It's May Already! Our Big Month!

This month is a big month for us.
Gianna turns "1" and Alex an Angelina get married, not to mention Alex will be 23 on
the last day of May!!

It seems like only yesterday when Alex got engaged and they started planning for their wedding, which is now a mere 25 days away!! Nick has been working really hard on on the yards. He put in a new walkway on the side of our house using pavers (right).

It is so awesome and really opened up the area. He's also been busy planting, trimming and weeding.
Yesterday we bought a patio heater, which he had to put together, in case of chilly May gray weather the night of the wedding. Most of the plans are in place, much still has to be done, but not till the day before...... so, the countdown is on!!

It is hard to believe it is the 5th of May already. Many celebrate "Cinco de Mayo;" but really, it is two days before our sweet little kukla (Greek for "doll"), Gianna's, FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!! Yes, she will be 1 ! Doesn't seem possible, does it?! Can't wait till they arrive for the wedding on the 24th--it's been almost two months since we've seen them, and now she is walking!! Yikes, she'll really be on the go here in our big house! Last time she was here she was barely crawling!

Last week we attended the Annual RSF Appreciation Dinner given for all safety personnel in the district. It was a huge success with the largest attendance ever, including several retired firefighters! (Sorry it's a side view of Nick-my camera took too long to take it!! Guess I need a newer one with a faster shutter!!)
The picture to the left is of the three recent Fire Chiefs of the RSF Fire Dept. Left to right, Irwin Willis, chief prior to Nick, Pete Pedersen, chief who retired 15 years ago, and the present chief, Nick!

The dinner was put on by the RSF Rotary and held at the Rancho Santa Fe Inn. The Rotarians served us a delicious prime rib dinner and lots of service awards were given out. Nick gave a special presentation on the Witch Fire, which was incredible !! Then all firefighters were given a special honor for their service to the community during this fire.


P.S. The last time I wrote our Padres were starting the season well. Not so true right now, but we are still cheering them on--hopefully they will turn things around soon. On Saturday, May 10th, we are going to the game as it is Firefighters' Night at the Padres, sponsored by the San Diego Burn Institute, and proceeds benefit this great organization.

Firestorm 2007

As you know, since Sunday night (10/21/07), San Diego has been burning, in fact much of Southern California has been burning in the worst Firestorms California has ever seen. It's also the worst wildfire Nick has seen or fought in his 30 year career with the fire service. The first two photos are in Del Dios, part of Nick's district.

The Witch Fire named after the starting point of the fire, Witch Creek, between Julian and Ramona, burned its way southwest due to the fierce Santa Ana winds and low, almost non-existent, humidity.
It has burned more than 198,000 acres, and it, along with 9 other fires in San Diego county, caused the evacuation of almost 500,000 people. It burned heavily in Nick's district of Rancho Santa Fe, burning 6 homes in their 4S Ranch area of Rancho Bernardo,(this photos is of 4S Ranch) around Lake Hodges, and the area of Del Dios, where they lost 23 homes. Fortunately, the Santa Ana winds died down and switched to westerly winds, so the fire didn't destroy any more property in Rancho Santa Fe.

While the fire no longer burns in the RSF area, there is still the possibility of hot spots flaring up which firefighters have to attend to> RSF firefighters continue to assist fighting the fires in other nearby areas.

Amazingly, amidst this immense tragedy, while many San Diegans have rallied together volunteering their time, making donations of necessities, taking in their neighbors, to help the evacuees, there has still been some controversy. Rather than supporting the tireless, selfless efforts of the thousands of firefighters and law enforcement personnel, some evacuated residents of Ramona were screaming mad wanting to get back into their community before officials had thought it safe. Officials have a lot of criteria that is considered before repopulation of an evacuated area is done. It is astonishing to read some of their selfish, irate comments on a San Diego news blog page, many of which are ignorant at best.

Some of those same angry residents were screaming they would never evacuate again. Evacuation has more to do with the safety and well being of everyone, residents AND firefighters who are putting their lives on the line to save the lives and property of those in a fire affected area!! The firefighters have a most difficult job to do; they never give a single thought to the danger they might be in as they fight fire. People asked to evacuate need to cooperate and allow them to do their job. They also need to let the officials who know all the facts to make the educated decision as to whether it is safe for anyone to return to their community safely. There is a system in place for the safety of the all. Too often well-meaning residents often get in the way of the firefighters doing their job!!

Firefighters dedicate their lives to serving the greater good of mankind and they fought this fire from the beginning with little rest for days. They don't do it for political gain, or personal glory. They do it to help others! They have to make quick decisions in the worst of circumstances. Often their hands are tied if a fire is moving too fast, particularly when driven by fierce Santa Ana winds of sometimes 50-100 mph, or if it is too late to save a structure. They then must decide what to try to save.

All family members of every firefighter know all to well about the dedication and sacrifices each and every firefighter makes every day of a career in the fire service. While it can't compare to the mental and physical exhaustion of a firefighter, those of us at home experience a mental anguish and exhaustion of our own. Reports of controversy in the middle of a tragedy such as this are both maddening and frustrating for all connected to the fire family. The fire service and law enforcement have done a phenomenal job on this, the worst Firestorm San Diego has experienced, and they deserve everyone's thanks and praise!! It is heart warming to know they do receive it from the majority of San Diego!

As of today, Oct. 26, 2007, officials have said the Witch Fire is 45% contained. Although fires were burning around us, our home and area were not threatened, here in San Marcos. We have had a lot of smoke and ash, of course, nothing more.

Check these links for lots of unbelievable photos:
from FoxNews in SD--
http://www.fox6.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=ea431094-6c02-455e-bfcd-464c9c3129b5

http://photos.signonsandiego.com/gallery1.5/071019ramonafire?page=14