My San Diego: Guest Blogger Bill Ostrie

Bill Ostrie
Artist/ Sculptor/ Musician

My San Diego is...Moonlight Beach crowded with people on a hot summer day, boogieboarding with my wife and 8 year old daughter. Surfing at Grandview,sliding down cool green walls. Carving stone outside, in front ofthe rounded hills and orange trees and palms.

It’s checking out all the nice cars and the sky-high housing prices,and wondering why the schools don’t have buses and why they have to hustle on the side to afford “extras” like a science teacher. It’s laughing about the “keep Leucadia funky” stickers on all the shiny minivans and SUVs in my neighborhood.



It’s the incredible mediterranean climate. It’s the birds of paradise everywhere that I never get tired of. It’s the improbably pretty restaurant hostesses lining the street inthe Gaslamp, starlets beckoning you in for dinner. It’s the shock of seeing the English/Spanish book in the hardwarestore that teaches you the spanish you need to communicate with your gardener and your nanny, as if that's the only reason you might bother to learn another language. It’s the beer and cannabis soaked haze of PB, the glitzy surferthugishness of MB, the skinny, top-heavy women in Del Mar, the rudeness in some areas where the people are doing well but feeling anxious about not living on the beach side of the 5. It’s good mexican food everywhere you go.It’s the Reader, full of great stories, interesting things to do, and an ungodly number of plastic surgery ads telling you that you can never look good enough or young enough.



It’s amazing musicians like Enrique Platas and Neil MacPherson. It’s artists and teachers like A. Wasil, Jacqueline Nicolini, Jeff Watts,and Ron Lemen. It’s missing my friends from capoeira. It’s protesting the war onthe street corner and meeting new people.It’s playing guitar at peoples parties, and running into friends atHenry’s, and catching a few more waves as the sun sets.



Bill OstrieYou can see my artwork at: http://www.ostriesculpture.com/You can hear my flamenco guitar playing at: http://www.myspace.com/billostrie





If you would like to be featured and tell us all about your San Diego email cutchawrites@gmail.com

Lori's Fashion Reaction: Booties are in. Metallics are...not.

Lori (of Two Small Town Girls fame, you know back when we lived together in San Diego and wrote all about our crazy San Diego adventures) and I email back and forth during the day to talk about really important things, like what kind of candy we're going to get for Halloween, or if we think a detox diet is a good idea. Call her a "girl next door" if you like, but she's also in line to be my life guru. She's my go to girl for all things life related, which includes the oh so life and death question: to bootie or not to bootie.

Witness this: booties are everywhere this season (including Jessica Simpson's shoe collection, and we all know Jessica Simpson knows what's going ON). Lori gives her unfiltered fashion reaction (a quick two second immediate response) to all things bootie.

The expensive bootie: from Nordstrom



Lori's FASHION REACTION: I actually like them. But let me tell you why. They are a good brand and are probably pretty comfortable for heels; the heel is not too high; I love suede anything pretty much; and the neutral color makes up for the slightly quirky style. These are a go.



The cheap bootie: from Alloy.com



Lori's FASHION REACTION: Although the grey is nice, the metallic just doesn't do it for me. Are we really going back to the 80s? Did they run out of good ideas that fast? Unlike the expensive version, they aren't that versatile. They are a no.


The artisitc bootie: from Macys.com



Lori's FASHION REACTION: Whoa! That's a whoa. Very Cyndi Lauper-esque. They're on sale though...



Verdict: You can bootie, if you bootie right.

More on Rancho Santa Fe's rules, regulations, really good McDonalds Paninis

CNN has picked up on Rancho Santa Fe's "shelter-in-place," designed to insulate homes from flames if people cannot evacuate. According to CNN.com:

Trees and bushes must be a certain distance from the house and cannot exceed a certain height. Roofs must be nonflammable; shrubs near the house must always be watered. Indoor sprinklers are a must. Columns must be masonry, stucco or precast concrete; windows must be dual-paned or tempered glass; wood fences cannot touch the home.

Some fear the "shelter in place" design lulls people into a false sense of security. A home is never "fire proof", it's just "fire resistant." But even San Diego County is rumored to be looking in to stricter fire regulations.

Happy Halloween: News 10 Sacramento

This has nothing to do with San Diego but as I am currently exiled in the great land known as "Sac Town" (don't worry rabid fans it's not for much longer) I think this is good way to get into the Halloween Spirit. Watch the newsie that takes off running "later biatches! Save yourselves!" I agree with You Tube commenters (via Best Week Ever): “Now we know how the news people will react during the coming zombie apocalypse. Not well, it seems…”

You know, San Diego has an awful lot of local band talent itself

The Hard Rock Hotel San Diego launched it's "Battle of the Bands" contest today. One lucky band will win the chance to perform at the Grand Opening Party on December 12. The headliner for this opening will be The Black Eyed Peas. The Hard Rock has partnered with AudioStreet.net which is hosting the battle of the bands. For more information click here.

The Hard Rock is looking for an independent artist and apparently AudioStreet.net is a forum for just such an artist or group. The opening will celebrate the property in downtown San Diego that also boasts Nobu restaurant, Maryjane's Coffee Shop, Sweetwater Saloon and Moonstone Lounge from nightlife impresario Rande Gerber, Rock Spa and Folsom music venue.

FYI Hard Rock (if you're listening) San Diego has a lot of local music, many of which are independent and on top of that REALLY GOOD. I don't mean to be a stickler, but what if we made it a SAN DIEGO BAND contest? (You won't be hurting for talent) Just saying...

Sure it's going to be tough but San Diego will pull through

With an economic BOOM no doubt:

Initial estimates of insured losses in the county fall in a range of $1 billion to $2 billion as many homeowners return to properties to find only slabs, fireplaces and charred remains of their possessions. The fires will disrupt the county economy in the near term, but their thorough destruction points to a local building boom over the next year as burned-out residents rebuild homes with payments from insurers -- a process the region knows well after wildfires
there in 2003 ago consumed 2,600 homes and the local economy rebounded in the
following year.

I say go out and boom the economy tonight. Plenty of opportunity to contribute, it's Halloween after all. (Later you can go home and boom something else but that's between you and the guy dressed up as Amy Winehouse you picked up at some bar, no judgment)

More rules, rules, rules in Rancho Santa Fe

I swear, one day I will write all about my Nanny/Tutor/Babysitter experience in Rancho Santa Fe. It's a whole other world up there folks, so much so that when you are on your cell phone crossing the line into THE Rancho Santa Fe the phone always CUTS OFF. They don't want no poor people cell phone waves in their area. And did you know they have the fanciest McDonalds ever?! They serve freaking Gellato and Panini's there (no joke). And their Rite Aid, their cheap potted flowers are bright, shiny and healthy. Anyway, I digress.

In the wake of the San Diego fires Rancho Santa Fe residents are pleased with the outcome of their strict construction and landscaping standards adopted in 1997.

The San Diego suburb lost 53 houses, but none of them were in the five subdivisions that embraced restrictions designed to be so tough that people can say in their homes if they cannot evacuate. The fire department in Rancho Santa Fe, whose past residents include Bing Crosby and Howard Hughes, scrutinizes plans for every tree and bush and sends inspectors with measuring tapes to make sure its orders are obeyed.

And those residents who weren't willing to adopt the rules in the first place are reconsidering. Rancho Santa Fe is mulling new rules for new areas. Changes would include fire proof roofing.

Fat Girl, Skinny City: Goth Girls do it Better

Fat Girl, Skinny City: Goth Girls do it Better.

Costume, check. Plans, check. Safe and sober driver, check. We're all ready to go for that Wednesday night they call Halloween. I ended up going with Little Red Riding Hood (no joke) as i was able to find a proper short red dress outfit thing that I didn't feel too over exposed in, yes I know that's the point of Halloween and all, but I still get a little nervous about showing all the bits and pieces before at least the first bottle of Sangria.

I've decided that Halloween is like a typical Friday night for a Goth Girl. Bare with me on this one. The more I notice the kind of costumes and outfits available to girls, the more I realize that they are just what Goth girls wear on say, a Friday night when they go out to dance around to heavy industrial music.

I've always admired Goth Girls myself, they tend to embrace their fleshy parts. They tend to show off that ample bust and wear the short skirts with the fishnet stockings, size be damned. Go out Goth spot and you'll see, size isn't the biggest issue, maybe Goth guys are too dark and deep to worry about the skinnny-ness of their women.

This is why I don't like the Emo/Hipster crowds (I'm being SOOOOOO stereotypical but I don't care, it's Halloween, I'm allowed to judge a book by it's slutty cover) because that just seems like a crowd where you can't be too thin, because depressed hip people just have to be thin.

Oh but for the Goth girls in their fishnets. I tell myself to live a little more Goth, especially on a Holiday that encourages it.

And besides, Goth has gone totally mainstream. Just the other day I was in a Halloween store and actually saw a "Goth Prince" decoration for the door. Hang up this uber cool Goth Prince with his sunglasses and bat wing necklace, nothing says "come to my house and ask for candy" then that.

*We'll be out in OB, I'll be the girl in the red with a Corona. Looking for the big bad wolf.*

I have a feeling half the people thought they were voting for CARY Grant

SEO Inc. CEO, Garry Grant, Recognized as One of the Most Admired Chief Executive Officers That Work in San Diego

Garry Grant is one of the premier experts in the fields of search engine
optimization and the Internet. At SEO Inc.
he is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the company, developing
proprietary technologies, overseeing staff and setting corporate sales and
marketing goals.

That's Cary Grant up there by the way, not GARRY Grant, though I'm sure he's a good looking fellow in his own right.

Yay Mayor Jerry Sanders!

*Confession* Not that political (but I remember the whole Donna Frye write in campaign thing because I'm cool like that, did you know she has her own Wikipedia entry?). Chalk it up to being in my early 20's in San Diego with really important stuff on my mind, like first dates and the best place to get breakfast after a long night out. But I do know that San Diego has been mired in political and financial controversy and the current Mayor, not so universally adored, or what not (is there any politician who is UNIVERSALLY adored?).

But Mayor Sanders has been surprising lately (what with the whole "oh yeah, I support Gay marriage, deal with it" thing) and now, according to The LA Times, because of the fires, he's GOLDEN.

George Mitrovich, president of the City Club of San Diego, said he's been
disappointed with other aspects of Sanders' performance as mayor but was
impressed with how he became "the face of leadership" during the fire,
calming fears and projecting strength and confidence.

Watch out Arnold, WATCH OUT.

This is Halloween, This is Halloween, Halloween, Halloween

Well, tomorrow is Halloween...

Aside from that whole costume thang, you also need to get the activity thang down as well. San Diego does not disappoint with Halloween shinanigans, so pick your poison (even with the wildfires many of the activities are still on) or stay in and freak out the kids knocking on your door (or eat an entire bag of candy with the lights out, being extra quiet because "you're not home").

The Haunted Hotel and Balboa Park Haunted Trail, ooooo, spooky, scary, is that a plastic knife or a real AHHH!!!

Or the Mira Mesa Monster Manor (yes that's a lot of M's, but it's still SCARRRRRY).

There's a Halloween Ball at The Prado Restaurant in Balboa Park. It's a tad expensive, but Femme Fatales will be out and about.

Or head to the bars, it's all important "get drunk in shoes you wouldn't normally be seen in public in night".

Abbie on: the most important relationship a girl, scratch that, a HUMAN BEING can have

* Editors Note* Tell that to my husband who was busy rubbing his temples last night begging to know WHY, WHY I insist on turning the TV to A Shot at Screwing Tila Tequila after she's screwed a bunch of other people on national television. "I'm just perusing, sheesh, it's not like I watch this crap TV." "Then turn it off." "Hold on, that guy says some other people were messing around! OH SNAP!" After last weeks crazy fire this and that, Abbie returns triumphant, though too busy to catch up with her ever so important friend, the DVR. (And no I DON'T DVR Tila Tequila's love muffin fest, but I do DVR The Hills, because I am a bad person, a bad.... bad, person.*

Abbie on: her relationship... with her DVR...and Nip/Tuck.

Abbie Berry

Lately, I can’t watch more than 30 minutes of television without falling asleep. It’s sad really. Sometimes, I’m asleep within five minutes. I mean try watching a movie with me. It’s more like watching a movie while I cuddle up with a blanket beside you and gently begin to snore.
(I even fall asleep at the movie theater. It’s pathetic).

Life is funny like that. Time gets away from you.

I graduated from Grad School last May but I find myself busier than ever. I go and go and go and before I know it, I still haven’t accomplished all of my goals for the day and I’m exhausted. I watch ten minutes of something and I’m dreaming. (The only people who should be jealous of this horrible disease I have are people who have a really hard time sleeping. It’s a beautiful thing that my couch is so comfortable).

I’m not really complaining. I’m blessed to be this busy with a full-time, paying job, a social life, a special group of friends, working out, teaching 8-year olds about being good little people and my DVR.

I love my cell phone. I have an Ipod. Thank goodness for my laptop, but my DVR I cannot live without.

Ok, so I’m talking about my relationship with my DVR. When I think back to the VCR days, I cringe.

Those of you who know what I mean, this blog’s for you.

As I write this, my DVR is 85% full and anything over 50% just won’t do. I need a vacation from my life just to catch up on my favorite shows.

I’m a writer -- an artist and I feel this huge amount of guilt when I’m worried about catching up on my shows instead of taking the time to write or read something that might inspire me or might teach me something new. Not to say that all TV is worthless. Most of the shows that I watch definitely make me think about the things I write about. In fact, many do.

But I write about love.

I just have to admit it. I have a relationship with my DVR and it is not ending anytime soon.
(Although, I do think I have to cancel my Netflix account. Since I can’t stay awake, the movies are just sitting at my place, waiting to be watched. This is not economically efficient).

Does anyone else feel this way?

Addicted and guilty?

Are you also counting the days until the Season Premiere of Nip/Tuck? I can’t wait to see what Dr. Troy has been up to and if you watch, you know what I mean.

Now, I have to come up with a plan that will keep me awake long enough to catch up.
And I need that same plan for the rest of my life as well.

Any ideas, please share and if you have suggestions for shows I need to see – beware you will be feeding the fire.

This is one fire we haven’t been hearing about on the news all week.

Sleep and TV.

My DVR.

For me.

TA DA: Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors has a rental hotsheet for you

For a limited time the PSAR is releasing it's rental hotsheet to the public. Check it out, be one of the elite.

http://www.psar.org/uploads/hotsheet.pdf

I just made a really bad Hollaback Girl reference for Gwen Stefani but I'm still gonna make fun of these guys

In 2004 Will Ferrell made this diddy of a movie and based it in San Diego. Apparently San Diego was a glutton for a San Diego movie starring a sometimes funny comedian with a penchant for films about guys who think they are super cool but aren't that cool but end up being a bit cooler toward the end of the movie. The point is, in that movie Will Ferrell told us to "Stay Classy."

Yeah, yeah, stay classy San Diego, stay classy.

And then every dude trying to make a cute joke about San Diego decided to tell San Diego to keep there classy-ness.

Including these guys.

Oh yes, and this Halloween stay safe (and classy) San Diego.

She ain't no Hollaback girl!

Gwen Stefani annouced today that she's going to donate proceeds from her San Diego concert to the San Diego fires.

proceeds from her Tuesday night October 30th, concert in San Diego at Cox Arena will go to local San Diego charity the San Diego Foundation (http://www.sdfoundation.org/), to benefit victims of the recent catastrophic area fires.

Forgive me for this next one...

That shit is bananas! B-A-N-A-N-A-S! (Yeah, yeah, it's Monday gimme a break)

Honey, there's a Hippo in our pool.

"Look, just because you and my mother don't get along doesn't mean you have to call her names."

"No honey, seriously, there's a Hippo in our backyard."

"I'm hanging up now, tell my Mom I said hi."

Dick Cheney is tired. You'd be tired too if you had a country to run while that other guy ran off to fly around Southern California...

Vice President Dick Cheney fell asleep during an emergency briefing by President Bush on the California Wild Fires. But I get it, when you're up all night doing that last minute studying of how you could better handle this whole thing then you did that little Katrina snafu (sooo long ago now, cause we ROCKED San Diego)you're bound to be tired during the lecture. Sleep on Dick, sleep on.

National News Roundup: The Blame Game

It's choose your own simplified reason why the fires got so crazy last week, week!

It was the slow response to the danger!

It was the bueraucracy of government!

It was the crazy people living in areas that are known for having fires!

It was California's policy on fire suppression!

It was Arnold!

No it wasn't!

Yes it was.!

It was the winds!

It was the drought!

It was the weather!

It was Global Warming!

It was arson!

If you ask Google (because Google is the Oracle of our times): Poor urban and unsound rural residential planning and development arguably contribute to climate change, and to excessive burdens on our infrastructure.

And there you have it.

There's a breath of fresh air on the way...

There was a lot of fire last week, not only in the San Diego area but all over the news, the news updates, the news papers, the magazines. You couldn't even look up a good "what crazy thing is Britney doing" without hearing about how her favorite Starbucks was in harms way of the Malibu fires. But the truth is that there were a lot of San Diegans who were lucky enough to get out of last weeks firestorm without any serious long term damage. There were many that didn't have to evacuate or sit and wait to find out about the state of their houses. So now what? Is a week long enough to "get back to normal?"

Ask The Union Tribune:

Weird, even though many of us desperately crave a return to normal life. But is it possible to slip back into workaday rhythms when so many lives have been hit so hard?

Apparently it's the guilt. The guilt at returning to the routine of life in this great city while there are others who cannot. The push is to get back to normal, with a twist. Take some time to nod at the person next to you. Take some time to talk about things with your friends, but get out there.

We're nothing if not active.

This week was...

This week it was all about fire, fire, fire, Katrina, fire, fire, Katrina, Anderson Cooper, fire, fire, football, fire, fire that's bad but not that bad, fire, Katrina, Hollywood, fire, Anderson Cooper, fire, fire, AND Abbie.

Enjoy your weekend San Diego... you deserve it.

I know it's San Diego and it's California and people have their "ideas" about California but this is getting ridiculous

As homes burn, the evacuees of San Diego lap up the good life


Oh yeah and the UK confirms it... SOOO much better than Katrina.

People are strong, they want to rebuild, lets hope the Government is strong and wants to rebuild also.

I know the government has a job to do and that job usually involves a lot of paper work. I know that in times of crisis it probably feels like things can't happen fast enough. "I don't have a home, can you just get on with it already?" So the two sides are at odds, the side that has a lot of paper work to do and the side that, wants a place to live. I am hoping for the best when it comes to rebuilding in San Diego.

The Chicago Tribune today focused on a family that hopes to rebuild. In fact while looking through the ashes of what was previously their home, their future is what's on their mind.

Lyons and his wife, Lynn, even managed a hearty laugh at the fact that a wooden picnic table that the couple had long fought about had survived."I hated that table," Lynn Lyons said. "He bought it even when I said no, that I hated it, and it's been a source of contention ever since. Now look at it -- the one thing to survive."David Lyons looked triumphant. "And you know it has to be a centerpiece in the new house now," he said.

It looks like most of the San Diego fire "victims" are proving they are not victims at all. Here's hoping the government is ready.

Citizens, politicians, News reporters question air support

Criticism is building and questions are being asked about the actions and decision making process when it came to calling in air support for the San Diego Wildfires.

Various reports have called in to question the use of aircraft during the first few days of fighting the fires. From The Union Tribune:

A drumbeat of criticism, fanned in part by talk radio, TV news and the Internet, appeared to build during the day over whether the firefighting fleet was fully mobilized. Those concerns may have been heightened by an announcement late yesterday afternoon that the arrival of a giant Canadian seaplane – the privately owned Martin Mars – called in to join the fight had been delayed.

Was it bueraucracy that delayed the air support or was it executive decisions about flying safety? According to the LA times it was a confounding on all sides, delay due to decision making and delay due to the weather.

The NFL shows that ultimately they care about... the NFL

The question for Sunday isn't, "Will San Diego recover quickly and start back to it's normal routine?" "Will the air quality clear up?" "Will the weekend after the wildfires be a time of healing?"

No, apparently the question for Sunday is "will The Chargers be able to play?" Reports are varying, Qualcomm is being closed and the evacuees will be moved to the Del Mar Fairgrounds but it seems that nobody is ready to commit to a game being played on Sunday. From the Houston Chronicle:

Texans owner Bob McNair said ideally the teams will play Sunday. However, there still are concerns about the air quality in San Diego because of the wildfires.

Of course with the craziness of this national disaster it is understandable that there would need to be room for flexibility. The Chargers have been training in Arizona, weather reports are still unsure of how the wind will blow for the rest of this week and there are still fires that are not contained. Perhaps we can look to the Texans to be a little flexible with their time.

There were reports Thursday the game would be played Monday night at Qualcomm, which would shorten the amount of time the Texans would have to prepare for their next game at Oakland the following weekend. "If this game were played Monday night, we wouldn't get back to Houston until early Tuesday morning," McNair said. "That would make it more difficult for our coaches to prepare for our next game."

Oh, sorry, we'd hate for you to be inconvenienced. Good thing we're moving all the evacuees to new location, cleaning up the stadium, and preparing for your arrival.

David Sedaris is waiting to visit good old San Diego.

David Sedaris is postponing his engagement in San Diego originally set for Halloween (October 31). As of today it's simply "postponed due to fires", new information is not available. Check the site for more information.

Sign on San Diego's Fire Blog has a break down of fire related info:

The general feeling seems to be that things are "winding down", what with Qualcomm being shut down and evacuees moved to Del Mar. The Mayor is asking for people to get back to their regular activties and encouraging reestablishment of the tourist industry and city activities. 1/2 of the fires have been contained (14/23 according to CNN) and the outlook is positive.

For the complete listing of stats from the Sign on Fire Blog click here.

California wildfire overall statistics:
Acreage: Nearly 493,000 (about 770 square miles).
Homes destroyed: More than 1,780, according to authorities.
Deaths: Three confirmed fire deaths, seven fire-related deaths. Authorities were investigating whether four burned bodies found Thursday east of San Diego were fire victims.
Injuries: About 30 civilians, 52 firefighters.

Major wildfires burning in California, by county:
San Diego County:

Witch Fire: Nearly than 198,000 acres (more than 309 square miles) in northern San Diego County from Witch Creek to Rancho Santa Fe. 30 percent contained. 1,061 homes and 30 commercial properties destroyed. Two burned bodies found in a charred home. Two civilians and 12 firefighters injured. Containment expected Sunday.

Poomacha Fire: About 38,500 acres (more than 60 square miles) on the La Jolla Indian Reservation and in northeastern San Diego County. 30 percent contained. 60 homes destroyed. Twelve firefighters injured.

Horno/Ammo Fire: About 20,000 acres (more than 31 square miles) on the Camp Pendleton Marine base. 80 percent contained.

Harris Fire: About 84,000 acres (more than 131 square miles) north of the border town of Tecate, about 70 miles southeast of San Diego. 20 percent contained. Ninety-seven homes, 17 outbuildings and two commercial buildings destroyed. One civilian killed, 21 injured civilians and seven injured firefighters. Containment expected Nov. 4.

Rice Fire: About 9,000 acres (more than 10 square miles) in Fallbrook in northern San Diego County. 30 percent contained. 206 homes and two commercial properties destroyed. One firefighter injured.

Evacuees are moving to the Del Mar fairgrounds

The switch is happening at noon tomorrow when they pack up and move to the Del Mar fairgrounds. According to some it's to prepare Qualcomm for the scheduled game on Sunday, according to others, well actually that seems to be the consensus.

As mentioned before, the NFL was "waiting" to see if San Diego would be ready for such a game on Sunday. "Getting back to normal" seems to be at the forefront of the city's mind. Some still worry about the air quality (less about the whole losing money from tourism thing).

Just got this information from the BIA regarding Tribal/Reservation Damage

Most Indian reservations are out there in the midlands and are usually hit pretty rapidly with fires and fire related issues. Sometimes due to the isolation it's hard to get information but here's what they sent. I have a special place in my heart for all things Native, so it's important to know that there were some HUGE businesses affected. All over the news you hear about it being "mostly homes not businesses" affected, but here are some prime examples. I also have a good friend working with the Sycuan Fire Agency, and guess what he was out there fighting from the beginning.

***********************************************************************************

Barona Reservation
Members evacuated to the hotel/casino. Structure and homes lost. Unknown number at this time. No deaths or injuries reported.

La Jolla Reservation
Members evacuated off reservation. 20 homes and structures lost. Fire started in a home on the reservation and spread to other parts of the reservation and off reservation toward the Rincon Reservation. No reports of death or injuries.

Mesa Grande Reservation
Members evacuated off reservation to nearby Pala Reservation Hotel & Casino. Structure loss unknown. No reports of deaths or injuries.

Pala Reservation
Members evacuated to hotel/casino on reservation. Structure loss unknown. No reports of death or injuries. The tribe has offered the hotel and casino as an evacuation site to other tribes in the area.

Pauma Reservation
Members evacuated. Most went to the Pala Reservation hotel/casino. Structure loss unknown. No reports of death or injuries.

Rincon Reservation
Members evacuated to hotel/casino on reservation. 15 structures lost. 8 tribal members injured. No deaths reported. The fire is burning off reservation toward the San Pasqual Reservation.

San Pasqual Reservation
Members evacuated to various locations off reservation. Structure loss unknown. No reports of death or injuries

Santa Ysabel Reservation
Members evacuated to various locations off reservation. Structure loss unknown. No reports of death or injuries

Viejas Reservation
Evacuations unknown. Damage sustained- type unknown. Structure loss unknown. No reports of death or injury

Rachelle in the City: Renewal and rejuvination. Rachelle recounts the first days of the Southern California Fires.

Rachelle in the City: Armageddon Has Arrived

I started off my weekend looking for dogs at the shelters. It's not like we can have a dog considering we don't have a yard. We did it for kicks I guess. I am set on getting a pure mutt...the kind you can't really tell what it is because it is so mixed. I had one and it lived for a really long time without being taken to the vet. I loved him.

That evening I also met up with a college friend who was staying at the Four Seasons for her job. Pretty posh. We had dinner and pretended we were rich. I felt proud that we were able to declare what wine we wanted with ease. We answered questions such as "Evian or Pellegrino." When it came time to ordering our desserts we asked that they be delivered to the lounge. Oh the life of the rich and we blended in so well.

There was a bar fight at the Four Seasons. Who would have thought? I guess alcohol has that effect on the rich as well. This guy was asking for it. He kept yelling something...he even went to the band's mic and yelled it. Still we could not understand him. The wife (girlfriend? paramour?) looked PISSED. He made his way to the bar and all of a sudden he was in this fight. Our table was right in the line of fire. The guys rolled around but I didn't see actual fists fly. Maybe that's how rich people fight? Avery's drink spilled from our table being tipped. She played victim and we supported her by expressing our disgust at this outburst. I heard one guy yell out "My god, this is the Four Seasons, stop fighting!" At least we got a free bottle of champagne out of it. That was my evening at the Four Seasons. For once, we were not the cause of drama.

And then, fire everywhere. Where did it come from? On Monday I dutifully went to work and by the time I arrived the air was thick with smoke. Pretty scary. I was told we were going to close up shop so everyone could go home and take care of their families. I felt ash on my face and I noticed the sky was red as I walked back to my car. It was eerie. I decided to go to the only family I had, which was my mother-in-law's house. It felt good to be around a "motherly" figure. We spent the day watching the news on TV and grew steadily amazed at the extent the fire was growing. I felt blessed and a little guilty that we were located in the little pocket where there were no fires and no fires were headed toward us. Instead we just had the smoke, the terrible asthma inducing smoke. Ugh. I couldn't tear myself away from the news coverage of the fires. I began to think of what I would take if I were evacuated. I helped my mother-in-law prepare stuff just in case they would have to evacuate. Geoff, his dad, and his brother all left work early and we spent the day together. It was definitely a time of being with family and appreciating what we had and praying for those who had lost homes and everything dear to them in the fires.

"Armageddon Has Arrived," were Tuesday's headlines in the newspaper back in my hometown of Albuquerque, NM. My aunt texted me saying that it was time for Geoff to fly me back home because CA was no longer safe. She listed off all the reasons of why I should not stay in CA. My family was just waiting for this sort of opportunity to get me to return home. I just laughed and replied that I would be fine and CA would be fine. Of course I said this with trepidation as I looked outside to find even more smoke outside with the air thick as ever with the smell of smoke.

The ash was beginning to settle everywhere. Phone calls were received by friends and family asking if I was ok. Sheesh. I have never been in this position before. Once again work was shut down for the day and so was Geoff's. Geoff and I spent the day occupying ourselves and keeping an eye on the fires. I didn't dare step outside because of the bad air.

Renewal. Is that what's going on here? Is the earth attempting to rejuvinate itself? It's kind of like that movie I watch guilt-free every time I see it on TV called "The Day After Tomorrow," where devastation had to occur in order for the Earth to restore balance. Pretty crazy. I don't know what I believe and am sure there are quite a few people who feel the same.

Read this article: because it's about time to start comparing San Diego to Katrina, wait we've already done that?

Okay, how about including stereotypical "this is how a Californian would approach disaster relief?" *Does anybody remember that scene in Clueless when Cher is walking out the front door with her ski equipment and her Dad says "Cher, what are you doing?" "I'm Captain of the Pismo Beach disaster relief." "I don't think they need your skis." "Daddy, some people lost everything, don't you think that includes sports equipment?" Yeah, me neither.*

The Time Online likes their California nice and California-y:

Massages, acupuncture and stress counselling are being offered to around 10,000 wildfire evacuees gathering at the Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego — along with Starbucks coffee, beef empanadas and fresh Caesar salads.

“The people are happy. They have everything here,” said the Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, after touring the site. “Nobody does disasters better than California,” agreed David Paulison, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Of course this is an article about the biggest disaster since, oh, what was that one thing again, that thing in New Orleans, anybody... anybody?

It is all a long way from the scenes inside another stadium — the Superdome in New Orleans — two years ago when thousands sheltered from the floods of Hurricane Katrina for several days without proper food or water supplies, sanitation or government assistance.

Yeah, that Katrina thing. So anyway, that was a long time ago, you see, and now we have a chance to learn from our really big, huge, gigantor mistakes, when we totally messed up everything and acted like it wasn't such a big deal to be drowned out by water. I mean we're going to admit that we f'd up that one, right?

Mr Paulison appeared on a succession of morning television yesterday to emphasise there would be no repeat of the Katrina experience — when “things didn’t run so smoothly” — saying: “This is a new FEMA.”

Or we're going to go with "things didn't run so smoothly." Heh, heh, like days without food, water, electricity or help in sight. But whatever, we're willing to try and move forward, now that you've pledged so much help to those trying to rebuild. It's going to be great to get everything taken care of in the quickest and easiest way possible, like I'm sure you helped those poor people in New Orleans, right?

Thousands of people from New Orleans were still living in FEMA trailers and many more had been unable to obtain compensation for the loss of their homes. “I don’t think FEMA has learnt any lessons. If they had, New Orleans would not still be in the situation we find ourselves in now.”

Oh snap. Could be a LONG road ahead.

Dia De Los Muertos in Oceanside is still a go. GO GO GO!

And it looks like Dia De Los Muertos in Oceanside is a go. There are NO plans to cancel the street festival and I'm encouraging everyone to make the effort to GET OUT and GET BACK to that good old San Diego street fair going lifestyle. Sunday October 29 10am-4pm. Click below for more information.

Picture a day spent at a Mexican Fiesta -- surrounded by beautiful music, dancing, good food, and a newly expanded retail Mercado filled with unusual items. You can spend time viewing the authentic Oaxacan ofrendas honoring the loved ones of our community.

I like this headline (from Sign on San Diego's Fire Blog)

Bush tours burn sites, takes off

Schwarzenegger shakes hands with Bush, watches him go.

Everyone talks about how nice it was he stopped by, go back to actually fighting fires, picking up the pieces.

The Mira Mesa Monster Manor looks like it's still a go as well.

There are two options for Halloween goers out there. First, there is the kid friendly Lite Frite Wizard Center in Mira Mesa. Admission is 5.00. October 27, 28 you can go from Noon-4 and get in a few good Wizarding hours with the kiddies. Check the site for more information.

Of course for those looking for a little bit more of a scare this Halloween you can check out the Evening performances of the Night Haunt Monster Manor. October 26-31 beginning at 7:00pm. Caution not for the faint of heart or under 13 crowd.

BOO!


*And yes, that's a kid dressed up as Darth Vader which I just decided is the cutest costume EVER!*

Movies Before the Mast: Still looks like a go as of now but you might want to call to be sure

Friday night date night Movies Before the Mast (or ON the Mast rather) will be showing The Fog. Date night is for Adults Only, 21 years and over. Saturday will be "Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster." Saturday is "Family Night" for all ages, no alcohol served. Gates open at 7:00m and movies start at 8:00pm. Get tickets early, a very limited amount MAY be available at the box office the day of. Chairs are provided but bring your blankets to cozy up for the show. Snacks available on board.

Movies Before the Mast is held on The Star of India. Spend the night exploring the museum and then cozy up on the deck for a movie on the mast, outdoors, on the ship, a night to remember.

*PS. There are two ways to watch the movie. No matter what side of the screen you sit on you'll spend the first or second half watching the movie opposite of the way it was meant to be viewed. Chalk it up to character, after a moment you won't even notice. They will switch it 1/2 way through during intermission. Last year they had a costume contest, so come dressed to impress.*

*Yes that's a kid dressed up as a wookie. I thought it was cute, so there.*

And now for some things to do: Monster Bash goes on October 27

The weekend is still coming up (probably quicker than expected considering the last few days have been non stop and all) and it is STILL the weekend before Halloween which means, get your costumes ready (sexy and non sexy alike) and get out there. Looks like most bashes (as of now) are still up and running as planned.

First up: The Monster Bash (downtown San Diego craziness with a side of "I feel too old to be here" debauchery).

This is “the” Halloween party in San Diego and this year’s event will be held on Saturday, October 27th, 2007 from 6:00 p.m. until Midnight

Tickets to this ghastly gala are only $20.00 in advance and $25.00 at the door; get yours early because the Bass Monster Bash presented by Southern Comfort will sell out fast! You must be 21 years old and you must show valid ID to enter.

Heard a rumor that proceeds would be going to fire relief and fire victims but have not been able to confirm via website or my space.

Bush is touring, Christi something or other from Headline News is happy we're watching her, you're welcome Christi something or other.

President Bush just finished getting a first hand look of wild fires and says the nation owes debt of gratitutde to thousands of fire fighters on front line. He also pledged immediate and long term federal help to those who need it in the area.

And now back to the burned houses and this really cute guy named Reggie taking us through the rubble. I like his shirt. I'm falling in love with CNN news.

Et tu New York Times?

From The New York Times: With Katrina Fresh, Bush Moves Briskly

For a presidency still haunted by memories of Hurricane Katrina, the forceful round-the-clock response was a political no-brainer — the “anti-Katrina,” in the words of Peter Wehner, a former domestic policy adviser to Mr. Bush.

Then "Man you totally f'd up that whole Katrina thing, sir."
"I sure did, didn't I? Man, when are they gonna forget about that?"

And now... "So remember how you f'd up Katrina?"
"No, I do remember we did so well in San Diego."
"But you really f'd up Katrina..."
"No, no, San Diego... SAN DIEGO. We rocked San Diego."

Arson? Are we looking at arson?

Looks like more and more news outlets are picking up on the arson investigation story. The FBI has joined the investigation which is concentrating it's efforts on pinning down any arson related information.

In Riverside County, officials said that investigators had determined that the 411-acre Rosa blaze in Temecula was intentionally set. Authorities already had said that a nearly 20,000-acre fire in Orange County was set by an arsonist.
“It’s definitely arson, and it’s been deemed a crime scene,” said Jim Amormino, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

There are also reports about the shooting death of a man in San Bernardino County. According to reports from various outlets, a man was shot to death by police after officers approached him to see if he was setting a fire.

For more information about arson investigations click here.

America we are doing SO WELL in SAN DIEGO that you can just FORGET about that previous Katrina CRAZINESS.

Even Australia knows, we're doing better than Katrina. From The Age:

There was more food than could be eaten. More help than could be used. San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders guessed there were as many volunteers as victims.

There was a picnic in the car park, beef empanadas on the chow line, Caesar salads, cartons of fresh Starbucks House Blend, free magazines, toys for the kids, cots for Grandma, pizza by the slice or the box. There was a man playing jazz guitar, a blues band, massages and acupuncture.

"It's better service than when you go to a restaurant," said Gary Potter, from Rancho Penasquitos. "Every time you turn around, people are asking us if you need something — water, food, anything."

The centre is being operated by the city of San Diego, but almost everything consumed in it was donated.

"You hear all the horror stories from hurricane Katrina, but it's nothing like that here," said Linda Leonik, 22, who was evacuated with her husband and their six-month-old twins from the upmarket area of Rancho Bernardo.

I personally like Sign On San Diego for their less doomsday coverage

There is still cautious optimism in the San Diego area. While winds have died down and thousands have been allowed back to their homes to survey the damage, others are still in shelters and there are still some fires burning completely unchecked.

Since Sunday, the wildfires in San Diego County have forced about 560,000 people to flee their homes. The fires also have caused more than $1 billion in property damage, disaster-relief experts said yesterday.

As of early last night, fire officials reported that five blazes had burned more than 327,000 acres and destroyed at least 1,100 homes.

Although some critics (online bloggers are mentioned!) voiced concern over the original lack of help from the air, Governor Schwarzenegger refutes such claims saying that aircrafts could not fly because of high winds at the start of the week.

“Anyone complaining about the planes just wants to complain because that's a bunch of nonsense,” Schwarzenegger told ABC News during a morning interview.

The calmer conditions are a great help to firefighters trying to get blazes under control but they will not help improve air quality in and around San Diego.

President Bush is expected to speak in California later this afternoon.

Just saw Bush walking off the plane.

"Why hello Arnold, good to see you, did you hear how good of a job we're doing on this whole thing, he he. We're such good aid hander outers aren't we."

"Cali-four-nia needs much more help. Cali-four-nia needs more assistance."

"Chill out man. You shoulda seen those other guys that the news media keep talking about, that whole pesky tornado thing, water man, ain't my favorite. But this fire thing, we're doing such a good job."

"Cali-four-nia has been doing such a good job."

"California, federal government, FEMA, it's all the same. We should all pat ourselves on the back and think about how good we are at our jobs because now they totally can't bug me about that whole city that was underwater that I ignored. Go Chargers! Wait, huh, they left, oh, okay."

The President is approaching. Air Force One is landing. The Press is waiting.

I haven't waited for a GW press conference since... well since... well I don't know. I remember waiting for Bill Clinton to be on David Letterman.

CNN promises it really is coming up, because they just had footage of Air Force One landing. Patience.

The Coop is still in the building! (Alternative headline, The Coop hasn't flown the coop.)

The Coop is in Rancho Bernardo! He's rocking that "in the field with my safari looking jacket and my mussed hair from my serious in the field reporting because I'm a field reporter damn it" look. *Drool*

According to The Coop (who is never wrong, look at that face, that face is RIGHT). "California has maxed out it's firefighting resources and is asking the Federal Government for help."

There are at least 15 active fires tonight, statewide nearly a million have had to flee. San Diego county came within minutes of a major power outage but managed to clear a threat before it took out the last major power line.

Now back to his planet in peril.

My San Diego: We're pushing back guest blogging features until next week when we can give them their due

*Next week we will be back with guest bloggers contributing perspectives on their San Diego, but this week we're taking a break, what with the crazy changes in schedule and all. Instead I'll share a bit of my own fire story. Tomorrow RACHELLE IN THE CITY will tell us all about her week so far, fire and all.*

My San Diego is reading all about these fires and checking in with those that I love and care about. My San Diego is quick with the humor and quicker with the responses to it's state of emergency. My San Diego is all over the news but knows that it deserves more than just a passing "have you heard about all that going on in San Diego?"

I believe San Diego will recover much quicker then people expect. I know there will be many stories of hope and love and survival and probably a few stories that are sad and heart wrenching. The massive inundation of news media will not overwhelm San Diego (even though it's starting to overwhelm others) and people will keep their positive attitudes and "California" mentality.

Lori is back at work (a good worker she is, she worked any way while glued to her television at home). Vanessa checks in from PB and says "just like PB, people are still going out, still meeting up with their friends." Rachelle has sent in her article for this week and it's about more then just a fire, it's all about her new home. Maybe it remains fire week (we cover the news and the news covers the fire) but I'm telling you, San Diego bounces (I've seen it before).

In 2003 I was confronted with the "what are you going to pack at a moments notice?" question. Though I felt safe in my home in Clairemont, worry was all over my (at the time) boyfriend's face. And then we got word that the fire had jumped the freeway right by our house, that others were leaving and that we might just want to water down the area around our house.

"Pack" he said. "Figure out what to take."

I thought about it. My life wasn't the clothes, the dishes, the pictures (which, thanks to digital cameras were all stored online). So I packed what I needed, a toothbrush, my Sex and The City DVD's and my computer.

"That's it?!" He was frantic. How was he going to fit EVERYTHING in to the car? How would he leave his books and movies and carpets and mugs behind?

"That's it," I said. I watched him stressing out in the living room, huffing and hyperventilating. I walked over to him and hugged him tightly. "It's just stuff," I whispered. "Fire is cleansing," I said. "In my tribe, when something is over, when it's done, we burn it, we let it go."

We hugged for a while longer and waited for news over the television, we waited long into the night but they managed to get things under control. The next day we went to lunch in PB (where the air felt a little cleaner) and we wore masks and saw ash gathering on the streets like snow. It was almost like... a new day.

I find this headline... what's the word... eerie? bemusing? head shakingly hrmmm?

NFL WAITS, WHILE SAN DIEGO BURNS


San Diego throws up the finger and tells the NFL to wait all they want but they are taking their time, considering it's a DISASTER and all, so quit staring and help already or go back to your little NFL cave and BROOOOD.

It's time to conserve power!

Turn off all your lights, read this blog, quit with the cooking and dishwashing and hair straghtening (but keep the blog, cause, come on you don't want to fall behind).

Fires have created a "power island" surrounding one of the last major power sources in San Diego, threatening to consume it. It looks like they may have to shut it down and they are asking for San Diegans to conserve power.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders implored residents to cut power use.
"You've got to conserve today. You have no choice," Sanders said.

You heard me (or Mayor Jerry Sanders rather) shut off that TV already and get your kicks, well not outside cause air quality is so bad, or at restaurants cause they should have to conserve power too, or... well, how about you just stay in with a good blog (ahem) and a cup o' joe (cold joe of course cause you don't want to use that microwave now do you).

But *and say it with me now folks* we're still doing SO MUCH BETTER than Katrina! (Apples, I thought I told you to play nice with oranges!)

National News Roundup: TTTTtime Magazine is in the hizouse!

Time Magazine issued it's report on all things fire related and guess what, it's not the worst fire in the San Diego area. (Or as CNN would say, it's bad but not that bad just a little bad)

Fire authorities in San Diego say they have never seen a fire quite like the one they are facing. But for all its fury, the fire as yet is not the worst the county has experienced. This week's fires have burned more than 263,000 acres, destroyed or damaged 1,750 homes and businesses and killed at least one person. Just four years ago, the Cedar fire, the largest in the state's history based on structures destroyed, burned 273,246 acres in San Diego County, destroyed 2,847 structures and killed 15 people. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, San Diego had three of the 20 largest fires in the state's history, including the 1970 Laguna fire that burned 175,425 acres and killed five, and the 2003 Paradise fire, which burned 56,700 acres and killed two.

And of course, we're doing so much better than Katrina.

National News Roundup: According to CNN it's bad, but not that bad...

Things look good, but not too good, but pretty good. There's a very long fight ahead, but the firefighters are on top of it, but they are still having trouble containing the fires, but the winds are better, but not perfect and they can change at any time, or they couldn't. Damage could top 1 billion, or less, or more. The weather has been dicey, but is improving, but it could get worse, or better, or stay the same.

I quite liked this exchange between two of the reporters:

"How bad is it?"
"It's bad."
"It's bad?"
"So bad."
"Bad, bad?"
"Bad."
"That's too bad."
"But it's not all bad."

CNN, reporting from the front lines.


Oh yeah, and in case you were wondering CNN says this is so much better than Katrina. (Apples, meet oranges.)

Sign on San Diego is way more positive than any other news source...

Good old Sign on San Diego is keeping the positive vibes going with reports of fires being contained, fire fighters able to get ahead of the once out of control flames and the return of residents to their homes.

“The worst is behind us,” said Ron Lane, director of the county Emergency Operations, at a news conference featuring Michael Chertoff, chief of federal Homeland Defense.

President Bush is expected to visit San Diego Thursday to view the fire damage, according to the governor's office.

There are still out of control fires burning, but with the weather looking up and the helicopters better able to fly and drop water, it looks like a turning point. (They've been promising a turning point for a while, so we'll call this cautious optimism.)

National News Roundup: This is still not Katrina

I'm noticing a disturbing trend in news reporting about the great fires of 2007. It's a "this is not Katrina" and "since we are doing such a good job lets pat ourselves on the back and forget all about that pesky Katrina stuff." From CNN:


President Bush will visit the area Thursday, the White House said. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff arrived in San Diego on Tuesday afternoon. Chertoff promised a different federal reaction from the one in New Orleans in 2005. "We have been preparing and planning and training together for the last 2½ years," he said. And the scene at Qualcomm Stadium on Tuesday did seem to live up to Chertoff's expectations as volunteers cheerily handed out chairs, food and water.



You're right people, this is NOT Katrina. Lets just ignore the fact that they are two completely different parts of the country, that they are two completely different kinds of natural disasters and that they are happening in two very different ways. Lets even gloss over the idea brought up on CNN this morning about "the difference in socio-economic status" of a lot of the evacuees. Heck, lets even ignore the lessons that probably were learned (heard something mentioned about having ALL resources available immediately after the disaster rather than in phases? Really, that took you that long?). Ooo, lets even ignore the fact that Mrs. Bush Sr. hasn't showed up yet to tell those at Qualcomm how happy they should be to have such good accommodations and how they probably like it better there.

No, lets just focus on this. The San Diego city center is in tact. It has mostly been homes destroyed in these fires, not businesses. In a city of suburbs, expansive and connected by freeways there has been ROOM for people to run. It is not a city underwater with little to no way out. It is not people stranded on rooftops with signs asking for help.

Apples and oranges and all that, just let it go. Give California it's props for reacting so quickly, for wanting to help, for banding together, for offering 420 friendly accommodations via Craigslist. I love San Diego, and will continue to tell everyone it is THE place to be, but we are NOT Katrina, and what's the point in letting us know that every 20 minutes? Thank you for all your help on this one Federal Government and News Media but guess what, you still can't get out of the whole Katrina debacle.

So concentrate on the now... and concentrate on still hoping for some New Orleans forgiveness, because when the Supreme Court is STILL denying insurance claims, well, don't tell me you're doing EVERYTHING you can do for those survivors.

Reports from Qualcomm are trickling in

They've got massage, accomodations, food and drink. Hey, we are not Katrina! They've got crisis counseling, AA meetings, singing, dancing, music, tail gating, and entertainment. We are not Katrina! They've got long lines for coffee (so we're more like Starbucks), but they've got coffee! And they don't need any more donations! We are not KATRINA!

Nobody does disasters better than California. (We do it with bikinis on!)

The vast parking lot looked a lot like a premature tailgate party for the football Chargers' Sunday game, except for omnipresent gauze masks to filter out smoke particles and gun-toting California National Guardsmen on patrol. It was an example of lessons federal officials said they learned from Hurricane Katrina - to make resources available immediately rather than in phases. But for all the horrors at the mob-filled Super Dome that came to symbolize the Katrina response two years ago, images out of Qualcomm verged on the quirky and carefree. Fire refugees could take yoga lessons, get personal autographs from Padres baseball players and watch a giant screen showing of "Cars," the cartoon movie.

Oh yeah, and we're not Katrina.

In case you were wondering how the San Diego fires affect Hollywood

I know I was. Here's your roundup:

Production on TV series was disrupted and stars traded their beachfront homes for shelter in posh hotels.

Tori Spelling and her husband, Dean McDermott, whose San Diego County bed-and-breakfast is featured on their Oxygen channel show "Tori & Dean: Inn Love," learned Monday that the Fallbrook-area B&B had been evacuated, along with the town.

The rampant and devastating wild fires that have hit the San Diego area over the past two days have interrupted 24's shooting schedule once again.

So there you go 24 fans (insert Jack Bauer is no match for the fires joke here).

National News Roundup: Newsweek says we shine

Newsweek:

It's a long way from over, and the toll is sure to be brutal, but if there is one image that has emerged aside from the horrific wall of fire across southern California, it is of government functioning briskly and effectively in the face of the nation's worst national disaster since Katrina.

Half a million residents have been evacuated from more than a dozen uncontrolled wildfires, 1,500 houses have been destroyed and tens of thousands more are in danger. The stakes couldn't be higher for the Bush administration, which wasted no time in mobilizing the military and sending top officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and FEMA director Ron Paulison to California. And Bush is scheduled to visit the fire-stricken region on Thursday.

Yep, response to these fires have been effective and quick. The city banded together to provide services, donations and shelter to all those evacuees who need help. Many props go out to those on Craigslist offering shelter for animals and people alike. Thank you Newsweek for the props, props back to you. Props to everyone (including those offering free massages to those at Qualcomm, props for that for sure.)

National News Roundup : Personal Stories from MSNBC

MSNBC has posted personal fire stories and accounts from all over Southern California. They are still adding stories on a consistant basis. Below is a reposted Oceanside account.

'Worst fires I've witnessed in my 30 years'

I work in San Diego and was astonished by the amount of smoke along my coastal ride south on the train to work. Many of my co-workers are not at work as we have at least of half of a dozen in just my department of 30 who have been evacuated from their homes. I left early due to uncertain transportation back to the train and when I arrived at my home in North San Diego County (near Fallbrook) I'm looking at smoke from fires up here as well. These are the worst fires I've witnessed in my 30 years living in California. While many people are affected, our emergency services were as prepared as best they could for this disaster.

--Greg Weir, Oceanside, CA (submitted on Oct. 22, 2007)

National News Roundup: MSNBC is a little doomsday for my taste

The National News Roundup begins. Seems that they are all about the peril amidst the disaster. Those are the favorite words, peril, disaster. Oh, and "what went wrong" or "what could you have done better" or "who's fault is this?!" (Granted, they usually end by saying something like "it's nobody's fault, blame the wind. Oooooo Global Warming!).

First up, last nights MSNBC headline article! There's no end in sight! Worst disaster ever! WE-CAN'T-STOP-IT! (Uh, sheesh, what a way to tuck me in to bed.)

Unless the shrieking Santa Ana winds subside, and that’s not expected for at least another day, fire crews say they can do little more than try to wait it out and react — tamping out spot fires and chasing ribbons of airborne embers to keep new fires from flaring.

"This is just a terrible disaster; it's going to be one of the worst ever," he said, adding the total destruction would easily be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.


Santa Ana winds surpassed 100mph so usual tactics of "choking" the fire by surrounding on both sides wasn't working. They expect it to reach the coast before the end.

It's still fire, fire, fire but hope is in the air!

Federal disaster declaration has been signed by President Bush. Money will be available for those that are not insured and those under insured. Plus there will be money for temporary rentals. Lower winds and more humidity are expected to help fire fighters today. I-5 has been reopened in area of Camp Pendelton. Still one lane of traffic in some areas.

And from the Union Tribune:

At least a half-million people have been forced from their homes. That's roughly one in every six county residents scattered in shelters, hotels and spare rooms of friends and relatives.
Nearly 1,300 houses and other structures have been razed as flames have charred about 300,000 acres since Sunday. The property tally is expected to climb.

The tone of both the national news media and local media seems to have changed, there may be an end in sight. And the weather seems to be in a much better mood lately, keep your fingers crossed.

President Bush is expected in the area tomorrow.

The Coop is still in San Diego in his tight tshirt reporting from Qualcomm, looking clean and happy.

The Coop is reporting that winds are dying down to 20 MPH (vs. 100mph winds of before). They are expecting the firefighters to get ahead and on top of the fires tomorrow. We're reaching the turning point.

From the ashes, a miracle. The Coop comes to San Diego!

The Coop is in San Diego! Standing in front of an oogling crowd of Qualcomm goers is one Anderson Cooper, reporting from the San Diego front lines.

Oh Coop, if only you could have come to visit for different reasons (we're a lovely city you understand), but I understand you're exploring your "Planet in Peril."

And finally! Abbie on...repairing a friendship.

*Editors Note* It has already been an unusual week both for San Diego and for My San Diego. Needless to say with all the fires and news coverage and evacuations, it might feel a little like the worlds gone HECTIC and there's not a lot of time to sit down and read. OR, the worlds gone hectic and that leaves nothing but time to read, think, talk and wait. On that note we've decided to continue with our weekly features and that includes our once postponed new feature "Abbie on...". And while Abbie is our resident relationship expert, she starts out her article with a bit of a surprise. Because while "love is everything" to her and "break ups are the worst" she's not just talking about the guy, she's also talking about her friends. I'm not going to bring up the current Lauren/Heidi debacle (okay I just did) but just to let you all know, Abbie's been through it, healed from it, and now she's here to share it with you. Take a break from the fire coverage.*

Abbie on... repairing a friendship.

I thought I’d start off by saying that I spend quite a bit of time thinking about love and relationships. I’d like to call myself an expert but that’s probably impossible. The truth is love is everything to me. It is woven into all aspects of my life: my family, my friends, my teaching, my writing, my apartment and my passions for words and expression. I consider myself lucky because I have love in my life and an abundance of love to give.

Is it not the reason we are all here? Without it, what a lonely existence we would all lead.

This all being said, break-ups are the worst.

I was watching this past weeks episode of Grey’s Anatomy and Meredith said something like this in one of her voice overs during the show:

“There’s one thing in life that is for sure besides death and taxes. Hurt. You’re going to get hurt or hurt someone else at some point in your life.”

Now this, I am an expert on.

Yuck.

But I’m not going to tell you some gut wrenching story about an ex-boyfriend who broke my heart. Instead, I will tell you this:

An amazing thing took place not long ago. I repaired a friendship that had been tattered for over a year.

Break-ups are never pleasant but when one of your closest, best, special girl-friends break-up with you it hurts just as much.

Sharlene was one of my closest San Diego girl-friends. We worked together and played together. One day I came home to find that she had broken-up with me via email. She explained her reasons, she asked me not to contact her and told me she wasn’t sure she would ever be ready to talk to me about it.

I had mixed emotions at first. I wrote her a reply that I never sent. I was sad. This hadn’t really ever happened to me before.

She deserved an apology from me but I didn’t call for a long time. When I was finally ready, I left her a voicemail that she didn’t return.

Six months ago, I went into her work (she works at a restaurant) and apologized to her. She heard me out and even though I asked her to call, she never did.

Then I found out she was moving to Chicago. I wondered if we’d ever get the chance to repair the damage. I needed to try to make it right.

See, I was over every ex-boyfriend, but I wasn’t over the loss of Sharlene.

We used to have fun together. I could tell her anything. We would laugh and talk or hours. She was there for me when I was going through a rough time. We gave each other advice about our careers. We shopped in each others closets. We went out downtown, we went out for breakfast, we shared almost everything. (Including the time that she ate all of our rolled tacos before I had a bite and then passed out on my futon).

Soon after finding out that she was moving, I went into her work with my family. I decided to approach again. This time, she was receptive and open. We talked for a little while and she agreed to have dinner or a drink with me before she moved. We only had a week.

It was awesome to sit and talk to her about her life. My life. Catch up on what we missed in 14 months time. We learned that we both had grown so much. I was finally able to explain my side of everything, say my apologies but she had already forgiven me.

Then fate stepped in.

The day before she left for Chicago, I went out to dinner with my boyfriend and a few of his friends—to a place we had never been before. She was there with her entire going-away party clan. We were both genuinely happy to run into each other.

It was a make-up that I never expected and I am blessed to have her back in my life. We text and call just like old times. She is happy in Chicago (I wish she were here in San Diego for selfish reasons) and I am happy for her.

She even told me that she loves me again.

Nothing better than that.

For me.

Oh yeah AND Jennifer Lopez isn't coming.

*Start the tears she's not coming.*

A concert featuring actress and recording artist Jennifer Lopez at Cox Arena tomorrow night has been canceled.The decision was made today and released this afternoon by Lopez's New York recording company and Los Angeles publicist.The concert has been rescheduled for Nov. 10.

At least she's rescheduling (United, get it together!) so there's something. By then her twins will be super big and you can watch her shake three booties on stage (she's pregnant people, it was confirmed in US Magazine which makes it true).

More cancelled arts and entertainment activities

From Sign Ons Street Blog: Newly posted information on cancelled arts and entertainment activities for San Diego.

Live Footage of the Fire.

For footage of the fires in San Diego: http://www.10news.com/video/14036255/index.html

Since they began Sunday, the fires have burned at least 373,000 acres, or 583 square miles -- an area the size of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Affected areas stretched from north of Santa Barbara more than 200 miles south into Mexico. Flames climbed halfway toward the Nevada line, chewing through chunks of seven counties and devastating numerous communities.
At least 346,000 homes in San Diego County alone -- roughly one in three, according to census data -- were ordered to evacuate, sheriff's officials said. State officials were still struggling to estimate how many people had fled.

President George Bush is expected in the Southern California area on Thursday. Stay tuned.

Fat Girl, Skinny City: An Old Love Checks In

Fat Girl, Skinny City: An Old Love Checks In


Yes, San Diego is on fire (I'm sure you've heard). And that seems to mean that my ex-boyfriend/love of my, well a big love can call me on the phone and leave me a message "just to check in and make sure you're alright."

I'm fine. The sky is red and it's raining ash and I've been through it before (the Cedar Fire) and while it's sad to hear about those people who are losing their houses, I've checked in with everyone I know and we're gathering at my place tonight for a round up.

So I'm fine. How are you guy I haven't talked to in a long time? How are you guy who told me he wasn't ready for commitment but is now engaged to some cute little girl from his hometown? How's all that going?

I know, it means something that people call you when they see the news and everywhere you look there's another piece of news "Southern California is BURNING!" "State of Emergency!" "Watch out, here comes another round of evacuations!"

Yes, I called back. It didn't take me all THAT long to decide to to it. First I wrote an email to my best friend and asked her if I'm being over dramatic.

"Yes," she said.

"So I should call him back."

"You could, you couldn't. Just do what you want."

First I had to think about our past relationship. He was, newly broken up with his long term high school sweetheart and I was the girl who talked him through it. We were both, actually, going through break ups (the definition of rebound) and found solace in our mutual "I could care less about a relationship" mentality. But then, well, slowly, we fell in love. And then we went on vacation together and while on vacation he told me about this other girl he was thinking about dating.

My normal script in my head would have went something like "well, it's because I'm too fat." But this time I just felt betrayed. There (could have been) something real between us, right? I couldn't ask him though, as per our previous agreement I needed to keep my mouth mostly shut.

"I do love you though" he said. "I'm just not ready, for all that."

Or something. I don't know, I can put him in the back of my head most days and yes it's been a while and I have since moved on but I sometimes wonder, what would it have taken to sweep him off his feet? Love wasn't enough, maybe, imminent fire danger?

After a little while I just picked up the phone and called.

Voice mail. "I'm fine. Fire is not coming toward my area. Sky is crazy looking, almost doomsday like. Thanks for the call."

When I hung up I stared at the orange in the sky, despite the weather, things are okay and we will get through. My city is burning, my heart, healed.