So Keanna turned 11 today. She is so pleased, her friends at school gave her nice cards and things and she is at the Giants Baseball tonight with her dad. A very nice thing to do for her as she loves Baseball.
The girls came this afternoon from school after a Safeway stop for more Popsicles. Keanna worked on her homework and Kallie played. It was a happy afternoon that ended all to soon.
I've been cranking out work today but not as fast as I need to.
God is very good to all of us and sometimes He slips us a special gift that touches our hearts. I know how that feels. It feels good.
This evening I've been trying to get the paddle boats loaded in the trailer as Kallie and I drive up either Friday night late or early Sabbath morning to the campout. I know the Tracy church family enjoys the paddle boats so I try to bring them to enjoy. This time they are coming dirty as I've not had enough time to clean them properly.
Sending love to all
Tim
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Another really full day
I've been working long hours lately between seeing properties and trying to get them written up in the office.
This morning I went to Berkeley to see two little houses on one lot, then I drove to Concord to see a sale property and then I drove to Brentwood to have an alignment on the bug to save the new tires. Well 4 hours later I finally drove out. The inner t rod was so frozen in place that they could not get it apart. I finally ended up buying a new rod from the local parts store for $30 and they were then able to do the 4 wheel alignment. the car drives like a dream but my work time was mostly used up. so tomorrow becomes even more important to get stuff worked up and out the door. The girls will be coming in the afternoon and that will be nice.
So thankful for work and friends. Family is always wonderful too. Tomorrow Keanna turns 11, so hard to believe but she is sure ready for her fun time.
Love
Tim
This morning I went to Berkeley to see two little houses on one lot, then I drove to Concord to see a sale property and then I drove to Brentwood to have an alignment on the bug to save the new tires. Well 4 hours later I finally drove out. The inner t rod was so frozen in place that they could not get it apart. I finally ended up buying a new rod from the local parts store for $30 and they were then able to do the 4 wheel alignment. the car drives like a dream but my work time was mostly used up. so tomorrow becomes even more important to get stuff worked up and out the door. The girls will be coming in the afternoon and that will be nice.
So thankful for work and friends. Family is always wonderful too. Tomorrow Keanna turns 11, so hard to believe but she is sure ready for her fun time.
Love
Tim
Monday, April 28, 2014
Back
I'm told that I missed a couple nights, I was not aware of this happening as I've been pretty busy with a variety of things, many of which I'll not go into here in the blog at this time.
My life is pretty happy right now and I'm enjoying being paid for some past work and getting new orders in as well.
On Friday night as I was driving home from Stockton where I had dinner with Steve, Nikki and the girls I heard a sudden thumping noise. Slowing the car to a crawl it stopped but as soon as I sped up it was there. Turns out a part of the tire came off and was still attached at one end. Upon arrival at the tire store in Brentwood they discovered that bad alignment had cause the inner 1/2 inch of each tire to be eaten away totally. So $180 and two new tires later the problem is mostly solved. However not totally as the car now needs a wheel alignment and needed a new front t rod. So at some point tomorrow I'll get it solved and the green bug will be back on the road.
Today I drove to Vacaville to see a nice little place, great agent and pleasant experience.
Now I'm writing and will write until I drop tonight at about 10 pm.
Sorry I stopped writing, I didn't even realize I had missed. That should give you some ideal of my mental state, not bad but sorting things out but very happy in the process.
Love to all
Tim
My life is pretty happy right now and I'm enjoying being paid for some past work and getting new orders in as well.
On Friday night as I was driving home from Stockton where I had dinner with Steve, Nikki and the girls I heard a sudden thumping noise. Slowing the car to a crawl it stopped but as soon as I sped up it was there. Turns out a part of the tire came off and was still attached at one end. Upon arrival at the tire store in Brentwood they discovered that bad alignment had cause the inner 1/2 inch of each tire to be eaten away totally. So $180 and two new tires later the problem is mostly solved. However not totally as the car now needs a wheel alignment and needed a new front t rod. So at some point tomorrow I'll get it solved and the green bug will be back on the road.
Today I drove to Vacaville to see a nice little place, great agent and pleasant experience.
Now I'm writing and will write until I drop tonight at about 10 pm.
Sorry I stopped writing, I didn't even realize I had missed. That should give you some ideal of my mental state, not bad but sorting things out but very happy in the process.
Love to all
Tim
Friday, April 25, 2014
Late
I could not believe it, even leaving near to on time did not change the outcome. I was late to the graveside service for Gerry today. Talk about stress as the traffic slowed and stopped on Highway 50, lanes are being updated so traffic is jammed into a couple lanes. It was raining hard the entire trip. The family was so gracious and Dennis met me with an umbrella when I arrived. Then we proceeded and as I began to speak I looked out and noticed that Doug Bachelor and Karen were there. Well Doug is one the churches best speakers and its always a bit stressful to be speaking when someone is much more experienced in the audience. But I was there for a reason, the family had asked me to be there and I knew Gerry very well from our years of friendship. It was a great honor to be able to recount a few examples of what kind of person Gerry was. All the while I was speaking it was pouring rain, we were all huddled under a little green tent, sure was good to have it there. At the end many dropped Roses on the casket. Gerry sleeps now, his place is marked by heaven and I believe he will be raised when Jesus comes. Praise the Lord.
Afterwards we all drove to a pizza place that Gerry and Barbara loved and fellowshipped together. It was very fun.
This evening as I was driving home after having dinner with the kids at Spaghetti Factory something broke loose under the bug and is making a horrible thumping noise. I slowed to 25 mph and limped home. Tomorrow I'll figure out what happened. I think a piece of the drivers front tire has ripped off and is hitting the car, oh well it held up all day as I drove from place to place.
Sending love to all,
Tim
Afterwards we all drove to a pizza place that Gerry and Barbara loved and fellowshipped together. It was very fun.
This evening as I was driving home after having dinner with the kids at Spaghetti Factory something broke loose under the bug and is making a horrible thumping noise. I slowed to 25 mph and limped home. Tomorrow I'll figure out what happened. I think a piece of the drivers front tire has ripped off and is hitting the car, oh well it held up all day as I drove from place to place.
Sending love to all,
Tim
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Long day, still working
Good evening
Up early this morning, walked with dog, breakfast as normal
Cranked out work until time to leave for Livermore at 12:30, OK home there, then onto a place in Lafayette, not so nice but still very valuable.
Then I found Starbucks for a multi grain bagel and decaf which got me all the way home. Talked with clients and friends today, that part, the friends was really great.
Tomorrow morning I leave about 9 to help with Gerry's memorial service in Lincoln which is at 11 am. Then to lunch at Gerry's favorite place and back home to write things up that are due. Perhaps I won't walk in the morning, just roll out and write up reports that are due tomorrow morning.
Life is good, friends make it rather exciting.
Love to all,
Tim
Up early this morning, walked with dog, breakfast as normal
Cranked out work until time to leave for Livermore at 12:30, OK home there, then onto a place in Lafayette, not so nice but still very valuable.
Then I found Starbucks for a multi grain bagel and decaf which got me all the way home. Talked with clients and friends today, that part, the friends was really great.
Tomorrow morning I leave about 9 to help with Gerry's memorial service in Lincoln which is at 11 am. Then to lunch at Gerry's favorite place and back home to write things up that are due. Perhaps I won't walk in the morning, just roll out and write up reports that are due tomorrow morning.
Life is good, friends make it rather exciting.
Love to all,
Tim
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Windy days of spring
Dear Family and Friends,
So the evening darkens on another day of life. Did I do anything significant today? Probably not. I've written a report for a property that is as near to perfect as one can find located in Mountain House. Over $90,000 spent in the backyard and it shows very well. It seems Safeway has been sold to a group of investors and with that happening other grocery and food distributers are involved in a the resulting shakeout of the industry. The owner of this property I'm working on is high in the food industry and had an opportunity to return to Chicago and out of this turmoil so she took it. It is doubtful if my work is really going to be needed since several offers have already come in on the property and I'm just finding a value that the owners employer would pay for the home if it did not sell. It has been a nice challenge to try to get it right. These appraisals pay well and promptly so I always love to do them. This morning a different client sent an email asking of I would consider doing a relo in Mountain House. It was interesting because that is exactly what I was doing today, writing up a relo in Mountain House. So of course I responded with an affirmative answer and I hope I'm chosen to do a future relo appraisal there.
A couple orders came in today and I'm seeing one tomorrow at 1. They are paying a rush fee and I'll need to have it completed by Friday morning before I leave for Lincoln for Gerry's graveside service. I enjoy deadlines a lot, they keep me working and focused in a manner that I don't do well without them. If I were leaving for Hawaii in two days I'd have a clear desk, yes I can do more when I'm facing a hard deadline.
I've been enjoying fresh strawberries from a little fruit stand that is located west of Discovery Bay. I've purchased food items from them for years, they are always very nice to work with and have great food. The strawberries are just amazing. They only last about 2 days as they are so fresh when purchased they won't last. But who cares, I eat them for Breakfast, lunch and dinner and can't get enough of them, so good, so special. As a little boy I grew up on a 80 acre ranch with creeks, wide open hay fields, deer and cattle, an old barn with hay to slide down. We had a huge garden area with berry plants extending as far as a little boy could see. We had raspberries, strawberries, black berries and oh they were so good. What a blessed way to grow up. So loving berries is a natural for me and so finding wonderful berries takes me back to a more innocent time.
Still battling the huge desire to eat eat. After so many months of being on time of it and losing pounds every day now its a challenge. So far I'm holding and that is good but I'm wanting to head on down to 175 while I'm in the process.
Sending love to all and especially to Barbie who has been thrust into this world of being alone day and night. Its not all bad but its sure not all good either. I will not be alone for much longer, let me just say that.
Tim
So the evening darkens on another day of life. Did I do anything significant today? Probably not. I've written a report for a property that is as near to perfect as one can find located in Mountain House. Over $90,000 spent in the backyard and it shows very well. It seems Safeway has been sold to a group of investors and with that happening other grocery and food distributers are involved in a the resulting shakeout of the industry. The owner of this property I'm working on is high in the food industry and had an opportunity to return to Chicago and out of this turmoil so she took it. It is doubtful if my work is really going to be needed since several offers have already come in on the property and I'm just finding a value that the owners employer would pay for the home if it did not sell. It has been a nice challenge to try to get it right. These appraisals pay well and promptly so I always love to do them. This morning a different client sent an email asking of I would consider doing a relo in Mountain House. It was interesting because that is exactly what I was doing today, writing up a relo in Mountain House. So of course I responded with an affirmative answer and I hope I'm chosen to do a future relo appraisal there.
A couple orders came in today and I'm seeing one tomorrow at 1. They are paying a rush fee and I'll need to have it completed by Friday morning before I leave for Lincoln for Gerry's graveside service. I enjoy deadlines a lot, they keep me working and focused in a manner that I don't do well without them. If I were leaving for Hawaii in two days I'd have a clear desk, yes I can do more when I'm facing a hard deadline.
I've been enjoying fresh strawberries from a little fruit stand that is located west of Discovery Bay. I've purchased food items from them for years, they are always very nice to work with and have great food. The strawberries are just amazing. They only last about 2 days as they are so fresh when purchased they won't last. But who cares, I eat them for Breakfast, lunch and dinner and can't get enough of them, so good, so special. As a little boy I grew up on a 80 acre ranch with creeks, wide open hay fields, deer and cattle, an old barn with hay to slide down. We had a huge garden area with berry plants extending as far as a little boy could see. We had raspberries, strawberries, black berries and oh they were so good. What a blessed way to grow up. So loving berries is a natural for me and so finding wonderful berries takes me back to a more innocent time.
Still battling the huge desire to eat eat. After so many months of being on time of it and losing pounds every day now its a challenge. So far I'm holding and that is good but I'm wanting to head on down to 175 while I'm in the process.
Sending love to all and especially to Barbie who has been thrust into this world of being alone day and night. Its not all bad but its sure not all good either. I will not be alone for much longer, let me just say that.
Tim
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Windy days of spring
And then the allergies hit!
Some of us tend to dread spring, the winds, the flowers, the fruit trees because along with all of this comes the dreaded allergies. For the last two days I've been hit pretty hard and so I rely on these little tabs that dissolved on your tongue. But I think they effect me pretty badly, sleepy at first and then just sort of a downer on the day. Something has turned my appetite on lately and its been very hard to stop eating. I want to get down to 175 before I level off and right now I'm around 190 and moving up and down around that number. I don't want to stop here but somehow I've got to stop eating so much. Yikes, I don't want to slip back.
This morning I drove out to Castro Valley and inspected a home where a dear lady died recently and now her reverse mortgage is being called. So I get called to determine how much the place is worth. This time the daughter was really nice, last time the person would not even let me make an appointment so we did a driveby only. Bad move by the children as an on site would probably have been a higher value, good for them equity wise I think.
While I was there I found the Starbucks, once again I was so pleased with the courtesy and kindness shown to me by the workers. They are really amazing in almost every case. Kind and thoughtful once again, clean bathrooms, a very good organization in my opinion. One of the best on the scene today. I just walk in and pay with my phone, I get decaffeinated coffee with room for sweetener and cream. It lasts for a couple hours in the console of my bug sitting in its little designated place and I sip when I think of it.
These days I'm listening to Who Killed Kennedy by Bill O'Reilly. It is an amazing book, well paced, solid information and background on all the characters in his life at the time. I'm loving it and will enjoy getting the other O'Reilly books to listen to. I've been enjoying the last few books to much, ones from the library. This one was a gift from someone, not sure who but I want to thank them right here. My last book was by the creator of the Gong Show. Turns out he was also a hit man for the CIA while he was producing this show and many others. Its a great read.
I've been working this afternoon trying to stay in my chair. Just now I finally got another one out the door and need to get one done in the morning before the girls come at 1:15 tomorrow afternoon. I'm thrilled to have work and even more thrilled to get checks in the mail.
Last night the wind whipped through the bedroom in the slider door and out the window. In a vain attempt to lose weight I tend to sleep with very light covers but last night was too cold but I never woke up enough to grab a second blanket so I was just cold all night, tonight is once again cold and this time I'll have a second blanket, no use freezing all night. I tell you it is my intention not to be sleeping alone for much longer. I'm fed up with the world passing along, everyone else seems to have someone and I'm alone. This is going to change and of course I'm going to accept God's timing as He knows what is best.
So I'm sending love to all tonight. Please remember Barbie and the boys as they cope without Gerry. This Friday we'll do a graveside service at 11 and I hope to be able to return the favor that has been granted to me of knowing Gerry for all these many years.
What a guy he was! I've included a photo of the two of us taken on that last Sunday when we visited and Barbie and Marilyn fed us all such a great lunch.
Good night all,
Tim
Some of us tend to dread spring, the winds, the flowers, the fruit trees because along with all of this comes the dreaded allergies. For the last two days I've been hit pretty hard and so I rely on these little tabs that dissolved on your tongue. But I think they effect me pretty badly, sleepy at first and then just sort of a downer on the day. Something has turned my appetite on lately and its been very hard to stop eating. I want to get down to 175 before I level off and right now I'm around 190 and moving up and down around that number. I don't want to stop here but somehow I've got to stop eating so much. Yikes, I don't want to slip back.
This morning I drove out to Castro Valley and inspected a home where a dear lady died recently and now her reverse mortgage is being called. So I get called to determine how much the place is worth. This time the daughter was really nice, last time the person would not even let me make an appointment so we did a driveby only. Bad move by the children as an on site would probably have been a higher value, good for them equity wise I think.
While I was there I found the Starbucks, once again I was so pleased with the courtesy and kindness shown to me by the workers. They are really amazing in almost every case. Kind and thoughtful once again, clean bathrooms, a very good organization in my opinion. One of the best on the scene today. I just walk in and pay with my phone, I get decaffeinated coffee with room for sweetener and cream. It lasts for a couple hours in the console of my bug sitting in its little designated place and I sip when I think of it.
These days I'm listening to Who Killed Kennedy by Bill O'Reilly. It is an amazing book, well paced, solid information and background on all the characters in his life at the time. I'm loving it and will enjoy getting the other O'Reilly books to listen to. I've been enjoying the last few books to much, ones from the library. This one was a gift from someone, not sure who but I want to thank them right here. My last book was by the creator of the Gong Show. Turns out he was also a hit man for the CIA while he was producing this show and many others. Its a great read.
I've been working this afternoon trying to stay in my chair. Just now I finally got another one out the door and need to get one done in the morning before the girls come at 1:15 tomorrow afternoon. I'm thrilled to have work and even more thrilled to get checks in the mail.
Last night the wind whipped through the bedroom in the slider door and out the window. In a vain attempt to lose weight I tend to sleep with very light covers but last night was too cold but I never woke up enough to grab a second blanket so I was just cold all night, tonight is once again cold and this time I'll have a second blanket, no use freezing all night. I tell you it is my intention not to be sleeping alone for much longer. I'm fed up with the world passing along, everyone else seems to have someone and I'm alone. This is going to change and of course I'm going to accept God's timing as He knows what is best.
So I'm sending love to all tonight. Please remember Barbie and the boys as they cope without Gerry. This Friday we'll do a graveside service at 11 and I hope to be able to return the favor that has been granted to me of knowing Gerry for all these many years.
What a guy he was! I've included a photo of the two of us taken on that last Sunday when we visited and Barbie and Marilyn fed us all such a great lunch.
Good night all,
Tim
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