May 23, 2010

Owens River

Owens River

The base of Whitney

Japanese garden remnants at Manzanar internment camp

Mono lake

Happy days are here again..... for my creditors at least. The house sale is complete, and I can start paying my overdue bills on Monday. This past year has been an uphill run, and it is quite a relief to win one of the battles.

On the diabetes front, it looks like I have two choices..... a careful diet, and no medications, or a more relaxed diet, and moderate medication. So far, I am down to medication only once a day, and am trying to transition to no meds. It seems that my activity level makes a huge difference.

The “base of Whitney” expedition met with much early success, and was expanded to include the entire south eastern slope of the sierras. This grueling and dangerous undertaking included not just the natural terrain, (mountains, rivers, snow, hot springs, high winds, and lakes) but also man made obstacles such as restaurants, museums, and various retail outlets. It was exhausting, but well worth the effort.

May 2, 2010

Hello all,

The good news is that there is not much news. My health continues to improve, and I have been able to work. There has only been a few times in my life that I have really enjoyed working, but now I feel blessed.

The 2 story house is sold.... well, in the process of being sold. I have sold it for less than replacement cost. I am a bit disappointed in the RE market right now, but am a bit happy that I have a buyer at all. Anyway, it should close in 2-3 weeks, and I will be able to pay some bills. I know that it doesn’t sound exciting, but really, it is.

Along with my health, my urge for adventure is returning as well..... Woo Hoo I am packing up the motor home and the kayaks, and heading for the Owens river for a week of camping (I know that it really isn’t camping) and paddling. The Owens river is, coincidentally, in the Owens valley, which is on the eastern side of the Sierra mountain range. The valley is at about 4000 ft. elevation, and is over seen by Mt. Whitney which is over 14,000 ft. elevation. This makes the Owens valley the deepest valley in the USA.

I remember the Win women, Claudia, Nancy, and friend (forgot the name) hiked to the top of Whitney, so I plan to maintain the honor of the Win men by exploring the bottom of Whitney. I mean...... the top is very small, and the bottom, well, it is so very large and deep, and much more difficult to explore...... I expect this feat to be accomplished in only one grueling day. Starting out in Santa Clarita, I expect to maintain a 60 MPH pace for the first 2 1/2 - 3 hours, (difficult, but doable) then a rest stop for lunch at a local restaurant, see the sights, and then another 2 hour sprint to the campground at Bishop.

I know that this is an ambitious schedule, and I have been sick and unable to train properly, but I really think that I can do this, and crave that wonderful sense of accomplishment that follows any difficult endeavor.

The Owens valley is just full of good things to do and see.... many old western movies were shot in the Alabama Hills, which is an area just outside of Lone Pine, that is dominated by huge piles of huge boulders.... picture the good guys being ambushed by the bad guys. There was also a Japanese internment camp, ironically near a town named Independence, that was used during WWII. If you like geography, natural science, and history, it is a good place to spend time. I am going to try to leave early enough to at least tour the museum dedicated to the internment camp.

The California Kayak Friends have organized the trip, and are always good company.

April 17, 2010

Hello to all of my loyal friends who still check my blog...... I fear that this blog may have lost it’s reason for being..... My health is returning, and health updates are less and less necessary. I suppose that this could morph into a general info / travel blog. I guess that time will tell.

I am now the owner of two nearly new houses..... WOO Hoo..... The paperwork was finally done, (a little over a year from the original default) and the foreclosure sale was completed on Tues. Morning, April 13. I am now busily cleaning and fixing, and trying to get these houses ready for rent and/or sale. It is good work for me, as it is not too strenuous, and I can rest when I need to.

I have finally removed myself from my “sick spot” across the street from my good friends Carl and Kathy. They can now see the mountains without a motor home in the foreground, and I am once again parked on land that I own. I have moved into the driveway of my new two story house that is for sale. 40 foot driveway, and 36 foot motor home.... with trailer hitch and bumpers, not much room left over.



For those of you that don’t have an RV, have never lived in super small space, and have never used your super small living space as a law office...... you absolutely must be well organized, and keep your living/working space neat... a place for everything, and everything in its place. It is best to straighten up every few days, keep your paper work up to date, and throw away all unnecessary items weekly. (One good way to accomplish this is to move your house every few weeks. This may be the reason that the Win’s travel so much..... just a thought.)

Now for my world.....


At my best, I am not well organized, neat, or prone to keep my paper work up to date. Add in being sick, tired and depressed for most of the last year, and include staying parked in the same spot for 6 months. In spite of the best efforts of my friends, what I had was a small living space disaster, and a motor home in crisis. I was way behind in routine maintenance, and I am sure that the legal papers alone put me over the recommended GVWR.

I will spare you the details, but I will mention that it took 2 days to get this old motor home ready to travel a few miles. I have now resolved, every 2-3 months at the longest, change my scenery and put on some miles. Yes indeed folks, an excellent reason to get out on the road again.....

April 12, 2010

Two weeks have passed, and I still feel pretty good.... My energy has returned, and good things are happening. The nightmare on Elm Street appears to be over. The opposing attorney has finally filed the order granting me relief from the automatic stay.... In english, the Elm property, that the debtor didn’t pay for, is now kicked out of the BK proceedings, and I can move forward with the foreclosure sale. I will now be able to sell, or rent the houses, and start to recover some of the money that was owed to me.

I have also found an attorney to handle the dispute with Health Net. He thinks that I have a good case, and is willing to take on this case on spec..... we don’t win, he doesn’t get paid. He gets one third of any settlement, which could have me winning, and still owing money to the hospital. I am hoping for the best.

I put in a septic tank on my vacant lot on Spruce Trail... this keeps my building permit alive for another year. I am also planning a short and easy kayak trip next month.

I feels so good to be looking forward with anticipation in stead of dread........

March 29, 2010

Ok, more time has passed, and not much has changed..... Well, there is one thing...... I feel better than I have in months, maybe more than a year.

My blood sugar level is under control, and I am beginning to have some energy. What a relief, I was beginning to think that I would never feel good again. I still do not have any stamina, but I think that will return as I am able to be more active.

I spent the day preparing for a “creditors meeting” tomorrow..... If I can’t get the opposing attorney to take care of business, I am going to file a request that the court find him in contempt. I don’t think that the judge will actually do it, but it should let me tell my story, (and annoy the opposing counsel) and the judge will probably give me my houses..... Of course, I have thought that before........

I am hoping that the dreary whiney posts are over for a while, and I can get back to doing interesting and useful things.........

March 18, 2010

Well, it has been a couple of weeks, and there is nothing much to report...... I have had some success getting my blood sugar level into the normal range. I am still surprised how debilitating a little chemical imbalance is. I have spent my time doing only the most necessary things, and sleeping. I am still trying to figure out how to survive on the recommended diet.... no sugar, no carbohydrates, no good.

I did manage to make the trip (planned and paid for long ago) to Pa. to see my folks, and go to the high school state wrestling tournament with my siblings. I managed to climb the stairs to and from our seats, but my brother had to wheel me into and out of the arena. Humbling, to say the least.

This was my first, and hopefully last, trip as handicapped..... The airline was most accommodating, but it sure felt strange.

My houses still aren’t mine yet..... the opposing counsel is dragging his feet, and causing unnecessary delays. I suppose that billing $500 per hour is reason enough for him.

My next goal is to try and get healthy....... it has been a while.

March 6, 2010

Well, finally something to be happy about....... I won my court case, and will be getting my houses back with in 2 weeks. It is an interesting story, that I am too tired to relate now, but the short version in..... they settled on the court house stairs, with some prodding from the judge.

It is almost 1 year exactly since they stopped paying the mortgage. Anyway, it will take some time, but I will be able to get my finances back in order, at least for a while.

Next is my dispute with my health insurance co.

March 3, 2010

Ok, I will make this short and sweet.... Seems that I wasn’t just miserable sick, it really was life and death. I have type 2 diabetes. I went to the Dr. and found that my blood sugar level was to high to measure (over 600).... 4 shots of insulin later..... still to high to measure..... one more shot, and blood sugar was 475. Normal is about 100-180. I guess that my next symptom would have been coma and death.

I have been to worn out to do any research regarding this condition, but will try to get some info next week.

I am sure to join a “Fear of February” support group soon.

February 18, 2010

My how time flies..... it has been over 2 weeks. There is really nothing to report..... I have been sick for most of the last 2 weeks, not life and death sick, but miserable sick..... fever, flu, etc. I am on the mend, but still somewhat miserable.

I am busy preparing for my evidentiary hearing on March 5. I have made the 200 mile round trip through the center of LA twice in order to sit in on some similar hearings. It seems to me that it is the only way to get an idea of how a court room works, and it is fun watching the attorneys trying to figure out who I am and what I am doing there. At first, when asked, I would tell them the story, but now, I just say that I am there to observe, and then make a note as they turn away..... last time, someone thought I was a reporter. I know, it is a very small pleasure, but I have to take what I can get..... OK, I have been watching reruns of Perry Mason, and LA Law as well.

Anyway, in the last week, I have produced 4, 340 page books of exhibits.... ok, ok, 1 book and 3 copies. That might not sound too impressive, but remember, this is in my motor home office. It now looks like a scene cut out of the “odd couple” for being unbelievably cluttered.

Friday, the 19th, is the deadline to file declarations with the court, and exchange exhibits, and I think, witness lists, with the opposing counsel. The judge wants all direct testimony to be by declaration..... a lot of typing, but allows me to throw things in that I am sure would/will be objected to in open court. I mean, you can’t un-ring a bell..... and what do I know, I am not a lawyer.

It seems that this last month has been just like this past year...... unpleasant, but necessary. Grit your teeth, and keep on walking..... it will be over soon. I know that complaining doesn’t help, but sometimes I feel like Sisyphus, pushing the stone up the mountain every day..........

January 30, 2010

Well, here it is the end of Jan, and I have nothing other that a snow storm to report. It was a very wet and heavy 18-24 inches..... lots of fun. Eventually I did get up on the roof and push the snow off.

I am in contact with another “insurance lawyer”, he thinks that I may not fall under the erisa laws, and appears to be an expert in this area..... I have sent him about 5 lbs. Of paper, and will see if he wants to help me with this battle. He did tell me that I might end up owing a bunch of money, even if we win. You see, he gets his cut out of any settlement, and we may not get attorneys fees. The good part is that if we lose, I don’t owe him anything.

Health wise, I am doing OK..... some days are better than others, but the trend is still in the right direction.