I stuck around for most of the Stone Story, but it was getting dificult because of the flu. It came on Saturday, and is getting worse now. I had to go and lay down for a few hours. When I woke up, I smelled smoke. I hadn't left any fires on, but soon saw an announcement on the TV about more fires around San Diego. When last I checked, the two fires (Harris Fire and Witch Creek Fire) have covered 22,000 acres, killed one person, and injured many others (including 4 firefighters). I'm sure countless dogs, cats, horses, deer, mountain lions, etc have been killed. But I have a brother and sister-in-law and a lady I've known her whole life who live within a couple of miles of them - one of whom has been forced to evacuate. Dang it's only a few days from the 4 year anniversary of the big fire we just had. We've had a draught for about a year, and now a Santa Anna wind condition (dry desert air blowing westward through this area) whipping up the winds to 50 and ocassionally 60 mph. Well, I'm well out of reach of the fire, but dang!....the wildlife...the trees...the pets...and so little water.

Well, Goldfest was a blast. I had lots of fun writing in the Stone Story, and want to thank the graphics artists and the other writers for providing an excellent book for my chapter to appear in. The whole purpose of that first paragraph was so Cornie will feel some pity for me when she comes back.