Day: September 8, 2011

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OOoops I shouldn’t have plugged in that curling Iron

San Diego is without power. As is a large portion of Southern Orange County and Arizona.

I had no idea there was anything going on until I got home.

It’s been very strange seeing aerial images of southern orange county tonight, where the 5 South looks like a white snake undulating in a field of black.

Normally there is so much light you have a tough time picking out the freeway.

I was thinking that tonight there would be kids that can see the milky way for the very first time. I hope parents think about it.

Laying on the lawn looking up at the stars… I have very fond memories of TN and KY summer nights. I think I was in TN the first time I saw with my own eyes our galaxy. My Dad lived far enough out that light pollution wasn’t an issue. It was magical and mind boggling beauty.

I have to say I’m astonished at how freaked out people in Southern California are at the power outage. Wow! take away their electricity and these folks loose their damn minds. There are reports of generators being sold out at home depot. Excuse me??? You’re kidding right? Power goes out for several hours and you run out to spend 600-900 dollars for a machine that you’re likely to need ONCE in 6 – 10 years, Really?

Of course I’m thinking that in a few weeks I can pick up a sweet unit cheap! We’re without power at least once or twice a winter… It would be nice to be able to power up the heating system instead of relying on the fireplace.

These people are really over-reacting and it’s probably a view into what’s going to happen in the event of a major disaster or if the infrastructure gets compromised. Another few hours and folks will resort to cannibalism!

Folks, relax, take a deep breath, the magic power will be back soon, and all will be well.

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If it’s not one thing it’s another

This morning bright and early the county of San Bernardino started working on the wash behind my house. They claim it’s  for flood control purposes.

Maybe… Basically they’re making a straight flume that aims all the mud, rocks,and other debris right at a low bridge on one of the main roads into town.

The problem is that they’re running heavy equipment on the nice soft asphalt road that the residents on my street originally paid to have installed. Two years ago the Water Company had to tear up the road to replace the main water pipes. The County wouldn’t replace the road surface, so the Water Company ponied up the cash and they did. I have a lot of respect for my local Water Company guys.

The problem is that the county says on the one hand the road is private, so they won’t do snow removal in the Winter. But they won’t let us gate the road.

In summer, as they please, they drive all manner of heavy machines on the road causing damage that they won’t fix since its not a county maintained road.

So which is it? If it’s a private road, then the residents could put in an electric gate to keep the riff raff out. Since the county won’t let us gate the road claiming they have right of way, then the COUNTY should maintain the road, and provide snow removal.

Even speaking to the supervisor of this job today, once he called it a county road and once he called it a private road. I understand he’s just doing his job and I understand that his department is different from the road and snow removal departments.

I didn’t want to hassle him, and I told him that. I simply explained that the county plays fast and loose with their definitions and that it’s not fair. I asked him if he could simply avoid using my street with the heavy equipment.

The guy was a decent fellow. He explained that he really had no other choices. when his truck can’t back up and turn around after dumping a load of rock for the flood control channel (a.k.a. The wash) he has no other exit but our street.

Ya know, I had to concede that point. I looked around and after a second told this man he was right. He looked a bit shocked but told me that he’d do his level best to make sure the truck was empty and moving slow to minimize the stress on the street.

You know compromise between two honorable men usually works very well. True to his word, he’s minimizing his use of the road and I appreciate his effort.

If the county would accept responsibility for the street the other residents and I wouldn’t have any problem at all.

This honorable man suggested that I bring it up with the County Board of Supervisors to see if they’ll just accept the street and provide us with the services our taxes supposedly pay for.

You know in all it was a productive and reasonable conversation.