*Regarding San Diego Wildfires: *new updated info*
If you're interested in viewing new photos/images, either by San Diego residents or professional media photographers, go to this site: (via flickr slideshow) It's pretty compelling to see these images brought in by locals and/or professionals. It's scary, but at the same time, wow...I'm just utterly 'speechless'. To see your own city in rubble (or on fire), seeing people's homes being ruined by the fires, having nothing to go home to, it's just really sad and devastating. It breaks my heart. -_-
Hopefully, this link will work for you. If not, please don't hesitate to let me know and I'll try to redo the link for you. This website has been one of two places I've been constantly going to for pics and latest info w/the wildfires here in the San Diego area. Thanks so much for dropping by my site. =) I'll try to get u the up-to-the-minute news here. Just continue to keep checking back for more info.
For some reason, I guess since this slideshow is via flickr and w/the san diego news website, I was unable to save any of these images. (wouldn't let me) IF, by chance someone else could, could you possibly email me w/some? (anyone?) I'm especially interested in grabbing 'On the Fire lines' images (toward the lft side of the screen, slightly down) and President Bush into Miramar photos. Thanks! =) If you don't already have my email addy, it's akatsuru01@gmail.com
Will try to be back here again soon...
On a lighter note, despite all what's happening w/the wildfires, here's some cool T&T/Takki wallies I almost forgot to post that Miron made w/some of the Samurai cd photo booklets. It's pretty niiice what she came up with. She told me it was okay for me to post these on my blog and that it's for the taking for anyone.^_^ *hugs to Miron* Please credit her though if posting elsewhere and DO enjoy~XDD
(my favorite T&T wallie of the bunch...kyaaaaaaaa! *faints*)
(isn't this wallie soooo kireii-looking w/the butterflies & flower border? Love Takki & Tsu here like that. *melts*)
(love this wallie too becuz of the sakuras (cherry blossoms). Dunno whyyy, but I have a thing for sakuras now... :P ^_~) And if you notice closely, look at the way one of the sakuras from the branches ended up perfectly behind Takki's head there. So *kireii*!!)
(*kyaaaaaaaaaaaaa~!!* was my first reaction when she sent me this one. Omg...LOVE this one to death. *faints*melts* @_@)
(@_@...kyaaaaaaaaaaa~ Here's also a cool wallie of Tsu-rockish...the same one like Takki's above, only it's Tsu. ^_~ If you're also a Tsu-fan or T&T fan...help spread the word to others they can take this one as well...thanks!)
(isn't this one chotto cool-looking w/the 'Samurai' title? It was neat too to see those white-colored dots around it, just like the photobooklet pic. And I loved the way she superimposed the boyz seperately like that...sugoii!!)
(this one, I'm not particularly fond of much, but it's done really well, actually. I just have this one 'to have' for my wallie collection. lol I don't use this one. *sorry, Miron :P*
*REIKO*
12:35 PM
Hey everyone~ Sorry I hadn't been able to do any recent entries on my blog lately. At this time, I've decided to make a posting on the latest California Wildfires and what's been happening around my area. I won't be posting much on T&T or Takki-stuff, for now anyway. (I'm still worried as to what will happen in the coming days ahead for my family and I so, hope you all understand.)
As you may (or may not) already have known, where I live...there have been major wildfires in Southern California, in the southern most tip where I'm from, particularly the San Diego region. The fires have hit almost majority of San Diego. So far, my family and I have been okay but we're still not out of the woods...not by a longshot. We're still under 'stand-by-mode'...just anticipating, wondering. I hate that in a way, because you just dread the thought of a reverse 911 call placed back to you, asking to evacuate immediately from your area and head to the nearest evacuation shelter. First of all, I want to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' (can't thank you guyz enough) to everyone who've placed 'well-wishes' to my family and I on my cbox, on facebook, or elsewhere. Your th0ughts and prayers, and endless support has been so greatful to us at this time. I especially wanna thank*STEPHICHAN*...mah sistah in crime (whom I can't thank enough)...for placing a special 'shout-out' on her blog about what's been happening with the fires. I willtry to keep everyone posted on my blog with the latest info. But if not here, please directly go to Stephichan's blog for more updates on the lastest. Go to: http://stephichan01.blogspot.com/
Since I have to continue to keep the communication lines open for emergency n'such, I'm unable to get to the Internet often, so please bare with me. We've also packed away (along w/the rest of our belongings) our laptop in our truck, so even that, I'm unable to go online much. Don't worry; I've also packed away ALL of my Takki/T&T goods. lol :P I know that sort of thing is invaluable and unimportant right now, but to me, it's all I've got left and I have to preserve my T&T memories. It's A MUST for any T&T/Takki fan ne? LOL :P I may not have packed away my mags (sorry...had to leave them behind) and posters (still up on our closet shelf up top), but hopefully...I won't have to think about that and that we won't have to be evacuated, period. *crosses fingers* You know what? I couldn't help it. I just HAD to post several pics (or wallies) of a favorite of mine that Miron recently made me. The first one was partially for my new banner to this blog, but decided to alter things a bit. I won't post the 'newest' one...wanna keep it a 'surprise' for you all. But here's some custom wallie-sized banners she made me. Thought I'd share it with you, so feel free to take them. But please ask me if using elsewhere...thanks! Enjoy~XDD (tell me what u think of them too)
(1st wallie - My favorite of the bunch. Supposedly this was my 'new' banner/header for this blog but decided to make a few changes to it. ^_^ Sorry I can't post the new one...it's a 'surprise'. lol :P)
(2nd wallie - WU 0710 issue)
Anyway, below is partial to my own personal eyewitness account (not exactly, but sort-of...lol) to what I've been going through (and feeling) lately due to the California wildfires:
Monday, 07.22.10 Day 2
I awoke to danger by that dreaded phone call from my hubby at work telling of these wildfires in San Diego. I quickly turned the tv on and sure enough, immediately saw news coverage. I didn’t know what to think back then, as I was in shock, and at the same time, never really had a reaction time to think about anything except find out what happened because the fires were not only North of us, but South and East of us as well. It felt like we were hit from all sides again, just like the Wildfires back in 2003, being boxed-in. Thank goodness this time around we weren’t really boxed-in, as we could head West of San Diego if needed should an evacuation occur. We watched on-going local media coverage day and night. I was a little afraid too, as I not only was alone (my hubby then was still at work and couldn’t get off; wasn’t sure whether he could head home or not) with a young child, but by myself…even if temporary until my hubby got home from work.
Wednesday, 07.24.10 Day 4
Today, I was awakened again in the early morning hours by a close friend of (around 7:00am-ish or so/PST) who lived on the East Coast, in the state of Maryland. (they are a 3 hr. difference from us) A close friend of ours, Melissa, asked how we were and if we needed anything, to let them know. It was such a warm & comforting feeling to know that everyone we knew, whether near or far, was thinking of us. Another friend of mine, Sue, the night before called long-distance (who lives in Hawaii) and asked how we were too. In fact, she was one friend whom caught me off-guard a bit as I never expected to hear from her. She was a welcome site over the phone, as I took comfort knowing that there was a lot of our friends back home in Hawaii who were praying for us. Of course, our own families, we let know since day 1 of the fires when it first started, calling several times throughout the day and night.
On the first day of the wildfires, I made a cell phone call to my daughter’s teacher, Christine, whom I do stuff with every so often together w/our children. I was worried about her and her family and wondered whether she had been evacuated, and sure enough, as I spoke with her over the phone, she was headed to a friend’s place for the night. She lives in Lakeside area and their area had been issued an evacuation notice. Now, I’m not so sure as to whether she had been moved to the ‘Q’ (as San Diegans call it; Qualcomm Stadium) or not the following day but, hopefully she and her family are doing alright.
This was also a time when I made my first text message out to Stephichan (actually, it was on Tues., (23.10), whom I thought of first, being that she and I both live in the United States. (and she’s about the only one in the fandom that I have a cellphone # from…lol) Since she’s familiar with wildfires and the like (where she lives; GA), I figured she was one of the best people I could relate to in times of natural disasters. You know, here in the states, we all really consider ourselves one, huge family (all 50 states) and have always banded together in times of crisis. Since she was one of my closest fangirl friends within the fandom, I wanted to reach out to her first and let know what’s been going on in our ‘neck of the woods’.
Another close friend of mine, Jackie, I had made a phone call to but they were not threatened in any way with the fires, as she lives near college area, SDSU. She’s situated West of the fires and since majority of the burn areas were more East, North & South of where we all lived, she was in no danger to them. So, that was a good thing to hear that at least one of our friends we knew here in San Diego was safe and sound.
If you’re all unfamiliar as to what SDSU (San Diego State University) is, it’s where I’ve been coming to for various media purposes for my constant mag scanning, emailing, chat sessions, inputting new blog entries, etc. etc. in the past. This is where I come to, almost three times a week. Btw, all state public schools and colleges have been closed 'till the end of the week due to the fires. So, needless to say, I hadn't been able to go for T&T/Takki scanning n'such...lol :P
Another friend of mine, Tina, who lived in Rancho San Diego near Jamacha/Spring Valley area, was probably (I presumed) one who also got evacuated out of their homes. I tried calling her on the first day when we got word this all had been happening, but her voicemail came on her cell #. (I never left a message.) Figured she must’ve been quite busy, packing, moving to an evac site, etc. Their home is a bunch of newly developed single-family homes and was also being threatened by the wildfires. The homes are situated near a ridge, about several miles out, and along that ridge was a long fire line going all across the top, down toward a reservoir called Sweet Water Reservoir. It had been used by CDF and various fire departments putting out fires and ‘hot spots’ along the area. The fires have now moved toward Jamul area, S.East of us. It has already jumped a major Interstate freeway (I-94) toward that area, near a bunch of other homes and the situation is still undergoing and has not greatly improved.
Earlier on the second day (Mon., 07.22.10) this had started, I called another friend of ours, Jackie, and spoke with her and asked how she was doing since she has 3 children (2 of whom are twin baby girls). They were doing fine as they live West of where we live, near Qualcomm Stadium; one of the main evacuation sites located in the Mission Valley area. They were in no way near any danger zones or fires, far from it. At least my hubby, too, will be staying at the home front with us until further notice that the Jamul area fires (Harris Fire) have died down and is no longer a 'threat' to us. The Harris fire is the closest one to where we live.
Now thinking back, it was such an overwhelming feeling to know that there was an outpouring of family and friends who were concerned about our welfare and safety, and just being in their minds and hearts made all the difference in the world to us.
On a wider scale, there was one particular segment I want to share with you all.
This segment happened on our third day (last night; Tues. 07.23.10), in the evening when we watched local news coverage on tv. All the time while going through my mind, I never really realized how large of a scope this media coverage was. Every single local news station continued covering strictly local news, nothing much about what was happening globally, or nationally around the U.S. Around 6:00pm in the evening, while expecting to watch the news, it pre-empted to the CBS evening news with Katie Couric.
I was quite surprised, and at the same time, never been so moved by what they had put together about what was happening in San Diego. All this time, I’ve mainly only seen ‘live’ news coverage, and it was such a sight to see when a professional news team like CBS puts reality together for you on a much larger scope, shown nationally and internationally around the globe. I’ve never been so moved or touched by images on such news coverage since 9-11. It sure put things into perspective for me seeing the ‘big picture’ with where San Diego stood currently with the fires and what we needed to do to start the rebuilding process.
Even CNN have been reporting about San Diego and it's wildfires, and all of Southern California. I was quite amazed at how fast news broke, both on CBS news and CNN. Both Katie Couric of CBS and Anderson Cooper from CNN have flown in since Monday or Tuesday and frequently make reports out of the Q (Qualcomm Stadium) daily as well as 'on the scene' coverage-by-coverage through the endless amount of rubble of burnt homes and 'hot spots' where certain fires are located. I’ve seen people’s lives at stake, both news media being ‘in the line of fire’ in bringing coverage for us ‘live’ feeds as well as evacuees not heeding to law enforcement’s evacuation calls by trying to put out the fires themselves. So many firefighters worked vigorously around the clock, 24-7 with sleepless days and nights, without any end in sight with the fires. They’ve worked with various county firefighters in San Diego and in varying neighboring states. Even Mexico had a hand in sending their firefighters and trucks in helping put out the fires. There was such outpouring of help from all over, both corporate & private business sectors, setting up evac shelters, sending financial aid, etc. Our own fellow San Diegans (locals) helped out too, whether it be donating food items and pet food, cots and air mattress beds, pillows and blankets, monetary donations, and volunteering their time and efforts to these evac sites. San Diegans came through again and again like no other I’ve seen any city do, since the last Wildfires in 2003 and since 9-11 in New York. Even our California State Senate and House of Representatives in Congress (Wash. D.C.) had flown in to help us with whatever support and financial aid we needed. And as much as I hate to admit it, our own President will be arriving on Thursday (today) for a special press-conference as well as viewing the rubble, first-hand himself. I think there's also an estimated 1,000 homes that have been damaged in the SD wildfires and over an estimated $1 billion dollars worth of property & forestry damage in San Diego so far. We've been lucky that the Salvation Army has pulled financial aid resources from private sectors and the like, and have raised over $300,000.00 worth so far (figures encounting) to help in the rebuilding process for the people and businesses.
Who knows, even though I hate the guy, maybe I'll be able to see his Marine chopper 1 flying in the sky nearby and land where I live. The last time (back in 2003) when he visited here, his chopper flew to Gillispie airfield, right near our apartment complex. I mean, when will you ever get to see 'the President' fly so near like that? It's sort-of a rare opportunity, I guess. (and I'll take full advantage of that by trying to take keitai pics of it...lolol) :P (maybe...?) Watch...my luck will have it he'll end up going elsewhere to land instead. lol I know for sure though that the President will be landing his Air Force One jet in MCAS (Marine Corps Air Station) Miramar, which is a military Marine base, located about a 20min. drive from where we live. It's also home to the world-famous Miramar Air Show held in October every year. It's the largest Western Regional air show in the nation. I also must not forget here in congratulating our own California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He has stepped up to the plate time and time again for all of us (incl. in 2003 during the Cedar fires) and has shown a tremendous amount of effort and support both to the implementation process of rebuilding and improving our counties state-wide, financially with federal aid and state help, as well as showing an outpouring of support for ‘the people of California’. (like he says… :P) But, you just gotta love the guy. Even though he’s a Republican, he sure acts ‘for the people’, like a Democrat. ^_^ Well, like my hubby & I always say, “Go Arnold!” ^_^ Here are a few maps, shown via satellite thru NASA, either via CNN or CBS8 news here in SD:
Btw, here are some links I'll share here to the sites we've (us locals) been going to for the latest info on the California wildfires. (with more detailed pics & maps) Cbs8 local news station here has partnered with google for an interactive map too on their site. It's pretty cool to see exactly where some of these evac sites are located n'such. Very detailed.
About Myself:
100% American Japanese
Born in: Hawaii
Represent Cali
A dedicated Takki, T&T, JYJ, TVXQ, and DBSK5 fan
Loves:
Watching JYJ & TVXQ Kdramas
Watching Takki Jdramas
Listening/buying Takki and T&T music
Listening/buying JYJ, TVXQ & DBSK music
kira-kira
The color pink (like Takki)
eating bento lunches
ramen, fried gyoza & crab shumai
ANY Japanese, Korean, Asian, and Seafood
text msging
taking pics
chatting on FB
collecting Takki, T&T, JYJ, & TVXQ goods
Hates:
Long, winded arguments or discussions (esp. ones that go off-tangent or sidetracked from the original intended discussion)
Being impatient
Anti-fans who bash Takki, T&T, JYJ, TVXQ & DBSK
Leechers (people & fans who take without asking first from fan websites, forums, and/or personal blogs without asking for permission)
Copyright infringement (SUPPORT Takki, T&T, JYJ, TVXQ, and DBSK...Buy their cds!)
T&T Official Site ToBase Johnnys Net Utaban Music Fighter Za Shounen Club Shounen Club Premium HEY!x3 Music Station NikkanSports Sanspo Sponichi Yomiuri Daily Sports PlayGuide Ticket.co.jp
