Getting back to normal

Things are getting back to normal around here now. Seems like most of the smoke is gone and coming back to work has put me back in the swing of things. We had friends over for dinner last night watched the world series and just hung out. From all of the moving around last week it was nice just to sit there. I am looking forward to watching the game tonight and hanging out with to of my better friends, Jeff and Tony.

Taunya made some outstanding chicken last night with some mashed sweet potatoes and it was very very good. She worked a majority of the afternoon getting things ready and it really came out well. What can I say, the girl has skills in the kitchen.

On another note, Apple released their new OS Leopard. I am pretty excited about it. Seems like a lot of new stuff. I am actually heading the MAC store today to have my ipod shuffle looked at. Its a replacement from one that I brought in earlier and it seems to be corrupting itself whenever I restart. Weird.

One of the funniest things I have seen in awhile...LOL

Here are some more pictures. The winds have shifted and are now going from West to East. Not good.

These are from the one big fire close to us. They called it the "Witch" fire because it originated on a street called Witch something. Things are calming down, but we are NOT 100% certain the worst is over. I do know that the winds have died down and that the humidity is back in the teens. Areas of the county are still be evacuated and getting reverse 911 calls. We got one yesterday, but we were already gone. These are when 911 calls you and tells you to leave. I just heard on the news that the winds are now pushing the fires back east now as the Santa Ana winds have started to subside

San Diego Fire - Time Lapse Video, this is good. Shows the smoke we have seen

Rancho Bernardo evacuations-Last night, 7 miles up the freeway from us

San Diego Fire Helicopter In Action

This has been going on all day.

Were back home, but not out of the woods yet.

Hello everyone,

We were allowed back into Scripps Ranch about and hour ago. We are at home now but not unpacking just yet. The winds are still strong and can hear the helicopters going over to lake miramar in order to get water. They are using the lake for water drops in the burning areas. It is still very quiet and erie, but we are home.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Here are some pictures from the surrounding areas about 5 miles from our house. Here is a blog that is updating the fire areas.

http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/

Updated map of the fire area.

Satellite image showing hotspots using thermal imaging

Satellite image from NASA..we are the second set of dots from the bottom. Notice the line dividing Mexico and the US

We're safe...we are here at my mothers house

We are here. We are at my moms waiting for the word on when we can go back home. The place is getting packed and we have 5 people here plus a family of 7 on their way over. It's been a hectic day running around and packing can make for a tough day. On top of that wondering whether or not you will have a house makes it worse.

Del Mar was just officially evacuated. Amazing.

I have went outside and it appears that the winds have died down. This is good, but I am hoping that they will stay that way. All of the neighborhoods are erie. The neighborhoods are quiet and like ghost towns. Amazing.

I am signing off and will keep you posted. My brother is here and my sister is at the W hotel downtown. Chris and Katie are here as well.

Be well.

Mandatory Evacuation for Scripps Ranch....

Will post again once I get my mothers house.

Local Fire News...

More Local news. The Harris fire is close to me.

Here are the new evacuation maps. The SDFD says its heading toward the coast

Its happening again...just like in 2003

We spent the night packing and getting ready for the fires. I just called my sister and told her that they have been asked to evacuate. This place is literally a war zone. The trees were blowing all night really, really hard. A lot of trees are down in surrounding areas and the highways are packed. Nobody really knows where to go it seems and the smoke is making it hard to breath and see at times. Ashes are everywhere. I have friend that lives in Rancho Bernardo that has been ordered to evacuate.

This is much different from 2003 because I do not remember the winds being this strong. The other issue is that they do not seem them stopping for another 3 days. Helicopters and airplanes cannot make drops because the winds are too strong for them to fly. Due to the fact that the environment is so dry and the heavy winds, the water and fire retardant is breaking up before it gets close to the ground. Amazing how powerful mother nature is. 250,000 people have been evacuated in all of the county. This is a major emergency according to the County Supervisor of San Diego.

I am listening to a press conference with the major right now and will highlight what he is saying. The witch fire is the one that is closest to me and the fire is traveling in a northeast direction. Good for us, but bad for others. We might be safe. The white house is offering assistance and the Governor is on his way down here to inspect and check it out. The fire is ZERO percent containted. Here are some pictures from around the county.

Here is the latest coverage map.

BILLABONG BIG WAVES TEAHUPOO TAHITI

Insane. Makes me want to run out, grab my board and hit the beach.

Microsoft Sucks

I am using a Mackbook Pro at work and the thing is awesome. Of course I have to use microsoft in order to communicate with the rest of the folks here for meetings, email, etc. The only problem is the email application for Mac called "entourage" sucks. I get the pinwheel of death everytime I try to do something. Geez! I mean everytime. I think they do this purposely in order to make you buy a PC. If so, its working cause it is extremely irritatiing. I mean extremely.....ok, I am going to go back to work now. Thanks for listening.

The good with the bad.

Well what can I say? The good comes with the bad. On monday night while my garage was open, someone came into my garage and stole my Trek and my Golf Clubs. Total bummer. I guess it was not as bad as it could of been, because they took the cheapest bike of the three. Idiots. They must of been like "this is the one that Lance rides". hahaha, morons. Anyway I meeting with the police today to fill out a report.

Word to the wise. Keep the garages closed and remember that theifs are always on the lookout. If you see a blue Trek crusing around the neighborhood, give me a call.