Poetry & Prozac

Not sure if the (most recent) California wildfires have made national news, though my guess is yes, but I'm fine. Neither of them is near me, though we're concerned for my aunt who was evacuated and spent 5 hours in a Chili's restaurant (I have no idea!)

Just FYI. California geography is silly and news media is often wrong.

I've wanted to update all day and just post numbers and facts and things. But the only people they'd be of interest to are the ones who already know them. The news is the same for every one.

The fire is getting worse.

Or, if not worse, it's moved and done lots of damage on the way. Entire mountain communities are basically gone. Places I've visited and made memories. Places people I love love. And now the fire is starting to encroach on the homes of people I know and care about and love. I wouldn't be surprised if my grandfather has to evacuate. I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't have to. It's just that sort of unknown at this point. Mostly I am thinking about the people I know had to evacuate. People who lost a home in the fire four years ago and rebuilt in a safer different place.

This sucks. So much.

I keep thinking about the enormous numbers of people affected, and how I can't really think about it all in any other way than numbers because it's just too much.

I'm fine. My house is fine. The winds have died down enough that the risk of new fires is pretty minimal so I'm thinking we'll stay fine. People I care about are not fine. (And on a selfish note, I really don't want my grandfather to evacuate because then he'd come HERE and I am not down with that.)

* Fire danger is... not over, but I feel I am not in any danger of being burned to a crisp. So on to hilarity.

* Ahahahahahaha. Matt Caplan, you loser. You know I love you, honey. Even if you're a lame-o.

* Law and Order, Patrick Stump? REALLY?

* If those last two items switched, and Matt were on L&O and Patrick were in RENT? My life would be MADE.

California fires.

I'm an announcement away from evacuating.

I wasn't here when this happened four years ago. (Almost to the day.) The house we lived in until I was nine, and we still owned, burned to the ground then. I'm not going to lie, I'm scared now. There's something about fires on two sides of you and wind everywhere that just. God. Scared.

We'll leave when instructed. I'm not going to be one of those idiots who stays to protect their stuff. It's just stuff. Not that I wouldn't miss it, but I find having to rebuild preferable to death and/or lots and lots of pain.

My dad's supposed to be coming home, which will relieve me a lot. I have NO CLUE what to take. My computer tower. Clothes. I... It's so windy I can't even tell if I'm being paranoid or not.

...Anyway. My phone will be with me. I'll try to keep everyone updated either here because things are fine or by voice post.

ETA 1 (2.51 pm): So I was home alone for a couple of hours their and it was scary. Now that I have a parent who can make decisions, things are looking less terrifying. There are 3 fires in town, a few in near by cities, and the mountains (Lake Arrowhead) are pretty bad. But we're feeling pretty confident about our neighborhood's safety. Now it's time to start helping!

I'll keep editing this post to keep everyone updated.

ETA 2 (6.35 pm): We're pretty sure the danger has passed for us, which is not to say that the worst is over by a long shot. I'm told that at this point it's time to settle in and just get used to worry shifting with the winds, which, regrettably, have not calmed with nightfall.

Only one fire currently burning in town. The mountains are devastated. Last I heard, 128 homes were destroyed. Which is tragic, and the lost of mountain vegetation means we're gonna get some nasty mudslides and flooding this winter.

Yay, California.