Monday, October 22, 2007

Take Cover






The Satan, I mean Santa Ana Winds are blowing. Do you know what that means? I will explain.

Where I live there are three seasons: tourist season, fire season, and mudslide season. We have now officially entered season number two. Every year it's the same. One day you are playing at the beach, the next there is a slight chill in the air and a few brown crunchy leaves on the ground. DO NOT BE FOOLED! It isn't really autumn here until the Santa Ana Winds begin to blow. Then BAM!, the temperature soars 20 degrees, the humidity drops 70 percentage points, and there is smoke in the air. How often can you actually see the air you are wheezing? Oh, and did I mention sinus headaches, earaches, and the feeling that you've just been stuck in your Grandmother's dehydrator? Yeah, I pretty much feel like fruit leather. No wonder they are called the devil winds.

Ah, fall!


(On a more serious note, dozens of fires are burning and these horrible winds always bring out lunatic arsonists. I pray for all the families and homes that are threatened. I hope you will too.)

16 comments:

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

We had horrible fires threatening Neil's parents home a few years ago. The stress and uncertainty are so overwhelming. =(

aubreyannie said...

oh scary. my clock radio woke me up this morning with npr talking about the santa anna winds. i can't remember much else, cuz i shut it off and went back to sleep for another hour. but i thought about you californians. it made me laugh..your description of the three seasons.

Michelle S. said...

School's been cancelled. Fire Days replace Snow Days in this part of the country. I was motivated to rotate my 72 hour kits today. I was blessed to check out of Target before the power went out and all the stores closed for the day.

TheOneTrueSue said...

So nervewracking and scary. I'm praying for everyone.

Super Happy Girl said...

:(
It' so scary, I've been watching the news all morning. Unbelievable.

Kelly said...

ooh stay safe! my dad is out there and i'm thinking he might be evacuated and come back to az country. we'll see. the firefighters & ca citizens are in our prayers!! ... our flagstaff firefighters shipped out there this morning. they have tons of wildfire experience with our crazy fires. i can't believe people start these fires. granted some of natural causes but some are arson and that's terrible!!

wynne said...

"santa ana" isn't too far from "satan" really. Saint Ana, my foot. I used to live there. I remember. Nothing like inhaling soot for breakfast. Or when it starts "snowing" ash. Good times.

Me aunt lives in Malibu, and I can't get in touch with her.

On a less depressing note, but more strange: Jen, I'd like to send you something for the Halloween contest, yet I need a mailing address. Please email me at muskadillo at hotmail ...etc.

Geo said...

Wow, that second photo looks ominous. God bless all of you!

Anonymous said...

Yes it is so scary. I have family there and get worried every year they have a bad go of it. God bless.

Carrot Jello said...

Scary!
Thanks for the e-card. It keeps saying they're having technical difficulties, so I haven't read it yet. :(

bookworm said...

It's been really scary. There has been smoke and little ashes raining down. Not fun at all. Also the wind doesn't help anything.

Erin said...

Yes, I DO NOT miss those Santa Ana's. It's scary to find your house covered with ash when you wake up in the morning. It feels like the world is about to end. Come up to Seattle. We've had some gorgeous weather lately.

Anonymous said...

Great descriptions, j. If I wasn't living it, I would be dreading it. Soo true about our "seasons" I've never looked at it that way before. I HATE this weather. Not to mention that the kids and I (notice I included them) have hours of leaf, and ash clean up around the yard. :( blah!

Amanda said...

Scott and I were discussing the fires this morning. I believe I said something like, "I can't believe that all of CA hasn't burned up by now!" I can't imagine how awful it must be. Stay safe and God bless!

elasticwaistbandlady said...

Theres a Steely Dan song that goes, "There goes those Santa Ana winds again......"

I don't know what that means. I just like to randomly quote Steely Dan.

Jennifer B. said...

Thanks for your concern everyone. The winds have died down and there is moisture in the air today. Hopefully things will be under control soon.