Thursday, November 8
There’s a big wildfire to the east of us. It started at 6:30 am and grew rapidly. By the end of the day it was bigger than our fire had been, and the smell of smoke was heavy in the air. Our normally raucous chickens were very quiet when I went to feed them and pick up the eggs. I’m spooked.
Friday, November 9
The big fire is 170 miles away, in Butte County, but the smoke is so bad here that I had to get off the treadmill after five minutes. Then I got down on the floor and had to quit exercising after about 20 minutes because I was getting headachy and nauseous. This is in an air-conditioned room, with its door taped shut. My apartment is better sealed and I have a “Molekule” air purifier which is doing its job. But it’s no picnic. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.
Saturday, November 10, 2018
So far my internal systems are holding and that will be true as long as the power stays on and the fires don’t come too close. They are predicting high winds again for tonight and Monday night. I am trying to keep busy. I have plenty of work to do. If we have to evacuate, I’ll have to stop at a vet’s and have Sylly P put down. She has been sick since Christmas. I gave up on the holistic vet, whose treatments never ended, and were very hard to administer. She is now on anti-biotics, 2nd round, this time directed at colon and bladder. 4 days into that, and I am still cleaning up, two or three times a day. I have a wonderful offer from the Scalbergs in Carmel, again, but if I get there, it will be all alone and very sad.
Upcoming: 3 nice cruises
For those of you who have been asking where I go next, that’s Buenos Aires to San Antonio, on Celebrity, Eclipse, December 23, with add-ons in BA and the Chilean Wine country. https://tinyurl.com/2018BAtoChile
If you want Asia, I have TWO choices for you:
I’ll be hosting on Celebrity – Millennium – March 30, Shanghai to Tokyo, 14 days
Celebrity Millenium – Shanghai to Tokyo – 2 back-to-back China/Korea and Japanese Explorer: https://tinyurl.com/2019ShanghaiTokyo
Start with a few days in Shanghai, then”
- Seoul
- Beijing – 2 overnights
- Jeju Island, South Korea
- Kobe, Japan – overnight
- Mt Fuji
End in Tokyo –Stay a few days there. I have good friends to help me script that.
Helen Megan 
So so sad, Helen. Hope everything goes as well as possible. We’ll be thinking of you (and Sylly P) Hugs Pat and Paul
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My thoughts and prayers are with you Helen.
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That sounds bad, am sorry you have to go thu that, am also sorry to hear about Silly P.
Here in Napa it is bad as well, not as bad as in SR but bad enough. :-(, hope no one needs to be evacuated fon your side, bad enough what those close to the fire have/had to endure…If you need a place, our rented house is not paradise but if you are in need, we always have a room for you…love from here, Ulla
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Welcome home Helen. Awful what is happening in Paradise. So sad. Marlene
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Smoke is very bad in Sacto area too! Very scary and creepy!
Mariann
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Sorry about Sylly P. You have our sympathy. Our loved ones come in several shapes, and cats and dogs are indeed part of the family. Hope you keep her on your header. Love
Gil Mercier 26 avenue de Tourville 75007 Paris, France, code 25B79 01 47 05 00 87 02 97 26 36 49 06 60 59 61 23
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I so wish I could send you all the rain we have had during the last month.
Ah poor Sylly P.
I wish both of you well, be safe!
Diann
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So sorry to hear about your cat. I know she has been a good companion thru the years. In Napa I had to put down my cat, Socks has he had cancer and would have been too expensive for surgery and no good predicted results. I hope the fires don’t come any closer, you had enough problems last time. Forrttunately AZ has no fires at this time. Take care, Lottie
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Helen do seriously re-consider moving back to Canada! You are most welcome here !! What a sad situation in California>>> Andrea Fairchild
Sent from my iPad A Fairchild
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Helen,
So sad to hear about Silly P. I agree with Andrea, move back to Quebec. We may have snow but it’s better than fire. There is room for you if you wish to come and I guarantee good food.
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