Daily Life Experiences

Updated Today: 12/20/04

I try to update everyday! But sometimes I'm off on an adventure!

"The more one looks, the more one sees. The more one sees, the better one knows where to look." _Anonymous

Quick News:

I have been off on a woodturning adventure for a while! To see the photos of my Wood Turning Projects copy and paste this URL into your browser.

http://homepage.mac.com/freidaw/FreidasPhotos/PhotoAlbum31.html

The Wood turning project are at the bottom of the menu on the top of the page.

"The more one looks, the more one sees. The more one sees, the better one knows where to look." _Anonymous

No man believes genius is hereditary until he has a son! ––– Anonymous

Segmented Bowls are the hot ticket around here now! See below to find out what they are!

Just added a movie we created in the year 2000. I produced and added my thoughts and my friend Lee Soul and Ramon and Rich and Hugo and the rest of the team made it work! Doesn't she have beautiful eyes!

Welcome all you dotmac.info readers! The movie is below! Enjoy!
We live in Anaheim, California close to Disneyland, where the weather is the same all the time, beautiful!

NEW! Dog Bath Area Pictures! Very COOl! Pixel & Chip love their new place! Check just below!

Gene and I are having a great summer! We've been to the Orange County Fair, Laguna Art Festival, that Michael Moore movie and more. But did I take pictures, NO! So now I'm about to go on a Anaheim and Southern CA picture taking adventure. My friend David Wilcox has inspired me! He lives in Oregon where his photography is enhanced by the beautiful surroundings. Here is is photo web site. Take a look at that face rock! That's is weird! http://mactek.myphotos.cc/gallery/new5

So check back soon and see my new pictures of exciting Southern CA!
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Do It Anyway
The Paradoxical Commandments
By Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor the underdogs but follow only the top dogs.
Fight for a few of the underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

6/3/04
In wood turning class I did a serious of dumb moves which lead to wood spinning off of the lathe. It flew back and hit me in the arm causing a small cut. I am now thinking about turning pens!

Just put up a little story called, "I was shy then".

I love having the time these days to enjoy life and see the simple things. Ck out my new LittleBird movie. I made it using iMovie. You'll need quicktime to see it. If you are still not hooked up to a very fast cable modem it will take a moment to load. Check out getting a cable modem. It's soooooo fast. No waiting to load!

-----
Take the First Step
Then, You'll be the First to take Action
and When You Are the First to take Action
You Can Make a Difference!

5/26
Yesterday, I attended the Guardian Angels, luncheon. The Guardian Angels are a group of people who gather resources and inspiration for the Anaheim Memorial Medical Center. The luncheon was to raise funding for a Billy Bed for the new born baby department. I probably didn't say that just right! Anyway, I am on the Anaheim Memorial Center Foundation board and I really believe that this non-profit hospital is very special. It's outreach to the community and loving staff of doctors and nurses make this one of the best hospitals around. I met several new friends. One of them was Kay. Kay, told me how she put together a family reunion. It took three years but it was very successful. She also told me about Reunion Magazine (http://www.reunionsmag.com/). Think I'll try to put together one for my new family. (see (My lost family Category in left column)

5/23/04
My good friend Sheffra's husband, Eugene, died this passed week. After attending his funeral I thought about Sheffra's words. She said that without the community she has surrounded herself with, she would have had a hard time coping. The church was full of loved ones. She brought his artwork and poems and pictures of his life so everyone could learn and touch his life. I still hear the music, Looking for me in Rainbows by Vicky Brown.
It was a moving experience. I love you Sheffra and Bronson.

May 14
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES!
That's my boy! 37 years old and still growing!

May 2004
Okay, so I have to tell you what just happened! My husband and I decided to take a drive. I was driving down the street in the slow lane, I turned on my left hand turn signal to move to the left lane, I looked and there was a car way back there and plenty of room for me to turn into that lane. Well, about half way through the turn two teenage girls, one on cell phone. Sped up behind me and started to honk. Not just honk but stayed on the horn for the just about entire light. I just looked out my rear view mirror and smiled. The young girl driving looked back very upset and just kept pressing the horn. The other girl gave me the finger.

All of a sudden I saw a police car pull up beside her and begin to really verbal work her over for honking. Then the light changed. We all moved forward and at the next light the police officer pulled up beside her car again and worked her over some more! Don't you just love the police! I just kept smiling through out the whole thing. Everything just took care of itself. I hope it slowed her down some but I doubt it. But it sure made my day! Justice prevailed!

From 4-17-04
Today I downloaded Earthbrowser and took a trip around the world! The earth spins and you can pick out a web cam from many locations around the world. It's amazing! Try it at:

http://www.earthbrowser.com/

I liked the close shot of the people in New York!
From Friday April 9th, 2004
This was a good week for me. Lots of board meetings. Leadership Anaheim is one of the boards I serve on. We teach the community about the community they live in. It's a very rewarding board. If you want to give back to your community join the Leadership board of your town. Also, I am on the WIB (Workforce Investment Board). This organization lets me use my skills and expertise in the local economic workforce. Also, the Anaheim Memorial Medical Center board, the only Non-Profit hospital in Anaheim.

Today was the Good Friday Prayer Breakfast for the YMCA (I'm on that board too). It was great! 800 people or more. Community leaders and friends came together to hear Kent M. Keith speak. You know who he is? He is the one who wrote Do It Anyway, The Paradoxical Commandments. He did this when he was 19. Some people think Mother Teresa wrote them but she had them hanging on the wall in her center. Very good speaker.

Do It Anyway
The Paradoxical Commandments
By Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor the underdogs but follow only the top dogs.
Fight for a few of the underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

Tue - September 28, 2004

Earthquake in California but we didn't feel a thing here in Anaheim CA by Disneyland.

By listening to the news you would think that every time there is an earthquake we all feel it. Well, that's just not true. If the epicenter is right under us or not to far away then we can really feel the jolt. Feels like your riding a wave. I woke out of bed with my heart pounding very fast with the Whittier Quake but almost all of the others I hardly felt. Like this one today. Worst case is that your in the shower when one starts! That always worries me! Well, knock on wood that the big one doesn't happen.

I remember one time I was sitting in the dentist office waiting room by myself. I felt the earthshake. I asked the very big nurse if she felt it and she said "no, it was probably me just walking around". I looked down at the floor and it was concrete. Later when I got home I heard the news say that there was an earthquake and I laughed.

A song I'm going to write someday, "You make the earth quake under my feet, oh when you dance, around me mama!" he he

Posted at 05:35 PM

Tue - September 14, 2004

The Finger Adventure!

News Flash!

At 3:30 AM in an attempt to rescue a little Pomeranian dog (that sorta looks like hers only male) that was staring down cars in the middle of a very busy intersection. Freida Wolden took her dog and attached the lease and then used her dog as bait! Her dog (Pixel) is in heat (she may be 12 years old but she has still got that twinkle in her eye). Sure enough as she sat down on the front lawn the dog came out of the middle of the street to have a good sniff. After a time the lost little dog came right up next to Pixel and her. Freida decided to grab the little dogs collar. Poor little thing was scared and since Freida did not think ahead she had no lease to attach to it. The dog twisted and turned and pretty soon in the still of the night. A SNAP! Then she released the dog and realized she had re-broken her index finger on her right hand. That's the same finger she broke three days before her wedding 38 years ago!

She is now recuperating and will recover some day soon! Her wood turning career will be put on hold.

Update:
Her camera was delivered today, she will be using her middle finger to press the shutter button! And maybe at the dog too! Which, by the way, at 8-am, took off and ran home where the owner open the front door and welcomed him in after a good nights sleep.

The moral of the story, a broken finger is better than a splattered dog! I think?

Posted at 04:10 PM

Mon - September 13, 2004

Knotts Berry Farm Sept. 2004 Adventure

We spend the day at Knott's Berry farm taking pictures. These rides really soak the kids. They come off the rides dripping wet! Another fun day in Anaheim!

Posted at 02:56 AM

Wed - September 8, 2004

Pictures of August 25, 2004! My birthday!

Gene asked me, so what do you want to do for your birthday, go to dinner, a movie, down to the beach. I answered back, hmmm, how about going to Harbor Freight, Woodcraft, and the Art Supply Warehouse. He moaned a little and then off we went. We brought the camera's and took pictures of the day! We ended up at the beach on the pier, then off to Mimi's to eat. Okay, so I know the shoe's and the white legs stand out but I believe in comfort and now that I am 57 years old, I don't really give a damn if you like my white legs and ugly shoes or not! he he I'm an ordinary girl trying to make my way in this old world!

Posted at 01:11 AM

Mon - June 7, 2004

I was Shy Then!

Thought you might get a laugh out of this story about one of my
adventures. I ventured off by myself this day.

Click Read More for story

The Lilly Lake Flute Story

I find it very interesting how the sound of a flute can echo! I'm always looking for echo'ee places to play. The best was up at Lilly Lake which is close to Lake Tahoe CA.

I took this business trip by myself years ago and brought along my Native American Flute. I had planned to stay the weekend and just enjoy the place and look for echo-ee places to play my flute. I spent all Saturday driving around looking for a place with just the right sound. I have a hard time playing in front of people. My fingers freeze when I do.

I found this beautiful lake up some steep hills and hidden from any main road. It was really beautiful. Walking in and out of the trees with flute in hand I looked for a place to hid and play the flute. But everywhere I went there was a person close enough to see me. I was so shy then! I waited all day till everybody had left this little lake area except for two men in a little rowboat way over there on the other side. I figured they couldn't row fast enough to get to me anyway. (like they were going to beat me up for playing the flute or something!)

Anyway, now the sun was starting to go down behind the mountains surrounding this little lake. Finally, I looked around and walked down to the waters edge and sat on a big rock between the trees. I took a quick look around and saw no cars in the little parking lot behind me and no people. But now it was getting dark and I had to hurry. So I began to play my flute. Oh my god! It was so beautiful. The echos were so perfect! The sound surrounded the lake and trees! It felt like the birds even stopped to listen. I played for a good 10 - 15 minutes without stopping.

Then, I quietly put my flute down and took a long breath. All of a sudden, I heard clapping, loud echo-ee clapping. I turned around and there was a large group of Japanese tourists clapping at me and smiling! It took my breath away. They were smiling and shaking their heads up and down and seemed very happy. I know they loved the music but I couldn't handle it. I smiled, started to shake and practically ran to my car. As I drove I waved to them (they were still clapping) and drove away fast! I still wonder where they came from.

Well, That's my flute story. I was shy then. Someday I want to go back and play there again and be braver!

Love,
Freida

Posted at 10:28 AM

Sun - May 23, 2004

What a great day!

Gene and I had such a great day Saturday. James (our son) called us up and took us to lunch and a movie in Downtown Disney. This is a great area out behind Disneyland that is really fun. We went to see the movie Troy. It was a good movie, lots of cutting action and ankle bleeding! The special effects were good but there is this one scene that I saw 4 repeats of the same chariot! Afterwards we strolled around the shops. My favorite is an contemporary art store that is full of unique art pieces. Gene had such a good time kidding around with Jim. It felt really good. I love watching both of them laugh! I'm very proud of our son. It was the best day I've had for a long time!

Posted at 12:01 PM

Fri - April 9, 2004

Buddy dies at 13.5 years. So sorry Mikki!

I thought I'd share these sweet words with you all written by my sad friend Mikki back in Davenport.

Dear Family & Friends,
Just a note to let you know our much loved big dog Buddy had a stroke sometime between 3am and 7am this morning. We had to put him to sleep so he wouldn't suffer. He enriched our lives for 13.5 years.

Click on READ MORE for the rest of the story

He was so loved by the whole family that most of our kids & grandkids came to the Vet's office to say Goddbye to him one last time. We know that God say's not even a sparrow falls that He doesn't know about....so we said a prayer for Buddy as we all laid our hands on him and some of us with our arms around him. He wagged his big ole tail and tried to look at each one of us. It's like he knew and wanted one last look to remember us. We thanked God for letting us have him for so long...he was the best dog we have ever had, he was the most gentle dog you could ever ask for...not one grandkid did he not endure with love in his big ole brown eyes as they sat on his back or laid on his side as he stretched out as they read books to him, tail thumping along. He may not of had a fancy pedigree-he was half lab/half golden retriever but he was champion to us. When we got our tiny Chihuahuas he decided they were his, laid down gently, lifted a back leg so they could cuddle close to his body like a mother hen does with her chicks. He could of put them in his mouth they are so tiny but he was their surrogate Mom. They both always used to sit on him or curl up under his chin. This morning our boy Chihuahua-Paco-kept guarding him like he knew something was wrong. When our son picked Buddy up to take him to our car and the vet Paco was very upset, jumping all over Dale's legs trying to get to Buddy. This afternoon both the Chi's are appearing very sad, they must somehow know something has happened..The dog people say that dogs also grieve for their companions they lived with. If there is a doggy heaven-and we like to think so-then Buddy is chasing squirrels and rabbits again like when he was young once more in the big doggy heavenly fields. Those of you who have lost one of your Furkids will understand the pain we feel in our hearts today. Our one grand-daughter Gabi said Buddy picked a good day to go to doggy heaven-it's Good Friday!!!! We are thankful we were off school & work today so we were here when he needed us as he had always been for us.

Sad hearts,
Mikki, Butch, Angie, Rose, Dale, Dan and ten grandkids

Call on God, but row away from the rocks!!

thejaguars1@juno.com

Posted at 03:03 PM

Thu - January 8, 2004

Tonight, I am depressed! I ran over and killed a little dog today!

It was one year ago January 9th, 2003, that the terrible forceful winds blew our fence down in the middle of the night. Our little white Maltese dog went out over the downed fence from the backyard and disappeared into the night. In the morning when we discovered what happened we went into a frenzy to try to find her. She was around 10 or 11 years old and probably really scared. Up and down the streets! Over to the dog pound. Signs everywhere! Panic that she was hit by a car since we live on a busy street corner. A look in the sewer hole in the street! A walk up and down the railroad tracks. Back to the pound at 4pm everyday to see if she was brought in by one of the trucks. This went on for a month.

After spending a lot of time a the dog pound we realized she was gone from us. She was so white and cute and sweet.

Click READ MORE . . . . . .

Her name was "Little Girl". At least they had not posted her on the dead dog board at the pound. So we figured that she probably was picked up by someone driving by that felt sorry for her and took her into their home where she lives today, happy. We had taken her dog tags off that evening and she had no microchip.

One day some people dropped off a Border Collie and said they couldn't afford him anymore. I saw this poor depressed dog and fell in love with him through the bars. It was love at first sight! He was 2 years old and very smart. I was the first of several on the list. Finally the day came to take him home! He loved our other dog "Pixel" (10 year old Pomeranian) and they became good friends. "Pixel" was pretty sad that "Little Girl" was gone too. Now she felt better!

We decided that Chip and Pixel would go for walks together with Gene and me. We walked pass the houses and pass some apartments on our street. We thought we saw our lost "Little Girl" but no the kids had just got a little puppy white Maltese. They were so happy and we were thinking about our "Little Girl". We went for a walk just about everyday for this last year, pass their little apartment with a little grass out front and the two kids playing with their little doggie. With no place to play the kids were always out in the street so when I drove by there I always worried a kid would run out so I always go slow there. And I always looked for that little dog in the front. Today I ran over that dog and killed it and tonight I'm so sad!

As I sat at my computer this afternoon my glasses broke in two. I called Lenscrafters and made an appointment to get new ones. I put on my old standbys and could see just fine but they have no bifocals. I needed to see up close to read but not to drive. Gene and I jumped in the car and drove slowly down the street pass the apts. As I approached the little dogs house I saw the boy on the left side of the street on his bike and slowed down. I was doing about 15 miles per hour. All of a sudden a little white streak appeared and one bump and then another under the wheels. I looked into the rear mirror and saw it was not a child but the little dog. Gene and I ran back, the kid was screaming and ran off to the house. The dog was bleeding so bad and was dead. One man there was holding his hand on the dog and another man, the father, came out of the house.

I said, "I am so sad and I feel so bad about your dog. We are neighbors and we watched your dog grow up as we walked our dogs by everyday. I am so sorry that your dog ran out in the street in front of me. I didn't see him in time". He looked at me and said, "You were going to fast" I said I was going slow but I understand you are upset. It's very dangerous on this street. Dogs don't look to see if a car in coming when they want to be with the the little boy on the other side. He should have been on a lease!"

But all that didn't bring the dog back. I felt for the kids crying inside. The father looked at me and said, "So thats all, your sorry"? All of a sudden he scared us. At that moment I knew he wanted money from me. He called the police but they told him that it was his fault for not having the dog on a lease and they would not come. They told him to call the dog pound. He was mad at that.

They put the dog in a plastic bag and my husband took my arm and pulled me towards the car. I turned and said I'm so sorry about your dog!

When we got in the car, I told my husband I want to come back and give them a basket of fruit and a card or something to show them how bad I feel. He told me that the man is mad and he will not understand. He could hurt you. I did feel afraid of him.

So here I sit! It's 3:07:31am. I can't sleep, I keep seeing really red blood on the ground coming from that little dogs mouth. I keep trying to think of the right thing to do. I think and think but I haven't come up with an answer yet. I'll not drive down that away again. It could have been a little kid run out between the cars. Even if I had been going 5 I couldn't have stopped let alone the speed limit of 35. I hope tomorrow will bring some wisdom to me. Just seeing me will remind them of their dog. Do I try and make contact or leave it be? That is the question? What? What do I do?

Well, I'll sleep on it. Besides being sad, tonight, I'm kind of afraid of this guy. He knows where I live. Will he hurt my dogs to get even? My mind wanders. It is so easy for your dog to run out the door and into the street. I held my dogs and cried. I'm holding them now with my new glasses on. Unable to see the light to lead me to sleep. Unable to comfort those kids or myself. May the dawn hurry to me now for I am sad today, the day I killed a little white dog.

WHAT I DID THE NEXT DAY: I made a little gift bag full of little books with various titles like, Dreams, Secret Garden, and other sweet thoughts then I wrote a letter with a poem in it, telling them I sorry I was and how I bad I feel and i and $20.00. At 7 p.m. and very dark, I parked around the corner so they wouldn't see my car. As I approached the little patio in front of their house I noticed the teenage girl was standing there.

I said " Is this the house with the little white dog. She said yes and got a really sad look on her face. I said, "I feel so bad and I'm so sorry". She said "It's okay" and we began to cry. Since I couldn't talk anymore I just said, "Take Care, Honey" and we hugged over the fence. I gave her the little gift bag and cried all the way back to the car and all the way home! I feel that we both connected and she knows how bad I feel, just as I know how bad she feels. Facing it was hard for me and took courage on my part. It would have been easy to forget about it, but there are times when the most important thing, is to have courage to do the right thing in your heart. For if you lose your courage you lose it all!

Posted at 02:28 PM

Wed - December 24, 2003

Merry Christmas to You!

Isn't it life good! I wish you lots of hugs, warm soup and hot tea, dog and cat kisses, smiles towards a stranger moments, but most of all I wish you would not be mad at your mother for one day or at least for one moment. It's seems acceptable and natural for one to be upset at their mother. But wouldn't it be nice, just for a moment to reach out and take a risk. Just be a little kid for a minute and remember a good smile and hug from your mom. Just one moment, that's all a mother asks for!

Remember, "It's not about who loves you, it's about, who you love".

No READ MORE

Posted at 05:11 PM

Mon - December 22, 2003

Earthquake Today! Kinda Shaky Out Here In California!

6.5 is rather big. But it depends on if you are standing on top of the Epicenter or on top of the main shake! Here in Anaheim I felt a little rolling and ran to put my shoes on and grab my flutes! But up in Central CA it was bad for many people. I'm sure you have seen the news by now. I was sitting at the computer and I thought my glasses were moving on their own. My doggies slept right through it. So much for Dog Earthquake Warnings!

No Read More

Posted at 09:47 PM

Tue - December 9, 2003

Just Signed Up For 3 New Classes at Cerritos Community College

Next Semester is going to be fun! I just signed up for three new classes in ceramics and wood.

First is Handbuilding: The emphasis in this class will be on the design and fabrication of functional forms. Variations of coil and slab construction will be explored in greater depth. Both wood and plaster molds will be utilized in the making of these forms. We will also experiment with the use of colored clays. Various approaches to surface treatment will be explored including clay textures, slip and glaze decoration. Instructor: Steven Portigal (He's so cool!)

Next is Life Sculpture: This is a course designed to introduce the student to the modeling of the human figure from observation of a live model.
Did they say Live Model? As in a really live model? hmmmm I hope he has lots of really big muscles! hehe

Woodturning: Students will learn the methods, tools and materials used in woodturning. Each student will use his or her own bench-top lathe to create turned projects. Hey, maybe now I can finally make a wood Native American Flute!

No READ MORE

Posted at 09:30 AM

Mon - December 8, 2003

Freida, such a popular name I have!

Freida is the 935th most popular female first name in the United States
Gene is the 200th most popular male first name in the United States
James is the 1st most popular male first name in the United States
Robert is the 3rd most popular male first name in the United States
Linda is the 3rd most popular female first name in the United States
Bill is the 159th most popular male first name in the United States
Rebecca is the 34th most popular female first name in the United States
Sharon is the 20th most popular female first name in the United States
Andrea is the 81st most popular female first name in the United States
Julie is the 52nd most popular female first name in the United States
Herbert is the 130th most popular male first name in the United States
Ashley is the 63rd most popular female first name in the United States
Christopher is the 11th most popular male first name in the United States

Look up your name here: http://www.placesnamed.com

No READ MORE

Posted at 11:48 PM

Fri - October 31, 2003

It's Raining! I love the rain! However with the fires the floods follow.

Seems kinda late for all the unfortunate people who are homeless tonight in Southern California because some loser starts a fire.

The fires that raged here caused unbelievable damage. What little memories might have been left in the aftermath are being washed away right now. My heart goes out to all of them. Please think of them tonight in your prayers. We were going to buy a place in Big Bear at one time. It's beautiful there. We took the kids camping there when they were little and really had a good time, fishing and boating and sitting around the fire telling stories in the warm glow. I wonder if they remember that? hmmm

Gee, it's really raining hard now and cold too! One thing that the fires made me think about is, what would I grab if a fire was coming towards our house. I think after my Gene and doggies I would want the pictures of our family. The kids when they were little and pictures of my life as an entrepreneur, which is another story. Those pictures are irreplaceable. What I am doing is storing them on an idisk (see www.mac.com) to preserve them for my family. In fact, I'm in the process of scanning all the pictures in for that purpose. The idisk is like having a hard drive stored at another safe location.

Sleep warm tonight my children!

Posted at 11:45 PM

Thu - October 30, 2003

Today an Important Day in History (for me at least). Freida discovers how to make two pictures next to each other!

Tah Dah!

Posted at 06:48 AM

Sun - October 26, 2003

News Break
October 26, 2003

Devastation of California fires
October 26, 2003

A 13,000-acre (5,200-hectare) wildfire in the San Bernardino National Forest jumped down a hillside into an area of million-dollar homes Saturday, burning two homes and forcing hundreds of people to flee.

Smoke and dust kicked up by winds cut visibility to about a dozen yards and flames 9 meters high cast an eerie, orange-red tinge over the area. Interstate 210 remained closed.

The fire, 48 kilometers east of Los Angeles, was the largest of a half-dozen burning throughout Southern California. Much of the region was under a "red flag" alert because of hot, dry weather and blustery Santa Ana winds that forecasters predicted could reach up to 96 kph at times in canyons.

Since it began Tuesday, the fire in the foothills of San Bernardino County has damaged or destroyed seven homes, said Bill Peters, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry. About 1,700 people had been evacuated, according to county sheriff's spokeswoman Sandy Fatland.

"There have been some home-to-home battles" to keep the wildfire from destroying more buildings, Peters said.

About 2,000 firefighters and eight bulldozers were carving and burning firelines because water-dropping aircraft were unable to attack.

"With this smoke, we don't dare put them up," Peters said. "There are high power lines."

The arson fire was violent and unpredictable because its own fierce winds were combining with rising Santa Ana gusts, at one point causing a small tornado.

Firefighters who protected the eastern side of Rancho Cucamonga shifted to the north Saturday as the flames advanced along a new front, feeding on head-high scrub oak and chaparral abutting wealthy subdivisions.

About 16 kilometers from the city, a new fire erupted Saturday morning in a canyon below Lake Arrowhead. No evacuations were ordered, but the blaze in Waterman Canyon was moving toward the Lake Arrowhead mountain resort, where there are hundreds of homes.

The area has been considered an extreme fire danger because a beetle infestation has killed more than 160,000 hectares of trees.

At the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, 80 kilometers north of San Diego, firefighters battled a 1,880-hectare blaze that threatened about 300 homes in nearby De Luz.

AAP

Posted at 03:35 AM

Sat - October 25, 2003

Fires Roaring Here in Southern California. Fire Ash Everywhere!

Fires ashes covers everything! Had a little trouble breathing. Weird and scary sky!