DDD fiddles while OC burns

[TripletDaddy]

Has anyone been following the SoCal fires at all?

The Irvine (OC/South County) fire was about 6 blocks from our home. The cops came to our pad last night at about 10PM and told us to prepare for a voluntary evacuation. Some families in our ward were evacuated. The stake center became a temp evacuation shelter. Those families have since returned to their homes, but it was a long night.

I spent a large chunk of time going the few blocks to get visual confirmation that the fire was being pushed back. The ash was pretty thick and immediately was landing in my eyes. We live about 2 blocks from the grocery store center for our neighborhood. it became a locals gathering place for looky-loos and people who wanted to snap pics. The smoke and ash were so thick that Home Depot was handing out particle masks for anyone and everyone who wanted them. The scene in the parking lot looked like a SARS convention.

We were not evacuated, but were told to be prepared to get out. We spent a few hours last night getting together essentials under the assumption that we would lose everything. It was a crappy night. But interestingly, in times of duress, we are able to see pretty clearly what is important and what is not in our lives. We went from room to room fairly quickly. The recurring theme of things we wanted to "save" was always photos/videos, documents/paperwork, and heirloom type stuff. To be practical, we were going to toss all our clothes and some toys in the car. Beyond that, you lose a couch or a bed....oh well. I must admit that I busted out the plasma tv guidebook to see how quickly I could take them off the wall. ha!

Now this morning, the fire nearest our home is fully contained so we are safe, but Portola Canyon and Santiago Canyon are still ablaze. Irvine looks like Mordor right now. Thick smoke everywhere and everything smells. The inside of our home has been sacrificed to the smoke gods. It is pretty annoying.

This morning the cops said that the cause was arson. the fire was started in 3 specific areas, not just one, so the intent was to do some major damage. Hopefully, that person is caught and tossed into a cell for a little while.

Crazy thing is, the Irvine fire is only one of about 7-10 other fires going on right now down here.

Ironically, this weekend was amazing for surf. there was a nice swell that came in and the beaches were largely empty. DDD....always looking to make some lemonade....

[cougjunkie]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

Has anyone been following the SoCal fires at all?

The Irvine (OC/South County) fire was about 6 blocks from our home. The cops came to our pad last night at about 10PM and told us to prepare for a voluntary evacuation. Some families in our ward were evacuated. The stake center became a temp evacuation shelter. Those families have since returned to their homes, but it was a long night.

I spent a large chunk of time going the few blocks to get visual confirmation that the fire was being pushed back. The ash was pretty thick and immediately was landing in my eyes. We live about 2 blocks from the grocery store center for our neighborhood. it became a locals gathering place for looky-loos and people who wanted to snap pics. The smoke and ash were so thick that Home Depot was handing out particle masks for anyone and everyone who wanted them. The scene in the parking lot looked like a SARS convention.

We were not evacuated, but were told to be prepared to get out. We spent a few hours last night getting together essentials under the assumption that we would lose everything. It was a crappy night. But interestingly, in times of duress, we are able to see pretty clearly what is important and what is not in our lives. We went from room to room fairly quickly. The recurring theme of things we wanted to "save" was always photos/videos, documents/paperwork, and heirloom type stuff. To be practical, we were going to toss all our clothes and some toys in the car. Beyond that, you lose a couch or a bed....oh well. I must admit that I busted out the plasma tv guidebook to see how quickly I could take them off the wall. ha!

Now this morning, the fire nearest our home is fully contained so we are safe, but Portola Canyon and Santiago Canyon are still ablaze. Irvine looks like Mordor right now. Thick smoke everywhere and everything smells. The inside of our home has been sacrificed to the smoke gods. It is pretty annoying.

This morning the cops said that the cause was arson. the fire was started in 3 specific areas, not just one, so the intent was to do some major damage. Hopefully, that person is caught and tossed into a cell for a little while.

Crazy thing is, the Irvine fire is only one of about 7-10 other fires going on right now down here.

Ironically, this weekend was amazing for surf. there was a nice swell that came in and the beaches were largely empty. DDD....always looking to make some lemonade....

Wow, that is crazy, I was just reading about the SDSU game possibly being cancelled due to the fires, do you think that will happen?

Also how many plasma tvs do you? "them"?

[ute4ever]

I live in San Diego and classes were canceled due to poor air quality. I am at home with my windows shut and my ceiling fan on. Although I am 55 miles southwest of the nearest fire, I had to shut my window during the night because of the smell. And my car had a film of ash this morning.

As I said, I am southwest of the fires. I can only imagine how bad the air quality is for those on the other end of the air current.

The weather forecast this evening is for wind gusts up to 35 mph. That could make things a lot worse in terms of spreading the fires.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by cougjunkie

Wow, that is crazy, I was just reading about the SDSU game possibly being cancelled due to the fires, do you think that will happen?

Also how many plasma tvs do you? "them"?

First, it is definitely possible. My firm's SD office is closed today. The issue isnt really the fires, per se, but the air quality. Right now, the smoke is THICK in many areas, so if the city determines that air quality makes it dangerous for the players, then they could cancel the game. This was already discussed on local sports radio. The estimate for containment here in LA and OC is up to 4 or 5 more days...and those have been burning for a few days already. The SD fires have just popped up, so depending on how big they get, it could be an issue. Right now, I would guess we will be okay for the game, but who knows. I am planning on attending though, so I hope we can still play. And more importantly, I just hope nobody loses a home.

As for the plasmas....2. One downstairs (60) and one in my bedroom (42). My wife can save the pictures and stuff. I am grabbing my plasma tv screens and my records and CDs. And my surfboard.

[FMCoug]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

As for the plasmas....2. One downstairs (60) and one in my bedroom (42).

I can't believe you have 2 plasmas. Your conspicuous consumption makes me SICK! You should exercise restraint like I did. I only have one plasma (42" for the bedroom).


The 61" in the Family Room is a DLP. Not to mention the 720p projector in the theater or the 32" LCD in the Exercise Room.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by FMCoug

I can't believe you have 2 plasmas. Your conspicuous consumption makes me SICK! You should exercise restraint like I did. I only have one plasma (42" for the bedroom).


The 61" in the Family Room is a DLP. Not to mention the 720p projector in the theater or the 32" LCD in the Exercise Room.

Wow! I am impressed! It is amazing how far the dollar stretches in economically depressed areas and rural, undeveloped parts of our country....ha!

[Black Diamond Bay]

Now admittedly I was already thinking about going to the doctor today to have her check and make sure I don't have walking pneumonia, but I'm seriously having a hard time breathing at work. I'm in Aliso Viejo. My eyes are stinging really bad too. I didn't get to sleep until 5:30 this morning because I couldn't stop coughing and from my eyes burning. Is it that bad where you are or is the smoke just all blowing my direction?

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by Black Diamond Bay

Now admittedly I was already thinking about going to the doctor today to have her check and make sure I don't have walking pneumonia, but I'm seriously having a hard time breathing at work. I'm in Aliso Viejo. My eyes are stinging really bad too. I didn't get to sleep until 5:30 this morning because I couldn't stop coughing and from my eyes burning. Is it that bad where you are or is the smoke just all blowing my direction?

My OC office is in Costa Mesa, right across from SCP. It actually is wonderful comapred to Woodbury. In CM, you can smell smoke, but it is like being in an oxygen bar compared to how it was at my house last night.

Woodbury is really bad. My wife took the ddd's over to my brother/SIL's house and will likley spend the night there to get away from it. It was starting make me wheeze a bit and like you said, when you go outside, you either get small ash particles in your eyes or your eyes start watering.

The fire literally was blocks from our place last night, bounded by Irvine Blvd, Sand Canyon/134 toll road, and Portola Canyon road. The Irvine Blvd/Sand Canyon part is now out and smoldering, but the fire jumped the 134 and headed south towards Foothill Ranch area (this does not count all of Santiago Canyon, which is a little more inland). If you are in Aliso, you are likely enjoying the smoke from the Southbound Irvine fire heading towards Lake Forest/Foothill ranch.

I would imagine if you went home to HB, you could breathe way easier.

[Black Diamond Bay]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

My OC office is in Costa Mesa, right across from SCP. It actually is wonderful comapred to Woodbury. In CM, you can smell smoke, but it is like being in an oxygen bar compared to how it was at my house last night.

Woodbury is really bad. My wife took the ddd's over to my brother/SIL's house and will likley spend the night there to get away from it. It was starting make me wheeze a bit and like you said, when you go outside, you either get small ash particles in your eyes or your eyes start watering.

The fire literally was blocks from our place last night, bounded by Irvine Blvd, Sand Canyon/134 toll road, and Portola Canyon road. The Irvine Blvd/Sand Canyon part is now out and smoldering, but the fire jumped the 134 and headed south towards Foothill Ranch area (this does not count all of Santiago Canyon, which is a little more inland). If you are in Aliso, you are likely enjoying the smoke from the Southbound Irvine fire heading towards Lake Forest/Foothill ranch.

I would imagine if you went home to HB, you could breathe way easier.

Yeah, the air in HB was much better than it is out here. Like I said though, it was bad enough to keep me wide awake for most of the night.

I am a bit hyper sensitive to these things to begin with. For the first 3 or 4 months after moving here I would wake up in the morning with my eyes all swollen from the pollution. A few times they were swollen almost completely shut. I did finally adjust, but I do still have those problems reoccur from time to time when the air gets really smoggy.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by Black Diamond Bay

Yeah, the air in HB was much better than it is out here. Like I said though, it was bad enough to keep me wide awake for most of the night.

I am a bit hyper sensitive to these things to begin with. For the first 3 or 4 months after moving here I would wake up in the morning with my eyes all swollen from the pollution. A few times they were swollen almost completely shut. I did finally adjust, but I do still have those problems reoccur from time to time when the air gets really smoggy.

Wow, maybe it isnt the air. Maybe you need a hypoallergenic pillow like the kind you can buy at Sharper Image. Or is it Brookstone?

It would be rad to start rocking a gas mask. Just drive down the 405 with your gas mask on and see what happens.

If the SDSU game gets cancelled, I am going to be pissed. I was craving posole at OTMC this weekend. And some carnitas.