to see from the street but I got them all finally. 

Once done I stopped by the conference office, the headquarters of the SDA church for Northern California and purchased some vege food, cheaper than Raleys and a lot more selection. 

The next stop was at the board of realtors to pick up my new Supra Key to open doors of homes.  This was exchange day and the new one is slick, even has a little flashlight built in.  Then it was on to home to fix some reports and relax for a bit.  Patty, my very special neighbor lady who I know from the grief group is fixing the curtains of the motorhome and called to say that she would be done with them by tomorrow sometime.  When I spoke with her she offered to help create some new privacy curtains for the front of the motorhome, oh how nice that would be as these are old and filled with holes and stains from when the motorhome leaked all the time.  She is a very good seamstress besides caring for 7 grandchildren.

So now its bedtime again, well almost. Tomorrow its off to Bethel Island for a 8:30 appointment and then on to San Ramon to see one.  Then I think I come home to start cranking out reports.

Jo had a cooking accident in her kitchen and burned some fingers to a point of blisters.  She is so grateful that the little ones were not near when the grease blew.  She is recovering.  I just cannot say enough good about the loaf of bread she sent home.  Its so amazing that one hardly has to put anything on it, it has so much good taste on its own.  Wow.

Sending love to all and asking for your special prayers for my family.

Tim

Long day and short night ahead!

Say this being busy could grow on you.  I've been in a flat out race for weeks now and for the most part its OK.  Business keeps coming in from many different sources which is great and helps me and Steve.

Today I drove to Brentwood and found a 3 acre property right in the middle of town, with chickens and all.  Then on to Rio Vista to see a poor little over 55 home which was bank owned and selling for $150,000.  Wow that is cheap.  Then back across the bridge in the brisk winds to meet steve at a home about a block from his house.  We did that one and then I split for my rush which was located near my house.  I measured about 3,800 sf of house with dock, yard, total remodeling, shot the comps and then headed for Stockton where I arrived 2 minutes late.  That one is going to be tough.  Its selling for $179,000 and is surrounded by homes selling for $90,000.  So to get comps I drove miles in every direction.    Then Starbucks for dinner and a drive against the wind on the levee road. Once home I set to work and now at 11:58 I emailed the report out.  They were paying me $450 if I got it out by midnight and it was close.  The things we do for money!

Lois was so kind to drive me to the repair shop tonight where the motorhome was sitting, ready and repaired after so many months.  $605 in repairs, the poor guys had the tank out a couple times and finally found that the repair people in Reno on that afternoon in August had jammed the fuel pump in not checking to see if the float worked or not for the gauge.  It could not and Pat, the mechanic had to reengineer the way it was mounted so the float could work properly.  Now it works and I know how much fuel I have on board.  They said that with so little fuel it was easier to work on, it had so little fuel that they had to add some to get it to run, it was that low!  Yikes

So as I'm driving home the gauge does not seem to be moving.  I could not let it go so when I got home I got the gas can and put 4 gallons into the tank and then when the key was turned on the gauge jumped right up a bit.  Yea!  Now if the Meineke shop in Reno would just step up and pay some of this repair bill it would be wonderful.  Doubt it but of course I'll try to help them do the right thing.

Well its past bed time once again, poor body never gets a chance to recover.

Love to all,

Tim

Traveled some miles, Great day

Dear Family and Friends,
How was your day?  Mine has been filled with contrasts.  This morning I left early and headed to the Sacramento area, Rancho Cordova to be exact.  The GPS took me up 99 and then across Grantline and up Sunrise right to the subdivision.  I arrived to the minute on time and the agent was there.  A very balanced guy who was a joy to work with.  The property was a single story and perfect, comps were nearby and by 10:40 I was on the road heading back to the office.  Upon arriving I sat down and wrote up an appraisal for a Martinez property, then directly on time I left for Lafayette.

I was not really mentally prepared for what I found there.  This amazing home constructed totally out of clear heart heavy beams, clinker brick, wood lined windows and exquisite construction quality.  After passing through a security gate I entered onto a paver driveway that could easily park 20 cars and as I drove around to the house I found I had a panoramic view of surrounding valleys and hills.  Turns out it was a 6 acre parcel with about an acre flat on the top.  It took 3 years to get the city to allow construction as ridges cannot be built on in this area.  This is a property which makes most sunset magazine layouts blush with envy.  heat is by radiant floor tubes and each room is controlled by a computer and can be warmer or cooler, there is a crawl area with concrete floor under the entire house for all the cables, tubes, pipes and systems to snake through.  Nearly every room has a slightly different kind of clear heart wood and the wood is on the ceilings, built ins have been created, every room in the entire house has a full array of musical choices from a wall panel, all lighting can be programmed to do whatever you want with it, what looks like a tile floor in the kitchen is actually small sections of stone cut and then installed side by side forming a beautiful pattern.  The bar eating area in the huge kitchen has a metal top and the stove comes from france.  The detail throughout the home explains the 3 million dollar construction costs plus the land.  By the time I left the home it was dark, comps will have to come later once I can pin some down.  All one can say is wow!  What a home.

On the way home I found a Applebees and had a baked potato and salad.  Now that I'm home I'm feeling so tired that bed is coming very soon.  Had a rough night and was awake from about 12:30 to 2 am so getting up at 6 was touch this morning.  Thank goodness for nice hot showers, a high point of my life.

Well thats it for today, more orders came in, some reports went out and a huge $35 check arrived in the mail!

Love to all,

tim

Beat but satisfied

I'm beat, neck hurts so much that I can't turn my head, comes from sitting and writing reports all day, when I was not doing my 4 loads of laundry.  Been a productive day and these reports today were not easy in any way.  oh wow.

So we have a new week with spring weather all around, weeds and flowers are growing in my front yard.  Flowers are ones planted by Nan so many years ago, I can't remember too much now about specifics but I know it was never boring living with a beautiful lady who always had ideas, travel, food, celebrations, what a wonderful ride it was to be on board with Nan but the train came to a stop and I've been stuck in the station ever since.  I wonder how long I can last living like I live right now.

Well early start tomorrow, have to be in Rancho Cordova at 9:30 and thats 1.5 hours away from here plus research and prep time.  Should be an interesting morning.

Sending love to all,

Tim

A great visit to the Mustards

Dear Family and Friends

It started this morning at 6:30 and I picked up Kallie at 7:30.  We hit the road and found traffic light.  We arrived at MBA at 9:33 only to find empty Sabbath School classrooms.  So we drove over to see the family.  We learned that SS is at 10 am.  Once we went to SS we found the room full of little kiddos and a great teacher Natalie.  They sang songs, heard stories and made a great craft with paper, their shoe print and it became a caribou.

We attended some of the worship service but Mia was very tired and ready for a nap, While Mia slept we had delicious food including Jo's amazing bread. Timothy chowed down on his salad like a champ and then we took naps too. Kallie and Timothy played semi quietly and eventually we roused ourselves to head to the beach where the kiddos enjoyed the sand and a perfect day by the ocean.

Late afternoon we decided to head home and our trip was uneventful.  We arrived at Nikki and Steve's about 8 and since Kallie had slept for a couple hours I left her sitting up in her recliner telling her mom about the day.

I came home to toast and devour some of that great bread that Jo had shared with me and I've been enjoying DVR episodes of NCIS.  Great stuff.  I also took time to build a fire that has taken the chill off the room this evening.  It is nice to come home.

Even thought it was only a day I did find emotional refreshment by spending a day with family, the breezes, the ocean and a special trip with Kallie.

Love to all,

Tim

Well I'm still home, not at MBA

Good evening family and friends,

Its been quite a week for us all and tonight I must just express my gratitude for God's protection and leading in all of our lives.  No matter what we are still here and we are going to hang tough.

The new medicine I'm taking has caused the cough to become much worse, call that progress!  last night there was so much on my mind that at 12:30 I gave up on trying to fall back to sleep and came down, worked 3 hours in my robe, pretty much finished a report that was needed and finally at 3 went back to bed.  Not fun and not fun today as I'm so tired as a result.

Its been sunny and warm and I enjoyed my first visit very much, cute little house and a very nice lady who obviously loves life, her family and is looking forward to moving to Brentwood into a huge house.

After the inspection was over I drove back home to begin working here in the office.  I had let the rest of the house just stay cold but used my little trusty heater under my desk, it was cozy and I think I saved money but oh it was cold when I ventured out to grab a bite.

This evening Pat from Borden Junction let me know that they have solved the fuel gauge problem, they pulled the tank and checked the wiring, it was all good, then they ordered a new fuel pump and when they hooked it up the fuel gauge worked perfectly, problem was the fuel pump was the wrong one for the motorhome and had to be sent back.  So the motorhome could have been used this weekend but I decided to just drive down tomorrow with Kallie and spend the day.  Then I will be able to use Sunday to keep on catching up with work.  At least now we know that the problem can be solved and on Monday when they deliver a different fuel pump then the motorhome might just work right again.  After 7 months it would be nice.

Well I'm very glad for the Sabbath and I hope your weekend goes great.  I've heard from Art and Jerry this evening, both are doing well, Jerry recovering from his knee surgery and Art in the middle of his proton program at Loma Linda.

Good night to all,

Love

tim

A delightful dinner

This has been a rugged day, since I slept poorly last night I experienced being sleepy during the day.  Due to planning I was out most of the day and the first of the day, a house with a sleeping cop, a 2 year little girl and a very pregnant mom was a challenge, to keep the dad sleeping, yet get photos in the room, keep the little girl from crashing in on her daddy and then avoid the dog patties in the back yard.  Oh well mission accomplished.

Then it was on the road for Berkeley but on the way the owner called to say she was putting the whole thing on hold so I was not needed, good bye $275, oh well I went to Berkeley anyway to take some comp photos and of course a stop at Starbucks for a whole wheat bagel and a skinny mocha was in order.  So good and such a waste of hard earned money!  I know.

In Berkeley I found diesel for the amazingly low price of just $4.43 a gallon so I got just a few gallons and hit the road.  The next stop was in Martinez and I was honored to see a perfect property.  I mean perfect.  The owner of a small business who has not had a job for the past 3 months, nothing to bid on.  But a pleasant dad who loves his kids, will only do good work and sure knows how to care for a property.  Wow, it was perfect.

Then on to the delightful dinner at LaVilla in Bethel Island.  The girls drove out to meet me and we had a delightful mean of bean burritos with sauce, rice and whole beans on the side.  It was perfect and I got to catch up with all the events in each of three lives.  Oh yes there are lots of events!

Then I raced home to drive the motorhome to the nearby garage and Nikki met me there and brought me home.  Tomorrow we hope to have the problem of the gas gauge fixed for good.  A problem caused by a shoddy workman in Reno last August, a problem that shop will not pay to have fixed, its been a long painful process in which promises have been made but are not being kept by the owner of the Meineke Shop.  I think they are crooks and tomorrow we'll probably find out more about the terrible job they did when attempting to repair the motorhome last summer.

Now its past bed time.  My eyes just judged by Kaiser to be in good shape keep crossing, probably not a good deal.

This afternoon Steve's truck was being driven by a friend of his and a lady came to a sudden stop, the friend stopped but the driver of a big truck behind did not stop, he managed to pretty well trash Steve nice little pickup in the process, not something Steve needed right now.  Please pray for my kiddos, all 8 of them, big and little and thank you.

Love

Tim