boy, I just count my blessing that our area has no problems with fires, just floods and midwest storms....hang in there....I look forward to blog's finding out how you get your lifes back to normal again...all  the best to the folks in Northern CA....

Jack

Hi Jack--

Don't know which is worse.  Floods certainly can ruin your whole day too!  Thanks for your well-wishes for Northern Californians!  Looks like we're going to need all the help we can get this summer!

At least it was mother nature that started the fires this time, Wasnt it a 10 yr old last year?

I am glad to hear that you have made it through safely....

Last year we had a huge fire by me in the pine barrens... It was started by the national guard that was practicing and a bomb or flare dropped from a plane missed the target and burnt thousands of acres along with many homes and countless people had to be evacuated.  Fire is not any fun.

The whole state is in our prayers out here in Texas.  Every morning they report on how you guys are holding up!  We are praying for rain!

Thank you Sara.  We saw a small patch of blue sky late in the day yesterday (thru the smoke) and today you get the impression the air is a little cleaner...  Funny how Mother Nature works, giving some toooooo much rain and others not enough...  Thanks again for the prayers and hope TX stays safe this summer!

Rob--

Yes, one of the big ones last year or maybe 2 years ago was started by children with matches or fireworks... 

Mother Nature, children, the National Guard--we have so many things to look out for!  The initial devastation is one thing, the years of lingering evidence of a fire is another thing all together!

ps--thanks for the info on the condo loan.  We're still moving forward.

I saw the news tonight.. I did not realize how many fires.... they are all over the state!  How is it by you now?

Can't breath.  Sky was almost blue today, but at ground level you could see the smoke/particulate material swirling like fog.  One of the other agents mentioned that today was the first day he could see the other side of Lake Tahoe.  It had been lost in the smoke for several days...  I've heard it's bad in the San Francisco area and Napa is still bad too.  It's crazy out here right now.  I may have to head to WI to get some fresh, but wet air!

or NJ, no fires here!  Stay safe.

Robert--Never been to NJ.  Maybe someday...   The sky looked all fresh and blue this morning as I went out to water, but oh, the smell was putrid!  Didn't smell like smoke...  Wouuld really like to be able to open the windows soon!

What's the latest on the air quality, Tamara?

The air quality SUCKS!!!!  I spent way too much time outside today...  Really feeling it.  Between the pollen and the smoke, all I do is sneeze and cry!  Allergy med isn't able to keep up.  Ran out of ibuprofen--which is usually the kicker that keeps me functional when it's allergy season.  I take it on top of the allergy stuff and it's usually just enough.  Needed to spend time with my garden/yard--such as it is, here in the mountains.... a little fine tuning.  One of the neighbors stopped by and chatted while I sneezed.  Then showed my house to someone "who might have a friend"...  Anyway, my feeling is the more that see it the merrier and the more likely it'll be mentioned to someone looking for a green place with a creek!  Dropped my teen at the beach and then went to a wedding reception at the beach...  You could see across Donner Lake, I'm told that earlier in the week you couldn't.  Air is really dirty, but not as bad as a few days ago...  Air quality warnings are out for San Francisco and the Napa area.  Recommend staying inside, not doing any strenuous outdoor activities.  Gosh, just think of the answer you'd have gotten if you'd asked a really serious question!

Is THIS the post you thought I would take the wrong way? 

How are you, Tamara? I watched The Weather Channel late last night and it showed all of the air quality alerts (all of the Code Reds). You must be miserable with the allergies, under the circumstances.

Has the situation improved today? (ducking under my desk)

I think that comment was meant for Mirela on the relationship thing, that our relationships aren't mistakes, the people that come into our lives are guides/teachers, or something to that effect!

Allergies are pretty bad.  Sort of moving under my own power... and zyrtec and ibuprofen.  Air was better until about 4pm--the wind started picking up and blowing more stuff in.  I heard there's a new fire closer to Tahoe that started today...  Maybe that's where the extra stuff was coming from.  At least I got to open doors and windows this morning and get some fresh cool air in.   Here in the mountains, almost no one has air conditioning, since we might use it 3-7 days per year....  Have to have a good passive cooling plan in place.  My cross-ventilation works great, when I can open windows.  Of course, in doing that, more pollen blew in.  My countertops were yellow when I came back this afternoon!

Other than that, life is good!

Good for you.

It's almost 2 AM, so I'm a little on the tired side....time to roll it up as you say. Before I do, I will watch the weather channel to see what's going on out there in your locale.

This might be a good time to visit Mirela in Myrtle Beach...hmmmm?

Hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow!

-Chris

PS - You use your air conditioning 3-7 times a year? :)  Sounds like I need to be truckin' on out to Truckee sometime soon! I'd love to visit that part of the country.

Hey, Just let me know when you want to come out.  This area is so spectacular, in a very different way.  When I first got here, I couldn't believe how "brown" it was... Coming from WI where summers are so lush green and wet!  Very dry humidity wise--hard on skin and nasal passages, but oh!  It's a beauty unto itself!  Summers tend to run in the high seventies now.  Maybe 80's next month, once in awhile we'll hit 90-100, but it's rare and short-lived!  And it's dry, so it doesn't have the same feeling as high humidity heat!

I'm trying to set up a showing for Quietwater Creek this afternoon, so I'd better run!

Hope the smoke and fires in the Truckee area ease over the next couple of days.  Our Australian daughter has just married and gone to live in Truckee so we are keeping our ears open for any news on Australian TV about the fires and where they are.  We are in Brisbane (Queensland) and have bush very close and with us in a drought period for years, fires are a worry.  Smoke lately when the Rural Fire department was back-burning was unbelievable.

Take care everyone.  Listen to the warnings.  And for those people who don't obey re fireworks - get a life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kay--

I hope your daughter is loving Truckee.  It's such a great place!  Yesterday woke to somewhat smoky skies again, but was manageable.  Today it is really clear and blue.  I've heard about the water issues in Australia.  I hope you get rain in good measure without so much as to cause flooding! 

I haven't heard about other areas, but I do have a neighbor here who usually does his own extravagant fireworks on New Years and 4th.  He didn't set anything off last night.  Thank goodness!  Hopefully we came through last night with no new fires!

Thanks for stopping by!  Contact me anytime you want a Truckee update!

Tamera

I can't imagine dealing with the fires, earthquakes, mudslides and what ever else you have to deal with.  I recently helped a family from Seattle relocate to Mid-Michigan and I bragged how great it is.  we don't have forest fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, and very few floods.  We do get an occasional tornado but I have never seen one.  They bought a home very near where I live and within a few months I had my first experience with one.  It didn't hit my home or theirsit did take down half of the trees on there lot.  I just had to get used to having my ID out to get around town as they weren't letting everybody in, in fear of looting.  We now share a laugh but  I make sure that I am careful with the statements I make

Jeff--

Grew up in WI and had lots of experience with tornados.  Tore the roof and part of one wall off one  my parents buildings when I was 6.  I actually saw daylight between the house and foundation as we were running down the stairs to the basement.  Fortunately, it put the house back where it belonged!

It is true that earthquakes, mudslides and fires are not fun to deal with.  But there are so many other things here that make it all worthwhile!

Tamera I'm sure the lack of cold and snow plays a large part in  your interest in california.  I have to sqay one of the coldest Julys Ive encountered was in San Francisco.  60 there is a lot colder than 60 here is

Tamara,

I have been SOOOO out of touch the past week, how are the conditions now? 

Rob

Hi Robert--

I too have been out of communication.  Have been at the coast where the air is better.  Was back in Truckee on Friday and driving thru Sacramento Valley was horrendous.  The mountains had limited visibility... Really hard trying to breathe there.  I don't know what people with asthma and other health problems are doing....  Drove back to Napa last evening and the air is good here right now... Wish me luck!

Good Luck!  When all else fails you can always do a little Winery hopping to ease the pain!

Hi Jeff--

When I'm in Napa, it is the proverbial CA weather.  In Tahoe, at 6500' elevation, there is cold (though not as cold as WI, where I grew up) and there is snow, more snow than I could have ever imagined!!!!  But makes for great skiing.  Though usually not the cold fluffy dry stuff they get in UT or WY or CO....  San Francisco can be bone-chilling, but what a great city!

So true, so true... if only I drank... part of that vegan, healthy, green lifestyle thing...  ;-)

But Red wine is Healthy!  I prescribe a nice Napa cab... Chateau Mt Elena perhaps?

You can be healthy and still enjoy life a little. providing that the adult beverage is not an unhealthy habbit for you.

OK Tamara, we are just days away from it being a month since you last posted anything??? Dont you love us anymore???

(that means we miss you.... So START TYPING)

Hey Rob--

It's been really crazy around here.  I have my house on the market.  I'm trying to get everything in place to move to Napa  and my daughter starts school there on August 18.... She's had mega practices and 2 dance performances last week to end her "career" with the local dance studio...  So I still love you guys, I just need some of Mirela's bioidenticals to get my energy levels up to all the things I need to do! ;-)

Your daughter starts so early!  our kids go back on September 3rd... which just happens to be my birthday.

Hey Tamara,

Long time, how have you been?  (I guess I can see from above.)  I see your moving to Napa, I lived there 10yrs before heading up to Truckee. Best of luck there. I have tremendous memories from Napa and some good friends still there.  I couldn't imagine you leaving Truckee though.

Hi Robert--

Yes, that seems really early to me too.  In case I forget by Sept. 3, have a great birthday! :-)

Hey Joe!  Wow, it has been a long time?  How are you?  Nevada City?  Nice change.  Truckee without Tamara, how will they survive???  I still plan to work real estate here, lots of my clients are from the Napa/Sonoma area, and I'll be partnering with a couple of agents here in case I can't make it "home" in time to meet!  Kyri's dad is still here, so she'll be coming up frequently.  Though by next spring, she'll be driving on her own.  Can you believe it?  So great to hear from you.  Drop me a note and let's catch up!

Tamara,

I just thought of your next post: "preparing for the move" since you are in the midst of trying to sell, pack etc... you can write about your experience and give some tips to potential sellers at the same time, a little therapy and a good localism post all at the same time

Rob--

That's a great idea, thank you!

Tamara, I always believed Lake Tahoe, and surroundings, to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.  Fireworks are dangerous near dry forest, and just about anywhere else, but, also, folks sometimes build homes where they should not...  great post.

Hi Robert--

Yes, I'd agree whole-heartedly.  Tahoe is one of the most beautiful places on earth.  And an amazing place to live!  The forests are so dry right now that almost anything can set them off.  There's a new fire near Yosemite and they think a bullet ricocheted and sparked...  And yes, homes are built on cliffs prone to slide, rivers prone to flood and forests that burn...  but we still do it all the time.  And then the insurance companies stop covering!

TAMARA,

I have been out of the Rain for about a month now... starting to get my feet wet again.  I changed companies and that has had me busy! Here I am back again, and you are still AWOL!!! Did you move yet?

I hope all is well with you! 

Rob