Re: Tire Fire in Northern California

In a message dated 9/24/99 12:16:03 PM EST, cnorman@best.com writes:

<< As bad as it might get out here (and yes, I am being very very careful, as
 I am severely reactant to petrochemicals), I feel horrible for those of you
 in the northern Central Valley.  I hope the impact for you is minimal. >>

Cyndi:

We drove down Interstate 5 to La Jolla on Friday and had to go right through 
the worst part of the smoke.  It was AWFUL!  I was coughing and choking for 
hours after we were long past the fire.  The "soot" on my plants washed right 
off, so it probably wasn't from the tire fire.  The worst part of it is that 
this valley is like a big bowl, and when high pressure dominates our weather 
(as it currently does), an inversion layer forms, effectively trapping all of 
the pollution at the bottom (where we live and breathe).  Visibility in the 
valley on our drive down to San Diego was about the worst I've ever seen.  
I'm fortunate in that I've never had any allergies, but I know people who 
have lived their whole lives without allergies, and after a few years of 
living in the Central Valley, they're as bad as anyone.  The 
Eucalyptus-scented, salt-laden, misty air of La Jolla was WONDERFUL, however. 
 I wish I could have bottled it and brought it home with me!  I left my 
oldest baby girl down there at UCSD, and I think only another 
obsessive-compulsive Dad can understand how gut-wrenching an experience that 
is.  She seemed happy, though.  I think she wanted to get as far away from us 
as she could and still be in California!  Sigh.  Unfortunately, I didn't get 
a chance to visit the "banana lady" or Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas 
while I was down there, as recommended by Nan Sterman, (Thanks anyway, Nan!) 
but I'm sure there will be other chances.

Kurt
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