Sunday, January 31, 2016

A full dumpster!!

Dear Family and Friends,
If you drove by my home tonight you would see a very full dumpster, sure it could be stamped down and more stuff added but its really got a lot of stuff that used to be in the house, in the garage and by the house, bikes, wood pieces, boxes of history and lots of work has turned the garage into a different place now.  I'm so sore I can hardly move and that is the truth but its a good sore.

This afternoon I went to Kaiser for blood work to be sure the blood thickness levels were good, between 2 and 3.  They are 2.1 and now everyone can relax.  When one takes antibiotic then the levels can be messed up.  that simple stick cost me $35 which is more pain than the needle.  When I think what $35 will buy!!

Then I went to Petsmart but walked out, the pricing on everything was just too high.  I went to my least favorite place WalMart and got a leash for Gucci, a ball, a toy, pee papers, two bowls and walked out without sticker shock. 

My friend Moon arrives tomorrow afternoon in Oakland and the last few days have seen a transformation of my home, Steve and Nikki came today and helped a lot by taking away a bunch of things.  what a lift to have their help.  So tonight both cars are parked safely in the garage and the sheets are washed, Moon's make up table is ready with places to plug everything in, all of the things she asked me to find are on the table, a chair waits and even a little heater is nearby.  I do hope she finds my house comfortable and can relax and enjoy her time here.  I do need to ask for your prayers, her papa is not feeling well at all and due to his age that is concerning.  I know it weights on her mind as she prepares to travel tomorrow.

I am thankful for many things and family, friends and a warm place to live are among the blessings I feel.

So I send love to all tonight,  tired but very gratified for a full dumpster and a cleaner house.

Tim

Friday, January 29, 2016

At last the week ends

heading for bed now,
Today I inspected 6 properties, not a record but indicative of how busy I am right now.  Not that I want to be busy, I'm trying to get ready for Moon's arrival on Monday afternoon, of course I want everything to be as good as possible for her visit yet work keeps getting in the way.

in the morning I've been promised that I get two little girls for church, that will be great and I'm very happy about that.  I'll pick them up at 9.

Today I started in Oakley, then went to a second place, newly completed, in Oakley, then drove to Stockton and then to Manteca where I saw two in a row, then back to Antioch to end the day.  Everything went well, the air was chilly but at least there was little rain, measuring a home in the rain is tough to accomplish, paper gets wet, shoes get soaked and its no fun.

This afternoon I had the house cleaned and it smells nice tonight, floors and counters are clean, windows are better and its nice.  I'm gradually feeling better, not great yet but better and for that I'm thankful.

So I'm sending love to all and so thankful for family, friends, the grace of Heaven and for health in general, a home and a job.

Tim

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Late again

Do you plan to go to bed on time and then get side tracked?  Seems that happens to me almost every night.

This has been a good day, thanks to Steve the work keeps getting completed and shipped out, today I spent time at the Kaiser medical offices waiting to get my ear washed out, did not happen, Dr. says there is no wax there but I'll tell you this, the ear is very very painful, every bite I take hurts a lot.  I'm told my other ear has lots of wax and of course that ear does not hurt at all.

Dr. had me take a xray of chest today, no word on that and I got another 5 days of antibiotic so that is good.

Now its bed time, talked to Moon for awhile and we both agreed it was time to sleep, she is two hours later than me so its really late for her.  She is packing and getting ready for the upcoming trip here, I can't wait.

Sending love to all

Tim

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Busy

Just a few words to say hello.

God is sure good to us, we rush about trying to accomplish things but He watches over us with such love and care, amazing.

Busy times with many new orders coming in, my friend Moon arriving on Monday in the afternoon so I'll be doing a real dance trying to keep her from being totally bored with no friends here and yet I need to crank out work too.

I have a dumpster being delivered tomorrow and with that I can begin to remove 28 years worth of clutter from the house to a land fill somewhere nearby.  They are strict, no paint or old AC units, Freon is the enemy.  But about everything else can go, I'm much more ready to let go of things from the past than I've been before.

Today I've walked to the park, had oatmeal, worked pretty much here all day, set up new orders and just dealt with challenging things.  I've talked to Moon, my Houston friend many times today as she was battling with some rain, helped a friend get a whole new look, Moon is a specialist at hair, makeup and skin care and she transformed her friend with a new hair style.  This evening she was busy cooking and then working with her sewing machine hemming a pair of jeans she said I purchased.  She is very good with the sewing machine, keeps old zippers from discarded jeans and reuses them for decorative touches in other clothes, I always thought zippers were impossible to work with, not for her.

When getting to know someone new the process really fascinates as new discoveries happen by accident and on purpose.  Music is a big connection with Moon, old movies, travel, she has been nearly everywhere in the world it seems, she loves art, good food, totally different from what I know or will eat so that one will be interesting.

I've just completed a triplex property located in Antioch, it burned nearly down so the owner invested tons of money to make it all new, now he is selling it and what a property, clean, new, attractive, hope my appraisal flies now.  One never knows.

Sending love to all,

Tim

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Church fun

Such a nice morning, pastor preached a great sermon in his unique style which really communicates so well.  I got to see George and Yvonne after church, always a special opportunity, unfortunately George has a broken foot and is on crutches but they were both in a thankful mood, could have been worse.  The church was fairly full and as I came in late I did not see a place to sit, then the Ahn's opened up a place on the back row with their family.  Felt good to be welcomed so warmly.  Ended up at lunch with them too and that was a very good experience, learned a new Asian place to eat and with Moon arriving in just a few days I need to know all the good places to take her so she won't starve, she certainly would not want to live on my cooking, that that is really bad but still I don't know Asian cooking at all, I know what I like but not sure how to create it, I will some day but not yet.
Moon and I have talked many times today, sometimes we push each other and question each other, we are just getting to know each other and learning so much.  she is a very bright woman and extremely practical as well as romantic and thoughtful.  She evening she is enjoying dinner out with her girlfriends, she has many there in Houston and they help her pass the long evenings, tonight she said the roads were frosty, the weather is cool, fortunately she drives a big car, a Chevy Tahoe, so if a little more safe than in a tiny car.
This evening I fought the boat cover back on the boat, the winds and rain messed it up very badly so its good to get it back on to ward off further rain, now to install a light globe on a drop light under the cover, that will dry everything out and keep it dry in the days ahead.  Now to deal with the motorhome, needs a mirror installed and a new door handle installed.  Ray was kind enough to cover both open places with plastic tape to keep the water off but I have people who want to rent the coach soon so I need to get it back in good working order again, will take some work and a trip to Manteca Trailer, they work wonders over there, the coach needs a new awning installed and the roof sealed in a few places where water sometimes comes through.
Tonight I go to bed early, Moon will probably call much later but I just wake up and talk to her on the pillow and then fall back asleep again.  she is often up very late at night for a very good reason.  Her daughter lives in Singapore with her grand mother and their time is 13 hours different.  So mom and daughter can talk between midnight and 2 am and often do, sometimes she talks to her mom too during that time period. I like that she is in constant touch with her daughter and her mom, tight caring family!  That is just what I'm looking for people who really care.
Church was a very good experience today and being included with the Ahns was nice too.
Sending love to all,
Tim
PS, starting to clear out 20 year old stuff, will get a dumpster the first of the week, its time to get a fresh start and that comes by removing things from the past that I've not looked at in 10 years.  yes George, I might even locate our video tapes from when we went to Israel so long ago!!
Talked to Marilyn, friend who lives in Rhode Island and she was expecting some snow, I spoke to her last night.

Friday, January 22, 2016

Busy week

Dear Friends and Family,
Last weekend I flew to Houston and enjoyed four days with my special friend there.  On Sunday Dana came and visited us, Dana is my precious sister in law, Nan's faithful sister who came so many times to be with her over the years.  Dana and my friend Moon hit it off well and chatted for over an hour.  It was great to see her and to catch up on all the family.
I flew home on Monday and hit the ground running on Tuesday seeing properties.  It has been a blessed week and I've had lots of work to do, Steve has been giving excellent help and we are cranking out the work.
Today was not so fun, it rained, was cold, windy and cloudy.  I started in Brentwood at 9 am and then was in Patterson for a Relocation Appraisal at noon, then to Stockton but I used Highway 33 all the way back to Tracy as 5 was a mess, on the way down I noted many tow trucks attempting to pull a truck that had gone over the side of the elevated freeway back onto the road, they had one lane closed and traffic backed up all the way to Patterson onramp.  So using 33 I caught 5 near Mossdale and was able to see the Stockton home is lower Stockton, looked rough from the outside but the interior was totally updated, still overpriced in my opinion and that is what I'm paid for, my opinion.  Then in the driving rain I went to Tracy, but upon my arrival the rain slowed and I was able to get it done without being soaked too badly, then I found IHop and a senior omelet with so many good things inside.
As I was sitting in my office this evening I heard my kitty growl, I stuck my head in the hallway to discover a raccoon munching away at the cat food on the dryer, I started to throw things at him and he slowly moved off,  evidentially while I was away the raccoons sort of felt like they were at home so now I've got to find a better solution, just can't leave the house open any more.  I think I may need one of those devices that has a collar on your cat which tells the door to open to allow entry but otherwise the door is closed all the time.  This raccoon in the house is getting old and very messy and dirty.
I believe I get the girls for church in the morning, I hope so, I think that is what Nikki told me, would be nice.
Sending love to all,

My friend Moon!

Friday, January 8, 2016

Interesting week

So many things to be thankful for, health, rain, friends, family, plenty of work that slipped in almost unnoticed and filled the time.

Today was an unusual day in that I slept in until 9 am. It was a chance to catch up from a night ago when I worked until 2 am.  I just love the flannel sheets, they keep out the chill and I can snuggle down under them like I did when I was a little boy at home or at my grandparents house.  Nothing quite like hearing the rain on the roof, feeling the warmth of the covers and knowing you are secure at least for the next few hours of time.

How many of you grew up sleeping under a mound of blankets rather than have a heated room at night?  I know I started my life living with a wood stove which only was warm when someone kept it stoked and full of wood so mornings were chilly but quickly warmed as the wood stove turned red with the heat of the wood.  Our family grew up on 80 acres in Washington and it rained, it stormed and sometimes it snowed and we had cows to milk, jobs to get to and life was I guess pretty difficult but it seemed OK then, everyone did their part and it was pleasant most of the time.

I'm so thankful to have life and to have some very good friends right now, perhaps one of them will become more than just friends in the days ahead, only God knows and He is not telling right now but I sure seek His will and help every day.

Sending love to all, so proud of my family, all 8 of them, they all know how to work, to care for their families and to be productive parts of this great society, just proud of them.  This year for Christmas I received a new brief case which I'm enjoying so much every day, my last one was probably 15 years old at least and was wearing down, I'm also loving my new shaver, feels so good to actually be able to remove stubble in such a quick manner and so cleanly, I also received an outfit which I've been enjoying, pants and a nice shirt sweater, perfect for the weather lately, I also love the photos, the calendars, the things the kids create and the candy that I don't need but certainly enjoy so much.

Life is not the same since Nan died, it never will be but it is good and getting better once again.

Love

tim

Monday, January 4, 2016

Blood in the eyes

Good evening,
I hate being alone, I've hated it every day for the past 8+ years and I don't like it any better right now.  Yes I've had some great relationships but they are not the same as having a mate, someone to walk at your side and face life with you every day.

Right now I have a friend in Houston and we talk quite a bit during the day, she sends me U Tube songs and they are really good choices.  But its not the same as being with someone, married and united.

God knows how I feel and I think He cares but He gets frustrated with my short memory span forgetting his past blessings all too fast.

Today was, jump and hear the rain outside, shower and breakfast of oatmeal with banana, then office to do what I can, then out the door to Kaiser to an eye appointment, I've had blood in both eyes so my friend raised concern, the exam went really well and yes I will be getting new glasses, my Kaiser plan pays a whole $75 toward new glasses and I'm sure they will be several hundred dollars, anyway he found my eyes to be in pretty good shape, blood was just some broken little vessels, he gave me some great eye drops and dilated my eyes, that was a real trip trying to drive to the next appointment an hour away, try to see the house through foggy eyes and then drive the comps and to the next appointment, bummer, can't believe they let you out on the road after doing that to you.

This afternoon I had to rush home to jam an appraisal out the door quickly, made the deadline, this evening working on more that Son Steve has prewritten, he does a super job helping.  Now its bed time and talking to my friend in Houston.

Please pray that God will guide me and that I will listen to His leading.

Love to all

Tim

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Family

Some gifts we feel all year long, for me its my 8 member family. Steve and Nikki with Keanna and Kallie are near so I get to see them more often. Today Jason and Jo drove over to pick up Jason's car which I had repaired at my shop here, $151 bill instead of the quoted $1100 at Sears in San Jose and they never even located the real problem at Sears!  Should be reported, crooks.

While Jason and Jo were here we went to lunch at Red Robin, Julie and Clayton were here too, Jo's brother and mother, fun to eat together and enjoy our time.

This evening I took up the challenge of replacing the low beam light on the VW bug, not an easy fix.  After hours of work it is now working perfectly but what a challenge that was, I looked at the UTube video many times before finding all the right things to push and turn to release it.  Now the lights work again, thank you Lord.

Tomorrow afternoon I have an appraisal in Manteca at 1:30 but otherwise than that I'll do my 3 mile walk and then work, work, work.

I've spend quite a bit of time talking to my friend in Houston today and as we talk I learn so much about her and what she has experienced in her life up to this point.  A remarkable woman and a real challenge to many of my assumptions.  I'll see her again in a couple weeks and every time we are together the learning curve increases, I'm thankful.

Now its bed time, life is precious and very good in spite of the challenges, relationships and all that goes with it.

It was so fun to watch Mia and Timothy today at lunch, what great little people, my grandchildren are normal, bright and a joy to be with!  I'm thankful and grateful to a loving God.

Love to all

Tim

Friday, January 1, 2016

Changing

My dear family and friends
Since I last wrote here my life has changed quite a bit.  My hopes of a future with my wonderful friend Ying have not worked out.  Our communication has been so bad, I thought she was rejecting me so turned to search for someone new and she was not actually sending me away at all.  So at the moment I'm in transition and its emotionally challenging, I do believe that God will help me sort all of this out.  Last Christmas night I flew to Houston to meet in person a new friend.  What I found was delightful, a very interesting and bright woman who just happens to be nice looking but is a church going woman of high standards, multi talented and speaks very good English.  We had several really enjoyable days together and I met her little friend Gucci who I walked in the grass and got to really enjoy.  We ate at several Asian places nearby and spent hours getting to know each other.  We all have our story to tell and hers is one of challenge and pain yet she is a happy person and is so helpful to her many friends in the Houston area.  I flew home on Monday night with happy memories and a urgent desire to return when possible.  I'm going back again soon you can be sure of that.  My friend of 99 days is considering a return trip to china to see her family, that would be so wonderful as she loves that family so much.  I enjoyed our time together and I learned so much from her wisdom and honest appraisal of my good points and my bad ones.  I will always count her as my friend and look back on our time as a precious time.  I thought we would end up married and it seems so did she but she never let me know until I had gone to Houston and sort of moved on.  Missed communication!  But I know God cares and will guide in everything.
I am enjoying frequent texts and photos with my new friend, she communicates in amazing ways!
Tomorrow I plan to be in church, my little girls cannot make it tomorrow so I'll be free to enjoy the worship hour.  This morning I rose late after being up talking to Houston until about 2 am.  I walked my 3 miles and it felt very good to get back into it again.

God is so good to us in spite of our weaknesses and failures.  How I appreciate His love and forgiveness as I start this new year.  I hope this is the year that I no longer am alone!

Love to all

Tim