SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FIRES AND SUNDAY MORNING COMICS - AUGUST 30, 2009

By Debbie Bulloch



Well once again, it is fire season in Southern California. Once upon a time fire season lasted just a few months - from Summer through Fall. Due to the ongoing drought, however, fire season seems to last rear-round. Historically, brush fires were Mother Nature’s way of clearing old vegetation to make room for new growth.

With land development, especially on the hillsides surrounding Southern California, brush fires now carry the potential for immense property damage and the risk for loss of life. Over the past few days, several fires have been scorching the hillsides surrounding the Los Angeles Basin. These fires have already burned over 30,000 acres of land, destroyed homes and other structures and forced thousands of residents into mandatory evacuation.

Now the “Station Fire” fire is burning within two miles of Mount Wilson and threatening the Mount Wilson Observatory. The fire is already sending smoke toward the century-old observatory as well as communications towers that house transmitters for every major television station in Los Angeles.

The top of the 5,712-foot Mount Wilson, which sits above Altadena, is home to multimillion-dollar astronomy projects for UCLA, USC and UC Berkeley. Georgia State University also operates a $20-million facility and a powerful telescope array at the Mt. Wilson Solar Observatory.

“A lot of people think of an observatory as one dome, but Mt. Wilson Observatory is actually a 40-acre tract of land with 50 to 60 buildings on it,” said Dr. Harold McAlister, director of the nonprofit Mt. Wilson Institute, which runs the observatory. “None of that stuff is portable, and to move telescopes out of there takes many weeks. We’re strictly at the mercy of nature and the great competence of the firefighters.”

Observatory staff members were evacuated Saturday. The view from an on-site Web camera today showed a smoky outline of communications equipment.
"There’s a lot of dollar value in those towers and of course what they mean to broadcasters in Southern California,” McAlister said. “It’s one of the major communication centers for this part of the country.”

The observatory offers visitors the chance to view space through its 60-inch telescope, which has been in place since 1908. In recent years, the road itself has become a popular destination for hikers and bikers looking for a rigorous climb, although it has been officially closed to the public since 2005 after rain-triggered landslides buried portions of it.

(Quotes from L.A. Times)

Fire update - two firemen die

Officials say two firefighters have been killed when their vehicle rolled off a mountainside as they battled a massive wildfire in northern Los Angeles County.

County Deputy Fire Chief Mike Bryant said at a news conference that the two men were amid intense fire near Mt. Gleason in the Angeles National Forest on Sunday afternoon when the vehicle crashed.

A tearful Bryant said the men's families have been notified. He did not release their identities or give a cause for the crash.

The fire has consumed 66 square miles, destroyed at least 18 structures and was threatening some 12,000 homes.


















Photos copyrighted by AP and L.A. Times. All rights fully reserved by teh copyright owners. Editorial use only, no other use is permitted.

Let us hope that the brave and hardworking firefighters already at hand, will be able to contain the fires without any further damage to life and property.

Now, the Sunday Comics for August 30, 2009. Enjoy!

(Click on image for larger view.)

YOU AND ME AGAINST THE WORLD

By Debbie Bulloch




The day I knew full well was coming has finally arrived. Tonight I came home from work and our house felt so big and empty without my daughter here. Of course, this is not the first time that she has been away from home. There have been school trips to Europe, school tours to visit colleges in the East Coast, trips up to Washington state and Oregon and this summer a brief surfing vacation to Costa Rica.

But every time that she was away in one of these trips I always knew that in a week or so she would be coming back home. This time, however, the feeling is different – my little girl is off to college; she is now on the road to becoming a woman. She will be returning home for Thanksgiving, for Christmas and for summer vacation but it will never be quite the same again. With each trip back to school, my little girl will be drifting further and further away from our little world.

This is the way of the world: my sweet child become a woman and leaves home, one day she will have a family of her own and then the day will come when her children, my grandchildren, will too leave home. It is an endless and unbroken chain that stretches all the way back to the day the first man and woman walked this Earth – and the chain will stretch into the future until the end of time.

Yesterday I went to visit her at school, on the pretext that I had forgotten to give her “something.” It was a poorly hidden pretext and she must have seen right through me. But like the good child that she is, she never let on that she knew that her poor mom was just looking for an excuse to see her one more time. She was gracious, we had lunch and then went shopping – just like when she was a little girl.

Today, after work I once again felt the temptation to call her and maybe even dropping by to see how things were going on her first day of classes. I, however, fought the “call of the mommy” and instead sent her a long e-mail telling her how proud I am of her. I think that my daughter needs me to be strong and supportive, not weak and weepy. She is already under a great deal of stress without my adding to it. Still…it is not easy to let go.

I have talked to other moms (and quite a few dads as well) and they all have reassured me that the first few weeks are the roughest. They are probably right, but in the meantime, the heart cannot help itself and so the tears flow – sometimes like a river.

If you see a little bit less of me in-world, I am OK. I am just trying to keep busy to help me get over the initial hump.

I want to thank all of you who have been so supportive following the death of SP’s mom and my daughter’s college entrance. Big hugs go out to all of you.

Helen Reddy - YOU AND ME AGAINST THE WORLD

SUNDAY MORNING COMICS - AUGUST 23, 2009

By Debbie Bulloch



Here are the Sunday Comics for August 23, 2009 (I know, it is still Sunday morning for me, but it is a lot later for many of you…so come on down and move to California then!)

Before we get to the comics, however, I want to report about the terrible tornadoes that hit the province of Ontario, Canada. A series of devastating tornadoes hit the area of Durham, in the province of Ontario. As you all know, our own Gloeing Ember is Canadian. I chatted with him this earlier this morning. He told me that the tornadoes were unusual for two reasons: (1) tornadoes are not common in that part of Canada; and (2) the tornadoes were moving with incredible velocity as they raced across towns, wreaking havoc in the areas where they touched down.

Wherever we live on this Earth, we are, of course, subject to natural disasters. For example, in California we have earthquakes to deal with. But tornadoes have their very own brand of “meanness.” They hit suddenly, without much warning and when they hit, they hit hard destroying anything that gets on their way. Every year tornadoes in North America kill and injure more people than earthquakes do.

When we chatted this morning, Gloeing told me that he will be spending most of the day today (Sunday) doing recovery and clean-up work in the areas hardest hit by the tornadoes. Gloeing (or more affectionately, Glo) is the kind of man who does not hesitate to step up to the plate and do whatever is necessary to help those in need. He is the kind of man who will, quite literally, rush into a burning building to save others. For over a year now Glo has been BH’s main benefactor (he gets upset when I remind others of all that he has contributed to BH). In addition, for over a year now Glo has been my very own sweetie pie. I am extremely proud of him and of all the things that he does.

If you have the time, please send him a note telling him how much you appreciate all he does.

For more information on the tornadoes, please click here: Deadly Tornadoes Hit Canada

My thoughts and prayers are with the Canadian people during this tragedy.

I have been out for a few days on a short family holiday. Normally (as you all probably know by now) I take lots of pictures of the places that I visit.

For some odd reason, however, my camera stayed on top of my desk at home. So I was not able to take any pictures at all. But fear not.

I recently installed a new version of my old photo-editing program. In the process, I “discovered” photographs from a trip that I took a couple of summers ago. My daughter and I traveled by train from Los Angeles to Chicago by way of the Southwest Chief. It was quite an interesting trip; the train took us across some of the most beautiful and rugged portions of the American West. Along the way, we met many interesting people.

From the window of our sleeping car, I was able to snap a few pictures of some very interesting cloud formations (we do not get many clouds in Southern California). I thought I would share some of those pictures with you today.





Note: The photo above, is an example of "mammatus" clouds. Mammatus, also known as mammatocumulus, meaning "Mammary cloud" or "Breast cloud" is a meteorological term applied to a cellular pattern of pouches hanging underneath the base of a cloud. The name "mammatus" is derived from the Latin mamma (udder or breast), due to the clouds' characteristic shape. (Must have been a horny metereologist who named this cloud formation.) Mammatus are most often associated with the anvil cloud that extends from a cumulonimbus, but may also be found under altocumulus, altostratus, stratocumulus, and cirrus clouds, as well as volcanic ash clouds.[citation needed] In the United States, sky gazers may be most familiar with the very distinct and more common cumulonimbus mammatus.

When occurring in cumulonimbus, mammatus are often indicative of a particularly strong storm or maybe even a tornadic storm. These tend to form more often during warm months and over the midwest and eastern portions of the United States, and more infrequently over the west and southwest (that is why it was so rare to find these clouds over the New Mexico sky on my way to Chicago). Due to the intensely sheared environment in which mammatus form, aviators are strongly cautioned to avoid cumulonimbus with mammatus.



From the same trip, a cow pasture at an altitude of nearly a mile up.



And here is a gaggle of Canadian geese (for Glo).



Finally, this morning I woke up with this song playing in my head. I hope you enjoy it:

John Lennon – INSTANT KARMA IS GONNA GET YOU



And now, without further delay are this morning’s Sunday Comics.

IF TODAY WAS YOUR LAST DAY

By Debbie Bulloch



The last few weeks have seen major changes in my life and in the lives of people whom I love very dearly.

Nearly three weeks ago, the mother of my close RL friend and SL supporter SanPaul Held passed away after a long illness. The shock of her death (we knew that the end was near, but when it finally came, it was still shocking) was followed by her funeral and burial. It was so hard to witness her coffin being lowered into the cold, dark ground. The woman that was now being buried had once upon a time been so alive, so vibrant, so full of love and life. As the casket was being lowered and dirty piled on top of it I realized how big my friend’s loss was going to be – I was not her daughter and I felt a huge hole in my heart.

This week, after a short family vacation, my daughter finally matriculated in college. I was the good mommy, I attended the meeting for parents, I helped her move her stuff to school, we went shopping for supplies for her dormitory room and all the while I kept up a brave front and a cheerful smile – though inside my heart was breaking a little piece at a time.

For those of you who have not gone through the college-bound-child ritual, my feelings may seem a tad melodramatic. Maybe they are - but like the lion in the Wizard of Oz, I now know that I have a heart; over the past few days I have felt it break, piece by piece.

I am very happy to see her go off to college. I am extremely proud of her achievements; I never cease to be amazed at her composure and maturity. (If ONLY I had been as smart and wise and composed as she is when I was her age!) Still, it is hard for a parent to see the child that she once held in her hands all of the sudden grow up and take flight on her own two, beautiful wings.

These days have been bittersweet. My child is doing what I wish I had myself done. She is about to enter a brave new world full of new experiences, new friends; new doors will open and her world will grow exponentially - by leaps and bounds - as her mind is filled with new ideas and concepts. This is the sweet part.

The bitter part is that my child is no longer a baby. I cannot put my arms around her, and hold her tight, protecting her from the meanness and ugliness that are part of the world (surely, as beauty and love are also part of the world). The child that I lovingly held in my arms, shielding her from harm is now entering the real world – I will not always be able to be there to protect her from danger. That is a good thing, she will need to fight her own battles because I will not always be there to fight them for her.

For me, part of the sadness will hit, like a hammer, when I walk around our house late at night and she will not be there in her room, sleeping soundly and safe within the four walls of our home. Tonight, the house already feels big and oh so very empty.

I have been told that I am a good mom and parent. I have raised her to the very best of my abilities; I have been her mom and I have been her dad. I am confident that the lessons that I have taught her over the past 17 years of her young life will stand her in good stead.

I am also a tough mom; in the past few days although my heart has been breaking I have not cried a single tear. There will be enough time for that. For the time being, all my daughter has seen are smiles, all she has felt are hugs and kisses and all she knows is that her mom loves her very much and will always be there to support her as she makes her way through this new and wonderful journey.

I think that is what she wants and deserves from her mom.

This song, by the group Nickelback came on the radio as we were driving back from our family holiday. I think that SanPaul’s mom was trying to send all of us a message.


Nickelback – IF TODAY WAS YOUR LAST DAY



I plan to return, “full-time,” in a few days. In the meantime thank you all very much who have helped to hold the fort while I was gone.

Thank you!

Quelques mots de prose !

Bonjour ,

Aujourd'hui, je vais tenter d'écrire quelques sentences ou quelques phrases en français s'il vous plaît en espérant que l'inspiration me vienne. Ce n'est pas facile comme cela de faire de la prose même si l'envie vient en écrivant. Allez, je me lance.

Un jour, un matin,

Alors que j'étais sur la dune au plus profond de l'écume,

que vis-je là tout près de moi le temps d'un embrun,

eh bien je vous le donne en mille.

le temps d'un regard, le temps d'un souffle,

je la vis, je la sentis,

elle était là devant moi, immobile

elle se tenait figée tout ébahie surprise

guettant sur ses moindres positions

guettant le moindre ennemi pouvant surgir du reste de la nuit

elle était là, devant moi,

les embruns flirtaient avec sa peau si frêle,

telle une orange que l'on voudrait dévorer

le vent caressait sa peau si fébrile et si coquine

et faisait danser ses cheveux de feu au milieu de nulle part.

les vagues aimaient jouer avec elle,

elle semblait flotter dans l'eau, dans l'air,

c'était une illusion venue d'ailleurs,

peut-être une vision ou un mirage,

venu d'un profond fantasme.

Alors, contemplant sa splendeur, sa fureur,

son envie de vivre, j'étais intrigué,

ce qu'elle dégageait était d'une force incroyable,

une telle puissance qui ne pouvait laisser indifférent.

c'est alors que je vis son visage,

qui, caché sous sa crinière de feu,

vint enfin se dévoiler à mes yeux.

quel miracle de la vie apparut à mes yeux,

ce que je croyais voir en cet instant me rendit fou,

elle avait un regard angélique digne d'un enfant,

qui rêve de tous ces instants de bonheur intense

de ces merveilles simples de la vie ,

qui a la magie dans le regard ,

le regard d'un enfant qui apprécie la vie

et s'émerveille d'un petit rien.

En même temps, en croisant son regard,

je vis dans ses yeux toute la profondeur de son âme,

ses yeux d'un vert intense qui rappelait la couleur de l'émeraude.

Je vis la transparence de ces yeux,

n'étant en réalité qu'une apparence,

car elle portait en elle le mystère,

elle en était mystique

je vis l'extrême intelligence dont elle jouissait

une intelligence qu'elle avait su bâtir tout au long de son existence

signe d'un combat sans faille de chaque instant

et malgré les luttes et les oppressions

elle avait su lutter et s'en sortir

elle était là postée devant moi

c'était bien elle, celle que j'avais vu

celle que j'avais approchée dans mes rêves

elle était là, elle me regardait,

telle une féline, telle une orpheline,

et ce moment dura une éternité

elle était là devant moi,

et je sus à cet instant précis

que nous étions l'un pour l'autre

dans la profondeur de nos regards

complices pour l'éternité.

Have a nice day and see you soon

Arcabulle Odriscoll

Le grand bleu "The Big Blue" from Luc Besson

Hello my friends ,

I am very happy to see you again and to write ! Writing is very nice and I love to share with you some music or writings !

This movie is one of my favorites. I think i already posted some musics of Le Grand Bleu but The Big Blue is for me a way to escape and to think of others things and to feel free !

Look at the water ! it is relaxing it is somptuous, there are no limits ! you feel that there are no limits ! and that is magic ! But it also can be dangerous !

So we have to care and listen to it listen to the sea, listen to the waves, listen to the seagulls !

it is wonderful ! I love that and wanted to share that with you

Please relax, open your ears, close your eye and listen ! you will dream, you will fly, you will swimm with the dolphins, with the waves under the sea ...... a part of freedom

A special version : en espanol por mi amigos y amigas

This one with the dolphins is very nice ! please enjoy it

So my friends , I hope that you appreciated these songs !

Tell me

See you soon

Your dear friend Arc

SUNDAY MORNING COMICS - August 16, 2009

By Debbie Bulloch



Here is today's installment of the Sunday Comics.

You know the drill:

1. Make yourself a cup of coffee (or better still, get someone to make it for you);

2. Enjoy the comics and then...

3. Carpe Diem!

I am going to be out of town for a few days, I'll see you when I return. Have fun.





(Click on comics for a larger image)

SUNDAY MORNING COMICS - August 9, 2009

By Debbie Bulloch




Here are today's installment of Sunday morning comics.

Enjoy them and then go out and do something with a loved one. Life is short!

Click on comic to enlarge image.















In honor of SanPaul's mom, here are two of her favorite comics strips: