Sooo....No love for LA today?

[Landon Caeli]

 

[Landon Caeli]

...I call this one "desolation row".

 

[Landon Caeli]

...So the neighbor to tbis guy has sheep, well I saw him outside with his son, and he got the tractor out and said "this ground has been burning for 4 days", and so he started pulling dirt back while the kid ran the hose, and then he put the dirt back while the kid kept running the hose.

......Then I noticed some of his sheep were limping.

 

[Ada Lovelace]

I'll give a proper update about the destruction the Skirball fire caused to my family's house and neighborhood when I have a bit more time, but wanted to dash on here to give an invitation to those who live in Los Angeles to the Christmas concert at Bel Air Church tonight. I'm sorry for the last minute notice! There were discussions that the concert would be canceled due to its proximity to the inferno, but thankfully it wasn't. It's at 7PM tonight, and will feature carol singing, performances by the Worship & Children’s Choirs, Orchestra, and Band, and have a reception following it with cookies and other yummies. I've brought friends who aren't Christians to it before, and they've thoroughly enjoyed it, so regardless as to whether you're an atheist, agnostic, Jewish, whatever, you are most definitely welcome.

I unfortunately will not be there because I'm up at school getting ready for finals that start tomorrow morning.

There is also a Christmas Eve celebration that is open to all. Here is the information:
Christmas Eve Worship
Sunday, December 24 >> 10 a.m., 4 p.m. & 8 p.m. Invite your family and friends to worship at Bel Air this Christmas Eve. Our 4 p.m. service is geared toward families and includes the Band. Our 8 p.m. traditional service will include the Worship Choir and Orchestral Ensemble. Evening services will include carol singing, candle lighting, and a brief message.
10 a.m. Morning Service (united worship: contemporary & traditional) > Sermon: Track 4: All is Calm, All is Bright
4 p.m. Family Service (contemporary includes candle lighting) > Christmas Eve Message: Silent Night, Holy Night
8 p.m. Traditional Service (includes candle lighting) > Christmas Eve Message: Silent Night, Holy Night

It's simple to get there. Take the 405 to Mulholland and then go west for about a mile. There is handicapped parking up the hill by the sanctuary and the larger parking lots are next to and across from the campus. If they're full you can park at the Mirman School across the street. Bel Air runs a shuttle from all the parking lots up to the hill.
Google Maps

This was the scene from the 405 the other day:

All is calm, all is bright there now. It's safe to come to Bel Air. Praise God.

 

[Landon Caeli]

I'll give a proper update about the destruction the Skirball fire caused to my family's house and neighborhood when I have a bit more time, but wanted to dash on here to give an invitation to those who live in Los Angeles to the Christmas concert at Bel Air Church tonight. I'm sorry for the last minute notice! There were discussions that the concert would be canceled due to its proximity to the inferno, but thankfully it wasn't. It's at 7PM tonight, and will feature carol singing, performances by the Worship & Children’s Choirs, Orchestra, and Band, and have a reception following it with cookies and other yummies. I've brought friends who aren't Christians to it before, and they've thoroughly enjoyed it, so regardless as to whether you're an atheist, agnostic, Jewish, whatever, you are most definitely welcome.

I unfortunately will not be there because I'm up at school getting ready for finals that start tomorrow morning.

There is also a Christmas Eve celebration that is open to all. Here is the information:
Christmas Eve Worship
Sunday, December 24 >> 10 a.m., 4 p.m. & 8 p.m. Invite your family and friends to worship at Bel Air this Christmas Eve. Our 4 p.m. service is geared toward families and includes the Band. Our 8 p.m. traditional service will include the Worship Choir and Orchestral Ensemble. Evening services will include carol singing, candle lighting, and a brief message.
10 a.m. Morning Service (united worship: contemporary & traditional) > Sermon: Track 4: All is Calm, All is Bright
4 p.m. Family Service (contemporary includes candle lighting) > Christmas Eve Message: Silent Night, Holy Night
8 p.m. Traditional Service (includes candle lighting) > Christmas Eve Message: Silent Night, Holy Night

It's simple to get there. Take the 405 to Mulholland and then go west for about a mile. There is handicapped parking up the hill by the sanctuary and the larger parking lots are next to and across from the campus. If they're full you can park at the Mirman School across the street. Bel Air runs a shuttle from all the parking lots up to the hill.
Google Maps

This was the scene from the 405 the other day:
View attachment 215926

All is calm, all is bright there now. It's safe to come to Bel Air. Praise God.

Wow, what a shot!

 

[Landon Caeli]

This was probably a 60 ft. Pole with wire double dead ended on it at a hard angle... We found it still standing! The wire was holding it up.

So we disconnected the wire and sawed it down.

 

[Ada Lovelace]

Hello everyone! I'm sorry for awakening a dormant thread but I wanted to check in with those who live SoCal to see how their areas are coping with the current rain. From what I understand this rare winter storm mostly spared the wildfire burn areas, so there isn't much of a worry about a repeat of the catastrophes caused by the rain in the Santa Barbara area back in January. I'm back here for the weekend, and for the most part loving the rain! Though Sunset is like a giant Slip-N-Slide for cars. I hope all is well wherever you live!

At the time this thread was active I was taking final exams and didn't pop back on to give an update. Our house sustained damage from the Skirball Fire, but it was primarily due to smoke. Our insurance policy sent out fantastic crews who took care of everything, so by the time 2018 began the house looked the best it has since we moved in.

My family continues to be very grateful and impressed for the grace under literal fire from all the responders who so quickly and efficiently escorted them and our neighbors out of harm's way, and worked ceaselessly to protect our homes. There was a productive town hall meeting in late January where residents were invited to come and ask their representatives questions about the city's response to the fire, and to give suggestions and criticism. My parents said it was well organized and attended, with council members, deputies from the LAFD and LAPD, park rangers, and other officials who welcomed input. Someone from the LA Homeless Services Authority and a formerly homeless man spoke about how to better assist the sizable homeless population that uses the areas near the 405 for shelter, and what could be done to help reduce the chance of another fire accidentally caused at their encampments. Fire at a homeless encampment sparked Bel-Air blaze that destroyed homes, officials say. The silver lining of the fire is more dedicated assistance is now being provided for these neglected members of the neighborhoods.

 

[Ada Lovelace]

Now imagine living in an industrial city in china. Worse than that every day.
Hug. Hope you family stays safe...and you.
Still

Thank you for the hug and well wishes.

The first time I was in Beijing as a little kid I actually thought there was a wildfire nearby because the air was so thick and gray, and it puzzled me because the smell wasn't that of smoke. The drive from the cities out into the rural areas was surreal because you can visibly see this demarcation in the sky between the polluted and the blue.

Oh! Okay, so I can connect between China, the fires, and this weekend! I used to go to China in the summers with my parents who gave medical care in really rural areas of northern China. The church I grew up attending sends a mission team to China every summer, and we'd often meet up with them at the beginning or end of our stay when everyone was in Beijing. One of our family friends was on the church's mission, and so it was especially fun exploring the sites with her. She always carried a little stuffed bull named Ferdinand, and I carried a little lion named Judah.

The significance of Ferdinand was that she owned the rights to this book about a pacifist bull by that name who'd rather smell flowers than be in bullfights. She'd owned the rights for years, with the hope of one day being able to sell it to one of the movie studios. At the time we were in China together, it was the height of the recession and she was anxious because she found out while already at LAX checked in for the flight out that her company would be laying people off, and most likely her. She was in debt from owning the book, and the value of her house which had been bought during the bubble was suddenly worth much less. She was in China assisting a church being launched, and they asked how they could pray for her so she explained everything and the whole congregation prayed. And they kept praying, for years! And then finally, in 2014 she sold the rights to the book to Fox, and came on board as a producer for the movie they made. Ferdinand! She also lives in an area impacted by the Skirball fire in December, and her house was also saved by the work of the firefighters. I'm back in LA this weekend to go to an Oscars party and cheer for Ferdinand to win!

 

[Hank77]

Thank you for the hug and well wishes.

The first time I was in Beijing as a little kid I actually thought there was a wildfire nearby because the air was so thick and gray, and it puzzled me because the smell wasn't that of smoke. The drive from the cities out into the rural areas was surreal because you can visibly see this demarcation in the sky between the polluted and the blue.

Oh! Okay, so I can connect between China, the fires, and this weekend! I used to go to China in the summers with my parents who gave medical care in really rural areas of northern China. The church I grew up attending sends a mission team to China every summer, and we'd often meet up with them at the beginning or end of our stay when everyone was in Beijing. One of our family friends was on the church's mission, and so it was especially fun exploring the sites with her. She always carried a little stuffed bull named Ferdinand, and I carried a little lion named Judah.
View attachment 222105


The significance of Ferdinand was that she owned the rights to this book about a pacifist bull by that name who'd rather smell flowers than be in bullfights. She'd owned the rights for years, with the hope of one day being able to sell it to one of the movie studios. At the time we were in China together, it was the height of the recession and she was anxious because she found out while already at LAX checked in for the flight out that her company would be laying people off, and most likely her. She was in debt from owning the book, and the value of her house which had been bought during the bubble was suddenly worth much less. She was in China assisting a church being launched, and they asked how they could pray for her so she explained everything and the whole congregation prayed. And they kept praying, for years! And then finally, in 2014 she sold the rights to the book to Fox, and came on board as a producer for the movie they made. Ferdinand! She also lives in an area impacted by the Skirball fire in December, and her house was also saved by the work of the firefighters. I'm back in LA this weekend to go to an Oscars party and cheer for Ferdinand to win!

Thanks for sharing this interesting story.
The Story of Ferdinand is a good book. I remember it from when my kids were little. I hope they stuck closely to the storybook's theme and plot.

 

[Go Braves]

I just heard that there's a fire out in LA, at a famous landmark. Hope y'all who live out there aren't near it.

 

[Ada Lovelace]

While I'm on CF for a minute I wanted to post a couple of notices for fellow SoCal residents, and thought for the sake of time efficiency I'd do so here since there are several who've participated in this thread. I apologize that there's only a peripheral relation to the thread topic - love for LA.

LA County Libraries have been offering free flu shots at many of their branches. I'm posting this a bit belatedly, so some of the dates have since passed, but there are still more opportunities for anyone in need of the shot to obtain one.
LA County Library

My friends got them at the WeHo library branch a couple of weeks ago and said the line progressed at a steady pace, and it was as pleasant of an experience as getting a shot possibly could be, haha. There was a friendly crowd, cookies, and competent medical staff.

Second PSA is that the church I grew up attending is having their fall festival tomorrow. I don't know that anyone here would be interested in it for themselves, but they may enjoy bringing any kids in their family to it. You don't need to be a member of Bel Air Pres or a Christian.

I'm hoping to make it to the festival towards the end of the afternoon. I'm flying back to LA from Florida tomorrow.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Sorry to follow Stanfordella's positive post with a negative one, but seeing the thread title again reminded me of some of President Trump's comments this week about California.

Trump additionally threatened to withhold federal aid from the state as a result of future fires.

“We're tired of giving California hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars all the time for their forest fires when you wouldn’t have them if they manage their forests properly,” he said.

While Trump’s comments aimed to connect the dots between California’s ongoing water debate, calls to thin forests for lumber and deadly forest fires, experts have routinely debunked the connections.

Fire chiefs said that dry conditions, warm temperatures and strong winds were primarily responsible for recent extreme fires in the Golden State — not a lack of water supply.

“We have plenty of water,” Cal Fire Deputy Chief Scott McLean said earlier this year after Trump linked the state’s water management to the fires. “We can pretty much get water out of streams, creeks, ponds, rivers, lakes.”

 

[Ada Lovelace]

I'm watching the Woolsey inferno in Oak Park on the news and praying for everyone impacted. My family has many friends who are part of the exodus from the evacuation area right now. I'm grateful for the firefighters giving their all to protect others, and the media keeping us informed. I hope no one here is in that vicinity in harm's way. It's been such a devastating past 24 hours with the heartbreaking shooting massacre in Thousand Oaks and now the fires.

Stay safe fellow Californians.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Stay safe fellow Californians.

Thanks; you too! I'm far from any danger, but several friends and/or their parents have evacuated. I scared the people at our East Coast office by sending them pictures of the smoke plume from our office.

Sadly, a certain someone remains less than sympathetic.

 

[essentialsaltes]

 

[Ada Lovelace]

If anyone in the LA area is looking for a meaningful way to spend their time tonight, there's a Malibu United benefit event to support Malibu's recovery from the Woolsey Fire from 7:00 to 8:30 at Calvary Church. I unfortunately won't be able to attend it because I'm up at school, but I think it will be lovely and therapeutic.

The past month has been like a chronic punch to the heart where you can't even take a moment to process a blow because you have to keep moving before the next one. Communities brought to their knees in grief because of the college students and other innocents murdered at the Borderline Bar and Grill had to immediately bolt for their own lives because of the savage fire. In what felt like a déjà vu from last year's Skirball Fire, my family had initially thought they were not in imminent risk, but the wildfires were so ferocious they encroached upon all of the city, and ravaged much of it. Last year our house sustained severe smoke damage, and we then moved to Malibu. The garage of our current house was burned. My family was evacuated for ten days, as were many other residents. We are fortunate to have a home to return to, but cannot relax there. We couldn't spend Thanksgiving at the house because of the threat of landslides from the rain tumbling over the burn areas that week. The rain this week necessitated that my parents and many others be evacuated again. My mom is packing up what is special to me in my room there. People are exhausted, in every way. Some lost loved ones, their houses and all inside in, their sense of peace and normalcy.

This is an opportunity for the community to come together and take a collective breath and comfort in one another. I think it's the start of the grieving process for all that was lost, not the end of it.

I'm posting a screenshot of an email with other upcoming events open to the community, regardless of denomination or faith. They are all free. Donations collected will go to recovery efforts. With the exception of the event tonight at Calvary Church in Pacific Palisades, all the other events are at Bel Air Church on Mulholland, in Bel Air.

 

[essentialsaltes]

As everything crumbles around him, Trump still finds time to lash out at people suffering after an emergency. He tweeted (7:25 AM - 9 Jan 2019):

"Billions of dollars are sent to the State of California for Forest fires that, with proper Forest Management, would never happen. Unless they get their act together, which is unlikely, I have ordered FEMA to send no more money. It is a disgraceful situation in lives & money!"

I can't even

 

[Ada Lovelace]

I hope none of you from SoCal are in the burn areas that are now afflicted by mudslides.

Please pass along this information to anyone you know who is need of help:

 

[essentialsaltes]

The lack of love from the Trump Administration continues.

Since 1961, the Forest Service has reimbursed the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, or Cal OES, for the costs of local, state and volunteer firefighters who help battle blazes on federal lands.

As California prepares for what some officials fear will be another devastating fire season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service are withholding reimbursements that state fire agencies say are owed for battling wildfires on federal lands last year.

 

[Pommer]

The lack of love from the Trump Administration continues.

Since 1961, the Forest Service has reimbursed the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, or Cal OES, for the costs of local, state and volunteer firefighters who help battle blazes on federal lands.

As California prepares for what some officials fear will be another devastating fire season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service are withholding reimbursements that state fire agencies say are owed for battling wildfires on federal lands last year.

This should oughta be a thread of it’s own.