Hot Water on Tap, Again!

Just a quick update.

I woke up by 6:30 a.m. (after going to sleep at 3:30 a.m.) to be ready for the gas company technician should he arrive early in the morning.  He didn't, but, I watched portions of the funeral for President Carter, tidied the yarn ends on the pink blanket, and replied to blog comments while I waited.  Thank you everyone for your kind comments and thoughts and prayers for our saftely.

The winds had died down quite a bit and that was very helpful as the fire departments were able to fly their water dropping helicopters, etc., which they couldn't do when the winds were blowing so strongly, earlier.  A friend of mine had posted pictures of what used to be his home, now burned completely to the ground.  He and his partner had evacuated the previous day, but, returned to find their house completely gone.  

The gas company technician phoned me in the late afternoon, saying he hoped to be at my house in about 30 minutes.  He arrived around 4:45 p.m. and thankfully, he was able to restart the gas heater pilot light.  He then taped the door to the cover box, but, told me to ask a handyman to bolt it down.   

My daughter and I got another box of supplies ready to go in the car, later in the evening.  She is anxious because she is hampered by the crutches and won't be able to help grab a few necessary items to rush out of the house at the last minute.  She says she would feel better if the car was already packed and ready to leave, so, that's what I am doing.  The box I packed today contains things like paper towels, toilet paper, some trash bags, a box of baby wipes, a container of disinfectant wipes, some ziplock bags, etc.  

It didn't help her anxiety levels when we received a text alert saying our area was put under an evacuation warning and to get our important items ready if we needed to leave.  However, a few seconds later, we received a second text alert stating that the previous one was sent in error.  It applied to only those people near the new brushfire that ignited in the afternoon, but the alert was sent to just about everyone in Los Angeles County in error.  Whew!

But, as I watched news coverage of people evacuating with whatever they can pack into their cars and then, abandoning their cars on the road because they were in a gridlock and just walking away with just what they can carry, I realized that I had a lot of possessions to declutter!  

People weren't the only ones evacuating; the news cameras captured the sight of a mother mountain lion and her two cubs running along the side of the road.

Dancer was off his food this morning, as he refused tuna from the can I opened the day before, or any of three new cans of cat food (three different flavors - beef, chicken, and turkey).  I was getting worried about him, but, then, I discovered that he was holding out for fresh tuna!  I opened a new can and he happily ate from it!  He is spoilt rotten!  So far, he hasn't had any upset tummy issues today.  Hopefully, that continues to be so.

My half-sister called to check on me in the afternoon.  She resides in an area that is not affected by the wildfires, but, she said she can smell the smoke in the air and there's soot in the driveway.  

Brunch was toast with calamondin marmalade.  Dinner was a salad, followed by rice and curries (meatball curry, dhal, shredded kale  with grated coconut. tomato chutney).  I was in a snacking mood, today, so, snacks included popcorn and cookies.

Today, I am grateful for:

- The winds have died down for now
- The gas company sending out service technicians to tend to problems with gas heaters, water heaters, etc.
- Having hot water on tap, again
- The evacuation warning alert we received was an error
- Daughter and I are together and we are safe, so far.
- Dancer seems to have recovered from his upset tummy

Today's joyful activity was having hot water on tap, again.

Plans for Friday include:

- Picking up groceries
- Tending to the garden with M
- More paperwork

How was your Thursday?  What are your plans for Friday?