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Tuesday, October 28, 2003
Halloween Pictures
The Halloween party was so much fun. Here are some picutres:
On Saturday night we called him Boyd. He was so convincing with his "accent" and big belly that some of his good friends didn't even know it was him.
The Halloween party was so much fun. Here are some picutres:
On Saturday night we called him Boyd. He was so convincing with his "accent" and big belly that some of his good friends didn't even know it was him.
Red Moon
The moon is red tonight. Could this be from the fires? Bryon says the sky in Australia is partially cloudy from all the smoke. I'm sure it's nothing like what it is in San Diego. My mom says it is so hard to breathe down there. People are wearing masks. I can't imagine what some people are going through right now. My mom is feeling so many mixed feelings. Of course she is relieved that her house is still standing, but it is hard to be happy and overjoyed when so many people around you have lost their homes. My mom went back to the house tonight. She walked up the street and around the corner where almost the entire street was wiped out. She said so many people were out walking around. Families were sitting on the curb in front of where their house used to be. She stopped and talked to some people and gave them her love and tried to pass on some strength. There are photos where a whole street will be wiped out with the exception of one house. I can't imagine what the people in the one house must be feeling. It would be so hard to continue living there with all your neighbors gone. I'm sure the re-building will start soon. But, how long will these people be living without homes? Where will they live? Where would my mom have gone? My mom said tonight the count of houses in Scripps Ranch that burned down is around 330. That is amazing.
Aunt J came across some
photos someone took of the fires in the Ranch. I wish I could do something for all the people that have lost their homes. They will be in my thoughts along with all the fire fighters.
The moon is red tonight. Could this be from the fires? Bryon says the sky in Australia is partially cloudy from all the smoke. I'm sure it's nothing like what it is in San Diego. My mom says it is so hard to breathe down there. People are wearing masks. I can't imagine what some people are going through right now. My mom is feeling so many mixed feelings. Of course she is relieved that her house is still standing, but it is hard to be happy and overjoyed when so many people around you have lost their homes. My mom went back to the house tonight. She walked up the street and around the corner where almost the entire street was wiped out. She said so many people were out walking around. Families were sitting on the curb in front of where their house used to be. She stopped and talked to some people and gave them her love and tried to pass on some strength. There are photos where a whole street will be wiped out with the exception of one house. I can't imagine what the people in the one house must be feeling. It would be so hard to continue living there with all your neighbors gone. I'm sure the re-building will start soon. But, how long will these people be living without homes? Where will they live? Where would my mom have gone? My mom said tonight the count of houses in Scripps Ranch that burned down is around 330. That is amazing.
Aunt J came across some
photos someone took of the fires in the Ranch. I wish I could do something for all the people that have lost their homes. They will be in my thoughts along with all the fire fighters.
Sunday, October 26, 2003
Fire Stats
The fire is still burning in San Diego. According to this story, 550 homes have burned down. That is so many homes and families. The picture at the top of the story is of a home in Scripps Ranch. It's really a miracle that my mom's house is still standing. She just got the roof re-done this summer and that's probably what saved the house. San Diego is declared a state of emergency and all schools are closed. Businesses are closed down as well. Krissy is going to ride her bike into the Ranch tomorrow and take some pictures for me. Mom, Nanny and Uncle Byron and Anna are safe in Palm Springs. Rick and Geoff are in hotels. I heard the the Hilton is providing free rooms for people that don't have a place to sleep tonight. Isn't that nice? I'm also thankful for all the fire fighters in the world.
The fire is still burning in San Diego. According to this story, 550 homes have burned down. That is so many homes and families. The picture at the top of the story is of a home in Scripps Ranch. It's really a miracle that my mom's house is still standing. She just got the roof re-done this summer and that's probably what saved the house. San Diego is declared a state of emergency and all schools are closed. Businesses are closed down as well. Krissy is going to ride her bike into the Ranch tomorrow and take some pictures for me. Mom, Nanny and Uncle Byron and Anna are safe in Palm Springs. Rick and Geoff are in hotels. I heard the the Hilton is providing free rooms for people that don't have a place to sleep tonight. Isn't that nice? I'm also thankful for all the fire fighters in the world.
Fires
Oh my gosh. What a day!! Last night was the Halloween party so I stumbled home from Bret's this morning to find three messages on my cell phone. Krissy had called twice and Craig had called. They were calling to tell me about the fires in the Ranch. I grew up in Scripps Ranch, a little town in San Diego near Miramar Air Base. This morning there were fires in Ramona a town north of us and by 11 they had traveled to Scripps Ranch. Krissy's parents could see flames across Pomarado Road as they gathered up all their personal belongings into their car. Unfortunately my mom and Rick were at the cabansion this weekend. Thankfully Wanda, our neighbor was able to get into the house and get a few important things.
Krissy and I talked through the intial shock this morning and she acted as my on site updater throughout the day. It was so much more emotional for her being in San Diego and seeing the skies black with smoke and seeing ashes everywhere; watching the news and seeing the cameramen in a front yard of a person we knew that lived right around the corner from us; seeing on the news the neighborhood we grew up in burn in flames; talking to her parents as they were evacuated. I think it's just because it's been on my mind all day, but several times I thought I smelled fire in the air.
Because I was more removed from the sitation I tried to think of the good things. Like that fact that our families were still living and the fire didn't come in the middle of the night. The fact that people were given enough warning to grab personal things from their houses. I brought up the other natural disasters that are equally devastating but don't give as much warning - floods, earthquakes, tornados and volcanos.
A few mintues ago Krissy called with some good news. Wes Leighton, a neighbor that lives on our street one house away from Krissy's, has been on the street fighting the fires. He was a captain (something high up) so I guess he was able to get a fire truck right in front of his house. He was up on the roof with a hose saving his house and Krissy's parents. It sounds like if he wasn't there they might have lost their home. There were several homes on the street that burned down, but as of right now my mom's and Krissy's are two houses that are still standing. I don't think it's over yet, but it's good news. Poor little La Colina Road and the Ranch.
So many people have lost their homes tonight. It is so sad to think of all the stories. Thankfully not many people have died. There are a lot of lessons to be learned. Here is one that I have learned, "It's the people that matter most, not material possessions. But, if there are certain possessions that mean a lot put them in a safe deposit box."
Oh my gosh. What a day!! Last night was the Halloween party so I stumbled home from Bret's this morning to find three messages on my cell phone. Krissy had called twice and Craig had called. They were calling to tell me about the fires in the Ranch. I grew up in Scripps Ranch, a little town in San Diego near Miramar Air Base. This morning there were fires in Ramona a town north of us and by 11 they had traveled to Scripps Ranch. Krissy's parents could see flames across Pomarado Road as they gathered up all their personal belongings into their car. Unfortunately my mom and Rick were at the cabansion this weekend. Thankfully Wanda, our neighbor was able to get into the house and get a few important things.
Krissy and I talked through the intial shock this morning and she acted as my on site updater throughout the day. It was so much more emotional for her being in San Diego and seeing the skies black with smoke and seeing ashes everywhere; watching the news and seeing the cameramen in a front yard of a person we knew that lived right around the corner from us; seeing on the news the neighborhood we grew up in burn in flames; talking to her parents as they were evacuated. I think it's just because it's been on my mind all day, but several times I thought I smelled fire in the air.
Because I was more removed from the sitation I tried to think of the good things. Like that fact that our families were still living and the fire didn't come in the middle of the night. The fact that people were given enough warning to grab personal things from their houses. I brought up the other natural disasters that are equally devastating but don't give as much warning - floods, earthquakes, tornados and volcanos.
A few mintues ago Krissy called with some good news. Wes Leighton, a neighbor that lives on our street one house away from Krissy's, has been on the street fighting the fires. He was a captain (something high up) so I guess he was able to get a fire truck right in front of his house. He was up on the roof with a hose saving his house and Krissy's parents. It sounds like if he wasn't there they might have lost their home. There were several homes on the street that burned down, but as of right now my mom's and Krissy's are two houses that are still standing. I don't think it's over yet, but it's good news. Poor little La Colina Road and the Ranch.
So many people have lost their homes tonight. It is so sad to think of all the stories. Thankfully not many people have died. There are a lot of lessons to be learned. Here is one that I have learned, "It's the people that matter most, not material possessions. But, if there are certain possessions that mean a lot put them in a safe deposit box."
Saturday, October 25, 2003
Wireless Baby
I am currently writing this entry from my porch with no wires attached. How exciting is that??!!! Thanks to my wonderful boyfriend (I guess this makes up for the Halloween costumes) I am now wireless. Bret went out and bought everything and set it all up. I came home yesterday to find a wireless network and a card installed in my laptop. He set up Marya so she can access the network from next door. Sometimes it really pays to have geek boyfriend (his words not mine).
I am currently writing this entry from my porch with no wires attached. How exciting is that??!!! Thanks to my wonderful boyfriend (I guess this makes up for the Halloween costumes) I am now wireless. Bret went out and bought everything and set it all up. I came home yesterday to find a wireless network and a card installed in my laptop. He set up Marya so she can access the network from next door. Sometimes it really pays to have geek boyfriend (his words not mine).
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Halloween
The big Establishment Halloween party is this weekend. I hate coming up with Halloween costumes. I usually end up just dressing up like a hippie or something. This year I'm thinking about being a biker that got in a bike crash. I just bought a new bike helmet so I'm thinking about mutilating my old helmet and having leaves and brains come out of my helmet and break a big chunk out of it or something. I thought of this idea in spin class this morning. Last night I asked Bret if we could go as something together and he acted like it was the craziest thing he ever heard. He compared it to the couples that wear matching sweat suits. I have to admit that I was a little hurt. I've always wanted to go to a Halloween party with a boyfriend and do something fun together. Marya thought he should go as Grizzley Adams and I could be a bear. I don't know how I would come up with a bear costume. Or I could be bike crash girl and he could be my doctor. Oh well, I'll get over it. We'll see if we even make it to the party.
The big Establishment Halloween party is this weekend. I hate coming up with Halloween costumes. I usually end up just dressing up like a hippie or something. This year I'm thinking about being a biker that got in a bike crash. I just bought a new bike helmet so I'm thinking about mutilating my old helmet and having leaves and brains come out of my helmet and break a big chunk out of it or something. I thought of this idea in spin class this morning. Last night I asked Bret if we could go as something together and he acted like it was the craziest thing he ever heard. He compared it to the couples that wear matching sweat suits. I have to admit that I was a little hurt. I've always wanted to go to a Halloween party with a boyfriend and do something fun together. Marya thought he should go as Grizzley Adams and I could be a bear. I don't know how I would come up with a bear costume. Or I could be bike crash girl and he could be my doctor. Oh well, I'll get over it. We'll see if we even make it to the party.
Babies, Babies, Babies.....
So many people are having babies at work right now. It's so crazy. Carrie is due in 3 weeks. Her last day at work is on Friday. It's so exciting. Ben's wife is getting ready to have his third and Brian's wife is having a second. Amanda is having her second in February and we just found out Monkey's wife is having his first. Bret and I walked up to the front desk yesterday and Carrie, Heather and Marie were all up front. I said, "Did you hear the news?" They all just looked at us for a mintue with funny looks on their faces. I said, "ummmmm... about monkey?, what did you think I was going to say?" They all let out a breath and it turns out they thought we were going to present the same news. Yikes!! Yeah right. They said we couldn't walk up saying something like that. Bret's response to the whole situation was, "We already have a baby.....me." Yeeeees, that is the truth.
Marya and I have been spinning in the mornings. She writes about our morning walks to the gym on her blog. What's so funny is that it is so hard to get out of bed at 6. I lie there wishing I could just stay in bed. If Marya wasn't going with me I probably would stay in bed. But once I get to class it's so great. On the way home I feel so alive and ready for my day. It helps me out in my day so much more than 30 more minutes of sleep. Somehow my body never can remember this in the mornings.
Tonight I made my favorite dinner out of my new low carb cookbook. Shrimp with feta cheese. Marya and Dan came over and we flipped through the TV. We watched Sex and the City, some South Park, some of the movie Earthquake, the end of North by Northwest and a very small part of a plastic surgery show that was highlighting Brazilian Butt Implants. There was a special word for it, butt I can't remember. We had to change the channel when they showed the sucking the fat part. EWWWWW!!! Marya fumbled around for a minute and finally switched it to this show on snakes. EWWW!! I hate snakes so we freaked and fumbled again until we finally found something to watch for several more minutes. Even though we couldn't find anything on for an hour, it was fun to just flip through and laugh and scream at different things.
So many people are having babies at work right now. It's so crazy. Carrie is due in 3 weeks. Her last day at work is on Friday. It's so exciting. Ben's wife is getting ready to have his third and Brian's wife is having a second. Amanda is having her second in February and we just found out Monkey's wife is having his first. Bret and I walked up to the front desk yesterday and Carrie, Heather and Marie were all up front. I said, "Did you hear the news?" They all just looked at us for a mintue with funny looks on their faces. I said, "ummmmm... about monkey?, what did you think I was going to say?" They all let out a breath and it turns out they thought we were going to present the same news. Yikes!! Yeah right. They said we couldn't walk up saying something like that. Bret's response to the whole situation was, "We already have a baby.....me." Yeeeees, that is the truth.
Marya and I have been spinning in the mornings. She writes about our morning walks to the gym on her blog. What's so funny is that it is so hard to get out of bed at 6. I lie there wishing I could just stay in bed. If Marya wasn't going with me I probably would stay in bed. But once I get to class it's so great. On the way home I feel so alive and ready for my day. It helps me out in my day so much more than 30 more minutes of sleep. Somehow my body never can remember this in the mornings.
Tonight I made my favorite dinner out of my new low carb cookbook. Shrimp with feta cheese. Marya and Dan came over and we flipped through the TV. We watched Sex and the City, some South Park, some of the movie Earthquake, the end of North by Northwest and a very small part of a plastic surgery show that was highlighting Brazilian Butt Implants. There was a special word for it, butt I can't remember. We had to change the channel when they showed the sucking the fat part. EWWWWW!!! Marya fumbled around for a minute and finally switched it to this show on snakes. EWWW!! I hate snakes so we freaked and fumbled again until we finally found something to watch for several more minutes. Even though we couldn't find anything on for an hour, it was fun to just flip through and laugh and scream at different things.
Sunday, October 19, 2003
Honesty
I feel like Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City when I ask the question, "When is Honesty the Best Policy"? I find myself struggling with this question lately. I used to answer this question with an enthusiastic YES!!!. Now I'm not so sure. I can't even be honest with you about the examples I've had lately. I went through a week of inner turmoil last week asking myself this question and others trying to figure out the correct answers. I know I'm being vague but most of you know what I'm talking about anyway. I've learned a lot of things this past week. I guess you could say that it's made me stronger, but I think I'm still in the thick of it so I'm not able to see that yet. I don't even know what I would do if I had to do it all over again. I started out questioning honesty last week and ended up voting against it. Looking back I feel I should have gone with honesty right from the very beginnning, but I'm really not sure. However, another situation that presented itself today left me with feeling I shouldn't have been honest because I don't feel like it got me or the other party anywhere but worse than where we started. One big learning lesson I've found is that there is never any "RIGHT" thing to do in any situation. This is what I struggled with last week. I just wanted to know the right answer. I wanted to know what the right action was. It was one of those situations where there wasn't really a right answer and it was just a bad situation. I talked to several people to get their opinion, but it didn't match what my heart was saying. However, I felt I couldn't trust my heart so I continued to ask oustide advice. What's funny is now that the big struggle from last week is over, the upcoming weeks present an entirely different struggle. The struggle is getting through work without the one thing that keeps me going. It could be compared to a cup of coffee. Warm and nurturing. the thing you look forward to getting right when you get in in the morning, the help you need to get you through the day. There comes a time when you have to give the coffee up though. It'll be hard at first, but I'll get through it.
I feel like Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City when I ask the question, "When is Honesty the Best Policy"? I find myself struggling with this question lately. I used to answer this question with an enthusiastic YES!!!. Now I'm not so sure. I can't even be honest with you about the examples I've had lately. I went through a week of inner turmoil last week asking myself this question and others trying to figure out the correct answers. I know I'm being vague but most of you know what I'm talking about anyway. I've learned a lot of things this past week. I guess you could say that it's made me stronger, but I think I'm still in the thick of it so I'm not able to see that yet. I don't even know what I would do if I had to do it all over again. I started out questioning honesty last week and ended up voting against it. Looking back I feel I should have gone with honesty right from the very beginnning, but I'm really not sure. However, another situation that presented itself today left me with feeling I shouldn't have been honest because I don't feel like it got me or the other party anywhere but worse than where we started. One big learning lesson I've found is that there is never any "RIGHT" thing to do in any situation. This is what I struggled with last week. I just wanted to know the right answer. I wanted to know what the right action was. It was one of those situations where there wasn't really a right answer and it was just a bad situation. I talked to several people to get their opinion, but it didn't match what my heart was saying. However, I felt I couldn't trust my heart so I continued to ask oustide advice. What's funny is now that the big struggle from last week is over, the upcoming weeks present an entirely different struggle. The struggle is getting through work without the one thing that keeps me going. It could be compared to a cup of coffee. Warm and nurturing. the thing you look forward to getting right when you get in in the morning, the help you need to get you through the day. There comes a time when you have to give the coffee up though. It'll be hard at first, but I'll get through it.
Friday, October 10, 2003
Life
There are some heavy things going on at the moment. There are also some really exciting things. I guess that's life. Up, down, up, up, down, down and on and on we go. Pudah sent me this excerpt from Monty Python's Life of Brian. Thanks Pudah!
Cheer up, Brian. You know what they say.
Some things in life are bad,
They can really make you mad.
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you're chewing on life's grissle,
Don't grumble, give a whistle.
And this'll help things turn out for the best,
And...
Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the light side of life
If life seems jolly rotten,
There's something you've forgotten,
And that's to laugh, and smile, and dance, and sing.
When you're feeling in the dumps,
Don't be silly chumps,
Just purse your lips and whistle, that's the thing.
And...
Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the right side of life
There are some heavy things going on at the moment. There are also some really exciting things. I guess that's life. Up, down, up, up, down, down and on and on we go. Pudah sent me this excerpt from Monty Python's Life of Brian. Thanks Pudah!
Cheer up, Brian. You know what they say.
Some things in life are bad,
They can really make you mad.
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you're chewing on life's grissle,
Don't grumble, give a whistle.
And this'll help things turn out for the best,
And...
Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the light side of life
If life seems jolly rotten,
There's something you've forgotten,
And that's to laugh, and smile, and dance, and sing.
When you're feeling in the dumps,
Don't be silly chumps,
Just purse your lips and whistle, that's the thing.
And...
Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the right side of life
