Captain’s Log #58 – Another fire this year - the Shady/Glass Fire

This is getting old. We had a fire in Sonoma County a couple of weeks ago and now this one which is still burning. Fortunately, both have avoided our stretch of Sonoma Valley (for now.) It’s never pleasant to monitor social media for hours waiting to be told to evacuate. I was up to 3am keeping tabs on the fire’s progress. It’s foolish for us not to have ‘go bags’ packed but I ran through my mind over and over where to find everything. I should have just packed and relaxed.

Our county supervisor says it took 40 minutes for the fire to roar down the ridge from the Sonoma-Napa county line to Highway 12 on the Sonoma Valley floor. The speed was due to the wind, which has stopped blowing a gale. Now, thankfully, the wind is coming from the south off the ocean and bringing the fog. We are breathing easier. Good lord, the wind has shifted again and is pushing west to east toward Napa which will slow/stop the spread in Sonoma County. The fire is still burning, and they are currently calling for evacuations of parts of western St. Helena and parts west of Highway 29, the main artery down Napa Valley. It ain’t over yet and they are predicting another dangerous wind event from 1pm tomorrow through 6pm Friday! Where’s that suitcase?

 

At first it smells like a delicious campfire, like toasty-oak wine barrels. The next day it smells like some fool has dumped a bucket of water on it. Uck. About as appetizing as a friendly, dirty wet dog. Some people have lost homes and their lives are thrown into complete chaos. I don’t want to minimize their situation, but the county, state and federal governments are getting a lot of practice helping people. I’m hoping when it’s our turn there will be a sign: Start Here. If our house burned down, would we stay? I do like Eugene Oregon and Monterey, but I know we’d stay here. Making new friends is tough and Kevin’s lived in this area his whole life, I’m sure he wouldn’t leave.

I don’t mind not working. I’m getting unemployment and Social Security; a job would be better but there’s tremendous comfort in feeling safe from the virus (and then we have 2 fires – sheesh!)

The two agencies that receive copies of my Rejection During Probation report and my rebuttal letter have responded. I will have a personnel-person review the paperwork and make a recommendation if it was fair or not; that opinion will be forwarded to the State Personnel Board. The latter has granted me a phone hearing October 30. It’s supposed to last no more than two-hours with an administrative law judge. The goal is to reach a ‘settlement.’  Oh boy, a whole new process to investigate! I have contacted a law firm with labor representation expertise and will rely on their advice. It’s like deciding to use a real estate agent to represent you, too many people say, “Who needs a stinkin’ agent? How hard can it be?”  No, no, get a pro to represent you.

In other news, I’m back to my fiber arts: dyeing my (pain in the rear to make) Boucle (see photo below); starting a shawl with said yarn; finishing dribs and drabs of spinning; knitting some fingerless gloves; flick-combing my hogget Shetland fleece in preparation to spin. Oh, and making 5 quarts of Golden Delicious applesauce yesterday. Staying busy. What are you up to?

Many blessings,

Karla, mom & k.j.

 

It was supposed to be dark brown, but I can’t say it’s not my color.