This may well be remembered as the summer when the fires never end. There have been so many of them, in so many places, it is difficult to keep track. Per our firefighter blog, California has lost over 700,000 acres to fire so far this summer. And folks, we still have 3 months of fire season left!! Rain dances, anyone?

Just as we were being declared contained, another battle looms in Mid-Pines and Mariposa, up near Yosemite. It is the Telegraph Fire. It has already burned 25 homes, 27 outbuildings, and 9 firefighters have been injured, and it is only 10% contained. You can read further details about it from Capt. Mike (Ret) in the firefighters blog in my blog roll to the right.

Here is another source of live feed: http://www.incidentfeed.com/index.php?view=article&catid=1%3Alatest&id=61%3Atelegraph-incident&option=com_content&Itemid=2

**Sigh** we can only pray that it is contained much faster than ours was, and that there are no further loses. Our hearts are with those in the path of this fire and the fires yet to come.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, between my gladly adopted volunteer duties as a communications facilitator, I managed to write 75 pages of briefing, and make 58 copies of same. What a rush!! Thank gawd it is done, until Tuesday. Tomorrow, I get to rush all this to town, where I get the privilege of paying for it out of my pocket, to be reimbursed at some future undisclosed time when the state adopts a budget. Oh, yeah, and did I tell you, as an independent contractor for the state of cali-for-nee-eye-aye, I get to do all this on my own dime until gawd knows when? And some of you wonder why I am a little grouchy?? Can you say “stress?”

Now, I have 3 days this week to do it all over again, then once more the following week, and then, I MIGHT just be caught up! So, if I have been grouchy, or brusque, or not having much tolerance for some of the bull shit I hear, you will understand why. 

This is as close as I am going to come to an apology, right now, friends. I just have to call it what it is, and be done with it. No time for much else at the moment. When my work load is manageable, once again, then I will be back to my sweet, understanding, compassion self. (Did I make you gag with that one?)

Do me a favor, okay? Don’t call me or email me about this *%$# meeting. Either be there, or express your concerns and interests to a neighbor who can represent you. If you want to be able to hear it, express your interest in doing so to that same attending neighbor.

Also, I got a copy of a “Collaborative Approach for Reducing Wildland Fire Risks to Communities and the Environment — a 10-Year Comprehensive Strategy” from Kelly O’Brien which seems like a starting point for discussion, or the existing plan that the USFS has. If I can figure out how to post it on its own page on my blog, I will post for your review.

Laughter, jokes, and tolerance greatly appreciated.

Several of my fire photos have been chosen to be included among 30 photographers for a fire exhibit sponsored by the Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Art at the Mill Gallery downtown. It will be on display for the entire month of August. Both amateur and professional photographers will be represented. It covers both the Santa Cruz fires, as well as the Big Sur fire.

With the exception of the meeting on 7/31, and the gallery opening on 8/1, my life is full with catching up with the month’s worth of work (and income) that I have lost. The fire has slowed down, and thus, this blog will be slowing down as well. As Betty reminds me, there is no going back, only forward, and taking the lessons of this experience into the rest of my life. May I share the compassion I have been shown and enjoy the simplicity that nature affords.

For those of you who don’t read the comments on my posts, there is a link to a great article in today’s San Jose Mercury about Jack English, 89, in Pine Canyon, who was helicopted out of his place, and then back in again. It is one of the many, many stories to come out of this fire. Do yourself a favor, and read it here: http://origin.mercurynews.com/news/ci_10005276?nclick_check=1

I realized, it has been a while since I posted any photos, or something uplifting, or ??? So, first, the photograph — two bull elephant seals fighting.

Second, something uplifting — remember the celebration tomorrow at the Spirit Garden at Loma Vista. Music, dancing, and a celebration of Big Sur Rising. I wish I could be there — but my life-before-the-fire (and the courts) dictate that I cannot.

Third, ??? — a thought … I do not know if my life will ever be the same, again. It is hard for me to get back to whatever passes for normal, up here, on a mountain top, in the middle of no where. My priorities are shifting. Perhaps, in six months, when the nightmare has faded, my friends rebuilding, and the courts are off my back, I will simply be another thread in this tapestry of the story that has unfolded. That is my hope.

Fourth, fire stats:

Acres burned: 152,211

Acreage increase (last 12 hours): 2,287

Fireline to build: 0 miles

Date started: 6/21/2008

Percent contained: 79%

Expected containment: 7/30/2008

Injuries: 9

Structures threatened: 1627

Structures destroyed: 26 residences, 32 other

Last, just in case you did not see this healing series being offered, I repost it here:

Dear Big Sur Family and Friends,

The Art of Living Foundation, an International Educational and Service Organization, will be offering a free trauma and stress release program to the Big Sur Community.

This is a great opportunity to release the stress and get some freedom from the intense feelings that have accumulated in our bodies, hearts and minds due to the Big Sur fires.

Many people have expressed this need. We have found this to be so useful in our own lives and are so happy to be able to share it with our community.

The Course will take place on Friday evening, August 1st 6-8 pm Saturday and Sunday August 2nd and 3rd, 9 am -1 pm and Monday evening, August 4th 6-8pm

A commitment to all 4 sessions is needed to attend.

Also we will be having 3 different, meditations guided by the voice of His Holiness, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. His voice alone has the ability to sooth and calm the spirit immensely.

No experience is needed to enjoy the Meditations and all are encouraged and welcome to come. These will be held at Nataraj Yurt 5pm-6pm,Friday August 25th, Mon. 28th, and Wed. August 30th.

To get more information or to RSVP for the course, Contact Hyson or Iris at 667-2827 or hyson@toast.net

There is a nice guest commentary by Michael Caplin, ex-CPOA president in response to Coastal Commission Senior Deputy Director Charles Lester’s July 17 guest commentary. It primarily addresses the Coastal Commission’s rulings on maritime chaparral and its effects on fire clearance. You can read it here:

http://www.montereyherald.com/opinion/ci_9968252

This link should work, now.

I have created a new page, just for announcement of events for the South Coast. Just click on the Announcement page to the right. My hope is that people can check here, easily, without wading through all the posts to find information on meetings, events, or other information of interest to the immediate South Coast area, as I learn of them. Jade Festival meetings can be found there, for example.

I actually got to connect with some friends (and readers) by phone tonight, and what a joyous occasion that was. We talked about many things, the fire, the community, the support, and the bull shit. Ah, yes, the bull shit. That’s the price of going public, I guess. I get a lot of that in this past few weeks. Some from friends, and some from strangers. Bull shit can be “good” or “bad” depending on the intentions of the person propagating same.

We agreed — Cachagua Store is a great website for no-nonsense reporting. We love the way Mike Jones writes, and the stories he tells. We agree, people can really come together in an emergency like this. We agree that the internet has allowed freedom of expression like never before and communication, in all its facets, unheard of only ten years ago. But, we also agree that with such widespread communication comes responsibilities. We need to be as accurate as possible, and that is where xasauantoday.wordpress.com comes into play and kusp.org and surcoast.com. All of these sites strive for accuracy, and achieve it the vast majority of the time. We are all fallible. We all make mistakes.

In the old days, it was notifying one’s neighbors by banging on old, empty propane tanks to warn of the onset of fire. In the old days, it was notification by CB (and all those wonderful handles — mine used to be Ridge Rover.) In the old days, it used to be personal drive-by notifications. Now we have the internet.

The internet is a great means of communication, but we still need to get personal, sometimes. And we still need to remember that the internet can spread the “rumors” which used to take days, in a matter of seconds.

I had a number of conversations today which centered upon rumors and inuendoes. It is still gossip, no mater how it is cast.

Two reminders: One community based, and one personally based. The community based one is to remember that rumors are self-perpetuating, and need to be confirmed. The second, personally based, is that this movie is getting tiring, and I am going next door to watch the comedy. Want to join me?

And now, for some much needed humor, and maybe some conversation with the USFS, to lighten things up, while also establishing my point, read below:

These are actual comments left on U. S. Forest Service registration sheets and comment cards by backpackers completing wilderness camping trips:
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“A small deer came into my camp and stole my bag of pickles. Is there a way I can get reimbursed? Please call.”
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“Escalators would help on steep uphill sections.”
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“Instead of a permit system or regulations, the Forest Service needs to reduce worldwide population growth to limit the number of visitors to wilderness.”
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“Trails need to be wider so people can walk while holding hands.”
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“Ban walking sticks in wilderness. Hikers that use walking sticks are more likely to chase animals.”
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“All the mile markers are missing this year.”
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“Found a smoldering cigarette left by a horse.”
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“Trails need to be reconstructed. Please avoid building trails that go uphill.”
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“Too many bugs and leeches and spiders and spider webs. Please spray the wilderness to rid the area of these pests.”
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“Please pave the trails so they can be plowed of snow in the winter.”
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“Chair lifts need to be in some places so that we can get to wonderful views without having to hike to them.”
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“The coyotes made too much noise last night and kept me awake. Please eradicate these annoying animals.”
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“Reflectors need to be placed on trees every 50 feet so people can hike at night with flashlights.”
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“Need more signs to keep area pristine.”
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“A McDonald’s would be nice at the trail head.”
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“The places where trails do not exist are not well marked.”
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“Too many rocks in the mountains.”