Tuesday, October 23, 2007

The fires in San Diego

Hello from a place that feels like what Hell must be...

It's bad here, really bad.

i want to send out a big thank you all for text messages, phone calls, e-mails, Facebook notes, MySpace messages, regular mail, all of it...

It is scary, very much so right now, so incredibly frightening... so to have support and concern, prayers and good thoughts sent this way right now means EVERYTHING.

As i write this, Mattie and i are safe and all right as is my family here. Peter, who just the other day adopted an older Labrador, and his family are all right as well. Unfortuanately, that could change at any moment. I think the entire county of San Diego is on fire.

This is incredible, tragic, frightening, frustrating. The things i have seen are horrifying, and i am worried most about the animals, both pets and the wildlife, many (too many) of which have perished, in some horrific ways.

Working in the newspaper business has been my dream come true for the last 20-something years of my life, but right now, it's painful to the depths of my soul to be in the newsrooom, to be surrounded by FACTS.

And the fact of what is happening right now is this: devastation.

If you want to help the animals, and if you can, please do:

http://www.sdhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter__HarrisWitchcreekFire

I'm doing what i can to help here...

Please think good thoughts.

I'll be back when this nightmare is over.

Hugs,
Karen (kleo)

http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/news/breaking/2007/10/help_for_animals_in_the_fires.html

http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/

http://www.signonsandiego.com/

50 comments:

Carrie™ said...

Karen, our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I'm praying for rain as we speak. Keep in touch, please! I'll call you tomorrow.

Unknown said...

omg Karen, you are in my thoughts and I hope this all stops soon so that some kind of normalcy can be found again! let me know if there's anything I can do for you.

River said...

I don't drop by often (and don't often comment), but wish I had done so sooner with all that's happening in your world right now. Poor San Diego, poor you! My thoughts are with you with you with you. Please post when you can to let us all know you're okay? Special love and virtual hugs to you all.

Anonymous said...

im very sorry for all of this.
My prayers to you and all the town

Steffi said...

My thoughts are with you. I hope everything will be back to normal soon!

Anonymous said...

My prayers are with you at this difficult time.

My heart goes out to you and all around you as you deal with these horrific fires.

Will call back soon to make sure all is well.

Rachel said...

Karen! I can't even stand to think about what some of those poor animals went through. If people want to volunteer, here is the link to other places that need help:
http://network.bestfriends.org/california/news/19996.html

I'm glad you are well!

Anonymous said...

I have been thinking about you a lot lately. So glad to hear you're safe. I know it's difficult but please keep us updated, if only a quick one sentence post to say you're ok. Hugs Hugs Hugs dear friend.

Tofu Mom (AKA Tofu-n-Sprouts) said...

I've been thinking a lot about you guys and really hoping and praying we'd hear from you... and I am SO glad you found time amidst all this, to at least post a paragraph and let us here in blog-land know you're OK... at least for the moment.

I SOOO hope you'll stay safe and well and free from harm. Know that you're in our thoughts and prayers.

Vicki's Vegan Vice said...

Watching the devastating news is heart breaking. Please take care there.

funwithyourfood said...

hey there
i have friends and family down there too. i live in irvine and there's fire here too. it is hell- orange days and early nights.

i hope you're staying safe

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

You KNOW that I will be (and have been already!!!) keeping you and your family in my deepest thoughts and prayers - I hope that the fires will be completely put out soon, and that the arsonist who caused this disaster meets his fate.

Anonymous said...

I was going to be in San Diego on vacation, my flight was to be today! But I have had to postpone it. I was thinking of you. I hope all will be well with you and your town, and that inconvenience is the worst that anyone experiences.

I have been long without reliable internet access so I don't remember my blogger acct password.

-Kareno

urban vegan said...

Sending good thoughts your way. I'm so sorry you are going through such a hard time in your life over the last few months--and now this. Things will get better.

Please stay safe.

XO

Lapa said...

so many friends...

Jenny said...

The animals! I can't bear to watch news stories about them, but I can donate and will just after I finish this comment.

Be safe.

Vegan_Noodle said...

Hope you are safe and doing as well as canm be expected in this tough time. I will be thinking good thoughts of rain, cooler temps, and no wind. Take care :-)

aTxVegn said...

Karen, I've been so worried about you - it's GREAT to hear from you. Please stay safe. I hope with all my heart this wasn't an act of arson. I can only imagine how scary it must be to live this nightmare. I pray it's all over with soon.

TB said...

hi karen/kleo, i'm so glad that you guys were safe as of tuesday, and i hope that you continue to be. my family's house in san diego was threatened for a while on tuesday, so i know how scary all of this has been. thankfully the fire moved on, and my mom's home is now safe. where i am (orange county) the air is awful, ash raining down, it's so hot... i agree about this feeling something like hell. anyway, sending best wishes to you and yours. i hope you are all ok.

Rachael said...

Sending as many good thoughts as I can your way. Stay safe and post again as soon as you can so we know you are ok.

Shananigans said...

Our thoughts are with you and everyone who's been affected. Hope the healing can begin soon...

LisaJean119 said...

I'm sorry you are in the middle of that. That is horrible:(....

Sheree' said...

Hi Karen, I am glad you and Mattie are ok as well as your family and Peter. Last night was the first night Shiloh and Joshua got to go for a walk. They were so happy. We went 2 1/2 miles and they were moving out the whole time. We were evacuated in the Cedar fires and would hate to relive that again. I have tears of sadness for the devastation, yet tears of joy when I see how well we have all come together to help. Stay safe. Miss you!

Jackie said...

Thinking of you at this dreadful time. I wasn't quite sure which area you were in. I have been following things daily but so little is being said about the animals, wild and domestic, in the news. I did see they said to leave pets inside the homes with food and water when they evacuated which horrified me after the horrors of what happened with Catrina.

Please try and let us know how things go.

dreamy said...

May you, your family and all humans animals and other living beings in San Diego pull through this period safely.

Unknown said...

Karen,
I was wondering if you were ok. Glad to hear you & your family are. I heard on Friday that the winds were settling down so I hope that helps.

I've really missed your blog posts & your comments. Can't wait to have you back.

scottishvegan said...

Glad to hear you are okay. Please take care.

Anonymous said...

I am sorry to hear about the ordeal you are facing Kleo and all the other people/animals affected by this tragedy. Sending you a big hug...hang on K and know that so many, many people care, including me. Huggss.....

laura k said...

Oh, Karen... my thoughts and prayers are with you as always. So scary... but I'm glad you and Peter and your loved ones are all right.

n/a said...

Sending a hug and strength your way. You'll make it through. :) Don't be afraid to let it all out when you feel the frustration and hurt coming on.

Anonymous said...

You are in my thoughts... it is quite horrible indeed.

I hope the situation will be better very soon and that you are getting all the help that is needed.

Hugs

Scott McMurtrey said...

sending strong and safe thoughts your way.

bazu said...

be well and stay safe, K.

meesh said...

I hope you and your family continue to reamin safe through allof this. We're thinking all good thoughts for you here.

Blessed be...

TB said...

Hi Kleo, just wanted to stop by and say hi. Hope that everything continues to be ok with you guys and that life is getting back to normal (somewhat).

Kate said...

I will be praying for you and everyone effected by the fires. Stay safe.

Mark Xander said...

I am praying everyday for your safety, Karen.

I also wrote a little something about you (and the victims of this tragedy) here..

http://markxander.blogspot.com/2007/11/morning-face.html

Much love,

Mark

VeganHeartDoc said...

Karen, I hope you and your loved ones have stayed safe. I feel very lucky that my part of Los Angeles has remained untouched by the fires.

Anonymous said...

As always, you are in my thoughts. This is so horrible...
Please take good care and stay safe Karen. Love and blessings to you and yours.
Hope to hear from you soon, when this nightmare is over.

urban vegan said...

Karen--I'm still thinking about you and am hoping everything is OK. Come back and visit with us when you can.

XO

Anonymous said...

I hope you're okay and I'm thinking of you.

Rage And Love said...

Karen, I pray that everything will be all right (I know everything will be fine, you're a great person).

If you need anything let me know. I'll send anything you desperately need (like a vegan cupcake to raise your spirit :-) )

Much Love!

vko said...

Oh Karen- I hope that everything is better and you guys are getting through yet another terrible event. What a horrible tragedy.

My thoughts & prayers are with you & Mattie. You've been through so much and I just wanted to you know that we care.

Lots of hugs,
VKO & Booboo

Peter Matthes said...

Take good care guys.

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

hope all is well, Karen!! miss you in the blogging world!!

Candi said...

Thinking of you, Kleo. I hope you and Peter and Mattie are well!

xxx

MeloMeals said...

Thank you for your beautiful card! It meant so much to me.

Happy Hanukah!

I'm glad that everything is OK with you after the fires.. I missed this post... it sounds horrific. My mom lives out your way, and she was evacuated and fortunately ended up OK too.

bazu said...

I was just thinking of you, Ms. K! I wanted to stop by and wish you a happy Hanukkah, and hope that you are doing well. Drop a word whenever you have a chance!

hugs,
b-z-

Jackie said...

Hope you are having a wonderful Hanukkah and that things are normalizing after your scary time.

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