Update. Still here.

 The smoke around our place is just over the top.  The air quality is at 453 right now.  The scales top measurement is 500.  We basically are breathing toxic crap at this point.  Both Husband and I have allergies, so we have an air purifier, thankfully. Basically, we are sitting in our living room, with it on 24/7.  When I go out to feed, I wear my only N95 mask.  Don't know how long it will help, since I am reusing it a lot, but it's better than coughing myself silly.

Checking on family in Level 2 (get ready to leave) area, so far no one has had to jump and run.  Haven't heard from family in the Level 3 (GO NOW!) area, been checking Red Cross information, will try some other stuff and see what happens.  

Trying not to "doom scroll" but it isn't easy, when almost all the things I look at are giving updates, and a lot of them are not so great. On the good side, though, there is a Cowboy Convoy moving feed, animals and supplies.  I am donating some leads and halters from when I  had my llamas.  I have to keep out of things as much as possible, my Dad will be having surgery later, and I will be driving.  So I can't be around doing anything more than necessary, so I don't end up sick.  So much fun...

Then, just for general chaos and craziness, one of my hens had chicks, and more or less rejected them. So, you guessed it, we have new tanker chicks!  I don't know how many are going to make it, but, we will have quite a few, if all this goes okay.  Presently, we are okay.  We have things packed to go, in case, but are just staying put and keeping watch.  

 Sorry for the downer post, I wish I could just say all is dandy, but we are in a holding pattern here.  Guess that's better than a crash landing, however...

FIRE!!! Right? Hmm.

I was driving home after working at the sub, and as is often the case, I was driving right during rush hour.  I also have a small car.  I am not picking on anyone, much... However, I have noticed that large vehicles seem to think my car is fun to be right against.  I guess I also create road rage- by driving the speed limit... Meh.

Anywho, while turning the corner to get on the road to my house, I cross train tracks.  While worrying about a dingbat passing me on a double yellow line, I happen to look down the tracks.  It's a reflex, you know, avoiding even BIGGER vehicles... And I see smoke.  White smoke, which is usually lawn type grass, (this is Oregon, I specify), or wood.  The glimpse I got was the grass was on fire.  But it's not impossible that someone was burning slash wood.

But it bugged me.  I don't really have a logical process when I see things, but the mental gears kicked in.  It wasn't near a house... It WAS by train tracks...  That, in and of itself was odd, unless there are Railroad workers near, they don't just set a fire and leave.  In fact, there wasn't a person around.  Sadly, that can be not so unusual, but it was near the center of a field.  Most farmers would at least have someone watching it...  It just bugged me, the whole way home. 

So, I called it in.  The info was taken, and I figured it was probably a fluff on my part, probably getting the emergency guys out for no reason...

The next day I receive a Flash Alert.*  It said that a fire had been called in.  Yeah...

And it turned out it was not one, but 2 fires were burning, and they had to have 2 engines called out, as it was in a bad area to fight fire in.  (The railroad goes over and by a swampy area.  Oddly, the grass can be tinder on top, with the soil the consistency of a wet sponge below.)  They were able to put out both fires, and I gather since I'd called it in fairly early, the damage was minimal.  They didn't know how it started, though.  That bothers me a bit, but I guess, they will hopefully figure it out later.


*Flash Alert is a notice that fire, police, schools, etc., use to tell people about 'news' and events.  I am signed up for several of them.  It was originally for a job I had, now it's just because it's interesting, and I am nosy... :)

Notre Dame

Wow.

Just... Wow. 

Happened to turn on the TV, randomly, yesterday.  I was slapped in the face with the image of billowing smoke and flame, on that amazing building.  I watched as the spire fell, and all the while, just had a rotten feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Is everyone out?  What about the people who work there?  Are the firefighters okay?

It turns out, no one was hurt, (last I heard, this morning), and they were able to save some items, paintings, relics... And they are talking of rebuilding.  Oddly enough, it was repair that might have caused the problem, but sadly, accidents do happen.  Doesn't make it any nicer, but there it is.

I keep having this image of the beautiful stained glass window, just yellow and orange.  But again, it will be replaced.  Macron is saying it will be rebuilt. 

I keep having this thought that it took something on the order of 2 centuries to be put up in the first place.  I have a sneaking thought it isn't going to be a weekend project now.  I am guessing they will have to check the stone, and whatever structures are left, to make sure it doesn't have any weakening from the fire BEFORE they even think of new structures... 

I am rather sure, however, that my oddball thought of giant blue tarps covering the roof will not happen.  Let's just say, I think the French would have ANOTHER revolution.  But, build they will.

But as sad as it is, there is still the people.  And with people, there is hope. 

Dieu te bénisse*, to all, let us all work to a stronger future. 



(God Bless You, Google's fault if it's wrong...)