Dear Ones,
Have you ever thought what living would be like if the week went for 10 or 15 days before a weekend? It would be rough, no I think our Maker knew about what we could take and when we would need a breather and the weekly cycle is pretty nice. For me its been a day of resting, nudging little tasks a bit forward, like trying to adjust the 3ABN dish so I can once again watch the channels I love but no luck on that front. Guess I'll have to look into getting some help.
Ken and walked and then I drove to Brentwood to cheer and enjoy Keanna's soccer game. It was so cute, the little girls racing around kicking and trying to drive the ball toward the goal. Keanna ran herself so hard her side hurt. We were all very proud of her and cheered her on. Kallie even cheered for her. Oh how Kallie wants to play soccer but she will have to wait a bit yet since she is only 2. It was a nice time with Steve, Nikki, Steve's friend Brett, Kallie and me all lined up in our chairs in the cool morning air.
This evening I had dinner with a friend and the food was very good and by ordering water only the ticket was not too steep.
Money came in the mail for 2 appraisals today, I noticed they were ordered the first of June so I just need to remember to give them a couple months to pay up. I was so thankful to see money and this evening it is already tucked safely in the bank. If all goes well I should be able to make the house payment early in the week.
I'm enjoying playing with E Harmony. Some of the nice people who have responded are obviously not my type but several have very good stories to tell. Nearly everyone is a professional, either a teacher, bank official, lawyer, nurse and on it goes. I'm enjoying learning more about a lot of people before taking the next steps. And of course I'm being told that I've got to put in some photos. I'm usually the one taking pictures, I rarely end up having them taken of me.
My wish for you is to continue to enjoy the weekend, this time to catch our breath, reconnect with loved ones, find calm for our souls.
Love
tim
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
At last its Friday evening
Dear Family and Friends,
After a week of intense work and few rewards I anticipate next week to be better. Today I cranked out two reports, one for a home built in 1935 and located high in the Oakland hills above Piedmont. It was a funky little house which had been rebuilt several times over the years. Think of that, it was built during the depression, was a new home during world war II, existed all through the 50s, 60s, 70, 80s, 90s and is still faithfully serving its new owners now. I enjoyed writing the report and it certainly was easier to move the digital photos into place in the report than to take the photos which involved several hours of driving all over the hills on narrow twisted little roads that even made the GPS give up a couple times. And this time the report was not rejected by the system. I must be learning. Now I just hope for more orders from them.
The second report was of the strange three story high home which looks like a new york store, very strange looking and has a lot size of less than 2,000 Sq.Ft. I finished that one at 5:45. Lois and I were both hungry so she bought me a Subway sandwich which I really enjoyed, I ordered the 6 inch wheat with the garden burger.
Once I got back home I decided the front lawn could benefit from a clipping. Jason is letting me use his weed eater system but lately it won't stay running. Tonight I found out the problem. The fuel line that extends from the carb into the tank was actually broken in two places, sort of hard to suck fuel through a broken line. I was glad to make that discovery so now its just a matter of purchasing a new little fuel line, installing it and we should be in business again. I love the system, it has attachments that include: blower, rototiller, weed eater and edger. They all work very well but all need the basic 4 stroke engine to be running strongly.
My duct tape repairs of the grass catcher have failed so tonight some grass blew up and into my face, no problem, the lawn looks great at least in the dark it does.
Once I emailed the second appraisal out I then turned to the bank account, reconciling the last month. Would you believe it came out to the penny the first time? Now that just does not happen to me very often. I also discovered that a reason for my present financial discomfort, last months income was about $3,000 below the norm. That can have a negative effect on things.
I walked this morning thinking that a walk would help clear my head of negative vibes. It sure did. It was a lovely morning, cool and crisp. I even tried running for a few blocks and that took my heart by surprise. Once I had breakfast I was very sleepy so I took a nap in the work chair but had a terrible time waking. Finally I tempted myself out of the chair with a promise of Starbucks if I would drive down and fill the diesel tank. Probably good thing I did that. It took 13.2 gallons and I think it only is supposed to hold 13, yikes that was close. A nice thing happened too, Safeway is once again giving a 10 cent discount per gallon if you have spent $50 in the food store. Well I had so my diesel cost just $3.01 per gallon, the best price I've seen in a very long time. So my fillup was just $39 and I'm set for the next 550 miles. Thank God for the diesel bug. It is a money saver and I happen to love to drive it. I have to admit having the IPOD makes driving even nicer as it is very simple to listen to books while I drive and I can check the email messages by just pulling up to any McDonalds or Starbucks. All of this is until I can afford to move to the Iphone but I'll do that when the big four are paid, health insurance, house payment, van payment and motorhome payment and then there is E&O insurance that is due right now and dental work that is vitally needed and there is that skin biopsy that I need on my lip to check for cancer. Well I'm not bored with life, not in any way.
So my dear friends, now you have the weekend to pull your family back together, will you do it? Why not. I'd just say do it while you can and do it to your best ability.
Love
tim
After a week of intense work and few rewards I anticipate next week to be better. Today I cranked out two reports, one for a home built in 1935 and located high in the Oakland hills above Piedmont. It was a funky little house which had been rebuilt several times over the years. Think of that, it was built during the depression, was a new home during world war II, existed all through the 50s, 60s, 70, 80s, 90s and is still faithfully serving its new owners now. I enjoyed writing the report and it certainly was easier to move the digital photos into place in the report than to take the photos which involved several hours of driving all over the hills on narrow twisted little roads that even made the GPS give up a couple times. And this time the report was not rejected by the system. I must be learning. Now I just hope for more orders from them.
The second report was of the strange three story high home which looks like a new york store, very strange looking and has a lot size of less than 2,000 Sq.Ft. I finished that one at 5:45. Lois and I were both hungry so she bought me a Subway sandwich which I really enjoyed, I ordered the 6 inch wheat with the garden burger.
Once I got back home I decided the front lawn could benefit from a clipping. Jason is letting me use his weed eater system but lately it won't stay running. Tonight I found out the problem. The fuel line that extends from the carb into the tank was actually broken in two places, sort of hard to suck fuel through a broken line. I was glad to make that discovery so now its just a matter of purchasing a new little fuel line, installing it and we should be in business again. I love the system, it has attachments that include: blower, rototiller, weed eater and edger. They all work very well but all need the basic 4 stroke engine to be running strongly.
My duct tape repairs of the grass catcher have failed so tonight some grass blew up and into my face, no problem, the lawn looks great at least in the dark it does.
Once I emailed the second appraisal out I then turned to the bank account, reconciling the last month. Would you believe it came out to the penny the first time? Now that just does not happen to me very often. I also discovered that a reason for my present financial discomfort, last months income was about $3,000 below the norm. That can have a negative effect on things.
I walked this morning thinking that a walk would help clear my head of negative vibes. It sure did. It was a lovely morning, cool and crisp. I even tried running for a few blocks and that took my heart by surprise. Once I had breakfast I was very sleepy so I took a nap in the work chair but had a terrible time waking. Finally I tempted myself out of the chair with a promise of Starbucks if I would drive down and fill the diesel tank. Probably good thing I did that. It took 13.2 gallons and I think it only is supposed to hold 13, yikes that was close. A nice thing happened too, Safeway is once again giving a 10 cent discount per gallon if you have spent $50 in the food store. Well I had so my diesel cost just $3.01 per gallon, the best price I've seen in a very long time. So my fillup was just $39 and I'm set for the next 550 miles. Thank God for the diesel bug. It is a money saver and I happen to love to drive it. I have to admit having the IPOD makes driving even nicer as it is very simple to listen to books while I drive and I can check the email messages by just pulling up to any McDonalds or Starbucks. All of this is until I can afford to move to the Iphone but I'll do that when the big four are paid, health insurance, house payment, van payment and motorhome payment and then there is E&O insurance that is due right now and dental work that is vitally needed and there is that skin biopsy that I need on my lip to check for cancer. Well I'm not bored with life, not in any way.
So my dear friends, now you have the weekend to pull your family back together, will you do it? Why not. I'd just say do it while you can and do it to your best ability.
Love
tim
Thursday, August 5, 2010
When faith and reality collide
So life moves on one plodding day at a time. Each day I'm looking for a bit of silver in the lining, sometimes I catch it, like when I get to see the kids and the kidos other times not so much.
Today was pretty interesting, the couple I saw in Walnut Creek lived in a lovely home, he confined to a wheel chair and married over 50 years, they were a joy to meet. Then it was off to a house in Concord that has been rescued and looks great now, ready for buyers. From Concord a short drive brought me to Hercules where I inspected a very strange home. It looked like a hotel or a business, three stories high, many small windows but inside it was very liveable as long as you don't mind stairs. Within a few blocks to the bay the house was a part of a subdivision of rather strange homes on tiny lots and big living areas. Once I was completed with that one I headed to Emeryville to shoot a comp photo of an empty lot, then on to the Oakland hills were darkness prevented me from finishing my job the other night. I just kept telling myself, stay the course, hang in there. There was no time to stop and eat so my meager lunch bucket kept yielding snacks, water, ice tea (no calorie), mocha 100 calories, low calorie string cheese and the last Oats and Honey bar in the car door.
It was nice to get back and since the car was below empty I planned to stop at Safeway and fill with diesel but of course they had that place wrapped in yellow tape and closed down. Now I have a bug that is very low on fuel. And to complete the day there was NO money in the mailbox. For a time it seemed that month after month the money would arrive just in time to pay the house payment, this time that is not the case. So what do I make of it? Seems this is the time when faith and reality collide. Makes one think real hard and question just about everything. I don't have any more hours to work and everything I've done for the past two weeks pays about 1/2 of what it used to pay. The only solice I have is that many appraisers are already gone so when there is work again in the future perhaps things will brighten up a bit. If I can hold on until then.
On a positive note I woke this morning at 5:05 to hear a creature come through a little hole in the screen of my bedroom slider, run across the room, run into the door that was closed to downstairs and then turn and race back out. But mr racoon hit the screen with a bang, bounced back and then torn right through it leaving a 3 foot slit in the screen. Talk about a wake up call! Eventually I did fall back asleep but I felt under seige from the racoons. They have torn holes in every screen door in the house and are hell bent on coming in. What next?
Well good night to you all,
love
tim
Today was pretty interesting, the couple I saw in Walnut Creek lived in a lovely home, he confined to a wheel chair and married over 50 years, they were a joy to meet. Then it was off to a house in Concord that has been rescued and looks great now, ready for buyers. From Concord a short drive brought me to Hercules where I inspected a very strange home. It looked like a hotel or a business, three stories high, many small windows but inside it was very liveable as long as you don't mind stairs. Within a few blocks to the bay the house was a part of a subdivision of rather strange homes on tiny lots and big living areas. Once I was completed with that one I headed to Emeryville to shoot a comp photo of an empty lot, then on to the Oakland hills were darkness prevented me from finishing my job the other night. I just kept telling myself, stay the course, hang in there. There was no time to stop and eat so my meager lunch bucket kept yielding snacks, water, ice tea (no calorie), mocha 100 calories, low calorie string cheese and the last Oats and Honey bar in the car door.
It was nice to get back and since the car was below empty I planned to stop at Safeway and fill with diesel but of course they had that place wrapped in yellow tape and closed down. Now I have a bug that is very low on fuel. And to complete the day there was NO money in the mailbox. For a time it seemed that month after month the money would arrive just in time to pay the house payment, this time that is not the case. So what do I make of it? Seems this is the time when faith and reality collide. Makes one think real hard and question just about everything. I don't have any more hours to work and everything I've done for the past two weeks pays about 1/2 of what it used to pay. The only solice I have is that many appraisers are already gone so when there is work again in the future perhaps things will brighten up a bit. If I can hold on until then.
On a positive note I woke this morning at 5:05 to hear a creature come through a little hole in the screen of my bedroom slider, run across the room, run into the door that was closed to downstairs and then turn and race back out. But mr racoon hit the screen with a bang, bounced back and then torn right through it leaving a 3 foot slit in the screen. Talk about a wake up call! Eventually I did fall back asleep but I felt under seige from the racoons. They have torn holes in every screen door in the house and are hell bent on coming in. What next?
Well good night to you all,
love
tim
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Keanna lights up the day
Dear Family and Friends,
Since Ken had special classes today we did not walk. I came down and went right to work and within a couple hours had one emailed out using the new AI format. It got rejected twice. There were some computer glitches that kept including addendums from a very old appraisal and I could not get them out of the finished product. Finally I had to import the key pages into a new file and do it that way. Poor reviewer must have been pulling his hair out with me. Finally I got the blessed words, file accepted.
At 12:45 I was in line and picked up Keanna. She came marching out with an unhappy face. She said someone had mentioned that she had hair on her arms, kids! She quickly recovered and we drove to McDonalds where I had a smoothie, does anyone know how many points or calories it has?
We came back home for a bit while I fixed some lunch for myself, whole wheat burritos with vege meat, beans, brown rice, oh so yummy.
I took Keanna to gymnastics and that was a blast. She has advanced so much and does cartwheels like someone else who is just walking. She knows she is doing well and that helps a lot I think.
When class was over we met Steve at a property where he expertly measured and photographed everything. Then Keanna and I left and stopped at a local park where she did more climbing, money bars and running to chase birds. Energy plus.
We met up with Nikki and Kallie who were already at the house and then they were all gone. It was great to see them.
Pam had given me lots of food from her time with Jenny Craig and I had one of those tonight. It tasted great.
Now its bed time and I'm ready. Our cool weather continues which is a huge blessing, August with less than 90 degree weather, just unbelievable so much less expensive with PG&E.
Love to all,
Tim
Since Ken had special classes today we did not walk. I came down and went right to work and within a couple hours had one emailed out using the new AI format. It got rejected twice. There were some computer glitches that kept including addendums from a very old appraisal and I could not get them out of the finished product. Finally I had to import the key pages into a new file and do it that way. Poor reviewer must have been pulling his hair out with me. Finally I got the blessed words, file accepted.
At 12:45 I was in line and picked up Keanna. She came marching out with an unhappy face. She said someone had mentioned that she had hair on her arms, kids! She quickly recovered and we drove to McDonalds where I had a smoothie, does anyone know how many points or calories it has?
We came back home for a bit while I fixed some lunch for myself, whole wheat burritos with vege meat, beans, brown rice, oh so yummy.
I took Keanna to gymnastics and that was a blast. She has advanced so much and does cartwheels like someone else who is just walking. She knows she is doing well and that helps a lot I think.
When class was over we met Steve at a property where he expertly measured and photographed everything. Then Keanna and I left and stopped at a local park where she did more climbing, money bars and running to chase birds. Energy plus.
We met up with Nikki and Kallie who were already at the house and then they were all gone. It was great to see them.
Pam had given me lots of food from her time with Jenny Craig and I had one of those tonight. It tasted great.
Now its bed time and I'm ready. Our cool weather continues which is a huge blessing, August with less than 90 degree weather, just unbelievable so much less expensive with PG&E.
Love to all,
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Rituals
So here goes one more chapter in my obession with blogging. Do I do this for you? or me? or for something that we all count on every day? I am a child of habits, I like routines and want to know what I can count on so doing the blog most anywhere I am comes natural. Yes, I know I've missed a few nights but never because I'm lazy or just didn't care. When there is no computer, no signal and no way then I miss doing a blog, otherwise I'm here.
Today has been another whirlwind, walk, breakfast, crank out work, balance new orders, make appointments, snack here and there. At 3:50 I left so I could make a deposit at the bank before 4 and then be on the road at 4 for San Leandro.
Upon arriving on time I found a very interesting 4 plex. Once the owner arrived he told me and showed me a lot of points I would have missed. This building from the 1930s once sat where Freeway 580 is now. Instead of tearing it down they cut it in two pieces and moved it down a hill, then down the subject street and then up the sloping site to sit it on a new foundation that had thrown together. In time their work settled and when the present owner purchased it it was leaning 6 inches toward the street and moving slowly toward destruction. He like many of us men love a challenge. He has done so much but there is much more to be done to make it liveable. Only one unit is rented, the rest are gutted and are very sad. He is so upside down in the building financially that only a miracle would see him ever make any money on it. The inspection and conversations tool almost two hours and pushed me off schedule badly.
I raced up the freeway to a different neighborhood where I did a field review of someones appraisal. Once that was done I headed up into the hills and I do mean hills above Piedmont into Montclaire. I arrived at the subject property early, shot photos of the exterior, then tried to shoot the comps I had selected. I only got to two before darkness set in. I went back to the house and shot interior photos and then headed home. It was 8:45 when I left.
I'm pretty tired tonight and very glad to be heading to bed. Is the house payment covered? Not yet but I'm over half way there now with the check from the 4 plex. I refuse to get hung up in worry since worry never paid any bills but I do feel the dark cloud knowing I am not keeping up right now. I know about the dark cloud because when I'm through paying the payment I feel as light as air. Today I heard about yet another appraiser who has given up and moved to a new profession. This time we lost a really good guy, great appraiser and honest.
This afternoon Marilyn texted me to say that her friend Diane's dad had passed away. Marilyn is where she belongs, she is a stable force and will be a great help to the family. Yet it saddened me to think of a family in grief. I know grief and there is no escape from its clutches. Only time begins the healing.
Good night all,
love
tim
Today has been another whirlwind, walk, breakfast, crank out work, balance new orders, make appointments, snack here and there. At 3:50 I left so I could make a deposit at the bank before 4 and then be on the road at 4 for San Leandro.
Upon arriving on time I found a very interesting 4 plex. Once the owner arrived he told me and showed me a lot of points I would have missed. This building from the 1930s once sat where Freeway 580 is now. Instead of tearing it down they cut it in two pieces and moved it down a hill, then down the subject street and then up the sloping site to sit it on a new foundation that had thrown together. In time their work settled and when the present owner purchased it it was leaning 6 inches toward the street and moving slowly toward destruction. He like many of us men love a challenge. He has done so much but there is much more to be done to make it liveable. Only one unit is rented, the rest are gutted and are very sad. He is so upside down in the building financially that only a miracle would see him ever make any money on it. The inspection and conversations tool almost two hours and pushed me off schedule badly.
I raced up the freeway to a different neighborhood where I did a field review of someones appraisal. Once that was done I headed up into the hills and I do mean hills above Piedmont into Montclaire. I arrived at the subject property early, shot photos of the exterior, then tried to shoot the comps I had selected. I only got to two before darkness set in. I went back to the house and shot interior photos and then headed home. It was 8:45 when I left.
I'm pretty tired tonight and very glad to be heading to bed. Is the house payment covered? Not yet but I'm over half way there now with the check from the 4 plex. I refuse to get hung up in worry since worry never paid any bills but I do feel the dark cloud knowing I am not keeping up right now. I know about the dark cloud because when I'm through paying the payment I feel as light as air. Today I heard about yet another appraiser who has given up and moved to a new profession. This time we lost a really good guy, great appraiser and honest.
This afternoon Marilyn texted me to say that her friend Diane's dad had passed away. Marilyn is where she belongs, she is a stable force and will be a great help to the family. Yet it saddened me to think of a family in grief. I know grief and there is no escape from its clutches. Only time begins the healing.
Good night all,
love
tim
Monday, August 2, 2010
Great day
5:50 alarm wakes me
6:20 arrive to watch girls, steve leaves for work
8:30 drop off Keanna at school, Kallie at sitters
9:00 do research, call Heinz to activate the amazing $48 a month from Nan's pension. Hey I'll take it and be very thankful.
10:45 leave for Fremont
11:50 arrive early at first home
2:50 arrive second home
4:15 head to Brentwood for Weight Watchers
5:15 weight in, scales broken, weighted to heavy, hope they have it fixed by next week
5:45 Foodmax for groceries
6:30 Home and tomato sandwiches were on the menu
7:30 watch rerun of favorite show "The Mentalist"
8:30 back to work, set up orders, do research
9:30 consider and then write this blog.
This is the way my life goes and it has a lot going for it. I'm busy, mostly I'm doing what I enjoy, I'm feeling pretty good, I think I'm helping people so in spite of serious financial issues life is OK.
Love to all,
Tim
6:20 arrive to watch girls, steve leaves for work
8:30 drop off Keanna at school, Kallie at sitters
9:00 do research, call Heinz to activate the amazing $48 a month from Nan's pension. Hey I'll take it and be very thankful.
10:45 leave for Fremont
11:50 arrive early at first home
2:50 arrive second home
4:15 head to Brentwood for Weight Watchers
5:15 weight in, scales broken, weighted to heavy, hope they have it fixed by next week
5:45 Foodmax for groceries
6:30 Home and tomato sandwiches were on the menu
7:30 watch rerun of favorite show "The Mentalist"
8:30 back to work, set up orders, do research
9:30 consider and then write this blog.
This is the way my life goes and it has a lot going for it. I'm busy, mostly I'm doing what I enjoy, I'm feeling pretty good, I think I'm helping people so in spite of serious financial issues life is OK.
Love to all,
Tim
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Getting it all together, multi tasking
Dear Family and Friends,
Well Ken and I hit the trail this morning while it was very cool. Our walk was great. Once home I drove to Safeway for shopping. The frig and cupboards were getting a bit bare of essentials. So $75 later and with sacks filling the trunk I drove back home. Once the things were unloaded and tucked away in their places I went back to the garage and pulled out the shop vac someone gave me long ago. Talk about power, it really will suck up just about anything and in a few minutes the trash on the floors of the bug were history. Then I noticed how many cobwebs there were on the garage ceiling so I took care of them. Ken had come over after our walk and together we thought we had solved the very difficult timer that controls the sprinklers. For a couple months it has been coming on at least twice every other day, maybe three times and things are way to wet. This timer looks so unassuming, just a few buttons and a little screen, yea right. It takes a masters degree to even begin to understand the sequence required to control and set it. To prove that point I came out at noon to find it had come on again at about 11:30 and sprinkled all over again, in spite of our brilliant minds and our work setting it. Well now I was pretty ticked off, no little two bit piece of china made junk was going to stump me. First I read the little instructions, then I pushed buttons, no luck. Finally by a stroke of luck, not wisdom I found that by pushing two buttons at the same time, the off and on buttons that a cycle could be turned off, or course, that makes great sense, push the on and off buttons at the same time, why didn't I think of that? Now I believe that the timer will come on at 5 am, work through its three different stations and then turn off for the day. Would I bet money on it, no way, I won't be surprised if I find it watering at midnight!
While I was shopping the idea of a bagel hit me hard. So in compromise I purchased 1 multigrain bagel and it was very good. I found fruit juice that has 5 calories a glass, fresh peaches, soy milk, eggs for just $1.50 a dozen.
For lunch today I enjoyed a salad with a whole tomato cut into little pieces, I'm getting better at that process, lettuce, pinto beans, string cheese cut into little pieces and 0 calorie Italian dressing. It was incredible.
Other tasks that have occupied my time include: going through piles of papers and taking care of what each required while I had it in my hand. I finally have all the papers needed to apply for Nan's retirement benefits from Heinz and once I make a call in the morning to ask questions I'll get that in the mail. I found questions from management companies that had not been answered, offers to purchase this or that that just went in the trash, paperwork to retrieve $63 that the state has of my money and has had for years. I think Phyllis B told me about that awhile back. So many little details to care for. In another time I had staff to help with many of these things but now I am staff, appraiser, receptionist, accountant and clerk.
Marilyn sent a sad email this afternoon. She is with her friend Diane whose father is very ill and losing ground rapidly. Marilyn is sitting with her helping her cope with this tragic next step. Yes he is very old and has a great life but that makes no difference, loss is loss and you feel it like a truck hit you when it happens. Marilyn lost Walt a few years back and knows full well what Diane is feeling and facing. She is in the right place tonight.
In the morning I get to do Papa day care which will be very fun. Steve has a job that requires that he leave early so I'll step in and help a bit. It is so fun to help the girls have breakfast, load up in the car and then deliver them to where they go for the day. Once that is over I head to Fremont for two appointments, would you believe that are just blocks from each other, that does not happen often and will help the day pass. One rush appraisal was ordered without any phone number so I am waiting to hear from the company that ordered it. Would be nice.
Today has not been a good day on the delta. Twice I have heard the medivac helicopters come in to land at the park near my house where the paramedics bring the injured victims for transport. Sundays are not a great time to be on the delta, just too many boats, too much drinking and way too many jet skiis with unskilled drivers going far too fast.
Well my friends, here comes the week? For me a huge question looms, will I see enough money to cover the house payment that was due today? I sure hope so. I sort of like living here and I'm kind of used to it.
Sending good vibes to all and asking that you pray for little Timothy who is battling a nasty cold.
Love
tim
Well Ken and I hit the trail this morning while it was very cool. Our walk was great. Once home I drove to Safeway for shopping. The frig and cupboards were getting a bit bare of essentials. So $75 later and with sacks filling the trunk I drove back home. Once the things were unloaded and tucked away in their places I went back to the garage and pulled out the shop vac someone gave me long ago. Talk about power, it really will suck up just about anything and in a few minutes the trash on the floors of the bug were history. Then I noticed how many cobwebs there were on the garage ceiling so I took care of them. Ken had come over after our walk and together we thought we had solved the very difficult timer that controls the sprinklers. For a couple months it has been coming on at least twice every other day, maybe three times and things are way to wet. This timer looks so unassuming, just a few buttons and a little screen, yea right. It takes a masters degree to even begin to understand the sequence required to control and set it. To prove that point I came out at noon to find it had come on again at about 11:30 and sprinkled all over again, in spite of our brilliant minds and our work setting it. Well now I was pretty ticked off, no little two bit piece of china made junk was going to stump me. First I read the little instructions, then I pushed buttons, no luck. Finally by a stroke of luck, not wisdom I found that by pushing two buttons at the same time, the off and on buttons that a cycle could be turned off, or course, that makes great sense, push the on and off buttons at the same time, why didn't I think of that? Now I believe that the timer will come on at 5 am, work through its three different stations and then turn off for the day. Would I bet money on it, no way, I won't be surprised if I find it watering at midnight!
While I was shopping the idea of a bagel hit me hard. So in compromise I purchased 1 multigrain bagel and it was very good. I found fruit juice that has 5 calories a glass, fresh peaches, soy milk, eggs for just $1.50 a dozen.
For lunch today I enjoyed a salad with a whole tomato cut into little pieces, I'm getting better at that process, lettuce, pinto beans, string cheese cut into little pieces and 0 calorie Italian dressing. It was incredible.
Other tasks that have occupied my time include: going through piles of papers and taking care of what each required while I had it in my hand. I finally have all the papers needed to apply for Nan's retirement benefits from Heinz and once I make a call in the morning to ask questions I'll get that in the mail. I found questions from management companies that had not been answered, offers to purchase this or that that just went in the trash, paperwork to retrieve $63 that the state has of my money and has had for years. I think Phyllis B told me about that awhile back. So many little details to care for. In another time I had staff to help with many of these things but now I am staff, appraiser, receptionist, accountant and clerk.
Marilyn sent a sad email this afternoon. She is with her friend Diane whose father is very ill and losing ground rapidly. Marilyn is sitting with her helping her cope with this tragic next step. Yes he is very old and has a great life but that makes no difference, loss is loss and you feel it like a truck hit you when it happens. Marilyn lost Walt a few years back and knows full well what Diane is feeling and facing. She is in the right place tonight.
In the morning I get to do Papa day care which will be very fun. Steve has a job that requires that he leave early so I'll step in and help a bit. It is so fun to help the girls have breakfast, load up in the car and then deliver them to where they go for the day. Once that is over I head to Fremont for two appointments, would you believe that are just blocks from each other, that does not happen often and will help the day pass. One rush appraisal was ordered without any phone number so I am waiting to hear from the company that ordered it. Would be nice.
Today has not been a good day on the delta. Twice I have heard the medivac helicopters come in to land at the park near my house where the paramedics bring the injured victims for transport. Sundays are not a great time to be on the delta, just too many boats, too much drinking and way too many jet skiis with unskilled drivers going far too fast.
Well my friends, here comes the week? For me a huge question looms, will I see enough money to cover the house payment that was due today? I sure hope so. I sort of like living here and I'm kind of used to it.
Sending good vibes to all and asking that you pray for little Timothy who is battling a nasty cold.
Love
tim
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