Well, we’ve reached the end of another incredibly busy year. I know that I’ve neglected many of you for weeks and months at a time by failing to write or phone, and that you’re just dying to know all the wonderful things that have happened to the TRP family during this lapse. So I want to bring everyone up to date on some of the highlights of 2007.

The Oakland office grew more crowded last Spring when we hired Joe, TRP’s new operations manager. It’s not that he’s particularly big. But, like yours truly, he’s got a big voice and big ideas. Imagine seven people working in a space of about 500 square feet. We could teach the diplomats a few things about truces, pacts and accords. There are days when survival literally depends on deft political (and physical) maneuvering.

I started stockpiling doors, windows, framing lumber, cabinets and other materials to build a second-floor office suite on the warehouse, but came in one day to find all of it had been sold. When I confronted Brandy, our warehouse manager, he looked me coolly in the eye and said that we had too much "overhead" as it was. What a guy! Oh well, he made someone a good deal and, hopefully, a great holiday.

We settled the lease on a new Los Angeles warehouse, which is actually in the San Fernando Valley, a 345-square mile area a few miles northeast of downtown L. A. made famous in the movie "Chinatown" and by Frank Zappa’s song, "Valley Girl." It’s what I call an insinuating lease: we start out sharing the space and gradually send out tendrils of materials until we eventually take over the whole place. The location is great, particularly from the retail point of view. My first big sign reads, "Spanish and Valspeak Spoken Here."

Arthur and Cheryl, TRP’s two area managers in Southern California, carried on admirably in 2007, deconstructing dozens of splendid homes despite brushfires, mudslides and other disasters, including the sudden departure of a trusted cohort.

Up in Northern California, TRP’s deconstruction team, headed by Ezequiel Borquez, surpassed its 2006 performance. While the total number of projects did not quite meet company goals, when the TRP crew got lost (again) and accidentally took down a residence of California’s "governator," the materials didn’t stop flowing for weeks. Democrats in Sacramento were so excited they hired The ReUse Institute to train hundreds of their constituents in deconstruction techniques, hoping to target the houses of Republican officeholders, thus encouraging this minority to leave the state.

We added an office in Chicago this year and the regional manager has already completed three projects and signed two more. I’ve concluded that Chicago contractors are the last of the hard-boiled, no-nonsense, two-fisted types that built this country. When I learned that a Chicago crew member had been injured while working on a roof, I asked the contractor about his workers compensation policy. He told me that the other workers had swept the injured man into the debris box. Hmmm, interesting solution.

Our board of directors performed admirably this year. Not to be outdone by corporate America, they voted to give me a very large bonus. Of course, since they made no provision to pay for it, the bonus is listed as an "unfunded liability." Does this remind you of Congress, or what? Meanwhile, the board of advisors, a group of five truly professional individuals with excellent credentials, advised me to stop fussing with all the details, judiciously delegate and become more like them -- advisory. It’s a good thing these folks are volunteers -- I’d hate to pay for that kind of advice.

Here’s my advice to you: Have a great holiday and stay tuned in 2008 for more news from TRP.

The Oakland warehouse just received an entire house worth of redwood shiplap siding in great shape.

The Boulder warehouse has new deliveries of lumber, lumber, lumber. Stop by and stock up for all your building needs.

At the Oakland warehouse this month we are featuring our wide selection of windows. Receive 25% off on every purchase of windows through January 15, 2008.

At the Boulder warehouse, we are again featuring roofing tiles. Make an offer. We will deliver within reasonable distances.

Go to our website www.thereusepeople.org, click on the tab "Opportunities" and look under the heading "Employment Opportunities"

• All the materials from a 2,000 sq-ft 1948 home in Menlo Park, including redwood siding, panel doors, pavers and lots of old bricks
• All the materials from a beautiful 7,000 sq-ft home in Atherton, including dual-pane casement windows, French doors, beautiful cabinets, oak floors, great framing lumber and plywood
• All materials from a 3,000 sq-ft home in Palo Alto, including first class cabinets, doors, windows and appliances

• Solid maple kitchen cabinets and 21 near new Milgard vinyl dual-pane windows, premium French doors and great appliances from a 2,500 sq-ft home in Whittier
• All the materials from a 3,124 sq-ft house in the Westchester area of L.A. with top-of-the-line appliances, granite-top cabinets, panel doors and bricks
• Redwood framing, knotty pine paneling, lots of brick, vintage light fixtures and other materials from a 3,500 sq-ft home Newport Beach home
• Hardwood flooring and all framing lumber from a 1,200 sq-ft home in Oceanside

• All materials from a 2,900 sq-ft home in Denver, including Oak t&g flooring, framing lumber, bookcases, granite-topped cabinets and insulation

• All the materials from a 2,000 sq-ft 1908 Chicago home, including rough sawn 2x12 Douglas fir joists and other framing lumber, beautiful oak moldings, stained glass windows, oak columns and more

Location and Contact Information

TRP ReUse Bazaar
9235 San Leandro Street
Oakland, CA 94603
(510) 383-1983; toll-free 888-588-9490
Hours: Mon through Fri 10:00 to 6:00; Sat and Sun 10:00 to 4:00

Boulder Warehouse
10500 Isabelle Road
Lafayette, CO 80026
(303) 666-8094
Hours: Thursday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Please visit our partnering warehouses in Los Angeles and Seattle:

Habitat Home Improvement Store
17700 S. Figueroa (corner of 182nd)
Gardena/Carson CA 90248
(310)-323-5665
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6: 00p.m.

Earthwise Building Salvage of Seattle
3447 Fourth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98134
(206) 624-4510
Hours: Open seven days, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.