Time moves on

Dear Family and Friends,
Another day with pleasant temperatures and limited production on my part.
I can't seem to settle down to really meeting some critical challenges in my work. I have plenty to finish and seem to fritter away the hours.
This morning Ray came over and we tackled the spa trying to coax it into working again. We finally ended up draining it as we thought we had detected a blockage in the suction line. The heater has several devices which cause it to turn off if the water pressure is too low or if the water temperature near the spa becomes to high. We can't seem to get the pressure high enough to let the pressure switch turn the heater on and stay on. Ray checked the pump expected to find some of the blades were damaged but that was not the case. When we opened the line which drains the spa we noticed the flow coming out was very limited when it should have been a 2 inch stream. We assumed that we were dealing with the suction side which draws water from the bottom of the spa. However after the spa had drained I discovered that it had stopped draining at the jet level which means I was not draining water from the suction side at all but rather at the pressure side. I continue to believe we have an obstruction somewhere in the piping which moves water from the spa, through the pump, then through the heater, then through the filter and finally back to the jets which massage ones back with heated water. So now I'm open to any and all ideas. I just want the spa to work.
I had a nice lunch appointment with a friend this afternoon which was a nice break.
Tomorrow I determine to work harder, be more focused and get some work done. Do I hear an amen?
How is your week going? Are you on vacation? Or still at work? What a nice place to live, this California where IOUs rule. Don't need money here any more just print up IOUs and live a relaxed life. Isn't it interesting to note what states and cities are in the most trouble in our wonderful country, they just happen to be where liberal policies have ruled for years, take from the achievers and give to those who arn't, great concept but it does not work in real life. There are not enough achievers to cover all those who won't work. And when there is plenty of money flowing around it seems to work but when tight times arrive then the millions for non citizens coupled with give away programs can't be funded. There is still no free lunch, at least not for ever. And yet what do we do with those who can't work, who are injured or handicapped in some way, they should be cared for with a safety net. The challenge of helping those with real needs and the sponges of society needs the wisdom of Solomon and I'm afraid we are pretty short on such people, such wisdom.
In my little part of the business world there is growing anger over the mess created by short sighted solutions to the mortgage mess. Now sales that should be closing, loans that should be funding are being held up by the decreasing quality of appraisals as the losers are getting the work as they can work quick and cheap and experienced appraisers are being thrust aside. I am beginning to think something will happen in the next few months as the few hopeful signs of improving values, better sales numbers are getting thrashed by the mess forced upon us by bean counters and large loan companies. Something has got to give.
Those are my little thoughts this evening from my perspective. Let Americans be free to do what they do best, work hard to fix things, get government out of the way, government does nothing well but it sure can be expensive as it tries to do things that are better done by private individuals.
love to all,

Tim

Change of plans

Dear Family and Friends,

Well here I am still in the valley. Nikki and I talked this afternoon and as she laid out the plans for the next couple days we both realized that the time I would have with family was actually going to be limited so the motorhome sits in the driveway waiting for a trip that is not going to take place. I'm not one who enjoys changing my plans so I had to come to grips with this but I think its right. I had some misgivings about the trip, lots of fuel and about 8 hours of driving in the motorhome for an uncertain place to park, just living at 7,700 feet is tough for me in this condition.

So tonight I'm home, I have Mahler playing on the Bose speakers by the computer, dogs are sitting nearby in hopes we are going someplace, sorry girls, not this time. Everyone is coming home on Thursday afternoon so I'll have my wonderful house guests back and great eating, fun conversations and perhaps I can talk them into dominoes, who knows.

Today I've seen two properties that were located nearby. This morning I had the honor of inspecting a house located just down the street and which backs to the lake like my house does. They were wonderful retired people and we had a great time. Then later in the day I drove to Brentwood, a whole 9 miles, and inspected a house that is nearly 4,000 sf. It is just beautiful in every room, perfectly landscaped but it did take some time to measure and it was very warm. That part is not so much fun but I guess every job has its downsides.

This evening Ray and I went for Pizza, its deal night at our local place. That was fun and of course I ate too much.

Now its time to wind it down and head to bed. My major accomplishments today involved getting the online classes paid for and then the certificates printed on my color printer, then I waded through the application for license renewal and finally wrote the check for $435 for the next two glorious years of appraisal license tenure. Finally I copied the whole stack of documents and mailed it away. Of course they want 90 days for processing and I need the license back in just over a month. Whoops. The 49 hours of class work cost $508. What a hit!

So my friends and family another day has passed, God is good, the family is safe, Jason and Jo are having a great time in Denver, Nikki and Steve are at Tahoe and I'm home working, Art and Connie are on the road again winding their way to Seattle to return two precious little kidos who they have had for 3 weeks.

So good night all, I've included a couple photos taken with my phone, fireworks at Tahoe, kids on the beach playing, walking hand in hand in San Francisco and trying on hats in chinatown.

love

tim

US mail to the rescue

Dear Family and Friends,
Its 9 pm and I do know where my children are. Jason and Jo flew to Denver today to spend Timothy's birthday with her mom while Nikki and Steve are enjoying a week of vacation at Ridge Tahoe. Meanwhile I'm cranking out work back here at home.

This morning Ken and I walked and then I made a quick transition to work clothes and left for Oakland. I found a beautiful home that survived the Oakland fires of a few years ago. The only problem is, its much larger than public record says so all my comps were worthless, it will require a return trip to finish. I picked up a partial payment at that appointment and then drove to Walnut Creek to a title company where a second check waited for me for the appraisal I was about to do in Pittsburg. When I arrived at that house I was amazed. The owners purchased it fairly recently and have updated everything except replacing the windows and doors. This little house is beautiful with new lawn, new paint, new carpets, new kitchen, new bathrooms, its really amazing how motivated people can change the nature of a house.

After completing that inspection I located a Taco Bell as I was pretty hungry and fading fast. Then it was a stop at Staples to redeem a coupon and purchase a box of paper. Then a direct trip home and the mail box yielded a very nice surprise. Todays checks totalled more than on any other day this year. I was delighted and quickly came in, made copies and went back to the bank with my precious deposit.

Then I hurried back to the office to complete an appraisal that was due today and then relaxed a bit. This evening I've been reconciling the business account and the deposit I made today was very timely to cover car payments, DMV checks, data expenses, medicines, fuel, you name it.

I feel very blessed and while I could use many more days of income I deeply appreciate what came today.

Sending my best to each of you. Please join me in praying for John Cress, this man of God has been hit with cancer and surgery is going to happen as soon as he can get the medical team into action.

love

tim

Did you miss me?

Dear Family and Friends,

I'm sorry that I was not able to blog last night. No matter what I tried I was unable to make a wifi connection so eventually had to give up and head to bed.

What a time I've had. On Sabbath morning I drove up to Tahoe and once again enjoyed the beautiful mountains, the fast running streams and snow patches on mountainsides. When I arrived some of the group had come down to look at a craft display next to one of the casinos. What a variety of wares these creative people offer, non were even close to tempting me to purchase. I sort of see a lot of the pretty things as pre garage sale items fearing that's where they would end up if they came home with me.

We drove back up and I do mean up to the time share called Ridge Tahoe. Aptly named it sits on the top of a ridge with panoramic views of Carson City on one side and Tahoe on the other. The complex is top quality and has large rooms, spacious windows and even a fireplace that can be lit with a flip of a switch. I spend some enjoyable time along with Steve as we kept an eye on the dynamic duo, Keanna and Anthony as they enjoyed a pool that was both indoor and outdoor. In spite of 90 degree temperatures a brick wind whipped over the ridge and kept things comfortable. Dana and Nikki whipped up dinner and Ronnie did his thing with the BBQ down on the 3rd floor. Then we began to plan for our descent to the sandy beaches adjacent to the dark blue waters of Lake Tahoe. Finally we decided on one car, the van, Nan would have been very very proud to see her selection of a "family" car do its thing once again for the family. They turned a 7 passenger car into a 8 passenger one and I ended up sitting in the luggage area behind the 3rd row seat. Nikki drove us down and we got our wrist bands from Tahoe Beach and Ski complex where we own a little time share that's on the beach. Nan picked it up years ago for $350 on EBay. Nikki has always paid the dues and taken care of everything and has used it several times. We used our beach there for our place to watch the fireworks. The kidos had a wonderful time digging in the sand. Gradually the heat of the day turned into the cool of the evening as the gentle breezes from over the lake turned cold. The fireworks were great and were set to music from a local radio station.

After they were over the mass of humanity that we encountered was pretty amazing. The roads were clogged with people and cars and our trip back was painfully slow. Nikki kept her cool and with Steve's guidance made it up to the Pioneer Trail and before long we were back to the condo. The kidos were sleeping, even Kallie with her sore gums from teething. Soon everyone was in bed and they found a hideabed for me so I spent the night.

This morning at 7 I slipped out and headed home since I knew I had work to do. The drive home was pleasant and packed with memories. Nan loved Highway 88 and I decided to come home that way. I remembered little spots she would love to stop at and even conversations from happier times past. Then it was home to work, be greeted by two very lonely dogs and wade through orders that had arrived.

Ken and I walk in the morning and then I'm off to Oakland to see a place, then back to Pittsburg and finally back home to write one up that is due.

Later in the week I hope to be able to take the motorhome up for a couple days to be with the family and enjoy the beauty of the mountains.

I took a small journey into the past on my way up Sabbath Morning. I stopped at what was once Pinecrest Camp, now Sierra Pines. I've included a photo of the lodge building, the place I first met Nan some 38 or 39 years ago. I still remember the breakfast where we first began to meet each other and my roomate Jim Edwards pointed Nan out, I was bowled over. The other photo is of Caples Lake. Its a high mountain lake with deep blue water and is located near the point where we often took back packing trips in our younger years. The photo of the mountains shows the actual mountains we often hiked and camped in. Nestled into the mountains are little trails winding past streams, meadows, forests and snowbanks. We would camp beside little lakes that even in August were far to cold to keep swimming for very long but the granite rocks protruding from the lakes were ideal places to sun and even sunburn. If you look carefully at the photo of the mountains you will see a peak just sticking up with snow on it. That is Pyramid Peak, a peak we climbed before we got married.

Our lives have been filled with meaningful days, it was a thoughtful experience to glide back through some of these places once again. Oh I have so much to be thankful for yet I am just selfish enough to want them to come to life now. Must be a design flaw in my makeup.

Hope your week is going to be a blessed one.

Love

tim

love

tim

Peace

Dear Family and Friends,
Well my family has disappeared into the Tahoe mist. They left mid morning today and after 4 hours of traffic arrived at the time share. Everyone is excited about all the features of the unit with its lock out, queen sized beds and 3 pools within the project. I've even found out that I can park the motorhome on the lower parking level. I'm going to drive up in the bug in the morning for the day to get the lay of the land and to join in the fun.
I decided to face the music today, that is the music of taking the required courses so I can apply for a license renewal. So I settled down after the family left and started working through the on line classes. While they were not easy by this evening I have the courses completed and am waiting for the certificates to be printed. It feels good to tackle something so vital and yet so challenging. I discovered that I know a lot about the subject of appraising in general but not so much about all the new laws and regs.
I had a mild meltdown this morning. For some reason I sent to the piano and started to play and as I played a heavy sadness came over me and I started to cry, no one saw, no one knew but after a few minutes the tears finished and could move on. To have all the family get together and yet miss the sparkplug who kept everything together for everyone is frankly very hard. I find no good in this loss. I am very relieved that she does not have to suffer but in the larger context of getting the disease in the first place I just find no peace at all.
This evening Jason called as he often does and as we talked he shared some alarming news regarding our beloved John Cress. Seems he has discovered that he has some sort of cancer yet surgery is not until the 28th of the month. My experience tells me, push the surgeons to do it now, not then, if someone is on vacation, get someone else. Thank goodness he will get the care he needs. I know he will appreciate your prayers in his behalf.
I've been reading some very sad stories of the much higher cancer rate in countries with government run health care and even now clinics are popping up in Canada where people that can afford to pay can go get needed CTscans and MRIs instead of waiting for months.
Just now I'm in from mowing the front lawn, some times I just can't take another minute of chasing paper and computer screens and have to get out and touch reality. I did that this afternoon, in the midst of taking one of the courses I drove to Tracy, inspected a new home that is under construction for the bank and then drove back. It felt good to just get out and feel the air, burn some diesel and be alive.
I think I will enjoy making the trip to Tahoe tomorrow. It will be tinged with sadness as Nan loved Tahoe even more than I did. We met there 38 years ago at a summer camp, we were guests at Barb and Gerry's cabin at Homewood many many times and camped in front of the cabin in first a tiny camper, then various motorhomes over the years. Gerry would always come out early in the morning and shake the camper waking us for the day. It became a ritual and we fumed but secretly loved it. A couple of times I even had boats that I owned at the time in the lake for early morning water skiing or wakeboarding. No matter what time of year you did not linger in the water for long when you fell as it was cold and clear. After Nan and I had become an item at summer camp one Sabbath we got permission to take a hike to the top of Pyramid Peak. Along with another couple we hiked even through snow fields until we reached the top. It was a great experience and it reminds me of how capable Nan was during most of her life until the cancer hit. We lost the trail coming down and ended up at the Highway 50 well below the point where we had started and it was growing dark. We were glad to make it back but how we loved the day, the views from the top were amazing and to be with this beautiful 18 year old blond with blue eyes that could penetrate your soul, well lets just say I thought I was in heaven.
Yes Tahoe will bring back some memories. A few years back Nan decided we should go to camp meeting at Camp Richardson. She was weak and suffering but she decided we needed the van there as well as the motorhome so she drove the van up Highway 88 herself behind the motorhome. Oh yes she was so tired when we finally arrived. We rented a scooter so she could ride to meetings which were about a 1/2 mile away from the spot where we parked. We had a wonderful time and I remember that Nan was able to create a Sabbath Dinner and George and Yvonne were able to join us for lunch. It was a magic day.
And so here I sit on a nice Friday night alone again. Its not unusual, its the way it is but I've not come to total peace with always being alone, its not me. Yet right now I have other things to consider, always finances, work.....
If I had a wish it would be that you and yours have a good meaningful weekend and that you take some time to reflect on what it means to be free, to be an American and to remember the terrible price that was paid by the fathers of this nation. I am fully aware that times are tough right now, for some these are the worst times you have ever experienced yet when taken day by day there are still pockets of joy, bursting moments of the human spirit that longs to laugh, to kid, to touch, to hug. For now we must just treasure the little bits of joy that come sneaking through the cracks of gloom and doom. Sunsets are still free, moonlight is still magic, kidos are the voice of God. I think of Timothy talking on the phone this afternoon, I love he says over and over, Kallie pitching her food off the edge of where ever she is, reaching up and saying Pappa, of serious conversations with Keanna about life, adventures, seeing her race her bike around her block, takes your breath away.
So love the one you are with and whisper a quiet prayer of thanks for this life, here and now.

love

tim

A day in the city

Dear Family and Friends,
Today was spent in the San Francisco with Keanna, Anthony, Jonathan, Dana and Ronnie. Taking the van made the trip comfortable but the traffic did not totally cooperate especially on the way home. The group wanted to visit Chinatown and we found it easily and walked and shopped for hours. The kids loved all the little clever stuff in the many stores we visited and wanted to buy it all. After Chinatown we found pier 39 and walked out onto the pier for a minute before heading to Fisherman's Wharf. Dana and Ronnie found the seafood to eat and the rest of us found a Burger King. Finally we headed home but the traffic was very slow on the bridge and eventually we discovered three very smashed cars on the final span of the bridge. Then things sped up until we arrived in Castro Valley. There the traffic began to slow and its remained slow up to Livermore where we turned off onto Vasco Road and the final leg of our journey home. We are all tired this evening but pleased with the day. The weather was as perfect as I have ever seen in SF.
Tomorrow morning my family heads to Tahoe and Tahoe Ridge for a week. I'll venture up on Sabbath to be with them but most likely come back home that night. While I'm there I'll check out the possible parking places for the motorhome and then early next week I may go back up with the coach for a couple days of vacation depending on available work here.
One very nice message came today, Marilyn is going to come out either the 15th or 16th of July for an extended visit. This weekend is her huge birthday party celebration for her precious little grandson, its a yearly event and not to be missed.
So for a while my days of being alone are past. Since family arrived it feels so much more normal, to have people interact, laugh, joke, eat, its great and made even more memorable by the long periods of being alone over the last months. That I still have contact with this important part of my past, Nan's family, means a great deal to me. They are special people with huge hearts of love and compassion. Now if we could just get Sharon out here to join the party we would be even more fulfilled.
So for tonight I'm signing off, I was tired early in the day and after walking with Ken and then walking miles in SF well I feel good.
Love to all and have a great 4th of July weekend. This precious country of ours is worth caring about, its a special place to live and has been purchased at such a high price, the blood and lives of our soldiers who have stepped up to the battle over the history of America. We owe them everything.
Tim

A very full day for me

Dear Family and Friends,
11:20 and time to be in bed sleeping. I started this day off with a walk around the lake with Ken, then back to do research and drive to a 10:30 appointment in Livermore. Then back to the office/home where I found the family had gone so it was quiet. I set to work on writing the appraisal up I had seen last evening in Richmond, it was due today. It went smoothly and at 1:30 I emailed it to the lender/management company. I then had a quick lunch and at 2 left for Petaluma which I expected to take 2 hours. However at 3:45 I was in the driveway at a very attractive little ranch in the countryside. There must have been over 100 plants, flowers and shrubs growing and the house was totally updated and very cute.
Interesting side note. Nikki and I had been discussing what we perceived to be the sad state of things for our country and as I turned into the driveway I saw the hybrid car and then the Obama sign stuffed behind the garage. So I just talked to myself a minute and did the professional thing, made mutual conversation and a friend in the process. The lady of the house sells seeds for a living and has made it a big business, hubby works for the State of California and had just been informed that he would be taking one more day a month off without pay. Finally I pulled myself away from this delightful lady and started shooting comps. The GPS system worked like a charm and by 6 I was heading home. Dana had food ready, how nice it was to come home to family, fun and good food.
Now I'm tired, sleepy and yet I've got to share another little miracle. Yesterday being the last day of the month I decided to go ahead and make an online house payment in spite of not having enough money to cover it. This morning I was paid for the duplex appraisal on the spot and when I came home a check for $450 was in the mailbox. So the deposit this afternoon was within $30 of covering the house payment. Once again God has seen fit to make positive things happen. Would I like to live a little further from the edge? Oh yes yet I'm thankful to have a house, a car, food and enough health to keep working and enough work to keep me busy. At the moment I have one order to see and one to write up.
Tonight in an email from the Appraisal Institute I see there has been a new bill introduced into congress which would put the HVCC on hold for 18 months while it is refined and thought through. Oh how I intend to push and get behind that bill. It is H.R 3044 and it could help those of us who have been in the business to once again be able to market our services to those who know and trust us.
So good night to one and all,
love

tim