From the Not-so-Front Line

 

It's been a hairy 48 hours here in La La Land. If you hadn't heard we've been hit by natural disaster. I'm not talking about my bout with the Norovirus or the Stomach Flu or Food Poisoning from some bad salmon. 

A bout that has unnaturally resulted in the loss of 5lbs. of excess Rich Siegel.

I've also had to contend with the raging fires which are threatening to consume Los Angeles in the same way America threatens to consume Greenland, Panama Canal and Yemen (why not?) The picture above gives you some idea of the scope of the fire(s). 

My house is a good 6 miles south of the front lines. Though I woke up yesterday morning and it felt, and smelt, like I woke inside a Weber Grill -- the charcoal kind, not the clean smelling propane version. It's also unusually dark outside, like there's an impending thunderstorm, which would be a godsend right now.

I have placed a plate of new salmon out on my patio for some free cold smoking. 

Mmmmm, living off the grid.

Last night, my daughter in Santa Monica bugged out of her apartment building which is less than 2 miles from the front lines pictured above. She and her roommate were the last to leave the building. We still don't know the status of containment. And hoping the temporary calm in the ferocious winds will give the firefighters the upper hand.

In Pasadena, Ms. Muse was even closer to the inferno, as she lives within footsteps of the foothills. And late Tuesday night a fire broke out in Eaton Canyon, a great place to hike. A not so great place to get hook up firehoses. She evacuated her house and stayed with friends. That, coupled with a power outage, has made the situation even more difficult.

The situation is fluid. Not unlike my diet for the past 48 hours.

There is good news however on a different frontline. 

My neighbors, one of two who made it a habit of letting their barking dogs out at ALL hours of the evening/morning (despite my many pleas to show some neighborly consideration) have sold and moved out of the house! 

All their belongings are gone. With the exception of one crate, adorned with many decals and bumper stickers, left in the driveway. 

Including this telling gem...

Byeeee.