Here we go again

Fire season. Santa Ana winds. Southwest Fallbrook and northeast Oceanside are threatened tonight by the advance of a wildfire that began on Camp Pendleton Monday afternoon. Dori and I drove out tonight around 10:45 p.m. Traffic was blocked off at Sleeping Indian Road, which I think is to guard the houses of evacuees from potential looters. These shots were taken from the northeast.

They're saying on the news that it'll get worse tonight, and maybe spread a little more tomorrow, but that conditions will be easing by Wednesday. We know at least two families whose homes are threatened.

What's more, I grew up watching this indian sleep, but I've never seen him on fire. R.I.P. Sleeping Indian.

What is up

Here is a little sampling of what's going on in our busy lives right now:

-- In early April, I applied to U.S.C. for a specialized journalism program that begins this August and would result in a master's degree in about 10 months. I would be learning how to cover global human rights struggles and humanitarian causes. Haven't heard yet whether I've been accepted; haven't figured out how to pay for it, either...

-- We're getting close to buying plane tickets for our second trip to China. This time, we'll be heading to Nanchang for two weeks in mid-July, then spending three to four more weeks in Beijing as I write a book about Bring Me Hope, the orphans and the Olympics. This means we'll be away from home for more than a month, and will need to figure out how to keep everything here paid for while we're away. Support letters will be mailed in the very near future.

-- Photography. I'm trying to start taking portraits and getting paid for it.

-- Our very dear friends, Justin and Erin McDonald, moved this week to The Philippines, fulfilling a long-held goal to become missionaries to that nation. We will miss them at church, where they each wore several hats and helped with pretty much everything but the preaching. And we will miss hanging out with them, although we may be able to visit them while in the neighborhood (read: Asia) this summer. Read their ministry's blog here.

There is much more going on, but these are the highlights. I hope to start blogging on a semi-regular basis again between now and when we leave for China. Thanks for reading!

Happy Easter!

Classic bunny-in-the-headlights look from Snowball, my nephews' rabbit. Easter came early this year--about as early as it'll ever be. Here's the formula, courtesy of our pastor: It falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. The equinox (first day of spring) was on Thursday. The full moon was on Friday. So here we are.

Bunnies and springtime aside, let's remember what Easter's really about.

Rain = green

Lately I've been admiring the unusual amount of vivid green on the hills around Fallbrook. Even plants that are hardly ever green--that Baja desert variety which hides the life in its roots--have blushed a little green following weeks and weeks of rainfall.

I suppose it's human nature to desire what we don't have. When I lived in Portland for five years, it was sunshine that sounded good about nine overcast months a year. Now, I crave rain. This week has been sunny and balmy--the sort of weather we're known for in San Diego--and it's been great. I think the sunshine is a blessing, too. It's just hard not to love all the green, nor wish for more.

Ills, automotive and physical

It starts on Jan. 19, when my neighbor backed into my car and thrashed the hood. Before I could take the car to the repair shop, I came down with a really bad cold and took three days off from work.

Two Tuesdays ago, I get my car back from the auto shop and I'm like, Sweet! It looked great, new hood and all. Then on the one-week anniversary of that happy occasion, on the one-week birthday of my new hood, a young guy pulls out in front of me in Escondido and I've got this:

And this:

And this:

This is what the whole thing looks like from the front. For once in my life, it looks better than it is. The bumper is actually trying to fall off every time I turn around...

Add to all of that the fact that Dori is now sick with the flu, and you've got a glimpse into our last month or so.

However, I must say, I am thankful that I have a car. And when I was sick, I was thankful that most of the time I have good health. Perspective, I have learned, is a true blessing necessary to perseverance and faith alike.

Nothing like an ill spouse and a wrecked car to remind one...

...things could be worse, and they're not. Praise God.

I voted

This morning, I donated my "I VOTED" sticker to my wife, who forgot to grab one on her way out. But I really did vote. Our polling place happens to be the First Christian Church of Fallbrook, the oldest remaining church in town. Several of our good friends have gotten married there over the past few years, and voting inside such a venerable establishment just makes me happy.

What's been happening: 9009 words

It's been so long since my last post, I figured I'd update my readers with nine photographs accompanied by one word apiece. Since a picture's worth a thousand words, that equals 9009 words, although I sometimes feel my pictures are worth more like one or two hundred words than a thousand. Here goes...

Desert

Arnold

Slides

Guardian

Carefree

Thanksgiving

Karaoke

Limousine

Downtown

Ghost downtown, wasteland outskirts

The two descriptions in the headline basically sum up what it feels like to be in Fallbrook tonight, before the evacuation order has been lifted. In the downtown area, you're more likely to see a National Guard humvee or a law enforcement cruiser than a normal, civilian car. And all along the eastern and northern borders of town, the scenes are going to be eerie and foreign for weeks to come. Here are a few more pictures from the last few days.

Yesterday, I cruised around with Kenny, collecting addresses of homes that were burned down to put on the North County Times Web site. We visited Valley Oaks and made a list of all the coaches still standing, which is also viewable at nctimes.com.

Here, Kenny inspects a dead cat at Valley Oaks.

This is what fire retardant looks like up close. This photo was taken Wednesday afternoon at the Pala Mesa Villas, right next to the golf course, and the streak of pink from an air tanker is visible from I-15.

This is a photo I took off North Stage Coach Lane, as Kenny and Paige and I watched the fire burn in De Luz. Please note: This photo was taken Tuesday night; there is nothing that looks like this burning anywhere near Fallbrook at this point. Not that I know of, anyway.

This is a view of downtown Fallbrook, looking north on Main Street from in front of McDonald's around 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

And, finally, the sun as of 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Thank you for all your prayers and support. This ordeal is almost over; folks will start coming home soon. I can't wait.

Don't trust the Web!

There is a ton of misinformation floating around the Internet right now about the Fallbrook fire. Don't believe it, and please don't spread it. Potter Jr. High has not burned down. Nothing west of Gird Road and Live Oak Park Road burned down, from what I've seen. The fire is pretty much dead south of East Mission Road in Fallbrook, although there are a few hot spots--I just confirmed that with the fire department.

For the most part, you can believe anything you read on nctimes.com. Independent bloggers and sensationalist rumor-spreaders on the Web do not have to be accountable to anyone; a newspaper does, even with the information on its Web site. So, please, don't worry about your house unless it is east of Gird or Live Oak Park Road, or north of East Mission near Red Mountain, and don't let those who say the fire's still raging in Fallbrook concern you. It's not.

My clips

If anyone is interested in reading a first-person column about my parents' mobile home park that I wrote for the North County Times, you can read it here.

There is also a video clip with me narrating that you can watch.

Update

I have no idea what I will end up reporting on today. Last night, I slept at Kenny and Paige's house on the western border of Fallbrook, and when I woke up, the smoke was very thick overhead. My car was covered in ashes.

The fire has moved north, into De Luz. Right now, it's heading for the Riverside County line, and officials are also worried about it turning around and heading east toward Rainbow. Residents of Fallbrook may be let back in beginning tomorrow, and there will be a state emergency resource hub set up at the Fallbrook Community Center on Thursday morning. For those of you who are displaced, sit tight. If your home is in or near downtown Fallbrook, chances are it is fine. Keep praying for the firefighters and decision-makers, and please pray for me, that I would be able to do some good, useful reporting today.

Fire update

Since quite a few folks seem to be reading this blog for info, I'll post what I know right now. These are official numbers, as of 7 p.m.

-7,500 acres burned
-10% contained
-206 homes destroyed
-21,000 avocado trees destroyed

Additionally, I was told at the command post an hour ago that tomorrow morning could prove to be the turning point in the fire. If the wind doesn't pick up, the chiefs seem to think they can contain a good bit more of the blaze--probably the portion that was threatening to move closer to downtown Fallbrook.

The area of most concern tonight is Rainbow Glen, where the fire is making headway. It remains to be seen how far it will burn toward De Luz, but the northeast part of De Luz has been evacuated. Rainbow Glen appears to be the only area where the fire is growing, though, so that's good news for folks in Fallbrook.

I've returned at least 30 e-mails from various people about the status of their homes. The town is pretty much deserted, and everyone who lives here is cooped up somewhere along the coast. They all are concerned about their houses, and some of them will return to find only ashes. They need our prayers.

That's all for now.

Reporting on Fallbrook fire

I'm not sure if anybody will be checking this blog during the next day or two, but if you have come here looking for information about the Rice fire in Fallbrook, our family, my role in covering the fire, etc., I want to fill you in.

I worked 13 hours yesterday and I'm going on nine hours today. This is the worst fire in the history of this town, and I must say on the front end, the blaze claimed my parents' house at Valley Oaks yesterday. So if I get emotional at all during this post, please forgive me.

I've just returned to downtown Fallbrook from Valley Oaks, and the place is desolate. The northern half of the park is totally destroyed. I broke down when I finally walked around my parents' lot and saw things I recognized in the ashes. It was also eerie to walk around the streets I've walked so often, either in deep conversation with my mom or when courting Dorinda. I have so many good memories in that park, to see it torn apart is hard.

Taking a wider view of the crisis, the fire is far from going out. It's still threatening to move closer to downtown Fallbrook--and, by extension, our little guest house behind my sister's home. Plus, it's spreading into De Luz and south toward Highway 76. It's going to be a long couple of days before it's finally put out, and I don't even know when Dori can come back from her parents' house in Oceanside.

I must say, thank you all so much for your prayers. All the fire authorities were worried when I awoke this morning, fearing that the anticipated 50 MPH winds would drive the fire to our doorstep, but by 10 a.m., there was really no wind stirring. 11 a.m., nothing. Noon, I looked out the window in the North County Times office in Fallbrook, and there was still no wind. It is now 3 p.m. and the trees aren't moving outside. That means the fire isn't spreading, and it's exactly the news we've all been hoping to hear. So keep praying for calm, humid weather with a coastal breeze.

If you would like to stay up on my Fallbrook fire coverage, please visit www.nctimes.com. I will be posting updates throughout the week, and may even be able to provide a first-person piece about my experience today at Valley Oaks.

Again, this community--along with many others in Southern California--needs your prayers.

Here are a few pictures I took today.

Sunday baseball

While the Chargers were punishing the Raiders yesterday, I joined up with a crew of friends that plays baseball every Sunday afternoon at a park in Oceanside. I was reminded of how much I love playing baseball. I was also reminded of how out of shape I am at the present time--several muscles and joints hurt, and yesterday's pick-up game wouldn't even have passed as a light practice when I was in high school. I guess writing and taking pictures don't quite keep one in tip-top physical form. Here are a few shots from yesterday.

I love cold weather

Yesterday was cold and rainy, and I loved it. Who's with me?

I started out the day at Starbucks, reading a book and drinking strong coffee. Just knowing it was cold outside was enough--it felt like we were actually experiencing a season other than summer! What a novelty!

Outside Costco later in the day, Dori and I saw a small deciduous tree with leaves that were in various stages of turning dark red. When I lived in Portland, the trees would all look like fire at this time of year, and I miss that. I miss [some of] the rain. I miss snowboarding on Mount Hood, watching the billow of my breath disappear, and cold days that were genuinely cold, but not so much so that a brisk walk down a street lined with fire-headed maples was unpleasant.

As you can tell, I am having some fond memories of the climate of my old home, but what is kind of funny is that, come February or March, I will be gloating about the blessed sameness of Fallbrook's 12 months of summer to my friends in Portland, who in turn will be ready to thaw, yet still months away from relief. When it comes, they might value summer more than I, but I value what little measure of fall and winter we are allowed at this time of year more than they might understand.

New toy

In July, we were cleaning out my grandpa's house in La Mirada when I found a beat-up old guitar case in a closet. My heart started racing, and I took it in the living room and opened it up. Two months and $350 later, here is the new 12-string Takamine I have added to my lineup of instruments...

I had it cleaned up at Buffalo Brothers (great guitar store in Carlsbad--if you can make it there before they close at 6 p.m.), and had them install the same pickup that I have in my six-string Larivee. I have yet to plug it in and hear how it sounds amplified, but organic, it sounds great. Very rich and loud, with a hint of the signature tin sound that 12-string guitars have from all the high-pitched steel strings.

I hope to learn how to tastefully integrate this guitar into my music leading at church and Bible study. Any tips on playing 12-strings would be appreciated.

Three little bandits

Triplet raccoons visited us tonight. There's not much to say about them, except that they were cute, and two of them were very outgoing. The third had better sense. Dori and our neighbor were feeding them, which I wasn't thrilled about, but it allowed me to get some good, close photos of them.

Reflections

It's taken a couple of days to recover from the Fourth of July festivities. Fireworks in Fallbrook were pretty--not the most spectacular display ever, but just having our own fireworks here was sweet. We were home in a few minutes when they ended, instead of waiting in traffic for an hour, like we would have had we gone to the beach or any other display in one of North County's bigger cities. Working the cops shift for the Times yesterday, I also found out there were three stabbings at the July 4 celebration in Oceanside by the pier. I'm pretty sure there were no stabbings and no gang fights at the event in Fallbrook.

Before watching the sky pop red and yellow over the Grand Tradition, my family and Dori's dad and brother got together for lunch and swimming.

Note on the picture below: I love the "NO DIVING" sign. "CAUTION. WARNING! RULES." To a kid, it all means NO HAVING FUN! And then the one in the upper right explaining how to perform CPR. If I pulled a drowning person out of the pool, the first thing I would do is mosey on over to that sign and read up on artificial respiration.

Shooting a rose garden

A friend asked if I knew anyone who could take some good pictures of his rose garden. Having just bought my camera a month ago, I volunteered. It was an amazing display--at least a hundred bushes, most in full bloom. Here is a sample of what I got.

Busy day

Saturday began early for me--7:30 a.m., to be precise, when I started getting ready for my first guitar gig outside of Bible study or church in more than five years. I played at an outreach just south of the Oceanside pier with Jim Hollingsworth, a really experienced and talented guitarist from Fallbrook. On Thursday night, he showed me the songs we'd play, then we practiced yesterday morning for about an hour and a half. So, with about four hours of practice, we did eight songs ranging from John Mayer to Jimi Hendrix to Miles Davis. Yes, Miles Davis. Jim has an eclectic taste in music.

It was fun, but it was also challenging. For example, when I play guitar, a pick is like a blankie. I don't feel right if I'm not using a pick, but the first thing Jim did on Thursday when we practiced was tell me to put down the pick. The songs were mostly outside my frame of reference, and one was in 3/4 timing, syncopated. But I think we sounded OK. We got plenty of compliments afterward, but that could have been church folks just being nice. Overall, it was a great experience, and I look forward to playing more with Jim in the future.

After playing the gig, Dori and I headed over to her brother's house and then to the county fair with Dustin, Ashley and Danielle. We ate plenty of unhealthy food and browsed the shops. The hypnotist was funny but his act got kind of inappropriate a couple of times. It always amazes me that so many people want this guy to mess with their subconscious in front of five hundred spectators.

Dustin got plenty of compliments on his shirt, advertising the next installment of the Halo video game series.

We also walked through the photography exhibit so I could get my dose of humility. Just when you start thinking you're a good photographer, march your big head into a competition and it'll knock you down a few notches. Some of the pictures in there were unbelievable. So I walked out inspired, and took this:

Not the most difficult picture to take, but it was still fun. We ate some more and went back to Dustin and Ashley's house to watch a movie. When you start nodding off during Die Hard, you know you've had a long day.