Wildfires: my second encounter

Wildfires Rage Across Southern California

First time wildfires even registered with me was a month ago, when my bus to the Hollywood Bowl for an evening concert was super-slow due to the firetrucks rushing to the Hollywood Hills to put out a wildfire. That evening, all through the concert (of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No.1, not exactly a loud piece), helicopters ferried water overhead. That was quite an experience.

And this morning, I overheard someone describing how they had been evacuated from their home (somewhere in the outskirts of LA) because wildfires were raging a mile or two from them. Because I'm entrenched indoors for much of the working week, my workmates don't tune to radio stations that have news bulletins, and I haven't bothered to put local news alerts on my computer, it's a rare occasion that I even hear of local calamities. But there's no avoiding this one, especially when you can smell the smoke through the ventilation...

So, it was pretty much brought to my attention today that California isn't exactly the safest place to live, what with the constant threat of wildfires, landslides, earthquakes and other stuff I haven't heard of yet. Not to mention the risk of being run down by an inattentive driver (on the phone, putting on makeup, gesticulating to other drivers with *both* hands, you name it, I've seen it). That's all on top of the risk of living in any major city. But hey, at least the homicide rate isn't as high as Scotland's. Or is it? After all, the study may have looked at a country's overall murder stats, and not taken into account the way the sleepy towns in the Midwest greatly lower the average for the US.

So as my diversion from boredom (and that bloody piece of writing I've yet to start on) tonight, I might produce a table of crime rates in the cities I've lived in or spent a decent amount of time in... Then again, that may push me to do some writing. Ha!

Never rains but pours

In the excitement that has been my life for the last fortnight, I received what must be the best bit of news yet: P's DS-2019 not only arrived in the post safely, but he has also secured an interview with the US Consulate in London at the beginning of October.

This is after a couple of months of waiting. Just waiting... And when the courier drops off the DS-2019, it's a mad rush to get everything, and I mean everything, organised. And when you finally get yourself down to London, it's the most boring, super-long wait in the Consulate to be seen.

And a few nail-biting days, you wait to see if the courier knows where Scotland is (our flat is in the middle of Edinburgh, which you'd think should be easy-peasy, but they had difficulty finding us the last time... what are the chances they'll find their way to a farm in the middle of Perthshire?)

On receipt of the golden ticket visa, you then have a crazy day on the computer trying to find a flight to LA that: 1) doesn't cost the earth, 2) doesn't transit in Newark (which involves lugging suitcases across terminals), and 3) gets you to LA before the visa expires (within a month of the official start date).

The last time was super manic for me, no thanks to inaccurate information from the LA end. But who cares?! It's not me that has to do it this time. And P's on his way!!

[D does a little jig around the apartment...] Yippee!

As the lyrics go: "I don't want to be lonely no more..." (bad song, played constantly on the radio in our lab. bad, bad, bad...)

This means I (might) have someone to go trick-or-treating with! Now to get some fancy dress before the shops run out. I've already started preparations: I bought a bag of peanut butter cups in case any kids show up, threatening to festoon my patio with toilet tissue (or worse... don't know what the current generation uses for cheap thrills). I may need more. For the kids, of course.

Damp in LA

It's finally raining in LA! Huzzah!

My ability to bring on the rain with my arrival still works... Now to turn it to my financial advantage...

Some observations:

• Los Angelinos wear jumpers when the temperature drops below... 25°C
• Los Angelinos burst out the brollies when the skies open and... drizzle
• The bus takes an extra ten minutes to get me into work because of... standing water on the road

Bear in mind: this is all after a morning of what we'd consider a sprinkling in Scotland. Or normal wet weather in the tropics.

Umm.. Forgot I had this blog. Moved this post from the other... Oops.