Good evening friends and family,
Last night I finally kept my word. I had sensed that for several days I was letting myself slip into old negative patterns of eating too much, too late, staying up too late and losing control of my life. I woke feeling rough, was sluggish and mentally slow, well slower than usual for me! So after Jason and Jo left while I was sort of being lazy I spent some time thinking and formulating a start over plan. A very good feature of weight watchers is to encourage each of us to just start over on a correct path no matter how bad the detour had been.
So in response I've moved away from so much cups of my mocha, more water bottles and back to oatmeal or steel cut oats for breakfast. I've started eating more green beans, brown rice, fresh tomatoes, non fat cottage cheese and strawberries. And a nice thing about weight watchers is in addition to the 32 points I am allowed each day I can add points by exercising. So today I've walked the big 3 with Ken and then this evening ventured out to spin class. Tonight's teacher was new and that was interesting. Nikki popped in to class but she is so much stronger than me. It does not really matter because I'm spinning as fast and strongly as I can and gets benefit and sweat from it. Then I drove home deciding not to go out to dinner and fired up the grill, made a griller and enjoyed it very much. A griller is really pretty good food, lots of protein and little fat.
My next goal is to be 200 lbs. At the moment I've been 218.5 for weeks and its time to move on down. I have several nice jeans and shorts that are size 34. I'm already down from 38 to 36 and enjoying a host of new things to wear.
Work is very slow right now. I did get to see a very nice ranch this morning, about 4,000 Sq.Ft. of house on 5 acres in the country west of Brentwood. Turns out the owners have 6 children of their own and run day care as well. It was a very happy, noisy group of adults and kids and it is obvious that love rules in the home. How fun to discover a happy oasis in this world of ours. It is sort of like finding a beautiful wild flower while hiking or a secret cove when walking the beach. People caring for each other, a very precious find in a busy life. It is a nice side to my profession. I am in many homes each week. Sometimes the people are cool and distant but usually they can be warmed up with the right questions or comments and turned into instant friends. God has blessed me with an ability to talk, often too much, but I can sometimes help people by listening to them or sharing a moment in their lives. I often wish I could make a living by just caring for people but at this point I'm sure how that could happen.
I spoke to Marilyn Titherington who lives in Rhode Island, about an hour from Boston, and she reported that the heat has been terrible lately. They have just one little window AC in their entire house and it is NOT in her room. I helped her alot by mentioning that our temperature was about 80 and a cool breeze was blowing. I'm sure that helped cool her frayed nerves, don't you think. She will be flying west in about 2 weeks to visit. So I will get a chance to catch up on General Hospital once again!
Lois is keeping my IPOD filled with good books to listen to when I drive places, what a treat that is. Of course with no work to do I don't drive places so much these days.
I wish for you to have peace, calm, meaning and love in your life. Take time to linger in nature, listen to good music, not trash but good music that has withstood the tests of time. It is great and makes life more worth living.
love
tim
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Transitions
Welcome aboard
This evening as we cruise along I see we are approaching a dock up ahead, our voyage today has included a walk with the dogs to the park, then a brief time with the girls as I delivered them to their places. Since I was already at the club this morning I stayed and did a workout on the machines. Then I came home only to fall asleep in my work chair. Ray and Lois tempted me over to their place for some wonderful banana bread and then it was time to drive to Brentwood to collect Keanna from day camp at the club. As I approached the door the person in charge began to rave about Keanna and said they had put her in charge of the other children since she gave orders so well, oh boy did that take me back to yet another blond who sure could dish out the orders and loved to be in charge!
We hit up MacDonalds, can I rant for a minute, wait it is my blog, yes I can rant. The person taking our order had almost no working English and once we had our simple order we discovered it to be wrong so we drove around and tried again this time getting a woman who also had very poor English. Frankly it did not set well with me Learn language before you deal directly with the public!
Once we got home Keanna began to work on a drawing that I had downloaded from a grand parent site on the Internet and I went back to work. One Jello and one bag of popcorn later her mother arrived with Kallie who was full of excitement and had a big hug for papa.
Then I went back to work but mid evening Nikki called to lure me out to UNO's pizza in Antioch. I'm just back and it was so tasty, the company was so fun with Steve, Nikki, Keanna and Kallie all in great moods. Steve was reading a copy of the constitution of the United States and commented from time to time on how far we have drifted from what the founding fathers had in mind for our country.
Tonight I am really going to go to bed early, in fact I'm heading up when I complete the blog, no more late stuff, I just can't function.
It has been an interesting transition today, from leisure and warm fellowship with family back to making a living, yet both are important. One of the people I deal with is a lady named Gina who ordered appraisals for a loan corporation. We have come to share some moments in our life with each other and she was very delighted that I had the family here over the 4th. She shared that so many bad things have happened to their family on or around the 4th that for them it is a dark time. This thing we call life is certainly no picnic. Between the challenges of building and maintaining relationships, of making sure there is a financial basis on which we can live, of finding a balance between living and working, of keeping our faith intact in spite of constant blows that hit us. Life is tough and life is wonderful too.
Love
tim
This evening as we cruise along I see we are approaching a dock up ahead, our voyage today has included a walk with the dogs to the park, then a brief time with the girls as I delivered them to their places. Since I was already at the club this morning I stayed and did a workout on the machines. Then I came home only to fall asleep in my work chair. Ray and Lois tempted me over to their place for some wonderful banana bread and then it was time to drive to Brentwood to collect Keanna from day camp at the club. As I approached the door the person in charge began to rave about Keanna and said they had put her in charge of the other children since she gave orders so well, oh boy did that take me back to yet another blond who sure could dish out the orders and loved to be in charge!
We hit up MacDonalds, can I rant for a minute, wait it is my blog, yes I can rant. The person taking our order had almost no working English and once we had our simple order we discovered it to be wrong so we drove around and tried again this time getting a woman who also had very poor English. Frankly it did not set well with me Learn language before you deal directly with the public!
Once we got home Keanna began to work on a drawing that I had downloaded from a grand parent site on the Internet and I went back to work. One Jello and one bag of popcorn later her mother arrived with Kallie who was full of excitement and had a big hug for papa.
Then I went back to work but mid evening Nikki called to lure me out to UNO's pizza in Antioch. I'm just back and it was so tasty, the company was so fun with Steve, Nikki, Keanna and Kallie all in great moods. Steve was reading a copy of the constitution of the United States and commented from time to time on how far we have drifted from what the founding fathers had in mind for our country.
Tonight I am really going to go to bed early, in fact I'm heading up when I complete the blog, no more late stuff, I just can't function.
It has been an interesting transition today, from leisure and warm fellowship with family back to making a living, yet both are important. One of the people I deal with is a lady named Gina who ordered appraisals for a loan corporation. We have come to share some moments in our life with each other and she was very delighted that I had the family here over the 4th. She shared that so many bad things have happened to their family on or around the 4th that for them it is a dark time. This thing we call life is certainly no picnic. Between the challenges of building and maintaining relationships, of making sure there is a financial basis on which we can live, of finding a balance between living and working, of keeping our faith intact in spite of constant blows that hit us. Life is tough and life is wonderful too.
Love
tim
Monday, July 5, 2010
And then they went home..........
Some things just can't last, like last nights fireworks that flame and burst eventually the sky is dark again with only memories of the glamour and glory of the moment.
Jason and Jo took Timothy and went home today, I was saddened by their departure but heartened by their visit and the fun we had together. Along with Nikki and the girls many happy memories were created and even now are settling into important files in my mind. Suddenly the house was filled with noise, happy sounds of dolls crying, of games being played, of food being eaten, of ducks and geese being fed. What has just happened is a gentle reminder that the future holds happiness, love, peace again. My anger at what we all lost is being replaced with intense longing for what is to come. As long as we live we have hope and anticipation, of dreams and of relationships that will replace sorry with the thrill of what is to come.
Once the kids drove away I sort of fell into a emotional slump and accomplished little the rest of the day, that is unless watching Moby Dick, a movie I've never seen before with Gregory Peck and all without commercials. Sensing that food was needed I mixed brown rice with green beans and little cherry tomatoes left by Jo with cottage cheese. Then I made a tall mocha with banana and many ice cubes. I managed to survive the afternoon, wandered about and picked up things here and there but just felt a huge sense of quiet and aloneness.
Yes on the subject of aloneness in general I'm pretty much a peace with it. Do you know how hard it is to have an argument when you are alone? Or have to decide when to go to bed or what color to paint a wall or what bill to pay first. Its all up to you, just you and sometimes that is pretty good. It is true I have dear friends who challenge me, lift me, question me and encourage me and a very special family with phone calls from both Jason and Nikki this afternoon as well as from Jerry, my brother. How drab life would be without caring family and friends, how boring and empty.
So here comes the week, it will be short and at this point I have three to write up and will see one new one on Wednesday and then make an appointment to see yet another one. When one has had so much fun with family it is sort of hard to shift gears back into a work mode but many of us have to do it so we will.
On Friday I plan to hook up the bug on the tow dolly and drive to Gilroy where I'll pick up a couple new tires and then drive on to Jason and Jo's where I'll enjoy the weekend and attend Timothy's third birthday party. Jason and Jo just celebrated their 6th wedding anniversary last weekend having been married on the 4th of July.
Good night to one and all, I send my love and appreciation for your being in my life.
Tim
Jason and Jo took Timothy and went home today, I was saddened by their departure but heartened by their visit and the fun we had together. Along with Nikki and the girls many happy memories were created and even now are settling into important files in my mind. Suddenly the house was filled with noise, happy sounds of dolls crying, of games being played, of food being eaten, of ducks and geese being fed. What has just happened is a gentle reminder that the future holds happiness, love, peace again. My anger at what we all lost is being replaced with intense longing for what is to come. As long as we live we have hope and anticipation, of dreams and of relationships that will replace sorry with the thrill of what is to come.
Once the kids drove away I sort of fell into a emotional slump and accomplished little the rest of the day, that is unless watching Moby Dick, a movie I've never seen before with Gregory Peck and all without commercials. Sensing that food was needed I mixed brown rice with green beans and little cherry tomatoes left by Jo with cottage cheese. Then I made a tall mocha with banana and many ice cubes. I managed to survive the afternoon, wandered about and picked up things here and there but just felt a huge sense of quiet and aloneness.
Yes on the subject of aloneness in general I'm pretty much a peace with it. Do you know how hard it is to have an argument when you are alone? Or have to decide when to go to bed or what color to paint a wall or what bill to pay first. Its all up to you, just you and sometimes that is pretty good. It is true I have dear friends who challenge me, lift me, question me and encourage me and a very special family with phone calls from both Jason and Nikki this afternoon as well as from Jerry, my brother. How drab life would be without caring family and friends, how boring and empty.
So here comes the week, it will be short and at this point I have three to write up and will see one new one on Wednesday and then make an appointment to see yet another one. When one has had so much fun with family it is sort of hard to shift gears back into a work mode but many of us have to do it so we will.
On Friday I plan to hook up the bug on the tow dolly and drive to Gilroy where I'll pick up a couple new tires and then drive on to Jason and Jo's where I'll enjoy the weekend and attend Timothy's third birthday party. Jason and Jo just celebrated their 6th wedding anniversary last weekend having been married on the 4th of July.
Good night to one and all, I send my love and appreciation for your being in my life.
Tim
Fireworks
We are just back at 11:45. We saw a great fireworks show Livermore tonight but getting out of the parking lot was poorly organized and it took a very long time but we are home safe now.
Timothy really enjoyed watching the aerial display and was very awake during the show.
Today has been a keeper. Jason and Jo slept in the motorhome last night and Timothy was with them, its a little bed and they found it a bit hard as well. So tonight they are sleeping in the guest room, a much nicer option, at least softer.
Keeping our word this morning we launched the paddle boat and Jason took Keanna and Timothy for a long ride in the lake. They seemed to enjoy it a lot. Kallie did not like being left out but we did not have a life jacket for her so Nikki kept her busy inside.
We had a breakfast of Belgium Waffles and Jo made special pancakes for Timothy that he can eat. We had fruit, juices and had fun. Nikki and the girls came for breakfast and play time. Later in the day we went to Streets of Brentwood, an open air mall of nice shops but moved on to another area of shops and spent time in Babies R Us. I found a sheet for the little port a bed I have at the house and we looked at car seats, strollers and even rocking chairs.
Naps were in order next and Timothy and I dismantled the Barbie Tent which has been with me in the living room for some time. Nikki has decided that it is time for it to move along and has other ideas to keep the girls busy when visiting, I trust her, she never lets me down.
Jason used my ancient BBQ and cooked delicious corn and grillers. We feasted on excellent food. Then it was time to leave for Livermore. An entire afternoon of food, concerts and relaxing in the park had been planned by the Livermore Parks department and thousands of people responded. Once we cressed the hill leaving Contra Costa and entered into Alameday County the temperature dropped a lot so we had a pleasant evening with cool breezes and we enjoyed sitting on our blankets waiting for the sun to set. It was a tranquil evening as we observed dozens of parents and kids playing frizbee, or throwing a football or just playing. It was pure Americana and felt good.
I'm thankful for family and for this day. I hope your day was special for you as well. I've had too many empty days to not really treasure this day which was filled with joy and sharing.
Love
tim
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Family give meaning to life
Dear Family and Friends,
I think the photo will say a lot about the day. I picked up Kallie at 9 this morning and we drove to Sabbath School where for a while she was the only participant, then a little girl named Faith joined us. Emily did a great job as usual, she is a natural born grandmother and finally getting to ply her talents with Luke.
Jason and Jo joined us during church and then we went to lunch with the newlyweds, Kevin and his new bride as of Thursday and Sylvia. As usual Sylvia is marvelous with little ones and had them over watching the nice fish tank a couple times and then outside to blow bubbles in the breezes. The food was great and it was a nice time to catch up with family and friends. Kallie ate little but had water and drank her milk. By the time we left she was sleepy and feel asleep quickly in the car. Once we arrived home even though I carried her as well as I could upstairs to her little bed in 5 minutes she was up and had joined the party.
Jason, Jo and Timothy had arrived a minute before we did. Once inside I found the cool morning breezes had been replaced with 84 degree heat. The central AC quickly pulled that down to a comfortable level and we spent most of our time indoors. Jason and I did move the paddle boat around to the water again and in the morning we've promised Timothy a ride on the lake. It seems only yesterday that Jason and I would be paddling the boat or taking the canoe out with he being just a little boy.
Later this afternoon after Jo had a little nap in the motorhome and Jason and I relaxed indoors Nikki arrived with Keanna. They were happy and glad to be out of the sun after a day at the fair in Pleasanton. The three kidos played very nicely together all afternoon with Keanna taking the lead at times. Timothy and Kallie were very kind to each other and played well.
Kallie asked me if we could make music, she meant could she play the piano. I was pleasantly surprised that neither she or Timothy banged on the keys, rather they attempted to play and had a lot of fun several different times playing on the piano. Later Jason took a turn and demonstrated his mastery of the keyboard, watch for his album in the fall!
Finally it came time for Nikki to take her girls home and Jason and Jo left for an evening out at the Streets of Brentwood. That left Timothy and I to fend for ourselves. He asked for a snack and so he had pieces of peach. I could not believe how much he ate. We watched some episodes of Clifford the Big Red Dog and then he brushed his teeth and I put him to bed in a guest room. We read books, sang songs and had prayer and then he was out. What a precious little man he is.
Now Jason and Jo are settled into the motorhome and I hope they find it comfortable and have a good night. I'm heading to bed also but I've not kept my room cooled today so it is a bit warm though the night is cooling down fast outside.
The joy of having both Jason and Nikki with their kidos here was intense. Steve was enjoying a day free from the daddy day care role he often plays and Jo was relaxing and trying to get comfortable as she is well into an exciting pregnancy, a little girl to arrive in the fall.
So I got to bed tonight a happy man, yes I know Nan would have just loved this day and I remember that with fondness. We would have loved to have her here too.
So we send our love to all,
Tim
I think the photo will say a lot about the day. I picked up Kallie at 9 this morning and we drove to Sabbath School where for a while she was the only participant, then a little girl named Faith joined us. Emily did a great job as usual, she is a natural born grandmother and finally getting to ply her talents with Luke.
Jason and Jo joined us during church and then we went to lunch with the newlyweds, Kevin and his new bride as of Thursday and Sylvia. As usual Sylvia is marvelous with little ones and had them over watching the nice fish tank a couple times and then outside to blow bubbles in the breezes. The food was great and it was a nice time to catch up with family and friends. Kallie ate little but had water and drank her milk. By the time we left she was sleepy and feel asleep quickly in the car. Once we arrived home even though I carried her as well as I could upstairs to her little bed in 5 minutes she was up and had joined the party.
Jason, Jo and Timothy had arrived a minute before we did. Once inside I found the cool morning breezes had been replaced with 84 degree heat. The central AC quickly pulled that down to a comfortable level and we spent most of our time indoors. Jason and I did move the paddle boat around to the water again and in the morning we've promised Timothy a ride on the lake. It seems only yesterday that Jason and I would be paddling the boat or taking the canoe out with he being just a little boy.
Later this afternoon after Jo had a little nap in the motorhome and Jason and I relaxed indoors Nikki arrived with Keanna. They were happy and glad to be out of the sun after a day at the fair in Pleasanton. The three kidos played very nicely together all afternoon with Keanna taking the lead at times. Timothy and Kallie were very kind to each other and played well.
Kallie asked me if we could make music, she meant could she play the piano. I was pleasantly surprised that neither she or Timothy banged on the keys, rather they attempted to play and had a lot of fun several different times playing on the piano. Later Jason took a turn and demonstrated his mastery of the keyboard, watch for his album in the fall!
Finally it came time for Nikki to take her girls home and Jason and Jo left for an evening out at the Streets of Brentwood. That left Timothy and I to fend for ourselves. He asked for a snack and so he had pieces of peach. I could not believe how much he ate. We watched some episodes of Clifford the Big Red Dog and then he brushed his teeth and I put him to bed in a guest room. We read books, sang songs and had prayer and then he was out. What a precious little man he is.
Now Jason and Jo are settled into the motorhome and I hope they find it comfortable and have a good night. I'm heading to bed also but I've not kept my room cooled today so it is a bit warm though the night is cooling down fast outside.
The joy of having both Jason and Nikki with their kidos here was intense. Steve was enjoying a day free from the daddy day care role he often plays and Jo was relaxing and trying to get comfortable as she is well into an exciting pregnancy, a little girl to arrive in the fall.
So I got to bed tonight a happy man, yes I know Nan would have just loved this day and I remember that with fondness. We would have loved to have her here too.
So we send our love to all,
Friday, July 2, 2010
At last its Friday evening
Dear Ones,
Finally home after an afternoon in holiday traffic. I had a 3:30 appointment in Hayward and as I drove to the property I could not help but notice that traffic was solid and very slow from Castro Valley all the way through Livermore. I knew that spelled a couple hours stuck in traffic when I headed home. After taking all the time I needed to do the appraisal and purchasing diesel in Castro Valley I had to face the music. It came to me to use Crow Canyon which is a local two lane road and then once arriving at the freeway I decided to just stay on local roads. The trip home took an hour, a normal travel time and I was able to totally shun the freeway. Once arriving home I found myself totally tired and so ended up taking a long nap in the chair in my office. Eventually I woke from my stupor, called Lois to see if she wanted to catch Subway. We did that but I've still felt really tired out. So the things I had hoped to do once I came home are left undone and I'm heading to bed.
Tomorrow will be an exciting day as Jason, Jo and Timothy meet Kallie and me in Tracy for church and then several of us are going to have lunch while in Tracy, then we will head home for some paddle boat fun with Mr. Timothy.
This evening they are playing some really beautiful music related to the 4th holiday. There is really nothing quite like great music, music that has stood the test of years, of generations and still is hauntingly beautiful, moving, memorable. Is there anything like a solo violin or viola? How I wish I knew more about how great music is constructed, I know that I like it but not always sure why. My friend Joyce knows music and has gotten me listening to a Sacramento classical station that I get streaming through the Internet. It has lifted the caliber of my enjoyment of life so many times over the past months.
I working through a book shared with me by my friend Ron. It is the book from the author of Men are Mars, Women are from Venus and he has written a book dealing with finding ones life after divorce or losing a spouse in death. While much of the book does not relate to me as it is dealing with forgiving a spouse after a divorce some parts are outstanding for my own situation having lost Nan.
For the most part my life functions well now. No longer does memories engender pain, now they pretty much bring solid memories. Today as I drove home on the backroads I could not help but remember many late night trips home from San Ramon Regional Medical Center after one of Nan's several surgeries. I would stay with her as long as I could and once she fell asleep I would head home at 11 or 12 using the backroads. Yes I remembered those times this afternoon and what I remembered most was the courage and strength Nan demonstrated as she struggled to recover from these huge surgeries.
There is one idea presented over and over in the book that is somewhat difficult to accept. The concept is to realize that there will be a loving experience in the future that is even stronger than anything I have experienced yet. At this point with no one in sight and a lack of awareness of even how to meet someone who might enjoy a life with me that concept, of greater happiness than before, seems either impossible or very distant. Frankly I don't spend much energy thinking about it. Life is pretty full with just the survival things I need to do.
Well if sleep is what I need its 9:46 now and I need to make the move toward rest.
Good night to all,
love
tim
Finally home after an afternoon in holiday traffic. I had a 3:30 appointment in Hayward and as I drove to the property I could not help but notice that traffic was solid and very slow from Castro Valley all the way through Livermore. I knew that spelled a couple hours stuck in traffic when I headed home. After taking all the time I needed to do the appraisal and purchasing diesel in Castro Valley I had to face the music. It came to me to use Crow Canyon which is a local two lane road and then once arriving at the freeway I decided to just stay on local roads. The trip home took an hour, a normal travel time and I was able to totally shun the freeway. Once arriving home I found myself totally tired and so ended up taking a long nap in the chair in my office. Eventually I woke from my stupor, called Lois to see if she wanted to catch Subway. We did that but I've still felt really tired out. So the things I had hoped to do once I came home are left undone and I'm heading to bed.
Tomorrow will be an exciting day as Jason, Jo and Timothy meet Kallie and me in Tracy for church and then several of us are going to have lunch while in Tracy, then we will head home for some paddle boat fun with Mr. Timothy.
This evening they are playing some really beautiful music related to the 4th holiday. There is really nothing quite like great music, music that has stood the test of years, of generations and still is hauntingly beautiful, moving, memorable. Is there anything like a solo violin or viola? How I wish I knew more about how great music is constructed, I know that I like it but not always sure why. My friend Joyce knows music and has gotten me listening to a Sacramento classical station that I get streaming through the Internet. It has lifted the caliber of my enjoyment of life so many times over the past months.
I working through a book shared with me by my friend Ron. It is the book from the author of Men are Mars, Women are from Venus and he has written a book dealing with finding ones life after divorce or losing a spouse in death. While much of the book does not relate to me as it is dealing with forgiving a spouse after a divorce some parts are outstanding for my own situation having lost Nan.
For the most part my life functions well now. No longer does memories engender pain, now they pretty much bring solid memories. Today as I drove home on the backroads I could not help but remember many late night trips home from San Ramon Regional Medical Center after one of Nan's several surgeries. I would stay with her as long as I could and once she fell asleep I would head home at 11 or 12 using the backroads. Yes I remembered those times this afternoon and what I remembered most was the courage and strength Nan demonstrated as she struggled to recover from these huge surgeries.
There is one idea presented over and over in the book that is somewhat difficult to accept. The concept is to realize that there will be a loving experience in the future that is even stronger than anything I have experienced yet. At this point with no one in sight and a lack of awareness of even how to meet someone who might enjoy a life with me that concept, of greater happiness than before, seems either impossible or very distant. Frankly I don't spend much energy thinking about it. Life is pretty full with just the survival things I need to do.
Well if sleep is what I need its 9:46 now and I need to make the move toward rest.
Good night to all,
love
tim
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Keeping it moving
Dear Family and Friends,
Another busy day, I'm sure you had one too. We walked and the morning was very cool, invigorating. Then breakfast, I'm trying to use up some nasty dry cereal I got somewhere. The stuff tastes like a combination of cardboard and Styrofoam but not as good. The box seems to last like the widow's oil, forever when boxes of cereals I actually like go quickly. So I mix a bit of it every day with something good. Dreadful stuff.
I have to admit I'm a sucker for clean. It is so nice to just wander around the house and enjoy the clean shining floors, the open clean counters in the kitchen, the lack of clutter in my bedroom, Tonya is a miracle worker, I'd like to marry her sister, of course I don't know if she has a sister my age or not, probably not but this is certainly a desirable skill to have. The ability to make things shine, smell good and look attractive.
I almost hate to use the sinks or the counters for fear of making them less perfect.
I set a goal of writing two reports today but when I opened my emails this morning I discovered a new order for a relocation report. It was located in Suisun City which is located adjacent to Fairfield and it was marked rush. So then I calculated that if I kept busy perhaps I could complete the two appraisals and still leave on time to see the house in Suisun City at 3:30. At 2:10 I emailed the appraisal out and then hit the road. The trip to Fairfield from my home involves using a two lane road that has become very dangerous. For the last year it has been under constant construction as crews slowly are improving it and taking out some of the most dangerous sections replacing them with wider and more level new road sections. To keep everyone safe they have clamped a 45 mpg speed limit on miles of this road and drivers do not like it. They also patrol it heavily with Highway Patrol units. I simply cannot afford a ticket so I was the guy holding back about 20 cars today with no place to pull over. We all lived through it.
The home was a very cute little one story and the family is being moved to Hawaii. What fun it was to chat with the homeowner about what to expect. She has never been there and will soon be living there. After seeing her home I searched for comparables and found many sales but only two pendings and no current listings in her entire neighborhood. It was a very unusual situation especially for the current market in most areas. Values are NOT increasing and this government is doing everything wrong to try to improve the business climate. I just read a list of tax changes to kick in Jan. 1 2011. You will not believe the terrible burden that is about to be imposed on all of us, not just the rich. Someone is not telling the truth re: taxes and a whole lot of us are going to be shocked, small businesses will fail, we are headed for worse times, not better. And this is my optimistic look to the future. Ask me how I really feel!
As I drove home from Fairfield I began to look forward to tasks I had decided to do this evening. I trimmed the rose bushes, I know, the wrong time of the year, tough, they will have to live with it. They look better now, I trimmed other plants too, edged and then mowed the lawn. I also took time to slip the tow dolly behind the gate to keep some eager thief from borrowing it. Now I'm resting up, sending this message to you and then heading to bed.
Sending love to all,
Tim
Another busy day, I'm sure you had one too. We walked and the morning was very cool, invigorating. Then breakfast, I'm trying to use up some nasty dry cereal I got somewhere. The stuff tastes like a combination of cardboard and Styrofoam but not as good. The box seems to last like the widow's oil, forever when boxes of cereals I actually like go quickly. So I mix a bit of it every day with something good. Dreadful stuff.
I have to admit I'm a sucker for clean. It is so nice to just wander around the house and enjoy the clean shining floors, the open clean counters in the kitchen, the lack of clutter in my bedroom, Tonya is a miracle worker, I'd like to marry her sister, of course I don't know if she has a sister my age or not, probably not but this is certainly a desirable skill to have. The ability to make things shine, smell good and look attractive.
I almost hate to use the sinks or the counters for fear of making them less perfect.
I set a goal of writing two reports today but when I opened my emails this morning I discovered a new order for a relocation report. It was located in Suisun City which is located adjacent to Fairfield and it was marked rush. So then I calculated that if I kept busy perhaps I could complete the two appraisals and still leave on time to see the house in Suisun City at 3:30. At 2:10 I emailed the appraisal out and then hit the road. The trip to Fairfield from my home involves using a two lane road that has become very dangerous. For the last year it has been under constant construction as crews slowly are improving it and taking out some of the most dangerous sections replacing them with wider and more level new road sections. To keep everyone safe they have clamped a 45 mpg speed limit on miles of this road and drivers do not like it. They also patrol it heavily with Highway Patrol units. I simply cannot afford a ticket so I was the guy holding back about 20 cars today with no place to pull over. We all lived through it.
The home was a very cute little one story and the family is being moved to Hawaii. What fun it was to chat with the homeowner about what to expect. She has never been there and will soon be living there. After seeing her home I searched for comparables and found many sales but only two pendings and no current listings in her entire neighborhood. It was a very unusual situation especially for the current market in most areas. Values are NOT increasing and this government is doing everything wrong to try to improve the business climate. I just read a list of tax changes to kick in Jan. 1 2011. You will not believe the terrible burden that is about to be imposed on all of us, not just the rich. Someone is not telling the truth re: taxes and a whole lot of us are going to be shocked, small businesses will fail, we are headed for worse times, not better. And this is my optimistic look to the future. Ask me how I really feel!
As I drove home from Fairfield I began to look forward to tasks I had decided to do this evening. I trimmed the rose bushes, I know, the wrong time of the year, tough, they will have to live with it. They look better now, I trimmed other plants too, edged and then mowed the lawn. I also took time to slip the tow dolly behind the gate to keep some eager thief from borrowing it. Now I'm resting up, sending this message to you and then heading to bed.
Sending love to all,
Tim
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