Royal Escape from the Topic - for off topic chit chat Showing 1,201-1,250 of 2,839

[Teresa]

I love teachers who encourage and understand you. We mostly had nuns teaching us but this was the only lay teacher. She was definitely the best of the whole lot.

[Kim]

I liked wandering through the stacks of our college library, functioned as our town library, and coming across new (to me) authors. I’ve always had an orderly albeit free-ranging mind, and like to read authors as they evolve, so that was my approach to the classics. Also, I think I was a literature major in the making from day one.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

& I'll just mention we have been having a bit of trouble with our internet.

I'll be around when I can!

[Karlyne]

As long as it's not weather or earthquakes or tidal waves!

[Kim]

My house smells like I am burning wood in the fireplace, I am many miles away from the fires, but our neighborhood is full of smoke.

[Karlyne]

You're in the Bay Area, Kim?

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Karlyne wrote: "As long as it's not weather or earthquakes or tidal waves!"

Worst spring I can remember but no disasters.

I'm hoping our internet problems are connected with our little town finally entering the 2010s & getting high fibre optic for the internet. The internet was running at the speed of concrete at work yesterday.

Other possibilities are the weather or school holidays.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Kim wrote: "My house smells like I am burning wood in the fireplace, I am many miles away from the fires, but our neighborhood is full of smoke."

That will be horrible.

[Kim]

Eyes are burning when we go outside, people with asthma having very tough time.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Kim wrote: "Eyes are burning when we go outside, people with asthma having very tough time."

Thoughts are with you Kim. I'll have to start paying more attention to the news. The awful news from the Caribbean & Florida took up most of our thoughts.

& our own political stuff of course.

[Karlyne]

We had horrible smoke through most of the summer, but most of our fires were not in heavily populated areas like yours, Kim, so at least lives and property losses weren't as horrible as yours.

[Abigail]

I’m in the Bay Area too, and it feels apocalyptic around here. More than 3,500 structures lost, twenty-some people confirmed dead and more than 200 listed as missing. A good number of them may yet be found because, like Puerto Rico, the fire area has lost much of its cell service; but as the days go by, it seems less and less likely.

And, like Puerto Rico, an entire economy has been devastated—the cascading effect of businesses damaged or closed because their employees can’t get to work. I feel lucky not being near the flames themselves and only having to contend with the breathing issues. Fortunately, our house is pretty weather-tight and we’ve kept all the doors and windows closed. Even so, I noticed that the black stand of my TV was covered in fine ash this morning.

The news today is starting to imply that many of the fires (there are 22 major fires in California right now) may have been started by power lines falling or trees falling on the power lines in high winds. Our utility company has been faulted before for not adequately doing its job (a gas explosion leveled a neighborhood and killed many people about six years ago), and it is getting targeted again for shoddy maintenance in this disaster.

[Karlyne]

It makes this even more tragic if at least part of it could have been prevented.

[Kim]

San Bruno writ even larger, eh? Do they never learn?

My husband and I are going to Grace Cathedral for a special Evensong tomorrow at 5:15 pm to pray for all impacted by the fire. The Bishop’s Ranch in Healdsburg is taking in displaced people from the fire. Am going to see what we can actually do to help.

[Susan in NC]

Be safe, all.

[Karlyne]

Hoping for downpours of rain.

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review)]

I hope it all calms down soon and people can start to recover.

[Karlyne]

We did get a downpour in the middle of last night (and snow on the mountains), but I meant rain in California - our fires were put out a couple of weeks ago.

[Critterbee❇]

Guys, be careful and don't take any chances. Worried about you!

[Karlyne]

I just read that the winds are supposed to pick back up today. I'm so, so sorry.

[Abigail]

Chance of rain in northern California starting next Wednesday—but that’s a lot of days of out-of-control wildfires to get through.

[Karlyne]

At 40-70 mph winds, fire can destroy a tremendous amount of country in a very short time. The article i was reading stressed that modern fire fighting techniques don't work well under these conditions. What a scary, horrible mess.

[Teresa]

Thinking of you all guys. What a horrible situation. I complain a lot about Ireland at times but at least our weather conditions are manageable, well mostly anyway.

[Karlyne]

I've forgotten, Teresa, if you're in Dublin? Friends who live out of Galway just posted about hurricane Ophelia maybe hitting that direction! The whole world is getting smacked...

[Belinda]

We were due to holiday on Bali during the school holidays (as most people in Western Australia do as it’s a tropical paradise nearby) but a volcano gave us other plans!

[Teresa]

I'm in Waterford down south Karlyne. Heard about it this morning. Not looking forward to it as I'm terrified of the wind. We usually get the best of it because it hits the west coast first, so Mary will experience it before me. Fingers crossed and thanks for the heads up.

[Karlyne]

We had downpours of rain, high winds and even snow just above us last night. Whew! But the sun is, momentarily at least, shining now.

[Susan in NC]

Belinda - sorry for your vacation plans ruined! Teresa and Mary, be safe - our weatherman said Ophelia was turning to Ireland the other night and I was so surprised - and relieved, the Caribbean can’t take anymore!

[Susan in NC]

Enjoy the sunshine while you can karlyne!

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Belinda wrote: "We were due to holiday on Bali during the school holidays (as most people in Western Australia do as it’s a tropical paradise nearby) but a volcano gave us other plans!"

Hi my sister came back from Bali on Wednesday (I was one worried sister until her return) She said no one where she was staying was the slightest bit concerned & she had a wonderful time. I think one of Marty's brothers leaves there today. Popular destination for New Zealanders too)

[Susan in Perthshire]

Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!♕ wrote: "Belinda wrote: "We were due to holiday on Bali during the school holidays (as most people in Western Australia do as it’s a tropical paradise nearby) but a volcano gave us other plans!"

Hi my sist..."
From the far reaches of Scotland - Bali sounds incredibly exotic and romantic whatever the conditions. I do hope all is well there though!

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Carol,

I’m so glad your sis is ok.

Now you can be easy!

[QNPoohBear]

There are so many natural disasters happening right now! My thoughts are with everyone in the affected areas. I am really glad right now that my great-grandparents left earthquakes behind in Italy and moved to New England. Our weather is wacky, we get a lot of blizzards/nor'easters/rain/wind/sleet/snow and an occasional hurricane but never wildfires. I do remember smoke blowing down from Canada once in awhile but this part of New England was deforested centuries ago and what's left is mostly too wet to burn- at least right now. We do worry about the rising sea level and storms like Superstorm Sandy obliterating the state.

[Karlyne]

It's crazy right now! A real tornado touched down in Oregon yesterday. Oregon does not have real tornadoes...

[Teresa]

The weather is doing a total turn around as far as I can see. Here in Ireland, the South, we don't really get winters anymore. Unfortunately, we don't get summers either. It seems to be a mix between wind then rain, more wind and more rain. Cold has practically disappeared. It's the 13th of October and yesterday I didn't even wear a coat because it was so warm. Now I'm a bit unusual because I don't feel the cold easily but it really is very temperate now. Frost!! What's that? Haven't seen in for a few years.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

But... beautiful spring day in my little town. A week of good weather is forecast. ✔

[Susan in NC]

Susan in Perthshire wrote: "Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!♕ wrote: "Belinda wrote: "We were due to holiday on Bali during the school holidays (as most people in Western Australia do as it’s a tropical paradise nearby) but a volcano g..."

Same here, from the wilds of the Piedmont region of NC! We have had some crazy weather and natural occurrences. Everyone have a safe, dry, non-flammable weekend - Susan2

[Teresa]

Susan, where is NC? I'm not very good with the abbreviations of the states. I don't know where many of you come from because of this. Is NC North Carolina?

[Karlyne]

It is, Teresa (I'll answer in case she's off for the weekend). I'm in Idaho, and that's seriously wild!

[Teresa]

Thanks Karlyne. I'm not sure at times where people are from. My daughter is heading to Atlanta tomorrow for a week for work. Once I have a full name place I'm not too bad but I'm useless at geography. Always was.

[Karlyne]

I'm convinced that spelling and a sense of direction are hereditary. You're either born with them or it's a struggle to get them!

I hope she has a pleasant trip. I've heard that Atlanta is lovely!

[Teresa]

Just hope she stays safe. She's a very independent lady. She doesn't get that from me so I'm glad she's the way she is.

[Karlyne]

It's a big city, but I'll bet she can handle it!

[Critterbee❇]

Atlanta is really a nice city, I have been there several times on vacation and for conferences.
I never had any problems with safety there, but it is always good to be mindful of your surroundings, especially in a new area.

Here in Virginia, we had that forest fire last year, but they were lucky and able to contain it. A few years ago we had a horrible derecho. Other than that, just an occasional heavy snowfall or thunderstorm, and flash flooding in low lying areas.

When I was in Japan, there were many earthquakes, a tsunami, and one bad flood. I think I prefer anything to the tsunami.

[Teresa]

Oh you can bet you!! She's a tough lady. I'm so proud of her. She came from my broken marriage, the only good thing about it, and I'm delighted with how she turned out.

[Karlyne]

Tsunamis! The stuff of nightmares!

[Susan in NC]

Teresa - sorry just saw this. Thanks Karlyne! I am in Greensboro,NC about 30 minutes south of Virginia border and about a5-6 hour drive from Atlanta. I’m sure your daughter will have a great time, it’s a bustling, exciting city.

How are you faring in Ireland with the remnants of the hurricane? It’s been in the news here about being the strongest hurricane to form so far north and east! Be safe!

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

I've read about Hurricane Ophelia in one of the Frederica threads!

Stay safe everyone!

[Critterbee❇]

OK, who started the toilet curse for our group? My toilet tank inner workings suddenly stopped, well, working! I guess it is my turn on the
Wheel of Toilet Trouble

[Susan in NC]

❇ Critterbee wrote: "OK, who started the toilet curse for our group? My toilet tank inner workings suddenly stopped, well, working! I guess it is my turn on the

Wheel of Toilet Trouble
"
Yikes, sorry!