a tad smoky up front

Coming into Simi Valley yesterday was like a ride into the apocalypse. Despite it being around 4pm, the sun was a fiery, hellish ball behind a screen of smoke. The fire season has kicked off here in the heartland again with the Santa Ana winds blowing across the land and fanning the flames. The winds are something else; coming down the Keuhner pass, every second was a fight with the steering wheel. The wind shear tried to fling my car to the left, the curving road, gravity and centrifugal force tried to swing it to the right all the way down the pass. Then there was and me trying to remember my high school physics and alternatively praying to the pantheon of higher beings, fighting to correct the steering and not trying to wet my pants. 

Being the inimitable photographer that I am as I came down the Pass I took a few moments out of my nervous breakdown to take a couple of pictures. Not too impressive, but then this was at 60 miles per hour with a camera phone and a Denali up my ass. So cut me some slack.

This morning was no better, not only was the wind howling around the house but a stray breeze had blown open my bedroom door. I woke up to the sweet strains of the Schizo Schitzu trying to find his metaphorical keys in my garbage can. Stepping outside was no better, the early morning sky was still a muted angry orange colour and the smell of embers was nauseating. I was a bit miffed because of all the ways to enjoy second hand smoke; bushfires are pretty way down my list. And besides, I don’t smoke in the mornings and not having a choice in the matter was sort of pissy in an ironic way.

Right now things are still literally heating up, N just emailed saying he was being evacuated and I’m religiously checking the Ventura fire updates hoping the fire doesn’t spread south to Moorpark. Hopefully these damn winds die down and everything comes back under control…after all I am rather too fond of the pooch to see him barbequed.

 

The sun obscured by a haze of smoke.