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Gains and Losses
May. 16th, 2007 07:15 amThe improved visibility meant they could get the tanker planes off the ground for the first time in a few days and by the end of the day they had the fire 50% contained. So far there has only been one fireman injured, a broken leg, and no homes lost, only hunting camps.
However, the winds picked up during the day and the fire continues to head towards White Springs on one edge. It made a three-quarter mile jump at one point so it's possible it could jump the interstates if it came this way. I'm not as safe as I thought.
The animals are the ones really suffering. The area that's burning is home to black bears, panthers, and the usual assortment of deer, rabbits, etc. It's nesting season and not only are the nests being lost but birds are dying outside the fire area from smoke inhalation.
Yesterday they had a picture in the paper of a bear cub who was rescued from a tree. His mother was at the base of it with third degree burns on her paws. They think she must have carried him across hot embers to safety. They are being treated at the UF vet school.
However, the winds picked up during the day and the fire continues to head towards White Springs on one edge. It made a three-quarter mile jump at one point so it's possible it could jump the interstates if it came this way. I'm not as safe as I thought.
The animals are the ones really suffering. The area that's burning is home to black bears, panthers, and the usual assortment of deer, rabbits, etc. It's nesting season and not only are the nests being lost but birds are dying outside the fire area from smoke inhalation.
Yesterday they had a picture in the paper of a bear cub who was rescued from a tree. His mother was at the base of it with third degree burns on her paws. They think she must have carried him across hot embers to safety. They are being treated at the UF vet school.
Rain, Rain, Come This Way
May. 14th, 2007 08:52 pmWe actually got about 20 minutes of light rain last night and it cleared most of the smoke away. The prevailing winds today weren't toward me so more didn't come drifting in and by this afternoon it was pretty normal out.
Unfortunately the winds also pushed the fire, although not closer towards me, and new areas had to be evacuated. The fire is still only 30% contained and has consumed over 300 square miles. In the way now is the city of White Springs which has many Victorian houses left over from when it was a health resort. It is also home to the Stephen Foster Center which has a beautiful carillon tower. It is the home of the annual Florida Folk Festival which is held every Memorial Day weekend. Let's hope the wind shifts again or they contain that edge of the fire. It's not in immediate danger but I'm middling worried about it.
The animal shelter is so overwhelmed with evacuated pets that they are asking for donations of food but the human shelters are underutilized since most people are going to stay with family or friends instead of deal with the conditions at a shelter.
Unfortunately the winds also pushed the fire, although not closer towards me, and new areas had to be evacuated. The fire is still only 30% contained and has consumed over 300 square miles. In the way now is the city of White Springs which has many Victorian houses left over from when it was a health resort. It is also home to the Stephen Foster Center which has a beautiful carillon tower. It is the home of the annual Florida Folk Festival which is held every Memorial Day weekend. Let's hope the wind shifts again or they contain that edge of the fire. It's not in immediate danger but I'm middling worried about it.
The animal shelter is so overwhelmed with evacuated pets that they are asking for donations of food but the human shelters are underutilized since most people are going to stay with family or friends instead of deal with the conditions at a shelter.
Having Asthma In Florida Sucks Right Now
May. 10th, 2007 04:47 pmThe sky has a weird yellow glow in the afternoons similar to what you get when a hurricane is lurking nearby. The recommendation today is to wear a mask if you're spending any real time outside.
( This is why )
I want a Macintosh
May. 2nd, 2007 08:23 amSpent four or five hours over the last two days either actively working at resolving the problem or waiting for stuff to download after McAfee ate part of MSN 9, an otherwise useless browser that does have some nifty stuff when it comes to getting my email, which is pretty much all I use it for.
It's a good thing I have a laptop and I'm not that flexible or my forehead would have a large bruise by now.
Oh, and the tech support promised on the McAfee box? A hard to navigate FAQ sort of thingee was all I found.
I think it's fixed now.
It's a good thing I have a laptop and I'm not that flexible or my forehead would have a large bruise by now.
Oh, and the tech support promised on the McAfee box? A hard to navigate FAQ sort of thingee was all I found.
I think it's fixed now.
Brown Recluses in the Privy
Apr. 19th, 2007 11:09 amGot home yesterday and as usual made a bee-line for the bathroom after my 45 minute drive. Started taking off my work clothes even while sitting on the toilet so there was a bit of wiggling around that could have attracted unwelcome attention since when I Got up and turned around, there sat what looked very much like a BROWN. RECLUSE. INSIDE. THE. TOILET. THAT. I. WAS. JUST. SITTING. ON.
Probably very pissed off at being pissed on too.
I flushed it with extreme prejudice. In fact I flushed a couple of extra times just to make sure it wouldn't come back up again.
EWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!
Probably very pissed off at being pissed on too.
I flushed it with extreme prejudice. In fact I flushed a couple of extra times just to make sure it wouldn't come back up again.
EWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!
Katje says that the reason we experience thematically related problems within the same broad time period is astrological. Makes as much sense as anything else.
After resolving the crisis a couple of weeks ago where I got locked out when the door latch engaged after I slammed the door I have made it a point to never leave the door closed behind me without having my cell phone and the keys in my pocket. I also resolved to have several copies made of the keys when I get money to spend on non-essentials at the end of this month.
So of course I managed to lose my keys.
The hospital I work at is part of a massive healthcare system and I had to go across town to attend a training class at our flagship hospital. I got a good space in the parking garage, found the classroom, and made it with time to spare. So far, so good. It was even an interesting class.
But, I had worn a skirt with no pockets and because I was so terribly broke last week I didn't want the temptation to buy an over-priced cup of designer coffee at the stand in the lobby so I left my purse in the car. I slipped my cell phone, set on vibrate, into my cleavage and hooked the fob of my keychain into my waistband. Problem solved.
Except I had a bit of a fight with my slip in the bathroom and I'm pretty sure that's when the keys slipped free without me knowing it. I'll probably never know for sure. Four hours latter when I discovered the lack of keys I went over the route I had taken to the class three times without turning anything up, talked to security, housekeeping, and lost and found and got no where. I left a description of the keys and my contact info and called roadside assistance.
Fortunately I had a spare key in my purse so once they got me in I could get home. Unfortunately despite an earlier request Geico hadn't added the van to the service and I had to pay $45 for the privilege. So much for saving money.
I was hoping that I had left the back door unlocked but no such luck so I ended up spending the night in the old doublewide with no running water and the cats ended up being locked in to the new place until after five the next day. Yes, I know I said I wasn't going to leave them in but there is a mean tom in the area who's started coming around and I worry about them. I ended up covering my nice new furniture with sheets and blankets. *sigh*
The next day nobody had turned in my keys so I had to take off work early and borrow money from my cousin Jean to pay $85 to have a locksmith unlock the doors and make me new keys from scratch.
Jean now has a spare key to everything. I'm still hoping the keys I lost turn up since it had the only working remote door lock fob for the van. The one with the spare key stopped working and a new battery didn't revive it.
On a good note we had a surprise audit of our credit cards and my record keeping passed with flying colors.
I'm am so glad it's Saturday.
After resolving the crisis a couple of weeks ago where I got locked out when the door latch engaged after I slammed the door I have made it a point to never leave the door closed behind me without having my cell phone and the keys in my pocket. I also resolved to have several copies made of the keys when I get money to spend on non-essentials at the end of this month.
So of course I managed to lose my keys.
The hospital I work at is part of a massive healthcare system and I had to go across town to attend a training class at our flagship hospital. I got a good space in the parking garage, found the classroom, and made it with time to spare. So far, so good. It was even an interesting class.
But, I had worn a skirt with no pockets and because I was so terribly broke last week I didn't want the temptation to buy an over-priced cup of designer coffee at the stand in the lobby so I left my purse in the car. I slipped my cell phone, set on vibrate, into my cleavage and hooked the fob of my keychain into my waistband. Problem solved.
Except I had a bit of a fight with my slip in the bathroom and I'm pretty sure that's when the keys slipped free without me knowing it. I'll probably never know for sure. Four hours latter when I discovered the lack of keys I went over the route I had taken to the class three times without turning anything up, talked to security, housekeeping, and lost and found and got no where. I left a description of the keys and my contact info and called roadside assistance.
Fortunately I had a spare key in my purse so once they got me in I could get home. Unfortunately despite an earlier request Geico hadn't added the van to the service and I had to pay $45 for the privilege. So much for saving money.
I was hoping that I had left the back door unlocked but no such luck so I ended up spending the night in the old doublewide with no running water and the cats ended up being locked in to the new place until after five the next day. Yes, I know I said I wasn't going to leave them in but there is a mean tom in the area who's started coming around and I worry about them. I ended up covering my nice new furniture with sheets and blankets. *sigh*
The next day nobody had turned in my keys so I had to take off work early and borrow money from my cousin Jean to pay $85 to have a locksmith unlock the doors and make me new keys from scratch.
Jean now has a spare key to everything. I'm still hoping the keys I lost turn up since it had the only working remote door lock fob for the van. The one with the spare key stopped working and a new battery didn't revive it.
On a good note we had a surprise audit of our credit cards and my record keeping passed with flying colors.
I'm am so glad it's Saturday.
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