Month: October 2007

Okay. Please SHUT UP, homeowners in Ramona. Everywhere you looked yesterday, one of you was on TV, bitching about those “idiots” in the police and National Guard not allowing you to go back to your (still-standing!) homes. Dudes, there were downed electrical wires! There was no power! There was no water! How do so many of you not GET that?? Your homes were not safe to inhabit yet and these men you denounce as idiots have been working their asses off — literally for days straight, frequently with no rest — for YOU. To protect your lives. Your homes. And you have the gall to stand in front of a camera and, in an appalling display of ingratitude, blast them as morons. I was gobsmacked. I was ashamed. SHUT UP!! When your community was almost entirely decimated by fire and most of your neighbors lost everything but their lives, how dare you behave this way? I get that you are obviously stressed by what you’ve been through, but others have LOST their homes. Others have LOST their lives. Before you shove your big fleshy face into a camera, can you stop to consider everything you still have thanks, in large part, to the heroic efforts of the people you denounce?

Gratitude, man. Gratitude.

Here is a link to The Salvation Army, for anyone who’d like to donate online.

Click the link and scroll down to where it says “Donate Online.”

That will take you to the donation page where it gives you a choice about where you want your money to go: Where most needed, San Diego County, Los Angeles County.

Please consider donating. People all over these counties are now starting over from nothing.

Thanks, everyone.

Because someone emailed me asking how close we were to the fires. Okay. I’ll walk you through the map, if you want. Maybe this will give you some frame of reference for any of the city names you’ve heard thrown around on the news. (I had to crop it to fit the frame here, but it’s got the pertinent areas on it.)

— See where it says San Diego and Downtown San Diego? We live right in between those 2 labels, basically. So unless our canyon catches on fire, we’re not in any fire danger.

— Follow me north from there now. There are fires burning in or near the areas of Fairbanks Ranch, Rancho Santa Fe — both extreeeemely wealthy neighborhoods — and most of those north coastal towns are under mandatory evacuations, from Del Mar to Carlsbad. Officials were concerned about the fire jumping the I-5, the main north/south artery there, which would be unprecedented. And almost unfathomable. That hasn’t happened, thank God.

Confused yet?

— Okay. Now move your eyes east of there to Rancho Bernardo and Ramona — both hit terribly hard. (For those of you who watched Katie Couric on the news tonight, she was broadcasting from Escondido — north from where you are now and smack dab in the middle of the map.)

— Now let’s go south back to San Diego. (Just consider this eyeball aerobics. It’s good for you. I mean, probably.) From San Diego, move slightly southeast to Rancho San Diego and Jamul. Fires raging all around that area.

— To give you an idea of distances, the private school were I taught performing arts a few years ago is in Solana Beach, just above Del Mar. That’s 20 miles away from me.

— My brother and wife and The Banshee north up the I-5 in Encinitas, oh, 25 miles away. My mom and dad live east in El Cajon, about 10 miles from me. Sister lives in Orange County, not on this map, but with its own issues right now.

— Oh, and last thing. See that yellow triangle at the very northwest corner of the map? Again, I had to crop this map, but that designates the start of the Camp Pendleton Marine Base. There’s now a fire burning up there.

— Just picture the fires basically forming an arc, a backwards ‘C’, facing the ocean, starting north and running south. That’s my best description of what’s going on here.

Uhm, don’t know if this served any real purpose for any of you, but there it is!

“And these people with the fires and the floods and everything, they overbuild, they put nature to the test and they get what’s coming to them. That’s what I say.”

Later, he said, “And if you’re in tune with it (nature) like the Indians, the Hopis, especially, the balance of life, the balance, the harmony of nature, if you understand that, you don’t overbuild. You don’t do all this moron stuff.”

Thank you, Mr. Carlin. Another celebrity making it all better.

Asswipe.

The whole scene at our stadium, the way it’s functioning, the images I see — it makes me feel kinda proud. There’s day care and grief counselors. There are massages and yoga classes. There’s free wi-fi and a place to recharge your cell phone. There’s acupuncture and organized games for the kids. There are insurance agents to start the rebuilding process. And there are literally piles and piles and piles of supplies. Even the national media here — let’s see, we have Katie and Matt and Al and Charlie Gibson — have commented on how well organized it all is and how impressed they were.

Katie Couric, though, did turn into Quotie McGee down there at the stadium, what with her Dickens and her Yeats. Which was nice, I thought, because nothing was brightening the somber faces of all those kiddos crowded ’round her until she started quoting from The Second Coming. Katie Couric — helping the hurting with a big ol’ dose of smartypantsitis! Thank you, Katie!

Get ready for some super cruppy cell phone photos.

This morning, about 9 a.m. we stuffed all our extra 5-lb. bags of coffee and all our extra boxes of tea into the back of our car and headed out to the stadium.

And, wait, before I really get to that, I have to mention something else.

I’ve been on the phone a lot more than I normally am, talking to concerned relatives who don’t live in the area. They’ve all heard about the crowd of people at the stadium and they say, “Oh, man. It’s just like Katrina!!” And this IS a disaster, no DOUBT, but let’s not add to the problem by over-catastrophizing. Which is not a word, probably, but it is now. You get my drift. It’s catastrophic enough without drifting into that dimension, that hyperbole.

And I really have to say — it’s not like Katrina. After seeing the stadium firsthand, it’s not like that. It is not CHAOS. Actually, apart from the sound of bands playing — yes, bands — and radios playing and dogs barking, the stadium is rather quiet. People are subdued, not surprisingly, and well-behaved. One major difference from the Superdome: The stadium has power. People evacuated with time to pack belongings. They have things with them. Not everything, of course, but essential things: clothes and water and blankets and pets and cars and motorhomes and each other. There are portapotties all OVER that parking lot. So there are not sanitation issues. There may be lines to use them, but there are working facilities. The Red Cross is there. Police are there. Army Reserves are there. The National freakin’ Guard is there. There are — they say — almost as many volunteers as evacuees. And right now, there are about 15,000 evacuees at the stadium alone. It is hot here, really hot for this time of year, and the air stinks; it’s hard to breathe; people have lost homes or are waiting to hear if they lost their home; there is MAJOR emotional trauma all over this county, but there is not mayhem at any evacuation center and definitely not at the stadium. This is HUGE. A huge psychological/emotional difference — I think — from what happened at the Superdome.

That being said, uhm, when we arrived at the stadium — maybe they coulda had separate lines for the cars? You know, one for donations and one for evacuees? Just a thought. We ended up in a HUGE line of cars that basically encircled the entire stadium, a line that just blended everyone together. One lady in her SUV drove up alongside us with her three kids stuffed in back. “Can I go ahead of you? I’m evacuating and I’ve got my kids!” So that wasn’t good. There needed to be separate lines. Maybe they’ve fixed that now. I hope. We waited in line over an hour to make our little donation. Which isn’t the end of the world, obviously, but the line situation could have been better. Oh, on that point, they just said on the news: No more donations at the stadium. We are overrun. And the wait in line is up to 2 hours. So ours was nothin’.

But all that just left me time to snap some cruppy cell phone photos. Extra cruppy, actually, because the air is so smoky and hazy and disgusting.

Typical tent/canopy arrangement. These were everywhere.

I’m not generally a huge fan of Wal-Mart, but today changed my mind a bit. While we were sitting in our line, I was able to count — just at that moment in time — 19 Wal-Mart semitrucks on the scene, loaded with supplies. I could hear Wal-Mart dudes through my open window, talking to each other and pointing. “Yeah, that entire truck has water. That one has pillows and blankets. This one has diapers and baby food.” Stuff like that. It got me all teary-eyed. Here’s to you, Wal-Mart! You were there. You were there in force. Thank you.

Father and daughter and Fido, coming from the supply tent with blankets.

Here’s the view from our spot in line. See that black truck turning towards us? Look past that, you’ll see even more of our line of cars. Notice how the air at the horizon is the same color as the asphalt. This is looking north towards the fires. Oh, and during our wait, we saw a couple homeless people (they most likely came from the river’s edge right next to the stadium) ambling past us, their arms full of free stuff from the supply tent. I could feel my inner Shaniqua rising. Guess they helped themselves. Bastards.

Finally! Our destination in sight! The donation center! National Guardsmen (and women) were everywhere. I was all choked-up and tongue-tied. “Yes, sir.” “No, sir.” “Yes, ma’am.” The Guardsmen found out what we were donating. “You guys brought coffee?? That is so COOL!!” Then one teeny Asian chick — a volunteer — came up to our car and said, “What are you donating?” “Uhm, we have, like, 50 pounds of coffee and some tea and sweeteners. Coffee filters. Cups if you need them, too.” “So the coffee is, like, brewed, then? In, like, cups?”

I’m sorry. I just stared at her for a second. No, Precious, I didn’t just make a run to Krispy Kreme.

“Ah, no. It’s ground. In bags. So you guys can brew it for the evacuees.” “Oh. Uhm. Okaay.” She looked at me like I was a weirdo. I felt like a total weirdo. But the Guardsmen made it all better — swarming happily around the bags of coffee. Thanks, you guys! For everything!

Damn. DAMMIT. (This is Orange County; not San Diego.)

My brother-in-law snapped this and said he could not believe how high the flames were. Said probably 40-50 feet. Believe it or not, they have not been ordered to evacuate yet.

We are all still fine. Just a little freaked. Stressed. Sad. It’s so sad. All those people. Those homes. There is just a pall over the whole city. No one is really out. Everyone is hunkered down. Everyone’s in shock.

Qualcomm Stadium now has about 10,000 staying there. National Guard is there. They need donations and so we’re going down there. I can’t just sit around here. It’s making me crazy. They’ve asked for donations of coffee, among other things. And guess what I still have LOTS of?? It’s perfect. I’m gonna go to the grocery store with my 50 pounds of good ol’ Diedrich coffee and stand there and grind it. Then I’m gonna take any leftover cups and stirrers and sweeteners that we have from Boheme. It’s not much, but it’s something I have and it’s something I can DO.

Thanks, everyone, for all your prayers and all your kind words. You’re the best.

Well, there’s a fire up in Orange County close to my sister’s house. Like, she-can-see-the-flames close. So I’m stressed. They may have to evacuate. Meanwhile, my brother and pregnant sister-in-law (7 mos.) voluntarily evacuated to her parents’ house because the air quality was so bad where they live. And they live near the beach. Yup. One of the fires is moving rapidly west towards the coast.

Basically, there are fires to the east, south, and north of our place. At least there’s the ocean, no?

I can’t wrap my brain around this: So far, 500 homes lost in 24 hours. At LEAST 250,000 people evacuated countywide. Qualcomm Stadium packed with people. San Diego County Fairgrounds packed with livestock. Even a zebra. NO MORE hotel rooms left in San Diego. None. The whole thing is mindboggling. Really.

Sorry about all these posts about this. For various and very good reasons, I’m extremely phobic about fire.

Okay. Enough for now!

Scroll down and do my stupid Sunday test instead ‘kay? S’fun.

UPDATE: There are now 8 fires. Everywhere. Fires have crossed one major interstate. 200,000 people evacuated so far. Winds are steadily 40 miles an hour. Gusting higher. Ugh. At most, there is 5% containment. Nothing too close to me or loved ones yet. Still ….

Grateful for any prayers for the people around here.

******

Man. It’s totally creepy here. We have at least 4 major fires burning out of control in the rural edges of the county. Because of the extremely dry, windy conditions, a few of the fires have now joined together — just since yesterday. So many people are being evacuated, that Qualcomm Stadium is now being used as an evacuation point. Kids are home from school today. I just listened to a local weatherman on these constant TV broadcasts crying — live on the phone — as he watched his home burn to the ground. So sad. Lots of people are losing their homes. The air is brown, everywhere you look, and it hurts to breathe it. Your eyes sting, even inside. Random white ash is falling. Eerie.

We have only 7% humidity. It will be about 90 degrees today. Sustained winds at 30 mph, gusts up to 60.

This same thing happened about 4 years ago. Almost to the day. That was bad. They’re saying this might be worse. Man. Not good.

Looky what I found! A totally whackadoodle test that SEES INTO YOUR INNERMOST BEING. For real, dudes.

Okay. Ready?

Take this test and don’t cheat. Don’t read ahead, just do it in order. It takes about 3 minutes.

First get a pen and paper.

When you actually choose names, make sure it’s people you actually know, and go with your first instincts. (Uh, this is key. I just made up one random name in the game because I didna’ read zee instructions.)

Scroll down one line at a time – don’t read ahead or you’ll ruin the fun! (OKAAY!! DAMN.)

1. First, write the numbers 1 through to 9 in a column.

2. Then, beside numbers 1 and 5, write down the names of members of the opposite sex from you. (Boys write girls. Girls write boys. Just to clarify. Ha. People you know, remember. Don’t make my fatal error.)

3. Write anyone’s name (like friends or family) in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th spots.

4. Write down four song titles in 6, 7, 8, and 9th spots. Just whatever comes to mind.

Stop! Do not scroll down until you’re finished answering the questions! (You, know, I just copied and pasted these directions and I have to say, I find them very bossy and controlling. They need to calm down.)

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All righty …………

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Here is the key for the game…

1. The person in space #1 is the one that you love. (Hope it’s the right person; otherwise, you may want to trash these results. And you know, good luck with that.)

2. The person in 5 is one you like, but it wouldn’t work out. (Maybe ’cause of the existence of person #1, Testy O’Troublemaker??)

3. You care most about the person you put in 2. (Too bad for you, Numbers 1 and 5! This is where, tragically, I just wrote a random name. I mean, I don’t know — have never known — anyone named Joan. But wherever, whoever, you are, Joan, I care most about you; I really do.)

4. The person you name in number 3 is one who knows you very well.

5. The person you name in 4 is your lucky star. (Aw. I answered my niece, The Peep.)

6. The song in 6 is the song that matches with the person in number 1. (‘Crazy.’ Hahaha. I put MB for #1, so this is fairly accurate on many levels.)

7. The title in 7 is the song for the person in 5.

8. The #8 song is the song that tells you most about your mind. (Right. Okay. Hm. I answered ‘Kiss Me.’ Thaaat’s right. Wait. No, get offa me. Don’t kiss ME. KISS MY MIND! KISSS IT!)

9. And #9 is the song telling how you feel about life. (Uhm, my answer was ‘My Way.’ MMMY WAAAAAY!!)

All right. Anyone come up with anything interesting? That they won’t get in trouble for sharing? 😉 I mean, all we learned about me is that I care deeply about some Joan person — of Arc? Fontaine? Cusack? — my husband makes me crazy — but this is not any real revelation. I want everthing MMMY WAAAY and my mind is screaming out to be kissed. KISSSS IT!! KISS MY MIND, GOOBERS!!