Lynn, I am just so relieved to hear that the damage was minimal. (Although, of course, it never seems quite so minimal when it is your own place, and not someone else's.) If I were there with you now, I'd just give you a big hug and say how happy I am that you are OK, so consider yourself hugged long distance. : ) I know it is a terrible experience, especially as you're hurrying home and watching that big old plume of smoke, all the while wondering what has already burnt and what remains in danger. I am so proud of all the firefighters in Oklahoma--volunteer and professional--and the work they do. In our county, the 14 volunteer fire departments, the BIA and the forest service fire crews work together so well that it is just amazing. I'd like to second what you said, Lynn, about people supporting the volunteer fire departments. Most people assume that there is some kind of magical pot of money that the VFDs get from their city, county, state, or the federal goverment.....and that there is always enough money. That, of course, is not at all true. Most volunteer departments barely scrape by even though they are constantly working hard to raise money. On extreme fire danger days and extremely critical fire danger days, I am like a cat on a hot tin roof. I keep the fire radio turned on to the County Repeater so I can keep track of every fire in the county, instead of leaving it on the "pager" feature. And, I hate to get too far from home. We live in an area of rural mostly native pasture land too, and it can burn like mad. We've never had a fire as close to us as yours, but have had 2 on our land (but they were burning away from the house and outbuildings, and nowhere near fences of animals or anything). However, the ranch across the road catches fire at least a couple of times a year. (Their pastures back up to a highway and most of the fires start from the roadside.) For any of you wondering how to know when the fire danger is high, one of the easiest ways is to look at the NWS Enhanced Weather webpages. I check them daily, as they are informative and give info on all weather, and not just fire danger. On the enhanced weather page, the fire outlook is usually in one of the boxes along the right side of the page, near the bottom. Just keep scrolling down until you see it. You can click on it to enlarge it. Dawn Here is a link that might be useful: NWS Enhanced Weather Webpage

The Red Flag Fire Warning for a few counties in western Oklahoma has been extended through 1 a.m. Saturday morning.

I was thinking of you specifically when I linked this because y'all seem so likely to have blowing dust even if the rest of it misses you. It is creepy to see "Blowing Dust" as an official forecast. We get that sort of forecast here in Love County maybe once or twice a year, but most often in early spring more so than in early winter. With so little rainfall this fall and winter so far to hold down the soil, I think we may see "blowing dust" a lot more often this winter. This wind here has been increasing in speed the last couple of hours, but we aren't supposed to have really strong wind arrive here until late afternoon or early evening. I'm watering the yard with sprinklers that keep the water down really low so the water (or, for that matter, the surface soil) doesn't blow away. I'm not sure I remember the last time we had to worry about wind gusting in the 50s or around 60 mph in some areas of the state in December. March? Sure, but it seems crazy for December. I don't mind the wind so much when the humidity is fairly high or the grass is green. It bothers me a little more when all the vegetation is dry and dormant and the humidity is low.

Since I have worked like crazy from day 1, and havent had much time to post, I guess I should fill in what I didnt on my post Monday morning-- I was hired on November 8 to fill a newly created position in the accounting department. It was the position of Accountant/Supervisor, and I was told that a 4-year degree was needed for this position. I was also told that I would learn the 5 audits that the department performs, as well as any other additional accounting functions that were needed. I was not given a deadline in which to have finished my training. During the last 2 weeks of November, I was taught one audit, and in December, I was sent to supervisor training, and then my direct supervisor, "H" re-certified as a supervisor me on December 28th and wrote on my evaluation "Good Job!!". I also started learning the slot audit about during the first/second week in Dec. And that is where I stayed until. On or about January 4, "H" called me into her office to say that from the reports she was hearing, that I was "burnt-out" (wtf???) on the slot machine audit, and that I was being put on another audit on January 8. When I asked what the problem was, she replied that she had received reports that I was stressed out. The only slot auditor for the week in question (December 25 to December 29; that supposedly burnt me out; it was also the busiest week at the property) was "R", who at one point told me to "stop f*cking things up", among other various job-misleading "help" she gave me while she was "training" me. I was told previously that she ("R) was very angry with me coming on board as she thought she should get the new position, even though she does not have the required degree. She ("R") was hostile to me while training, uncooperative and very demeaning to me and my background. She refused to help me on more than one occasion when I had problems with the audit, and would have a negative attitude when I asked for advice. And no, she wasnt too busy with her work to help-- I went to the other audit, and have been there ever since. "H" called me into her office on Sunday, January 22, told me that my position was eliminated because I wasnt trained enough to supervise the office for the week of January 23 27 (since the other supervisors were in training that week), and that I had had problems with that week in the slot audit. (Seems to be a re-occurring theme.) At this point, told her that I had never been given any specific guidelines as to when my training was to be finished, and this was the first I had heard that the other supervisors were to gone from the office that week. Then, I spoke up, and finally told her the conflicts with "R", and some of the things she said to me, and that she deliberately tried to teach me wrong procedures concerning the slot audit. (I learned about the wrong procedure from the other slot auditor when she came back to work, and I asked the correct procedures.) I also pointed out that I was never given a timeline that I was to know the whole department, and that she, "H", was my supervisor, and had failed to inform me of this. "H"then kept repeating that that week in the slots was bad (see, keeps re-occurring), and that I was being demoted to this other position, with a 50% reduction on pay (and I now became hourly; I was salaried before) and that my off days would be changed to reflect my new status. She also asked me not to say anything to the rest of the department until next week. (I assume the week starting January 29.) On Tuesday, January 23, I was sorting paperwork at the printer, and "H" apparently did not see me standing there, and I over-heard her, speaking in a low voice, tell "R"that my supervisor position was open, and she should go apply for it. No one else in the accounting department knew, as they might have a degree and be qualified for the position, but "H" did not choose to share that information with anyone other then "R", who has been sabotaging me since she had the chance in December. So, at this point, I figured that since it was, ahem.. public knowledge at this pointhey"H" told "R"and I let it slip at lunch to the others. Everyone was shocked, as I get along with them, and have helped out with their problems before. And, I figured that it was best to hear it from me, so that I dont look like a whipped pup. One of the guys that reported to me went back to the department and let it slip that he found out, and "R"s face was pricelessshe got defensive and her voice got high. It was funny to see and hear. He said that he overheard "H" tell "R", and she immediately started to backpedal. I did go to HR, and register my complaints, and the rep asked what I thought the repercussions would be, and I told her that I figured Id be fired, and she said "Well see about that", and smiled. Throughout all of this, I have kept my composure, and have smiled and not acted any different. I still talk and laugh and cut up, and I have kept the same level of work standards that I have from the first day. I finished one audit by 10am yesterday, the second by 4, and still and time to deal with other peoples problems with their work. So, I am still employed, but I think things will change on Sunday. And probably not for the better. Oh well. Its just a job that paid very well; its not my life and it does not define me. I did tell Rog on Monday, after I took a good assessment of things, and he is OK with things, no matter what happens. I told him everything, and I told him the reason that I could not tell him Sunday was that I couldnt bear the look of disappointment in his eyes, he told me I was silly, and that I couldnt disappoint him, ever. BJI love you, my sisnothing you can say to me would ever hurt me, b/c I know you speak from your heart. If I were hourly, I would say you are right, but I was salaried, and all supervisors must stay until all the work is finished, even if they themselves have been done for hours. And I was told that everyone must help the others out to finish up, which is fine with meso, thats why I would always ask, when I was finished, if I could help with someone elses work. (Although, in retrospect, I never did see any of the other supervisors do thatever. ???) My insurance will not kick in until Marcha long way to go--, and I was not given any type of review until this past Sunday. Nor any sense of unfilled expectations on anyones partI was told by one of me peers that I was going a very good job And as for the "down with" statement, I merely meant that I was now down in the pit with themnot a put down (LOL!) in anywaythey are great people! J The coatit is a Burberry, and it came form a consignment store with a no-return policy. (I rarely buy anything from a mall.) Still, even for that price, I wouldnt have bought it now. Its so gorgeousI feel like a million bucks with it onJJJ And---about the attitudeyoure right, and thats exactly what Ive been doing all week. Im still the same person I was this time last week, and Ill be that same person this time next week. While I hate being in this position, it is just a job, and it does not define me anymore than my MIL does. So, Im disappointed, but Ill liveits OK, and Ill just start over again Enough of me Patti(((((hugs))))) to you and your friendI can not imagine that pain NHSuzannegreat pics! JJ Marcithanks for the birthday exchange! Gotta goRog will be home in a bit Love and hugs to all Maddie