Still breathing. Sort of. *cough*
Everyone here is fine, though we only go outside when we have to. We've been advised to stay inside and run the A/C, because of the air quality. Jimmy went to work as scheduled today; I don't like thinking of him being outside, breathing this soup, but he told me they're mostly staying inside the dealership where the air is filtered. Believe it or not, they've actually been selling cars today. Proof that some folks are indeed crazier than I am.
I could see the (new) Poomacho fire (actual flames) as well as the Rice fire (a red glow under a hood of smoke) from work last night - flames coming up over the hillsides are an exciting sight, even if they are miles off. Heading home at 6 a.m., the sun was rising at my back as I drove back into Temecula ... it was like driving into Mordor, where the shadow lies. A huge smoke-cloud overlying the Western horizon from end to end. It's kind of a Catch-22, because now that the winds have died down the fires are more manageable, but now the smoke's not going anywhere, just hanging over us like a fluffy brown blanket.
Here's the latest/most reliable info on the Fallbrook/Rice fire that I've seen:
Rice Canyon Fire
Last Updated by KPBS Online 5 hours ago
The Rice Fire is expected to be fully contained by Oct. 28.
10/24 11:42 a.m.
The Rice Fire is 7,500 acres and 15% contained. (CAL FIRE says 9,000 acres and 20% contained)
1 firefighter has been injured.
Red Flag conditions during daylight hours.
Over 400 structures in De Luz and Northern Fallbrook area threatened.
Ma and Grandpa are both getting more and more stir-crazy here. I don't blame them. I had to go to work last night, then had to sleep this morning, and they have pretty much nothing to do but watch TV. I cooked chicken in black bean sauce with tomatos and brown rice for dinner, and almost the minute it was done my brother-in-law called and asked if we all wanted to come over for pizza. Ma went, to see my niece. Gramps and I stayed here. I think he likes talking to me because I am more like him: a storyteller. And an active listener, (even if he repeats himself). My mom focuses more on whether he eats enough veggies so that he doesn't get constipated, and that he takes his medicine on time. Both are valuable, but I think the value of my contribution is more noticeable to him. Heh.
My mom's talking about going back into Fallbrook to work at the CVS store tonight. I don't know what to think about that - clearly there are still people in town and we have heard that some of the stores are open, but until the evacuation is completely cleared ... well, fire can be unpredictable. It's not like I can stop her if she decides to go. (Any of you that have met my mom, know what I'm talking about). I suppose I'd want to see for myself, too, if I were her. And she's the kind of person that needs to be busy. Fortunately for me, everything I *really* care about is here with me, so I don't have that anxiety to deal with. I just have to deal with trying to keep everything as comfortable for them as I can.
I could see the (new) Poomacho fire (actual flames) as well as the Rice fire (a red glow under a hood of smoke) from work last night - flames coming up over the hillsides are an exciting sight, even if they are miles off. Heading home at 6 a.m., the sun was rising at my back as I drove back into Temecula ... it was like driving into Mordor, where the shadow lies. A huge smoke-cloud overlying the Western horizon from end to end. It's kind of a Catch-22, because now that the winds have died down the fires are more manageable, but now the smoke's not going anywhere, just hanging over us like a fluffy brown blanket.
Here's the latest/most reliable info on the Fallbrook/Rice fire that I've seen:
Rice Canyon Fire
Last Updated by KPBS Online 5 hours ago
The Rice Fire is expected to be fully contained by Oct. 28.
10/24 11:42 a.m.
The Rice Fire is 7,500 acres and 15% contained. (CAL FIRE says 9,000 acres and 20% contained)
1 firefighter has been injured.
Red Flag conditions during daylight hours.
Over 400 structures in De Luz and Northern Fallbrook area threatened.
Ma and Grandpa are both getting more and more stir-crazy here. I don't blame them. I had to go to work last night, then had to sleep this morning, and they have pretty much nothing to do but watch TV. I cooked chicken in black bean sauce with tomatos and brown rice for dinner, and almost the minute it was done my brother-in-law called and asked if we all wanted to come over for pizza. Ma went, to see my niece. Gramps and I stayed here. I think he likes talking to me because I am more like him: a storyteller. And an active listener, (even if he repeats himself). My mom focuses more on whether he eats enough veggies so that he doesn't get constipated, and that he takes his medicine on time. Both are valuable, but I think the value of my contribution is more noticeable to him. Heh.
My mom's talking about going back into Fallbrook to work at the CVS store tonight. I don't know what to think about that - clearly there are still people in town and we have heard that some of the stores are open, but until the evacuation is completely cleared ... well, fire can be unpredictable. It's not like I can stop her if she decides to go. (Any of you that have met my mom, know what I'm talking about). I suppose I'd want to see for myself, too, if I were her. And she's the kind of person that needs to be busy. Fortunately for me, everything I *really* care about is here with me, so I don't have that anxiety to deal with. I just have to deal with trying to keep everything as comfortable for them as I can.