Blowing on My Last Nerve

The wind has been relentless for two days straight. It normally lets up just before sundown, but not yesterday. I bundled up my head berka style to keep the wind out of my ears and added sunglasses to keep the sand out of my eyes before my hike. Of course, the Santa Ana's bring heat so the rest of my hiking outfit consisted of summer-weight pj pants and and a tank. Just as we arrived, we ran into our Rhodie pack. Hiking Buddy had on a similar outfit with bandannas for face protection along with huge Jackie O sunglasses so dark she could barely see out of them in the late afternoon light.

It was rough going and the dogs seemed a bit intimidated by the huge gusts. By the end of it, my lips were parched and I felt like I could sand wood with my palms.

Once sundown came, the wind intensified and made for a frightful night. I hardly slept and neither did Mabel. You could hear sand / pebbles / leaves hitting the window above the bed. And the back porch awning made horrible noises all night long.

I always find the Santa Ana's so unnerving. Carmon wrote once that her horses become frightened and head up the mountain in high wind because they are not certain if that predator they smell is miles away or a few feet from them. I sometimes feel the same way... confused but certain danger is imminent.

I feel crazy, off-balance, edgy and unsure. And after five days and one relentless night, I'm exhausted.

Scared Puppy; Confused Canine

Wind gusts reaching 70 mph this afternoon had me cowering in the house like a scared puppy. It was so violent, all kinds of stuff blew across the yard and patio. But when my back porch awning started vibrating in the wind, I got in bed and put my head under the covers.

I ended up sleeping the afternoon away making the most productive activities yoga and a hike. We're in for another day of it tomorrow.

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Since I gave up having Mabel sleep in her own bed within a month of her arrival, she has naughty habit of "digging" my hands out from under the covers - usually at 2 a.m. - when she "needs" a pet. Even though I grouse a bit, once I'm awake, I'm AWAKE. So we have a good tussle and go back to sleep.

Imagine my surprise when I felt her paw my foot this morning around 3. I woke a little, thought I was dreaming and started drifting off again. And there it was again. I flexed my feet and she patted them again. I turned on the t.v. and stretched my hand toward her. I wish you could have seen how confused she was! She kept looking back and forth from my hand to my feet! Finally, she crawled up to the top of the bed for a pet...but I swear, she was embarrassed!

Note to Goliath: David Is Kickin' Butt and Taking Names

The news yesterday of Home Depot taking down their Home Depot Sunland Tujunga Website had us scratching our heads. They are still deep into their lawsuit, suing Los Angeles because our elected representatives uh... actually represented us in our battle against them placing a store in our sleepy little enclave. They were still battling having to do a full environmental report and failing to use the part of their address that points out their proximity to an elementary school on their paperwork.

But late last night, the local heroes that run our No 2 Home Depot campaign, got the word. Home Crapot is giving up. They had been scheduled to open a few years ago, mere months after leasing the property for forty years - the last large parcel of property in our town, trapped between three mountain ranges and a freeway. And, now they won't.

There were other reasons we didn't hang up the welcome sign for Home Crapot:
*The property is surrounded on three sides by residential homes.
*We have a Home Crapot, just six minutes away. And five more in connecting towns.
*We have several local Mom and Pop hardware stores as well as a Do It Center and OSH up the mountain.
*And the one that got so much ridicule: we don't have a place to buy socks and underwear since Kmart left. That requires a ten minute drive to Burbank or twenty to Glendale or Pasadena.

It's been a long, hard fight. We knew we were the little guy but we didn't care. We've written letters to every politician and committee. I personally even wrote to the shareholders of Home Depot, wondering how they sleep at night.

They have called us racist. They bussed in paid supporters... apparently unable to rally real ones.
They spent millions on lawyers, websites, advisers and orange t-shirts for those would be supporters.

We had bake sales and yard sales to raise money for our fight. And then we donated more. And in the end, the little guy won!

I am so proud of US, Sunland - Tujunga! I'm so grateful for our fearless leaders, Joe Barrett and Abby Diamond! Joe keeps our No 2 Home Depot updated so often that when you Google "Home Depot," WE come up! They have done a great job of getting the word out and rallying the troops. And the people of this tiny town have been awesome! There are some very passionate letter-writers around here!

But our work is not done. Now, we must attract a store - preferably one that sells socks and underwear - and make them realize S-T is a great place to do business.

All the "Davids" around these parts will be walking a little taller and prouder today!

Yes, I'm Aware I'm Quirky

I was discussing my "job gettin' outfit" with Kat today and was suddenly panicking over shoes. With my foot issues, there's only so many brands I can wear and about the only dress shoe I can stay in all day is made by Dansko.

They have online stores and their shoe beds are the same from shoe to shoe with only about three beds in their line, so I pretty much know how they fit and can make a decision without trying them on. But... I have an interview this Friday.

I find a pair I like and go to buy them with Kat on the phone. Just as I'm about to put the pair in my cart, I freak.

CH: Oh Crap! Why does this company have to name their shoes after women?

Kat: (Laughter...she already knows where this is going...)

CH: If I've had a bad experience with a woman with the same name... I can't buy the shoes!

Kat: OK, what's the name?

CH: Neve

Kat: We don't know anyone named Neve.

CH: Neve Campbell

Kat: Why is that name familiar?

CH: That god awful actress from "Party of Five."

Kat: But we don't know her... it's o.k. buy your shoes.

CH: But she squints when she says her lines.

Kat: And that affects your nice pair of shoes how?

CH: Oh, it will jinx my interview... I'll squint my way through it, I'm sure.

Kat: I love you're quirks but don't you think....

CH: NO! They will jinx me!

So, I'm digging through my closet in hopes of finding a dress shoe in time to hem my pants for my interview. Some days, it's hard being a quirky girl.

New Year; New Trails

This past year, with my business crumbling around me, I realized I had to seek a new path for my life.

An old bridge on my new favorite hiking trail.

And I know, at times, it's going to feel like I'm hanging off the edge of a cliff, staring into a deep ravine, with no clear cut trail.

Mabel & Twinkie nearly gave me a heart attack, hanging off the edge of the cliff!

Which is the time I will rely on those who love me to help make the tough decisions and guide me along...and maybe even share the trail for a while...

Girlfriends, on the trail.

I know some things will frighten me at first, but I will use my humor to relax me... ...Like this gigantic German Shepherd who, on second
glance wasn't as scary. She's wearing PINK and she
really looks like she was cross bred with a jackrabbit!

And, if the world feels like it's crashing down on me, a good long hike with my best girl will always put things back in perspective.

Mabel enjoying the stream.

And with a lot of ingenuity and a little luck, my life will seem peaceful again.

May we all find better trails in 2009!

Happy New Year!!!