I’m currently sitting on the couch (covered with tarp and quilt to protect from random cat pee-age), watching RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD and trying to shut my brain off.  All day I’ve been following the fires in San Diego (my home town) and Los Angeles (home for 10 years after leaving the nest) and finally decided to take a break.  I’ve called everyone I can think of who might be in danger, found out they’re either okay or have safely evacuated, have  looked at the updates and maps several dozen times, and still can’t believe it’s really happening.  The fires in ’03 were horrible, but these are nearly biblical in proportion.    It makes ever petty annoyance or stress I’ve had the last few weeks seem trivial.