Incredible weekend for all the family, the great conversations, for seeing Joe as he opened his cards and gifts, for seeing both town people and extended family join together and celebrate a really good guy, a guy who loves life, people, animals, humor, hunting, fishing, chasing oil wells and pickup trucks.
Saturday morning I woke with a sore throat from sleeping in a smoking room, yuk.
I drove out to join the family at the house, a place on a bunch of acres just outside of town and was met by 6 dogs of every size yet united in doing one thing, barking! One has a tongue that hangs out a lot, perhaps its because he has been bitten by a snake twice in the last two years yet lived. They are so funny as they compete for ones attention.
There is a very large family room with chairs and couches all around plus this massage chair that will just tear you up with its routines, wow. There is a huge flat screen on the wall and non stop westerns or football. Joe was an extra when they made the Alamo movie so that one gets played quite a bit. He knew Richard Widmark and John Wayne who were in the movie.
Last night I was moved to a non smoking room which had been updated. A totally different experience. Another reason to quit smoking, you get better rooms at a motel. At about midnight I gave up and went to sleep but was up at 8 this morning. Thinking to do something nice I stopped for doughnuts and took a dozen, only $6.00. Well two other people had the same idea so there were plenty! We all sat around and talked for awhile, someone showed me how to do Facebook and I enjoyed learning.
Then the buzz was that we were invited to go visit a nearby ranch, a ranch with hundreds of acres, a ranch owned by one of Joe's long time friends, a guy who get his real financial start when his new company was hired to clean up the Waco mess after the government killed all the men, women and children, that's Janet Reno! That contract got him launched he eventually sold the company for a reported $90 million dollars. He owns other companies as well but has mostly retired now and travels the world searching for big game. On his huge spread he has constructed a large building where he keeps his big game. So we were invited to come over and see. It is not possible to describe with words but there are hundreds of deer, lions, water buffalo, dozens of different kinds of deer from 10 inches high to 8 feet tall, he has giraffes, hippos, all mounted on backdrops that simulate the wilds where they came from. The museum is amazing and there is even a gun room where his rare guns are kept, on was from Colt and was the only one of its kind ever made. Both he and his wife were friendly and told stories about their adventures. She complained that since he got a faster jet he got back sooner and was under foot, funny sort of complaint. All in all it was a great experience and I'll share some of the photos tomorrow.
About noon I loaded up the rental car and hit the road. Now hitting the road there is different. The freeways are wide and in perfect condition with speed limits up to 80 mph so the trip back was quick and easy. Since I arrived back early they bumped me to an earlier flight and I first flew to Austin, a 35 minutes flight, then stayed on the plane for Oakland which left very soon. I arrived back in Oakland just before 7, found my car and headed home.
The weekend was very special. I got to spend time with a family I treasure, a family that still has open arms for me in spite of Nan leaving all of us about 6 years ago. Last night David pulled out a book of photos of Nan and there were ones in there I had no seen in a long time. What a beautiful lady and what a great honor to have been married to her for 36 years.
I'm very thankful to Dana and Tim for getting the pink pass that allowed this weekend to happen for me. Everything went very smoothly.
Love to all
Tim
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Greetings from eastland
Good evening,
I'm Snuggled away in my hotel room this evening. It's been a very good day. I've spent the entire day with family lots of family members. This evening we had a very special birthday party for Joe he's just turned 75 years old and lots of people came to help them celebrate.
During the day we drove down to the back of his 300 acres where he has dozens of lots that people can rent for recreational needs and saw a very interesting part of Texas.
The weather has been overcast hot humid a little bit of rain and typical Texas all day.
Last night I got in pretty late after missing my plane in Oakland.
At 12:30 I finally checked in and learned they had saved me a smoking room.
As lots of hunters were in town fore a dove hunting celebration I had the only room left. So I slept with smoke. Not so cool. Woke with raw throat but then had a good breakfast in motel and drove out to try to find their place. Took two try's but I did find it.
This afternoon the management moved me to a nicer non smoking room and I'm happier!
I leave from Dallas sometime tomorrow afternoon but I'm not sure when. I'll have to find out tomorrow.
Someone very special drove here today from Oklahoma, dear aunt Ann hottal. She and Jim taught at Lodi for years and nan was living with them when we first met. She is a precious 81 year old lady who thinks nothing of driving 6 hours in her accord. Amazing lady with a powerful faith.
Well it's bedtime.
Love to all and especially to Jason, Nikki, Steve and Jo.
Tim
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Busy day that ends with fire.........
As I was driving home from seeing two properties in Livermore suddenly I saw bright orange flames, burning in a huge circle in the grassy slopes near Vasco Road. Traffic slowed as choking smoke blew across the road but there were no fire fighters. Only 15 minutes later as I neared home did I begin to hear the wail of sirens. It was a rather shocking experience.
This morning after breakfast I wrote one and then set up orders, did research and started to write yet another one. Once check arrived in the mail which was great! At 2 I had to drive to Antioch to inspect a new railing that had just been added to a front porch for safety sake. The seller was there busily building the railing and he had enough done that I could shoot a photo. Then I headed back diverting through Brentwood to get the car washed. Marilyn had parked under a big tree at Diane's place and the birds had really piled it on, I mean it was bad.
Once I got home there was just enough time to ship out the photo and report about the railing, fix a couple other things and leave for Livermore.
In Livermore both homes were small and in perfect, updated condition. Of course once I finished it was nearly dark and I drove through In and Out for a sandwich.
Now its bed time and I'm very thankful for something to do, work wise. I just pray every day that Steve will get orders, he is very prepared, very skilled and ready to do excellent work.
Tomorrow evening I'll be blogging from Eastland Texas. I leave here at 10:30 tomorrow, will park and check in, then wait until I fly out at 12:30 and I think I arrive about 4 or so in Dallas at Love Field.
Joe is turning 75 and that is so wonderful. How much Nan would have loved to see this happen, oh how I miss her.
Sending love to all and especially to Mia, Kallie, Timothy and Keanna, my very precious little people. What a huge blessing they all are.
Love
Tim
This morning after breakfast I wrote one and then set up orders, did research and started to write yet another one. Once check arrived in the mail which was great! At 2 I had to drive to Antioch to inspect a new railing that had just been added to a front porch for safety sake. The seller was there busily building the railing and he had enough done that I could shoot a photo. Then I headed back diverting through Brentwood to get the car washed. Marilyn had parked under a big tree at Diane's place and the birds had really piled it on, I mean it was bad.
Once I got home there was just enough time to ship out the photo and report about the railing, fix a couple other things and leave for Livermore.
In Livermore both homes were small and in perfect, updated condition. Of course once I finished it was nearly dark and I drove through In and Out for a sandwich.
Now its bed time and I'm very thankful for something to do, work wise. I just pray every day that Steve will get orders, he is very prepared, very skilled and ready to do excellent work.
Tomorrow evening I'll be blogging from Eastland Texas. I leave here at 10:30 tomorrow, will park and check in, then wait until I fly out at 12:30 and I think I arrive about 4 or so in Dallas at Love Field.
Joe is turning 75 and that is so wonderful. How much Nan would have loved to see this happen, oh how I miss her.
Sending love to all and especially to Mia, Kallie, Timothy and Keanna, my very precious little people. What a huge blessing they all are.
Love
Tim
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Fiddler on the Roof - what a performance!
I'm just back home from the Stockton Civic Theatre located just off March Lane. Bob, his son and grand daughter Olivia, Marilyn and myself had dinner at the Spaghetti Factory and then went to the performance. Even though it was a first night event it went very smoothly and the music and acting was powerful. We all enjoyed the evening very much, unforgettable really.
Today the motorhome came home and it is very clean and beautiful both inside and out. I've already filled the fuel, took 33 gallons and mailed back the deposit I owed them. It was a very special moment to get to Maria again, she is such a fine lady. They all had a super time at the Burning Man, things went very smoothly and the motorhome worked very well but its nice to see the coach in the driveway, how I wish I could purchase a cover and keep it clean like it is right now, wow.
This morning we drove to Antioch and inspected a property, then came back in time to pick up the girls at school. They spent the afternoon and shared things very nicely, did their homework and were just wonderful. Kallie picked 4 tomatoes and has them very clean and ready. We took them home at 4:30 as they had dance and soccer to attend to yet this evening.
I wrote and delivered an appraisal this morning before Antioch, it felt strange to do it myself as Jessy usually performs her magic on each appraisal. Jessy reported that she lost her phone in the pool but that she is enjoying working on getting the eating establishment open.
This afternoon I picked up two orders for Livermore and I have one scheduled for tomorrow evening.
On Friday I fly to Dallas where I pick up a little rental and drive to Eastland Texas where I check into a local motel, then on Sat. its a day to spend with the family, can't wait to see all of them again. Then on Sat evening is the actual birthday party for Joe and then I fly home on Sunday afternoon. I'm really looking forward to the trip just like I was really looking forward to the play this evening. Someone wise said change is vacation and its true. When we move beyond our routine and do something different it is like a vacation.
Right now I'm heading to bed, its late once again.
Love to all and special thanks to Bob for arranging the enjoyable evening.
Tim
Today the motorhome came home and it is very clean and beautiful both inside and out. I've already filled the fuel, took 33 gallons and mailed back the deposit I owed them. It was a very special moment to get to Maria again, she is such a fine lady. They all had a super time at the Burning Man, things went very smoothly and the motorhome worked very well but its nice to see the coach in the driveway, how I wish I could purchase a cover and keep it clean like it is right now, wow.
This morning we drove to Antioch and inspected a property, then came back in time to pick up the girls at school. They spent the afternoon and shared things very nicely, did their homework and were just wonderful. Kallie picked 4 tomatoes and has them very clean and ready. We took them home at 4:30 as they had dance and soccer to attend to yet this evening.
I wrote and delivered an appraisal this morning before Antioch, it felt strange to do it myself as Jessy usually performs her magic on each appraisal. Jessy reported that she lost her phone in the pool but that she is enjoying working on getting the eating establishment open.
This afternoon I picked up two orders for Livermore and I have one scheduled for tomorrow evening.
On Friday I fly to Dallas where I pick up a little rental and drive to Eastland Texas where I check into a local motel, then on Sat. its a day to spend with the family, can't wait to see all of them again. Then on Sat evening is the actual birthday party for Joe and then I fly home on Sunday afternoon. I'm really looking forward to the trip just like I was really looking forward to the play this evening. Someone wise said change is vacation and its true. When we move beyond our routine and do something different it is like a vacation.
Right now I'm heading to bed, its late once again.
Love to all and special thanks to Bob for arranging the enjoyable evening.
Tim
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Orders arrive almost like a miracle
Dear Family and Friends,
This morning I decided that rather than a useless walk to the park I'd use my energy in breaking up and stuffing the many branches and limbs from the pile beside the house, a pile created when I cut off many large branches to have more lake views and less rubbing against the house. I created this huge pile of nasty little branches. They have been there for weeks and I decided that since I had no appraisal orders I would tackle the pile.
I was blessed with a nice breeze and shade and after a couple hours the pile was gone, all tucked away in the green waste can and in black plastic bags. Feels good to have it dealt with.
While I was working I had my phone and a coffee cup nearby with decaf on ice. My phone lets me know when an email comes in and I was pleased to see an order, in fact she called to ask if I wanted an order. It was a driveby for Gilroy and I responded by letting her know how much I appreciated it and I was very anxious to help in any way I could. She wrote back to say she had a second one in the Santa Cruz mountains up near the Summit.
So shortly thereafter I was on the road with both properties set up. I arrived about 3:40 in Gilroy after a traffic free trip down. Then I traveled to Soquel San Jose Road to see the second property and then eventually I headed home. The car is a great traveler, drove over 200 miles with no back pain or stress. Really worked well.
When I arrived home Marilyn had returned from her visit to see Diane in Sacramento, The Civic is covered in bird droppings, I mean really special. Perhaps I'll wash it in the morning, its that bad.
While I was out working a new FHA order arrived for Antioch and I've sent an email seeking permission to see the property tomorrow using my Supra Key electronic key. At 1:15 I get to pick up the girls for the afternoon and then in the evening Marilyn and I are joining Bob and I think his grand daughter for dinner at the Spaghetti Factory and then for a play in Stockton. It will be a great evening and will be lots of fun.
Sending love to all,
Tim
So very thankful for orders and my prayer is that Steve will receive some orders too. We both need work.
This morning I decided that rather than a useless walk to the park I'd use my energy in breaking up and stuffing the many branches and limbs from the pile beside the house, a pile created when I cut off many large branches to have more lake views and less rubbing against the house. I created this huge pile of nasty little branches. They have been there for weeks and I decided that since I had no appraisal orders I would tackle the pile.
I was blessed with a nice breeze and shade and after a couple hours the pile was gone, all tucked away in the green waste can and in black plastic bags. Feels good to have it dealt with.
While I was working I had my phone and a coffee cup nearby with decaf on ice. My phone lets me know when an email comes in and I was pleased to see an order, in fact she called to ask if I wanted an order. It was a driveby for Gilroy and I responded by letting her know how much I appreciated it and I was very anxious to help in any way I could. She wrote back to say she had a second one in the Santa Cruz mountains up near the Summit.
So shortly thereafter I was on the road with both properties set up. I arrived about 3:40 in Gilroy after a traffic free trip down. Then I traveled to Soquel San Jose Road to see the second property and then eventually I headed home. The car is a great traveler, drove over 200 miles with no back pain or stress. Really worked well.
When I arrived home Marilyn had returned from her visit to see Diane in Sacramento, The Civic is covered in bird droppings, I mean really special. Perhaps I'll wash it in the morning, its that bad.
While I was out working a new FHA order arrived for Antioch and I've sent an email seeking permission to see the property tomorrow using my Supra Key electronic key. At 1:15 I get to pick up the girls for the afternoon and then in the evening Marilyn and I are joining Bob and I think his grand daughter for dinner at the Spaghetti Factory and then for a play in Stockton. It will be a great evening and will be lots of fun.
Sending love to all,
Tim
So very thankful for orders and my prayer is that Steve will receive some orders too. We both need work.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Low key day
By that I mean I accomplished very little today.
This morning I did not wake until past 8, then I remembered that Ron was going to come over to help with the boat so I dressed and came down to face the day. Before long Ken called to say I had someone at the front door, I do not hear the door bell in my office. It was Ron and we tweaked the boat a bit. He looked it over but it was unclear what the actual timing was to be. Later he called to say it was about 10 degrees before top dead center.
Then it rained a bit and I managed to get much of the stuff I was using in the boat wet with the surprise rain.
For breakfast I made some whole wheat pancakes with a couple eggs, a banana and it was all good.
Then I watched some TV feeling very lazy. Eventually I headed out to try to locate some gas cans as I wanted to top off the boat with good gas. Safeway gas was not pumping right so along with many other people I left the station choosing to buy gas at the little station in Discovery Bay.
When I got home I discovered a real disaster, the new gas cans you now buy have a system for putting the fuel into the boat that is almost impossible to use. One of the two cans I purchased had a pouring device that I could never make work at all, no amount of tweaking would allow any gas to pass, the other can had a device that let the gas pass but at a tiny amount that I had to hold the can with 5 gallons up in the air for nearly 10 minutes to dump 5 gallons. What a huge screw up by the law makers who have mandated this complicated and unusual system on all portable gas cans. I'll have to do something else as these systems are unusable. $17 a piece and they are essentially worthless. What will the do gooders come up with next? I'm told that the only way around this is to find gas cans at yard sales and use their free flowing nozzles. What I had wanted to purchase was the excellent 6 gallon cans with long flexible hoses at the top and a valve to turn on and off the flow of fuel. I guess those cannot be purchased any longer.
After going through the ordeal of putting the 5 gallons of fuel in and a can of Heet, a substance that takes crud and water out of the gas in the tank I then set about to start the engine again and try to get the timing set for good. The engine started easily and I was able to tweak the distributer back and forth until the timing light showed we were right on the market. The engine seemed to purr at that point and I locked the distributer down so it could not move.
Now I'm getting anxious to take the boat back to the water and see if it behaves better. I certainly hope so.
I really appreciate the help of Ron and Ken who both had suggestions that worked out well today. I know it looks a bit silly to be in the drivers seat of the boat while its parked in the driveway and engine running away and water running down the driveway, water that keeps the engine cool.
Tomorrow I need to resume working, get these reports out and then hope and pray for new ones to come in.
Sending love to all,
Tim
This morning I did not wake until past 8, then I remembered that Ron was going to come over to help with the boat so I dressed and came down to face the day. Before long Ken called to say I had someone at the front door, I do not hear the door bell in my office. It was Ron and we tweaked the boat a bit. He looked it over but it was unclear what the actual timing was to be. Later he called to say it was about 10 degrees before top dead center.
Then it rained a bit and I managed to get much of the stuff I was using in the boat wet with the surprise rain.
For breakfast I made some whole wheat pancakes with a couple eggs, a banana and it was all good.
Then I watched some TV feeling very lazy. Eventually I headed out to try to locate some gas cans as I wanted to top off the boat with good gas. Safeway gas was not pumping right so along with many other people I left the station choosing to buy gas at the little station in Discovery Bay.
When I got home I discovered a real disaster, the new gas cans you now buy have a system for putting the fuel into the boat that is almost impossible to use. One of the two cans I purchased had a pouring device that I could never make work at all, no amount of tweaking would allow any gas to pass, the other can had a device that let the gas pass but at a tiny amount that I had to hold the can with 5 gallons up in the air for nearly 10 minutes to dump 5 gallons. What a huge screw up by the law makers who have mandated this complicated and unusual system on all portable gas cans. I'll have to do something else as these systems are unusable. $17 a piece and they are essentially worthless. What will the do gooders come up with next? I'm told that the only way around this is to find gas cans at yard sales and use their free flowing nozzles. What I had wanted to purchase was the excellent 6 gallon cans with long flexible hoses at the top and a valve to turn on and off the flow of fuel. I guess those cannot be purchased any longer.
After going through the ordeal of putting the 5 gallons of fuel in and a can of Heet, a substance that takes crud and water out of the gas in the tank I then set about to start the engine again and try to get the timing set for good. The engine started easily and I was able to tweak the distributer back and forth until the timing light showed we were right on the market. The engine seemed to purr at that point and I locked the distributer down so it could not move.
Now I'm getting anxious to take the boat back to the water and see if it behaves better. I certainly hope so.
I really appreciate the help of Ron and Ken who both had suggestions that worked out well today. I know it looks a bit silly to be in the drivers seat of the boat while its parked in the driveway and engine running away and water running down the driveway, water that keeps the engine cool.
Tomorrow I need to resume working, get these reports out and then hope and pray for new ones to come in.
Sending love to all,
Tim
Sunday, September 1, 2013
A very busy and productive day
yes I know it was hot too, about 90 and with the sun I picked up on Sat. during my walk in Benicia and the sun today I feel toasted.
I got up this morning feeling very low energy, had a San Francisco Coffee which I made an iced coffee, it was already too hot for hot coffee.
I knew I had to do the tough job today, borrow Steve's Pilot, move the box trailer out of the way after moving the motorhome renters Acura to the street. This was just so I could get to the tow dolly which was buried deep in the side yard parking pad.
Once I got the tow dolly attached I drop to Steves to pick up the come a long, a winching device that lets you drag things where you want them. I wanted the old bug up and on the tow dolly, usually I drive it there but with no engine I had to use this device. It worked well and after a long time of winching it rolled into place. Then I put the canvas tie downs on the wheels, cinched them down and started the slow process of pulling the tow dolly and the bug home. I drove 35 mph and took back roads pulling over whenever people were behind.
Once I pulled up in front of my house I foolishly thought I could back the bug into the side parking place but backing up something on a tow dolly is not so easy. My friend Tom Miller could could it because he is used to driving big trucks and knows how to back a trailer behind the truck. I discovered that logic alone is not enough and gave up parking it on the street in front of my house.
Once that was done then it was time to hook up to the box trailer and back it in where it had been before. Oh I forgot one thing. As I was backing in to hook up to the tow dolly I happened to look at the fence and it was alive with wasps, they had a large nest and were going strong. Well all I had was ant killer but I shot lots of it into the next and there were some very sick wasps and some very angry ones as well. They patrolled for the rest of the day.
Once I had the vehicles in place I took Steve's Pilot back by way of the gas pump to replace what I had used. Then it was back home where I planned to rest but the front yard was high and I have this great mower now that starts easily and works perfectly, so in spite of being 3 pm and very hot I mowed the lawn after edging it first. Then with the lawn mowed I turned to some bushes that seem to grow overnight and I trimmed them which seemed to take forever. Then I went for a cool drink. That gave me the energy to find a heavy duty black yard sack and I filled it with the branches and limbs I had trimmed off the plants and bushes. Then I swept up the lingering mess and ended up with the power blower. Everything looks much better now, much much better and my body has enjoyed the bending, pulling, cranking, pushing it has had all day.
I have the spa heating and my body is ready to relax. Oh and just a few minutes ago I went to Safeway for one thing, some Arnold Palmer, a combo of iced tea and lemonade and found some 0 calorie Arnold Palmer, not that I love those fake sugars but I do like the 0 calories, no sugar.
Of course the visit to the Safeway resulted in a $58 bill.
Well that is all from here. Tomorrow I write up some reports and hope, pray for work for Steve and me.
Love to all,
Tim
ps. This evening I've been trying to time the boat but its a bit confusing. I consulted with Steve, Jerry and my long time friend Ron, I was not able to determine on the internet the property timing for this engine. One site indicated 15 degrees before top dead center but Ron thinks it is more like 4 to 8 degrees. He may be able to give me a hand in the morning, the boat ran nicely while sitting in the driveway but Ron says it needs a load to find out if it is working or not. I will talk to him more tomorrow.
I got up this morning feeling very low energy, had a San Francisco Coffee which I made an iced coffee, it was already too hot for hot coffee.
I knew I had to do the tough job today, borrow Steve's Pilot, move the box trailer out of the way after moving the motorhome renters Acura to the street. This was just so I could get to the tow dolly which was buried deep in the side yard parking pad.
Once I got the tow dolly attached I drop to Steves to pick up the come a long, a winching device that lets you drag things where you want them. I wanted the old bug up and on the tow dolly, usually I drive it there but with no engine I had to use this device. It worked well and after a long time of winching it rolled into place. Then I put the canvas tie downs on the wheels, cinched them down and started the slow process of pulling the tow dolly and the bug home. I drove 35 mph and took back roads pulling over whenever people were behind.
Once I pulled up in front of my house I foolishly thought I could back the bug into the side parking place but backing up something on a tow dolly is not so easy. My friend Tom Miller could could it because he is used to driving big trucks and knows how to back a trailer behind the truck. I discovered that logic alone is not enough and gave up parking it on the street in front of my house.
Once that was done then it was time to hook up to the box trailer and back it in where it had been before. Oh I forgot one thing. As I was backing in to hook up to the tow dolly I happened to look at the fence and it was alive with wasps, they had a large nest and were going strong. Well all I had was ant killer but I shot lots of it into the next and there were some very sick wasps and some very angry ones as well. They patrolled for the rest of the day.
Once I had the vehicles in place I took Steve's Pilot back by way of the gas pump to replace what I had used. Then it was back home where I planned to rest but the front yard was high and I have this great mower now that starts easily and works perfectly, so in spite of being 3 pm and very hot I mowed the lawn after edging it first. Then with the lawn mowed I turned to some bushes that seem to grow overnight and I trimmed them which seemed to take forever. Then I went for a cool drink. That gave me the energy to find a heavy duty black yard sack and I filled it with the branches and limbs I had trimmed off the plants and bushes. Then I swept up the lingering mess and ended up with the power blower. Everything looks much better now, much much better and my body has enjoyed the bending, pulling, cranking, pushing it has had all day.
I have the spa heating and my body is ready to relax. Oh and just a few minutes ago I went to Safeway for one thing, some Arnold Palmer, a combo of iced tea and lemonade and found some 0 calorie Arnold Palmer, not that I love those fake sugars but I do like the 0 calories, no sugar.
Of course the visit to the Safeway resulted in a $58 bill.
Well that is all from here. Tomorrow I write up some reports and hope, pray for work for Steve and me.
Love to all,
Tim
ps. This evening I've been trying to time the boat but its a bit confusing. I consulted with Steve, Jerry and my long time friend Ron, I was not able to determine on the internet the property timing for this engine. One site indicated 15 degrees before top dead center but Ron thinks it is more like 4 to 8 degrees. He may be able to give me a hand in the morning, the boat ran nicely while sitting in the driveway but Ron says it needs a load to find out if it is working or not. I will talk to him more tomorrow.
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