Modesto
Well, Eagle in Exile was fun, but kind of overwhelming. I was not quite in the groove. Saw several people but didn't get a chance to talk to some of them as it got crowded very suddenly and I had to leave. I did, however, run into several local friends, as well as a hot biker I'd spent some time with at Sturgis a few years ago, and that was fun.
Had dinner with a friend at a Persian restaurant in Belmont, Shalizaar, that was really excellent. I was particularly excited by their little basket of fresh herbs, cheese, and walnuts that comes with every dinner. Their flatbread could use some work, but everything else was great.
Today, I spent the day helping Ted get things together in his house. His back surgery went very well but his heart remains a problem, and he's still too weak to do most housework type things. So I've been on my knees pretty much the whole day. (Scrubbing! Get your minds out of the gutter!) Unfortunately his garage is overflowing with tools and equipment brought down from Sonora, and getting it sorted out is a nearly impossible task at this point. If you know someone who wants to buy essentially a whole mechanics and light-bodywork shop, they can get a great deal on this.
I've been feeling kind of blah for a while but getting this place tidied up has been very motivating. It feels kind of good to have worked hard all day for a change. I need this sort of thing more often.
We finally got the loan I gave him secured against the house, by recording a notarized deed of trust at the county office. He won't have to pay it back himself, but if his heirs want to sell the house they have to pay it back with interest at the time of sale. At least, that's the theory; we had his lawyer draw it up so hopefully it's done right. The loan made it possible for him to move in here, and assuming the house doesn't go underwater, it's a minor moneymaker that I hope I won't have to collect on for a good while.
Back home tomorrow, I guess. I was thinking of running up to Sacramento where the aforementioned buddy from Sturgis is taking some sort of training course, but I don't think it's really going to work this time. Got some business in Santa Rosa, and I genuinely want to get home.
Had dinner with a friend at a Persian restaurant in Belmont, Shalizaar, that was really excellent. I was particularly excited by their little basket of fresh herbs, cheese, and walnuts that comes with every dinner. Their flatbread could use some work, but everything else was great.
Today, I spent the day helping Ted get things together in his house. His back surgery went very well but his heart remains a problem, and he's still too weak to do most housework type things. So I've been on my knees pretty much the whole day. (Scrubbing! Get your minds out of the gutter!) Unfortunately his garage is overflowing with tools and equipment brought down from Sonora, and getting it sorted out is a nearly impossible task at this point. If you know someone who wants to buy essentially a whole mechanics and light-bodywork shop, they can get a great deal on this.
I've been feeling kind of blah for a while but getting this place tidied up has been very motivating. It feels kind of good to have worked hard all day for a change. I need this sort of thing more often.
We finally got the loan I gave him secured against the house, by recording a notarized deed of trust at the county office. He won't have to pay it back himself, but if his heirs want to sell the house they have to pay it back with interest at the time of sale. At least, that's the theory; we had his lawyer draw it up so hopefully it's done right. The loan made it possible for him to move in here, and assuming the house doesn't go underwater, it's a minor moneymaker that I hope I won't have to collect on for a good while.
Back home tomorrow, I guess. I was thinking of running up to Sacramento where the aforementioned buddy from Sturgis is taking some sort of training course, but I don't think it's really going to work this time. Got some business in Santa Rosa, and I genuinely want to get home.