senoritafish | Fire Update...

Have I said before that I'm grateful we live near the beach? I am. Very. We have no fires near us, but it seems like there's a major one in every direction around us. Our house is pretty stuffy from closed windows. John has been wearing his respirator for about three days, even outside on errands.

After a scary post by

lnorigb, I screwed up my courage and actually called her. I just wanted to let her know she was welcome here in case they had to evacuate, and she didn't have a chance to read my response. It was the first time I had actually spoken to her since that LJ Meetup last July. Damn, damn, damn, that shouldn't happen to anyone. I can't even imagine it. I'm praying their home is spared.

They did have other options - I'm glad. My house probably isn't in the best shape for company, but I couldn't not make the offer. I've been listening to news radio all day, something I rarely do. All schools in San Diego county are closed tomorrow because of air quality. The Monday night football game that was supposed to take place at Qualcomm Stadium (Chargers/Dolphins?) last night was moved to Tempe AZ because the stadium is being used as an evacuation center. In the mountains, the voluntary evacuation became mandatory this afternoon, and they said upwards of 80,000 people are trying to get down those narrow,two-lane roads. At Angus' school they have had recess indoors the last two days. There are ashes lining all of our walkways, sticking to the cars, and cars pass in puffs of ash on the street. On Sunday I noticed that the house finches were blowing up clouds of it from the roof when they lined up to visit the bird feeder. Traffic is snarled all over So. CA it seems, even now, at 9 pm. Cooler temps are forecast for tomorrow, which should help, although massive fires like this generate their own weather.

I talked to VT again this morning - our poor mandate coordinator is getting his ass chewed about the squid fishery management plan by his boss because he's supposed to present it to the Fish and Game Commission, and he's worried about whether he's going to have to evacuate his home. Jesus, which is more important? At least one other biologist I know of in the San Diego area had to evacuate and the fire came within 100 ft. of the San Diego Fish and Game office, It's in a business park next to the 215 Freeway for god's sake; how did that happen?

The sun has set as a red ball for the last three days. Tonight, the crescent moon shortly followed the sun. It was a dark orange, although still a good 45° from the horizon, and completely disappeared before it touched the rooftops across the street.

I called to get the Ionic Breezes replaced. They said they would send new ones in about 7-10 days. Would've been nice if they'd just let me trade 'em in at the nearest store, but of course not. Dammit, now my nose is stuffy again. I can't take another day off work. I hope this is over soon for everyone's sake.

edit: This morning, the radio said that an area the size of Rhode Island has been burned and no end is in sight. An entire state! A small one, but a state!