My Boring Friday Night

Okay, so I lied about the fire. It got so much worse, really, really fast.

Friday night my dad said that we were going to go and get dinner, then go to the gun club and see how far the fire got. I mostly went along to get dinner.

The two of us ended up at his friend's place with the fire right above us. His friend even got a level 2 evacuation notice while we were there. I took a ton of pictures and by the time my dad thought it might be time for us to leave (about ten minutes after we arrived), the highway was closed. We didn't even get the level 3 evacuation notice, even though we were supposed to be leaving. I mean, where would we have gone? The highway was closed.

Here are some pictures. They go from left to right, one row at a time. (I have to remove the photos for now...I’ll re-upload them again in the future...)

As you can see the fire got pretty close. There was only orchard between me and the fire. It was pretty scary. But it was pretty cool at the same time.

We got to my dad's friend's place at about 9 that night and we left at about 11:30 when the road was finally opened. When my dad and I got home we both smelled like smoke and I took a shower. I washed my hair twice and I could still smell smoke.

So that was my boring friday...Yeah, right.

What do You do For Fun?

Well, I hope that this question is thought over carefully. Where I live summer fun consists of going swimming in the local river, staying inside (because of the heat), or during twilight hours - if there is a wildfire near by - go fire watching!

Sounds exciting, doesn't it? My thoughts exactly. *shakes head* Fire watching is exactly what I did last night. The fire burned about a 1/4 of a mile while we watched a certain part. Other parts were further because the wind was blowing really hard. Let's just say that the people who have very expensive houses on the top of a near by ridge were getting a little worried. *laughs*

So far the only evacuation notices are at a level one. There are only three levels: one, two, and three. One is stay alert. Two is start packing up you valuables. And three is get the hell out.

My prayers are with everyone who is close to the fire. I hope that the firefighters stay safe, the families in danger stay safe and that everyone keeps a cool head. Two of my friends live close to the fire and are on evacuation notice level one. Also my uncle works for the forest service. He quite often is called out on fires. I just want everyone to stay safe and out of harms way.

Anyways, you now know what hicks (just kidding) do for fun...They watch wildfires!

Good Cherry, Bad Cherry

Today was long, to say the least. I spent nine and 1/2 hours in an orchard sorting cherries...My back hurts, my feet hurt, and did I say that my back hurts? Anyways, today was very long.

Overall the guys aren't so bad. I know most of them already. But the new guys are getting picked on. *shakes head* The newest guy is very nice and willing to help, but is slow. Not mentally slow, but physically. They were picking up empties and the person driving the tractor sent the newbie over three rows of trees to pick up a stack of empties. There was also talk of tying him to a tree. I sort of feel sorry for him. Not to mention that I think he is cute. Well so does the 11 year old I'm watching. *rolls eyes*

I never want to see cherries on a conveyor belt ever again! I still feel the motion of the belt and see the sea of red Attica cherries. *shakes head* It was horrible! I feel bad for anyone who has to sort cherries - or any fruit for the matter - for every day of the week, because it is their full time job. It sucks and I hate it!

Sand Ponies and Pilkas...

So if you know anything about the book series The Secrets of Droon, you would know that there is a distinct difference between the two.

For one Sand ponies only have four legs, while pilkas have six. Sand ponies live in the desert and are built for speed and heat. Pilkas live further north and have shaggy hair. They are fast, but they aren't built for the desert.

Anyways, in the newest Droon book, you run in to the Snitchers. The Rat-Faced Snitchers. Of Zoop. And these Snitchers ride Sand ponies. One particular Snitcher - the lead Snitcher for that matter - is riding a Sand pony. I mean the picture in the book even shows him on a Sand pony.

Here is what is said.

"A single Sand pony stepped forward." That's the leader (his name is Captian Plundit) confronting the main characters. The next thing you know the book is saying, "Captian Plundit stood on his pilka's saddle." And, "Even standing full height on the back of a pilka..." "The robber leader was small, but he proved to be a very good pony rider." Then later, "Plundit's Sand pony stood in the passage ahead, stamping lazily on the floor." (All of these quotes are from The Treasure of the Orkins by Tony Abbott)

Now you can see that there is a problem. *shakes head* It was a great book and that is the first mistake I have found in all 37 Droon books that are out. It caused my friend and I a lot of good laughs.

On to other non important things, I have another babysitting job (not the same girls as last year...thank goodness) and I also have a part-timeish cherry sorting job at the "family" orchard. The family I work for has an orchard that I worked in two years ago...I didn't like it. I mean there were cute guys, but you know how guys are when they are together and you are the only girl...Or maybe you don't...In other words, let's just not go there.

The oldest girl I watch actually works in the orchard for her grandfather, stacking lugs (my old job). Lugs? What are lugs you say? You know when you drive past a cherry orchard during cherry season and you see those orange box things at the bottom of the tree. Those orange box things are lugs. The pickers put the cherries in the lugs, the swamp crew weigh the lugs, then dump the lugs in to bins (those big fruit bins you see on the back of semis and at fruit sheds. Sometimes they are white or red, wood or plastic.), and I would pick up the empty lugs and stack them in stacks of 12 or 11...it depended on the year. It was loads of fun.

Seeing as the oldest girl works in the orchard, I then have to either sort cherries or watch the younger girl (both of which are loads of fun too). As you can see I'm just having fun all around!