Author: wwducat

About: Writer, Technology guy, Photographer, Possibly EX-Software QA Engineer, Worker Bee. Interests: SCUBA, Working out, Friends, New Views, New Vistas, Photography
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I made it through another anniversary

Two years ago last night, Jerry died. So did a big piece of my heart. Oh, he was a pain in my ass, I suppose I was a pain in his as well. I guess that’s part of relationships. We loved each other and I miss him.

I was a little emotional through the day. I walked the dog, finished de-christmassing the house, made dinner, poured myself a drink and listened to music. I went to bed about the normal time and slept soundly. I do remember some fragments of dreams but nothing coherent.

I didn’t drink to excess. I woke up more or less in a decent mood. 

I haven’t gotten anything much done today. I played on X too damn much. I’m willing to forgive myself for that.

I need to settle down, and to apply for a bunch of jobs. I doubt that I’ll get much if any response. But I feel like I have to try.

As I said, the Christmas tree and associated decorations are all put away. I was able to dispose of a box through consolidation. Going through the decorations was bittersweet.

I have sweet memories of the Christmases Jerry & I spent together.

Each ornament is special and since many of them were saved from the house fire in 2008 there is a greater significance to each.

The house is clean, (except the office,) the amount of stuff remaining to be tossed feels never-ending but I know I’m making progress.

The living, dining, kitchen, and master bedroom are less cluttered. They could all use more de-cluttering but these areas are lighter and more airy. I like it this way.

There is still much to do, and much to get rid of, but where I’m at and the direction I’m moving feels right and good.

The point is, this year while a bit rocky was better than last year. I’m better now and while I still miss him, it’s not the kind of pain it was. I’m stronger and somewhat optimistic.

Perhaps I’m trending toward happy?

 

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They shoot looters don’t they?

Los angeles fire.LA officials seem shocked and dismayed that looting is happening in evacuation zones.

Really? These folks allowed essentially lawlessness for the past, what… 6-8 years, now they’re shocked that it’s become “Normal”?

Listening to the LA Officials, I’m angry that they’re not addressing making policy & procedural changes to make sure something like this never happens again.

Chief Luna is the only one who seems to be making sense. He’s arresting looters.

Personally, I think looters should just be shot. Save everyone the time and trouble of trials and all that crap. Plus it provides a great object lesson about leaving other people’s shit alone.

On the news this morning KTLA interviewed a  lady who said she witnessed amidst her evacuating her family, folks were driving up in cars, then running up to neighbors doors. She thought they were helping people evacuate. Turns out it was looters taking advantage of the chaos to steal shit.

Animals!

There’s not enough punishment for that kind of behavior. 

I suppose the looters could be staked out on the lawns of the homes they were looting. You know, let the fire gods decide their guilt or innocence.

That’s why there are some people who will not evacuate their homes when asked to do so. They’re afraid that they’ll come home to the place being ransacked and robbed with zero leads or hope of getting their stuff back.

That puts firefighters and police in danger protecting people who remain in harms way.

I guess that’s why I’m kind of a zero tolerance policy guy on the matter of looting.

Even here, when the whole town was evacuated, there were looters who got arrested. This town is maybe 4000 people. Most of whom are middle class, (or were before Biden took office,) we don’t have tons of nice stuff. Yet we had looters trying to steal what we did have.

I suppose I get really angry about looting because it’s like the looters are kicking people when they’re down. It’s not fair, and cruel when you think about it.

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Fire & Ice

I woke up to 6” of unexpected snow yesterday morning. I’d been worrying about the wind and red flag fire warnings.

My day was consumed with snow removal and I’ve been taking down Christmas decorations. 

I’m taking this opportunity to repack and consolidate the decorations into fewer boxes and a bit better organization. I’m aiming for certain types of decorations and supplies being in clearly marked boxes. You know, Hallmark battery powered ornaments in one box. Keepsake ornaments in another box. Replacement lights, power cords, and those kinds of accessories in another box. Organization makes decoration a lot easier and pleasurable.

By the end of day yesterday, the Palisades fire erupted. Followed by additional wildfires across LA County.

Santa Ana winds are whipping through the canyons with hurricane gusts. That means that embers are flying and the potential for spot fires is very high.

For the time being, the winds are blowing mostly offshore, which means that the wind is blowing the fires away from me and the abundant fuel in the foothills and forests.

Where I am, the winds are very calm just breezes really.

On the other side of the mountain that is not the case. I’m watching the fires in Altadena and Sylmar very carefully. If the wind were to shift, and that fire started burning to the North, What happened with the Bridge fire could happen again only worse this time.

The Altadena fire is burning near where the Bridge fire began in Sept. For a time in Sept, I thought our whole little town was going to be wiped out.

The Calfire people were amazing and the town was saved with only a few buildings lost.

Santa Ana winds are whipping through the canyons with hurricane gusts. That means that embers are flying and the potential for spot fires is very high.

Aircraft are grounded due to the winds.

I’m betting that the property losses are going to be astronomical.

I feel so sorry for people who’ve lost their homes. I know what that feels like.