Here are a couple videos I found that come pretty close to what I experienced:

X,

If I'm thinking of the same fire, that IS the one I refer to that was close to me. I live in Corona, just on the OC border, the the 91/Green River area, just a few miles from Anaheim Hills.

We lucked out here. God only know why, the the wind was such that it was blowing totally away from my complex and toward OC. I've been here almost 5 years now and thus far that is the closest I've ever been thank God.

It is always good to be aware and cautious but you DO get use to it though X.



TIS


X,

Just saw your videos. Wow, pretty scary.

That's the very same fire, TIS. My girlfriend and I were lucky, too. Brea is only a couple miles away, right over the hill on State College Blvd. We could see the flames from where we were, and the smoke completely engulfed our area. There was so much ash falling it looked like it was snowing. It was pretty scary. I'm glad you guys made it out alright!

What ticks me off is the number of times they blame the fire on carelessness (throwing out a cigaret or whatever). I mean arson is bad enough but to be in the mountains, camping or whatever, and NOT take extra precaution where a potential fire is possible, is inexcusable.



So, other than the fires, how do you like California so far? Have you done the touristy stuff (Universal, Disneyland, Knotts,Bevery Hills, etc.)


TIS

You're absolutely right on that one! People who live here are quite aware of the fire danger in this region of the country, and some of them seem to not give a hoot. Their carelessness has cost a lot of people their homes and their lives. I'm not saying that all of the fires here are caused by people, but as you said, the ones that ARE caused by people are just inexcusable.



I did all that touristy stuff quite a few years ago when I would come out to California to visit my girlfriend. Knotts, Disneyland/California Adventure, Hollywood, all of it. Speaking of Hollywood, I went to Pink's Hot Dog Stand on La Brea in Hollywood for the very first time a couple months ago. The line was incredibly long, but it was worth it. I ordered two chili dogs with mustard and onions. Best hot dogs I've ever eaten!

X,

Funny you mention Pinks. I can't say I've heard of it until today, and then it's brought up twice. First, this morning I was listening to Kearth and they are still joking about Anthony Weiner story. They were doing a "weiner" thing asking to call in and say what your favorite weiner was. Lisa Stanley (the female sidekick) said that Pinks was absolutely the best. Several callers called in to agree with her. First that I've heard of Pinks. Don't get to L.A. much and don't think there are any in the Corona/Riverside area.

TIS

Man, is it hot!

To get in the spirit of things, I played "Beach Baby," by The First Class about ten times today, and regressed about 40 years .

I'm not ready for this heat. Very nasty today; high 90's. Suppose to cool on Friday and the weekend in the low 80s.

Monday, June 13. My first dip of the year in the ocean. Margate, NJ, water temp 70 degrees. I had just finished a 3 mile jog on the boardwalk and drove 2 miles to my favorite beach and splashed around for a few minutes; body surfed one wave and then stood on the beach and gazed out at the vast Atlantic Ocean. In the words of Frank Costanza, "Serenity NOW!"

Sure could have used that heat today, PB - crappy weather, on-and-off rain. Had an outdoor event to attend this evening and - just our luck - it rained just before we started playing live music. We all went under a nearby building scaffolding for cover. But we played.

Beach Baby? Jeez - now there was a one-hit wonder for you! I actually have the single of that. 1974... I remember it well. Sort of...

Signor V.

It's now 100° in NYC and it's only noon. There's a decent chance that the City will reach (or break) the ALL-TIME record of 106°.

Con Ed (the local electric utility) is expecting record power consumption today and is warning of brownouts. Oh joy.

That sounds miserable SC.

We continue to be lucky in my area. Normally this time of year the triple digits start in July and thus far I don't think it's reached 100 even once this year, making it a beautiful mid 80ish time weather. I love it. Of course it ain't over til it's over since our summer goes well into September and I'm guessing the triple digits will come soon enough.

TIS

Well, it's up to 103 degrees, and the weather forecasters are saying it may go even higher this afternoon. They're talking about possibly breaking the all-time one-day record of 106 (or was it 107? I forget...).

I always suspected I was living in Hell - todays temperature merely proves it.

Signor V.

It's down to about 99° with a heat index of 111° -- and same planned for tomorrow. Brutal out there!

99 hu??? A cooling trend right?



TIS

Cooled down by a thunderstorm. California bakes and burns and then has an earthquake to cool itself off. It's called Shake 'N' Bake.

It reached 104° in the City today, setting a new daily record and the first time it's been 104° since the day of the big blackout in 1977.

I didn't go out outside today.... I refuse to leave my air conditioned bedroom. I'm in a comfortable 77° room, MUCH better than the 93° kitchen/living room (which my cat seems to prefer).

Once again, the thunderstorm JUST missed me (by like a mile or two)... argh!

PS - But it is down to 86°

It hit a clammy 104 yesterday and 103 today. This morning at 7am it was 82. I went to the AC boardwalk to ride my bike. Surprisingly there was a cool breeze off the ocean and it must have been in the 70's. Occasionally the wind would shift and you would be hit be something 20 degrees warmer - gross. I'm in my AC now at 75 and it feels nice. Step outside and it feels like a sci-fi movie - I'm on MARS! God help those without AC or a fan.

Well Geoff we got that storm and a tree knocked down a power pole in my neighborhood. I was without power for 12 hours.

I really wish it was about 30 degrees cooler. I can't work in my garage without sweat pouring out of my like I am a wet rag being wrung out. I feel like I've been a hermit because it's still 80+ and humid as fuck at night.

Plus that whole air quality alert thing.

I'd much rather it be 50 degrees and have to wear a sweatshirt.

LN, as I have aged, I've grown to not like the summer. As a younger person I couldn't wait for summer. Now, give me April-May and October-November (in the Northeast of course).

UNBELIEVABLE here today.

It was predicted we'd get rain all day long today and into tomorrow. It was also suggested we'd get over an inch of rain. Well, as of a few minutes ago, we've already gathered over five inches of rain (within the past eight hours) and it is still POURING.

We had the loudest thunder I've ever heard about 5 a.m. (along with VERY vivid lightning) followed by the power going out for four hours.

Rain.

South Jersey had a few short bursts of rain, not even enough to make a puddle. We could use half of your 5" SC. I have to take my motherinlaw to Caesar's this afternoon so she can feed the slots, so rain is OK.

Here in SoCal, it continues to be unseasonably cooler. By that I mean it's beautiful into the high 80's (maybe 90's) BUT by this month we are usually well into triple digits for days straight. Not the case thus far. It's really perfect (at least for me). It's probably in the high 60's in the early morning, gets to around 85 - 90ish during the day and cools down to a comfortable temp at night. Can't complain.

TIS

Except for a 99 here and there, it's still 100s for the forseeable future. I just got back from Pittsburgh - I forgot what muggy was. Madonne! The sweat with it just in the 80s.

It's starting to look likely that the east coast (and maybe parts of the NY metro area) will be impacted by Hurricane Irene next weekend.

It figures... I just did a BIG food shopping and my freezer is full. Gonna lose power ~ gonna lose a whole lot of food.

Well, we're still melting here with temps in the 100s.

It continues to be below average temps here and it really is perfect. We normally have 100 plus days most of August and here in my area, I don't think we've had any. Of course, we have September to go yet, so I never say never.


TIS

The so-called weather professionals are all coming to similar forecasts now regarding Hurricane Irene. It looks to be taking aim on the general New York metro area, and I gotta tell ya, I'm getting a little antsy.

I'm not worried about flooding where I live.... I'm more than five miles inland from the ocean and the elevation is over fifty feet, but I AM worried about wind damage (big tree right outside) and the house already creaks when someone farts outside.