Amazon discontinued the ability to create images using their SiteStripe feature and in their infinite wisdom broke all previously created images on 12/31/23. Many blogs used this feature, including this one. Expect my archives to be a hot mess of broken book cover images until I can slowly comb through 20 years of archives to make corrections.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Fire

This blog post is going to be a mess, but I wanted to shoot out an update. As many of you know I live in Southern California. Today, the wild fires showed up knocking on my front door. Literally. I had already canceled on the planned So. Cal. Blogger meet-up and in my fretting state, I had the sense to gather up our personal papers. I did not have time to pack clothes. The Boyfriend and I evacuated our apartment around noon today with our personal papers, the clothes on our back, some T-shirts and undies in a garbage bag, the CPU tower to our desktop and our laptop.

I also saved the two library books I checked out Thursday. That should please my boss, and Kristie J since one of them was Broken Wing by Judith James.

So I ended up at the So. Cal. Blogger meet up after all. My Man and I are currently staying at Rosie's. Bless her soul, I owe her BIG TIME! In the morning we'll reassess. As of this typing? All we know is what we've seen on the news, and it doesn't look good. Longtime blog readers - remember our old apartment that went condo? Yeah, in flames. Another complex a couple miles away? Heavy loses. Given that we're in the same neighborhood. Not good. I'm praying we only get smoke damage, but at this point it's very likely we've lost everything.

Everything.

I'm not a religious person. I believe in a higher power and strive to be a decent human being - and that's always seemed to work for me in the past. Right now, I'm praying to every deity I know of and then some.

My Man has been a rock. From helping the little old lady whose key was stuck in her car lock, to calming down my hysterics, to not cracking under pressure. He's tired now. And worried. Hell, he should be. We might be looking for a new place to live tomorrow.

But the important thing is we're safe. We love each other. The rest of that shit is just stuff. We can always buy more stuff.

52 comments:

Amy said...

I'm so sorry Wendy. I'm praying to my deity for you. :)

Phyllis said...

I am sorry! I'll be thinking of you. And LOL that you rescued your library books. That's why you're the Super Librarian!

Bronwyn Parry said...

Keeping fingers crossed for you, Wendy, and I'll be thinking of you. I'm glad to hear that you're safe - I hope your home will be, too.

Katiebabs a.k.a KB said...

OMG Be safe!!

Mayberry Mom said...

I'm so sorry to hear this! I hope you recover more than you anticipate. I'm glad Your Man is being a rock and I hope he gets some rest.

BTW, I'm the hysterical one around here and MY man is the rock so I know how precious that is!!

Bridget Locke said...

*hugs* I've been watching it all on the news and crossing my fingers for my California buddies. Here's hoping everything is still standing when you get back.

And if you need books...I have a ton that I'd be happy to donate to replenish your library...if it comes to that. :D

Phyl said...

I'm so very sorry, too. I'll add my prayers to the others. I'm glad you two are safe and even had time to rescue a few of your things.

Bev(QB) said...

I'm sending positive thoughts your way and I'm glad you at least had time to grab a few things.

"But the important thing is we're safe. We love each other. The rest of that shit is just stuff. We can always buy more stuff."

Although I know at times it will be difficult, those thoughts are what will get you through all this.

Jace said...

Thinking of you and keeping my fingers crossed that things will be ok soon. Be safe, be strong.

Lynn/Elsandra said...

I'm keeping my fingers crossed and sending positive thoughts your way. I, too, have lots of books to help restock if you need it.

~ames~ said...

I'm sorry Wendy. But I'm very thankful that you're safe.

Rosie said...

Hey she's staying at MY house and I'm here to tell you her Man is awesome and she made it out with her cape.

Ana T. said...

I'm so sorry to hear this Wendy! I'll keep you in my thoughts and hope the worst doesn't happen.

Lori said...

Agree with Rosie about The Man. I got to meet him!!!

He even sat there while we all talked about books and didn't bat an eye.

I haven't heard anything about your complex (and by that I mean your apartment, teehee), and I've been listening on the news ever since I left.

Fingers and toes crossed, prayers said, and waiting has begun.

Rowena said...

Awww Wendy, I'm so sorry to hear about all of that. I've been watching the news at the hospital and your city was all over the news and I worried that your complex was hit, you have my thoughts and my prayers sweetie.

(((((Hugs)))))

I'm so bummed that I missed all of the book talk though.

Mel Francis said...

Hang in there Wendy. Stay safe! I'll keep you in my thoughts.

Portia Da Costa said...

Oh Wendy, am just waking up over here to your news!

I'm not a particularly religious person either, but I'm giving thanks that you and your fella are safe, and hoping, hoping, hoping that your home escaped the flames and you got away with just smoke damage.

Needless to say, if you have lost all your books, replacement copies of all my stuff will be winging their way to you when you're settled again.

My thoughts are with you, mate.

Rosario said...

Oh, no, Wendy, so sorry to hear this! Hugs, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed and hoping the news are good!

Marg said...

Oh my god, Wendy. I am so sorry that you may have lost everything - except for the important things that is. I have everything crossed that maybe you will be able to salvage at least some of your stuff.

Thinking of you and The Man at this time.

Liza said...

I'll keep y'all in my prayers, Wendy. We had a house fire when I was 12, so I know how much damage can occur. Glad y'all are safe for now and I'll be hoping and praying for the best.

Kati said...

I'm praying for you, Wendy! Hoping for the winds to die down and for your place to be safe. I'm glad Rosie had a spot for you and that you have your Man to help keep you sane.

Be safe! {{{HUGS}}}

Amy said...

Yeah, stuff can be replaced, but The Man and Super Librarian cannot. Thank you for thinking to check in with everything that's going on. I'm seriously praying that you guys have minimal damage, if any, but am truly thankful that you're safe!

And Rosie rocks, right?

nath said...

OMG no!!! I'm sorry to hear about it, Wendy... and I'll keep you in my thoughts. I really hope that everything will be okay.

iasa said...

Like everyone else reading this, I am so sorry, but I am glad you are safe and that you and your man have each other and such fabulous friends to help you through this.

azteclady said...

Holy cow, Wendy, I didn't realize *hug* I'm praying for you and hoping...

Lil Sis said...

All I have to say is, "And my husband wants to move there?!?!?!" :) Glad you are safe and I find it hilarious that you saved the library books! :) Also very thankful Rosie is offering you a place to stay and that Dan has kept you calm. You know I love you and that all the stuff is just "stuff." The important thing is that you and Dan are safe. :)

Kristie (J) said...

Oh God Wendy!!! I'm praying that it isn't as bad as you fear. I can't even begin to imagine your feelings right now. You and your man are in my thoughts!!

Nikki said...

Stay strong. I will also help replenish your library. Hopefully it won't be necessary.

Alison Kent said...

Oh, Wendy. I hope it's not as you fear, but big hugs if it is. Keep us posted as you can!

shayera said...

Wendy, Stay safe. I'll be back in LA tomorrow, if you guys need anything, please let me know.

Kay Webb Harrison said...

Dear Wendy,
May God bless you all and keep you in his care.
Stuff matters, but people matter most. I have been decluttering and have tons to go. I would be happy to send you books, but God grant that you will not need them.
Rosie rocks.

Kay

Sherry Thomas said...

Oh, Lord. I came here specifically to see if you are okay. I thought you would be, since SoCal is huge and spread out.

I'm so sorry. Hope everything will turn out for the best.

Know that lots of people are thinking of you and pulling for you.

JamiSings said...

Here's to praying that you just end up with smoke (and maybe water) damage in your place. The sky is nasty here in Costa Mesa. I can only imagine what it looks like for those of you closer to it.

It's times like this I pray for heavy rainfall.

Janicu said...

Sorry to hear this. I'll be thinking of you and hoping things turn out alright in the end.

dancechica said...

((((HUGS))))

HelenKay said...

Thinking about you and hoping for good news. Stay safe.

joykenn said...

Glad to hear your librarian soul caused you to remember to save the library books! Seriously I'm so sorry to hear you guys had to flee. I used to live in hurricane area and know how bad that can be and the stuff you grab and the important stuff you forget. Keep strong. To this day every time I leave on a trip I breathe a sigh of relief when I return home and see my house is OK. Its hard to think about possibly losing that favorite shirt, pictures, and all those "keepers" you've collected over the years but you and your Man are safe so that's the important thing! Wished superlibrarian powers extended to fires, too. Lot of love

michellewillingham said...

Oh goodness! How terrifying! I do hope everything is just fine when you get back. Hugs!

Lisa said...

I have been thinking about you! I am praying as well that your home was spared or that at least your posessions are ok!

Sarah said...

Sending prayers and positive thoughts for your safe return or at least safety all around!!!

Brie said...

You said it best, at least you two are safe and together. I'm thinking of you in this trying time and sending positive thoughts your way.

Megan Frampton said...

I am hoping you guys are doing okay. I am so glad you got out safe, and I hope some of your stuff is retrievable. Yay for your Man, too, he sounds like a rock.

Kristie said...

I am so sorry for you and your boyfriend and everyone else affected by this. I can't even imagine all of the pain and worry you must be going through. Thank God you two are all right, and you have an excellent attitude about it all. You are in my prayers.

LOL about the library books, and at least you did not hurt your shoulder a la Zumaya. lol.

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Sending you good vibes and wishes -- and thoughts of fire-resistance. And awesome work by awesome, brave, tireless firefighters.

Jennifer Y. said...

Sorry to hear this! Be safe and remember that we are thinking about you!

Liz V. said...

Wendy, I feel awful for you, your boyfriend and all the people affected by the fires.

I agree about praying to any diety. Adding my prayers for you all also.

sybil said...

Any updates? Where are you? How are you? I have just gotten out of the hospital and to a computer... Check in I R Worried!

No matter what the most important things are safe (you and your man) but I do so hope your apartment is safe too.

Damn it has been a shit week.

And Rosie Rawks hardcore

Nicole said...

So glad you and the Man are okay. Please keep us updated as you are able.

Wendy said...

Hi everybody! Thank you all for your warm wishes and concern. I just posted an update on the blog. The good news is we're back home, and everything is just as we left it. No damage. No losses. Nada.

At first light I'll get a better look at the surrounding area. We drove home from Rosie's after sunset, so couldn't really "see" much of anything once we got home. Word is though that it's pretty charred, and my apartment complex did lose two buildings.

Katiebabs a.k.a KB said...

That is a relief that you and your BF are okay, even though there is damage in your area.
As I watched the fire coverage on MSNBC this morning, all I could think about was you.
((HUGS))

ReneeW said...

Wow, what a relief. So glad you are safe and you had no damages.

Karen Scott said...

Hi Wendy, I totally missed this bit of news (this is what I get for ignoring Google Reader for so long), but I'm really happy to read that you and your other half are ok.