Ominous skies

Greetings from beneath the smoke cover! We've got a big 'un burning a few miles away in the Goleta foothills. We're pretty sure we're not going to be in any danger even if the winds do pick up, but just to be sure, I've started a little pile of photo albums, important documents, baby videos, etc. If necessary we could be ready to evacuate in about ten minutes, I think. This fire started about 48 hours ago -- that evening I had four teenagers here for a sleepover and they could see the hills on fire directly across from Kidlet's bedroom. Made for an exciting night. At that time it was 50 acres. Now it's 2500. The university where I work is directly downwind from the burning canyon, so I've been living in the smoke and ash for a while now. Today, this evening, it has gotten so weird and strange and freaky -- a dark, sullen, orange and black sky and ash steadily falling everywhere. I took some pictures just now -- I wonder if they'll show at all what it really looks like? Maybe Peter will help me post some.

I hope you all have clearer skies! (You Northern Californios, staying okay?)

And there goes the power.

Power was out much of last night, and it just went out again. They turn it off to protect the power lines from the ash, or something like that. Tra la la... guess I'll be back later.