Hello Everyone,

My deep thanks to all of you for your thoughts and good wishes. I have a few minutes here, so will try and answer some questions and give an up-date from North San Diego County. The situation here is still very critical. Yes, the winds have died down, very good news, but the fires are still raging and will continue to do so for some time. The I-5 corridor from San Clemente to S.D. was shut down both direction this a.m. because of fires in the Camp Pendelton area. This means that getting around is very difficult. Just heard they have opened south bound, north remains closed. The winds are starting to shift which will start blowing all the smoke back in from the ocean. They are predicting dangerous air quality. A couple hours ago I thought I was going to have to go for emergency treatment as my nose started to bleed and I could'nt get it stopped. I was really scared. A nurse who lives down the street came up and helped me get it under control.

All schools, most businesses, are still closed for the rest of the week and people are being urged to stay home as much as possible.

JoAnn: Fallbrook is really bad, now more than 200 homes lost and the area around Old 395 is a total loss. Chad and family still cannot gain access to their area of Fallbrook to determine the status of their home, but it looks bad.

It is so amazing to see how the people of S.D. are conducting themselves in this emergency. There has been no looting in evacuated areas, people are orderly and pouring their hearts into helping in every way possible.

I have to say that I am apprehensive about leaving for this cruise next week. Thank goodness I have a lot of things already taken care of but there will still be much to do. I have a houseful here, including 2 babies, so busy, busy, busy!

Again, your thoughts and prayers are so wonderful.

Shirley