alfreda89: 3 foot concrete Medieval style gargoyle with author's hand resting on its head. (Feels like Autumn; USA color (WA))
Some days I hate squirrels. One dug into my baby spider plants to sit in the moist soil, and killed one of the plants.

Stupid squirrel.

I now have a recipe for squirrel. Seminole Stew.

Just sayin'.
***
I have been spattered several times today by raindrops, but nothing exciting happened. As far as I'm concerned, it hasn't rained until my car has all the dust and bird poop washed off it. Ah, the joys of apartment living. Lots of dark clouds moving past to the Northeast in a hurry, but no rain.

Here's an autumn icon anyway. I won't see much color here this year, but I know you have some elsewhere!
***
If you are so much as in the same region as any wildfires, you might want to try some of the suggestions my friend Kit has in her professional blog. Let's call it Self-Care During Wildfire Season. She's a fine acupuncturist, with a lot of herbal and nutritional knowledge. Listen to her!
***
The following was a story of 9-11 I never heard, and it was a tale of bravery that should be shared. We are constantly told of the devotion and bravery of suicide bombers willing to give their lives for their cause. Well -- the first response America was able to muster on the morning of 9-11 was two f-16 fighters. They were crewed by a man who was a senior officer and veteran of many flights, and his rookie -- a woman who had never fired a shot in anger.

Their planes had just been used in mock-battle runs, and they had no ammunition at all.

Their mission? To find the missing 757 airliner and bring it down...by ramming it. The extent of their conversation before throwing themselves into the sky was something like: "I'll aim for the cockpit" and "I'll take the tail."

No one had ever thought of having to cripple a 757, to force it to crash. They had no idea if it would work. But they went up prepared to do it, to stop still another skyscraper and its occupants from being destroyed.

As it turned out, they did not have to make a kamikaze flight against Flight 93. Instead, they were backup to the bravery of the people on board. But as always, with our incredible troops -- with our incredible citizens -- they were called, and they did not hesitate.

Worth knowing.
***
The maze is glowing! And of course Allie has gone to investigate.
alfreda89: 3 foot concrete Medieval style gargoyle with author's hand resting on its head. (Warning Sign on a CA entrance to a parki)
This does not show all the fires in Texas (it does not show the one closest to me, which is on city/private land, not state or federal land) but it gives you an idea of what's going on. If you zoom in, you'll see more fires. Click at the tip of the flames for info.

Apparently there's only 100 acres left of Bastrop State Park that have not been touched by fire, although they've so far managed to save most of the CCC structures. That's over 6,000 acres lost.

http://ticc.tamu.edu/Response/FireActivity/default.aspx

Wildfire!

Sep. 7th, 2011 10:35 am
alfreda89: 3 foot concrete Medieval style gargoyle with author's hand resting on its head. (USS Enterprise Lightning)
How fast can it move?

This fast.

When someone bangs on your door and tell you that you have FIVE minutes to get out, remember this video from Texas Parks and Wildlife!



Bastrop State Park -- what's left of it today. This fire is finally up to 45% under control.
alfreda89: 3 foot concrete Medieval style gargoyle with author's hand resting on its head. (A light in dark places)
Well, we're up to 14,000 acres burning in the Bastrop area. It's nowhere near contained, and every firefighter in central Texas is on one of these fires. I'm back from my appointment, and am alternating cooking dinner with setting out emergency stuff to pack.

You know how during blizzards they run closings and shelter info along the bottom of the television? Right now they're running shelter locations along the bottom, and phone numbers -- broken out by county -- to call for situation information.

If you are in the area, please do not think that you are safe from this. Austin is down to 30% firefighters in town, and they're rotating, so these guys are tired.

If you don't know what to put in your bag (or "kit") -- go to this website. It has a list.

http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit/index.html

At minimum, you should have:

1. all medications that your family members require.
2. Get your important papers (social security cards, passports,
identification cards, credit cards) together and have them ready to go.
3.A copy of your insurance papers for your house or car. If your insurance
has lapsed - CALL AND MAKE ARRANGEMENTS to reinstate them now.
4. Changes of clothes for your family.
5. A first aid kit.
6. Cell phone charger.
7. Bottled water.
8. High-protein snacks that are pre-packaged.
9. For kids - bottles, formula, diapers, packaged foods.
10. Flashlights & extra batteries (NOTE - don't put batteries in the
flashlights until you're ready to use them -- drains the batteries)
11. Copies of financial papers so that you know where your accounts are and
you can reach the financial institution after evacuation.
12. Puzzle books, etc. for passing the time while waiting to find out what
happens next.
13. Crank operated radio (in case there's no electricity -- much better than
battery operated)

I just tossed the old batteries on my storm radio last week (battery recycling!) so I can see getting a crank radio is a good idea. At least my phone is charged.

Get the carrier for your pet and set it with everything else. Remember pet meds!

Back to work.

If we're lucky, this coming weekend we can unpack these bags and be grateful.

Ok here....

Sep. 5th, 2011 11:25 am
alfreda89: 3 foot concrete Medieval style gargoyle with author's hand resting on its head. (Default)
Just wanted to let people know that for now I'm fine. The closest fire is seven miles away, but the winds are from the north, and it's moving away from me. I am packing for evac but do not expect to be asked to leave.

The problem is, I have an appointment at 1:45.

What am I worried about?

My 16 year old cat.

I know. With people and property in danger, it's crazy but true. I am most worried about the cat. I'll take the flash drive with me.

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