So, If being a temporary cripple isn't enough, today on the way home from town I spotted smoke and told Mary Beth there was a fire. Now let me explain that i'm staying with her in her house way out in the hills Where there has been no trees cut or brush cleared for like the last 50 years.......and it is bone dry out here.

We got to the house just as the Forestry Service planes started to circle and they were right over us. We never saw the fire itself but it was only about a mile away and the wind blowing our direction. We packed up a carful of valuables, her dog, and booked. Back to Kendall's house where we could stay and be safe.

About a half hour after we got there they announced the fire was out, having consumed about 60 acres. So we jump back in the car and home we go, where everything is fine but stinky from the smoke. The fire got about 1/2 mile from us. Pretty scary all the same.

Now we are both mentally and physically exhausted and just trying to catch our breath.

Thanks mother nature. We both needed this like a big thorny dildo inserted in a tender spot!