This has been one interesting week for sure. Sunday we watched as the fires in southern California spread due to the Santa Anna winds and we wondered if we could call off school. At 5:30 am on Monday morning, I received a call from my superintendent, and we quickly emailed our school families that school was closed. Then I met him at our campus as we reviewed our set protocol for these types of situations. After notifying the news stations and posting information to our website, I headed home to be with my family.
That afternoon we got the reverse 911 call telling us we had to evacuate our home. I have lived in Florida for most of my life and I have had to evacuate for a hurricane before, but the feeling is not the same. I can't explain it, but to me the fire evacuation is just worse. Watching on the television as you see the fires continue to creep towards homes, you just pray that yours doesn't burn. Luckily, ours didn't. The military tankers were able to get up into the air yesterday and they stopped the fire from spreading to our side of the road. We were able to get back into our house Tuesday night late. I am very thankful for our military for stepping in and helping to put out these fires. Without their help, many more homes would have gone up in smoke. Just like in Katrina, the military was standing by to help, but the rules are in place and they will not step in until they are asked. The Governator was wise enough to come in and welcome the federal help fairly quickly.
We were lucky enough to evacuate to a friend's home for the first night, but we were seriously considering moving our kids to Qualcomm Stadium where 12-25 thousand people went. If you were watching on the television, it was like a circus there. They had massage the####s, live bands, buffet food, and toys for the children. I have to say that our local community is the best I have ever seen. The people of San Diego and the surrounding communities really chipped in to make this experience as good as it could be for an evacuee.
It's not all positive though. 1200 people and counting have lost their homes to the fires. I will also say that I was a little miffed as the names of several Charger's football players kept scrolling across the TV screen telling us they had to evacuate. I for one am not a respector of persons and the idea that LT had to evacuate being more important than my neighbor is insulting to me personally. Maybe someone else out there wanted to know that juicy bit of information, but not me. I do understand the need for telling us that the Chargers may not play this weekend, but the fact that a few ball players had to leave their homes is not important when you consider over 1 million other people had to evacuate. My life and property are just as important to me and my family as Ladinian Tomlinson, and I am sure LT would agree. I don't blame the football players for this insult, but rather the media.
Anyway, it's great to be back home. It's good to get back online. Keep praying that the winds settle down and that the fires are extinguished very soon. Let's not forget that the fires are also raging to the North in LA as well. The San Diego fires are getting most of the attention, but the people up LA are no less as important. Thanks for the emails and the comments.
Holy #### dude, glad to see you guys were saved in some part from this tragedy.
I am also annoyed with the Chargers players and all the damn celebrities houses being named off. I feel for them, but not as bad as for the people who don't have the funds to rebuild or replace their possessions.
and the news people!!! what kind of an #### news guy/gal would stick the mic in someones face, who has just lost EVERYTHING!!! the house is burned up... and heres this NEWS PERSON asking this, how do you feel??? comeon #### hey lets throw a punch in your face for asking the dumbest question , then ask youu how do you feel?????
SoCal, I am thankful everything turned out well for you and your family. Any links as to what we on the East Coast can do for those that have lost everything? Is the Red Cross the main source of help or is there something else we can do? Thanks
SoCal, glad to hear you're safe! I'm in Chicago and that fire stuff is scary as hell from here!
I agree 100% with your comment about LT but maybe they are just trying to get a celebrity type to show it's not just us "commoners" who are affected by the fires. I don't care if it's your neighbor, LT or the Governator's house that is in danger. I treat them the same - a guy and his family in a time like this should receive the same benefits regardless of social stature!
Socal I am glad you and your family are safe and have a home to go back to. I really feel for those who dont get to come back. The Chargers arent the only ones that have a list as far as celebs go. Its sad but I agree that its far worse for someone who is not because they dont have the funds to rebuild.
Glad to see that you are safe and made it back home. I got your email about the draft. Then I seen you changed it to Saturday which is cool with me. Lisa said he was thinking about you but I'm sure she will see this post and stop in. I'm from New Orleans so I know what it is like to have to del with loseing everything. If it wasn't for the kindness of strangers I would have been worse off. So please let me know whatever I can do to help those out there that need it.
P.S. we need to get some more people in the Fantasy league befor Sat. Let me know if I can help you on that.
Last edited by gambitxxx on October 24th at 9:58 AM.
Wow, sorry to hear that. I'll stop busting your ballz about changing the draft time then. I one of the lucky people that works on Saturdays. I got could also get another guy for the league, if need be.
Glad to hear everything's alright with your house.
I was watching some of the coverage last night. They kept saying how generous the people were and how well taken care of everyone was. Big improvement from what we saw in New Orleans. I'm glad the situation has been handled so well.
On a side note, there was one interesting thing I saw last night. One of the news reporters in San Diego lost his house, and he was standing right next to it reporting the burning of his own house. I think it takes a lot of dedication to continue reporting while your own house is burning to the ground. Kudos to that guy!
Thanks for sharing SoCal...hang in there. It's been OK here in Long Beach, but flying home from Pa. Tuesday we could see the flames and thick smoke, which made its way into the plane through the air conditioning. Whoever set these fires needs to be caught and taught a lesson. If it wasn't arson, then I caught a glimpse of how the world might end.
That afternoon we got the reverse 911 call telling us we had to evacuate our home. I have lived in Florida for most of my life and I have had to evacuate for a hurricane before, but the feeling is not the same. I can't explain it, but to me the fire evacuation is just worse. Watching on the television as you see the fires continue to creep towards homes, you just pray that yours doesn't burn. Luckily, ours didn't. The military tankers were able to get up into the air yesterday and they stopped the fire from spreading to our side of the road. We were able to get back into our house Tuesday night late. I am very thankful for our military for stepping in and helping to put out these fires. Without their help, many more homes would have gone up in smoke. Just like in Katrina, the military was standing by to help, but the rules are in place and they will not step in until they are asked. The Governator was wise enough to come in and welcome the federal help fairly quickly.
We were lucky enough to evacuate to a friend's home for the first night, but we were seriously considering moving our kids to 
