*pings* unclejimbo -

Honey, someone has your number regarding Civ III.

Sing along!

*pings* unclejimbo -

Honey, someone has your number regarding Civ III.

Sing along!

*pings* unclejimbo -

Honey, someone has your number regarding Civ III.

Sing along!

Notes to self -

Beeswax for candles? Miller's Honey out in Colton has beeswax for a bit under $3 for an 8 oz. brick. For what I'm going to need, I'll have to go out there for it - shipping makes no sense and will be more expensive than gas.

Miller's Honey is at 125 E Laurel St., Colton, CA 92324 (909) 825-1722. They tell me the retail store is in the front.

Notes to self -

Beeswax for candles? Miller's Honey out in Colton has beeswax for a bit under $3 for an 8 oz. brick. For what I'm going to need, I'll have to go out there for it - shipping makes no sense and will be more expensive than gas.

Miller's Honey is at 125 E Laurel St., Colton, CA 92324 (909) 825-1722. They tell me the retail store is in the front.

Notes to self -

Beeswax for candles? Miller's Honey out in Colton has beeswax for a bit under $3 for an 8 oz. brick. For what I'm going to need, I'll have to go out there for it - shipping makes no sense and will be more expensive than gas.

Miller's Honey is at 125 E Laurel St., Colton, CA 92324 (909) 825-1722. They tell me the retail store is in the front.

NPR said it best this AM -

"Imagine San Francisco emptied. Completely."

That's how many people have been displaced down here.

I gotta go call some folks today. I'm not busy enough. I'm surrounded by plenty of evidence, but the phone's not ringing.

--

Folks, you want to know what you can give someone who has lost everything in a fire?

Give them security.

Bring them home with you. Feed them. Let them have hot showers with the good shampoo and bath fizzies if they're up for it. Have a hot meal waiting for when they're done. Wash their clothes while they're in the shower. Wash *everything* they brought with them if it needs it. Keep yer yap shut about people getting what they deserve...NOBODY gets what they deserve...and nobody asked for this. Say "I'm so sorry" and let it be.

If you know how, help them place an insurance claim. Provide a pad of paper and writing tools for them to carry around with the claim number, their adjuster's name and phone number and any other identifying marks. Provide a larger one for them to begin the inventory of their lost possessions. If you can spare it, give them a digital camera to take back with them when they go back to their house to begin the documentation process.

Before they go, pack them a sack lunch and make sure they take drinks with them. Oh, and a basic first-aid kit with bandaids and antibiotic ointment in it.

Give them respect.

Listen. Take notes, if need be. Offer to make phone calls to people who should know where they are and that they're okay.

Don't loan anything you aren't willing to just wave goodbye to. It's not worth the hassle. Really - I have a funny thing about loaning anything out. I just don't do it. Flip side of that is that I always have a ton of stuff spare - thank my mad mad packrattery skills, but I do. I won't begrudge you much - but I won't loan you anything, either. It's mine - or it's yours. Period.

Give them the creature comforts.

Food, clothing, shelter - okay. But don't forget - they need books, music and diversion as well.

After the first house fire, I had two books to read the entire summer. Love Story and The Andromeda Strain. Seriously. THE ENTIRE SUMMER. Three records - only one of which I could play. Television? What we could get off the air and that wasn't much more than a very faint receive on two channels, one of which wasn't in English.

If they do knittery, get them tools,yarn and patterns. Get the hands busy.

You got a spare mp3 player? Load it and pass it on.

Go find some spare paperbacks. Oh, and don't forget cookbooks either. Everything is gone - and the rebuilding will include replacing basic reference materials. Got a ton of freebie recipe cards? There you go.

They will have lost all of their holiday decorations. All of them. ALL OF THEM. Start thinking. (See knittery. They can start making new ones right away if they have materials to do so.)

A number #1 box from IKEA has everything to refit a kitchen. Consider purchasing one or two to have on hand. I don't see them on the website, but if you visit a store - they're there. Ask where they've put them this year.

If you pack a mug, pack coffee, tea and sweeteners. Thing to stir with. Think about what you are packing for them - are you including everything that makes it possible for them to use it? Like, batteries? Pre-loaded spice shakers are a big plus.

A jacket. A sweater. A pair of shoes that they can wear sorting through junk.

Go through what you have and divest mercilessly.

Anything you have in good working condition is better than nothing.

Make sure they know how to reach you when they forget something. They will.

They will want to go HOME in the worst way, with no home to go to - warn them ahead of time this is going to hit like a ton of bricks within a week or so and not freak out when it does.

The fact there are a lot of sympathetic ears does not make it any less miserable. Percentages don't make a hill of beans when your home is 100% gone. And I don't care if you had a mint or a pot to piss in - it was yours and now it's GONE.

--

I gotta go make some phone calls.

NPR said it best this AM -

"Imagine San Francisco emptied. Completely."

That's how many people have been displaced down here.

I gotta go call some folks today. I'm not busy enough. I'm surrounded by plenty of evidence, but the phone's not ringing.

--

Folks, you want to know what you can give someone who has lost everything in a fire?

Give them security.

Bring them home with you. Feed them. Let them have hot showers with the good shampoo and bath fizzies if they're up for it. Have a hot meal waiting for when they're done. Wash their clothes while they're in the shower. Wash *everything* they brought with them if it needs it. Keep yer yap shut about people getting what they deserve...NOBODY gets what they deserve...and nobody asked for this. Say "I'm so sorry" and let it be.

If you know how, help them place an insurance claim. Provide a pad of paper and writing tools for them to carry around with the claim number, their adjuster's name and phone number and any other identifying marks. Provide a larger one for them to begin the inventory of their lost possessions. If you can spare it, give them a digital camera to take back with them when they go back to their house to begin the documentation process.

Before they go, pack them a sack lunch and make sure they take drinks with them. Oh, and a basic first-aid kit with bandaids and antibiotic ointment in it.

Give them respect.

Listen. Take notes, if need be. Offer to make phone calls to people who should know where they are and that they're okay.

Don't loan anything you aren't willing to just wave goodbye to. It's not worth the hassle. Really - I have a funny thing about loaning anything out. I just don't do it. Flip side of that is that I always have a ton of stuff spare - thank my mad mad packrattery skills, but I do. I won't begrudge you much - but I won't loan you anything, either. It's mine - or it's yours. Period.

Give them the creature comforts.

Food, clothing, shelter - okay. But don't forget - they need books, music and diversion as well.

After the first house fire, I had two books to read the entire summer. Love Story and The Andromeda Strain. Seriously. THE ENTIRE SUMMER. Three records - only one of which I could play. Television? What we could get off the air and that wasn't much more than a very faint receive on two channels, one of which wasn't in English.

If they do knittery, get them tools,yarn and patterns. Get the hands busy.

You got a spare mp3 player? Load it and pass it on.

Go find some spare paperbacks. Oh, and don't forget cookbooks either. Everything is gone - and the rebuilding will include replacing basic reference materials. Got a ton of freebie recipe cards? There you go.

They will have lost all of their holiday decorations. All of them. ALL OF THEM. Start thinking. (See knittery. They can start making new ones right away if they have materials to do so.)

A number #1 box from IKEA has everything to refit a kitchen. Consider purchasing one or two to have on hand. I don't see them on the website, but if you visit a store - they're there. Ask where they've put them this year.

If you pack a mug, pack coffee, tea and sweeteners. Thing to stir with. Think about what you are packing for them - are you including everything that makes it possible for them to use it? Like, batteries? Pre-loaded spice shakers are a big plus.

A jacket. A sweater. A pair of shoes that they can wear sorting through junk.

Go through what you have and divest mercilessly.

Anything you have in good working condition is better than nothing.

Make sure they know how to reach you when they forget something. They will.

They will want to go HOME in the worst way, with no home to go to - warn them ahead of time this is going to hit like a ton of bricks within a week or so and not freak out when it does.

The fact there are a lot of sympathetic ears does not make it any less miserable. Percentages don't make a hill of beans when your home is 100% gone. And I don't care if you had a mint or a pot to piss in - it was yours and now it's GONE.

--

I gotta go make some phone calls.

NPR said it best this AM -

"Imagine San Francisco emptied. Completely."

That's how many people have been displaced down here.

I gotta go call some folks today. I'm not busy enough. I'm surrounded by plenty of evidence, but the phone's not ringing.

--

Folks, you want to know what you can give someone who has lost everything in a fire?

Give them security.

Bring them home with you. Feed them. Let them have hot showers with the good shampoo and bath fizzies if they're up for it. Have a hot meal waiting for when they're done. Wash their clothes while they're in the shower. Wash *everything* they brought with them if it needs it. Keep yer yap shut about people getting what they deserve...NOBODY gets what they deserve...and nobody asked for this. Say "I'm so sorry" and let it be.

If you know how, help them place an insurance claim. Provide a pad of paper and writing tools for them to carry around with the claim number, their adjuster's name and phone number and any other identifying marks. Provide a larger one for them to begin the inventory of their lost possessions. If you can spare it, give them a digital camera to take back with them when they go back to their house to begin the documentation process.

Before they go, pack them a sack lunch and make sure they take drinks with them. Oh, and a basic first-aid kit with bandaids and antibiotic ointment in it.

Give them respect.

Listen. Take notes, if need be. Offer to make phone calls to people who should know where they are and that they're okay.

Don't loan anything you aren't willing to just wave goodbye to. It's not worth the hassle. Really - I have a funny thing about loaning anything out. I just don't do it. Flip side of that is that I always have a ton of stuff spare - thank my mad mad packrattery skills, but I do. I won't begrudge you much - but I won't loan you anything, either. It's mine - or it's yours. Period.

Give them the creature comforts.

Food, clothing, shelter - okay. But don't forget - they need books, music and diversion as well.

After the first house fire, I had two books to read the entire summer. Love Story and The Andromeda Strain. Seriously. THE ENTIRE SUMMER. Three records - only one of which I could play. Television? What we could get off the air and that wasn't much more than a very faint receive on two channels, one of which wasn't in English.

If they do knittery, get them tools,yarn and patterns. Get the hands busy.

You got a spare mp3 player? Load it and pass it on.

Go find some spare paperbacks. Oh, and don't forget cookbooks either. Everything is gone - and the rebuilding will include replacing basic reference materials. Got a ton of freebie recipe cards? There you go.

They will have lost all of their holiday decorations. All of them. ALL OF THEM. Start thinking. (See knittery. They can start making new ones right away if they have materials to do so.)

A number #1 box from IKEA has everything to refit a kitchen. Consider purchasing one or two to have on hand. I don't see them on the website, but if you visit a store - they're there. Ask where they've put them this year.

If you pack a mug, pack coffee, tea and sweeteners. Thing to stir with. Think about what you are packing for them - are you including everything that makes it possible for them to use it? Like, batteries? Pre-loaded spice shakers are a big plus.

A jacket. A sweater. A pair of shoes that they can wear sorting through junk.

Go through what you have and divest mercilessly.

Anything you have in good working condition is better than nothing.

Make sure they know how to reach you when they forget something. They will.

They will want to go HOME in the worst way, with no home to go to - warn them ahead of time this is going to hit like a ton of bricks within a week or so and not freak out when it does.

The fact there are a lot of sympathetic ears does not make it any less miserable. Percentages don't make a hill of beans when your home is 100% gone. And I don't care if you had a mint or a pot to piss in - it was yours and now it's GONE.

--

I gotta go make some phone calls.

Insult on top of injury -

Warning to Musicians - Internet Wedding Scam

So this is for our musician friends:

I'm miserable right now, and $2500 poorer. My band was the subject of internet fraud.

So rather than totally wallow in my own misery, I want to educate you on how it happened and how You can avoid this same problem. Because Your band may be next.

In September, we go an email for a wedding gig from "Pitt Andre". They found us through our wedding website. It was a little difficult for Andrew to work out the details with the folks getting "married". But we negotiated payment--$1500. And we would drive to Oklahoma.

We ask for a non-refundable 50% up front. So we waited and contacted and followed up with them to get payment. Finally they sent a check... for $2500. Then they called and told us their accountant sent the wrong amount. Could we send them the back the difference?

Sure, once the check clears. But before that happened. They canceled the wedding. The mother-in-law had a heart attack. They were pissed. They asked if they could have back the non-refundable money. We agreed. And after three days, the check seemed to have cleared. And Andrew sent money back via a Moneygram.

Today, five business days after the initial deposit, the check bounced. A little research revealed this is a typical scam.

So what are the lessons to be learned?

1. Even in this day and age, it can take 7-10 days for a check to clear.
2. NEVER send money back hastily. If they are that urgent to have their money, then tough luck.
3. Even YOU can be scammed by something this stupid. So be on your guard. Lean on the side of caution to avoid losing big money.

Now time to wallow in my own broke misery...

And if you care to help us recover from this financial hit, we are accepting donations.

Talk about no good deed going unpunished.

Fund raiser is here. firez, you do that handfasting next year? Consider giving these guys a call, willya?

Insult on top of injury -

Warning to Musicians - Internet Wedding Scam

So this is for our musician friends:

I'm miserable right now, and $2500 poorer. My band was the subject of internet fraud.

So rather than totally wallow in my own misery, I want to educate you on how it happened and how You can avoid this same problem. Because Your band may be next.

In September, we go an email for a wedding gig from "Pitt Andre". They found us through our wedding website. It was a little difficult for Andrew to work out the details with the folks getting "married". But we negotiated payment--$1500. And we would drive to Oklahoma.

We ask for a non-refundable 50% up front. So we waited and contacted and followed up with them to get payment. Finally they sent a check... for $2500. Then they called and told us their accountant sent the wrong amount. Could we send them the back the difference?

Sure, once the check clears. But before that happened. They canceled the wedding. The mother-in-law had a heart attack. They were pissed. They asked if they could have back the non-refundable money. We agreed. And after three days, the check seemed to have cleared. And Andrew sent money back via a Moneygram.

Today, five business days after the initial deposit, the check bounced. A little research revealed this is a typical scam.

So what are the lessons to be learned?

1. Even in this day and age, it can take 7-10 days for a check to clear.
2. NEVER send money back hastily. If they are that urgent to have their money, then tough luck.
3. Even YOU can be scammed by something this stupid. So be on your guard. Lean on the side of caution to avoid losing big money.

Now time to wallow in my own broke misery...

And if you care to help us recover from this financial hit, we are accepting donations.

Talk about no good deed going unpunished.

Fund raiser is here. firez, you do that handfasting next year? Consider giving these guys a call, willya?

Insult on top of injury -

Warning to Musicians - Internet Wedding Scam

So this is for our musician friends:

I'm miserable right now, and $2500 poorer. My band was the subject of internet fraud.

So rather than totally wallow in my own misery, I want to educate you on how it happened and how You can avoid this same problem. Because Your band may be next.

In September, we go an email for a wedding gig from "Pitt Andre". They found us through our wedding website. It was a little difficult for Andrew to work out the details with the folks getting "married". But we negotiated payment--$1500. And we would drive to Oklahoma.

We ask for a non-refundable 50% up front. So we waited and contacted and followed up with them to get payment. Finally they sent a check... for $2500. Then they called and told us their accountant sent the wrong amount. Could we send them the back the difference?

Sure, once the check clears. But before that happened. They canceled the wedding. The mother-in-law had a heart attack. They were pissed. They asked if they could have back the non-refundable money. We agreed. And after three days, the check seemed to have cleared. And Andrew sent money back via a Moneygram.

Today, five business days after the initial deposit, the check bounced. A little research revealed this is a typical scam.

So what are the lessons to be learned?

1. Even in this day and age, it can take 7-10 days for a check to clear.
2. NEVER send money back hastily. If they are that urgent to have their money, then tough luck.
3. Even YOU can be scammed by something this stupid. So be on your guard. Lean on the side of caution to avoid losing big money.

Now time to wallow in my own broke misery...

And if you care to help us recover from this financial hit, we are accepting donations.

Talk about no good deed going unpunished.

Fund raiser is here. firez, you do that handfasting next year? Consider giving these guys a call, willya?

Just got word -

My CSA provider?

Has been evacuated.

Tierra Miguel and they're wonderful.

You want to send them some love, I won't argue with you.

Just got word -

My CSA provider?

Has been evacuated.

Tierra Miguel and they're wonderful.

You want to send them some love, I won't argue with you.

Just got word -

My CSA provider?

Has been evacuated.

Tierra Miguel and they're wonderful.

You want to send them some love, I won't argue with you.

More Love -

Original Here.

LUSH Helps Victims of the Recent California Fires

Come in to any L.A. area or Scottsdale LUSH shop and purchase any item to be donated to the victims of the recent fires in Southern California, and LUSH will match your donation! So, if you purchase three pots of Dream Cream to be donated, LUSH will match that donation with an additional three pots of Dream Cream. They're going 100% matching on all products donated now through the end of November.

Our own LUSH employees will be going around to various shelters, hotels, and other places where displaced persons are being housed, and they will be dropping off products and explaining their use. Of course, many of our products are great for this purpose, but there are those that are more practical than others at the moment. Some suggestions are:

Dream Cream
Helping Hands
Shampoo bars
Solid facial cleansers
Shave creams
Soaps
Shower gels


Every L.A. area LUSH (Pasadena, CityWalk, Beverly Drive, and Santa Monica) and LUSH Scottsdale are participating, so come on in today! Feel free to link, forward, or otherwise pass on as you see fit. If you have any questions, you may contact me here, or call LUSH Santa Monica at 310.255.0030.

--

The "me" is chowyunsmut and I've told you she's wonderful many times already.

I also don't need to remind you that I love bath fizzies, right? Right. So do a buncha other people.

More Love -

Original Here.

LUSH Helps Victims of the Recent California Fires

Come in to any L.A. area or Scottsdale LUSH shop and purchase any item to be donated to the victims of the recent fires in Southern California, and LUSH will match your donation! So, if you purchase three pots of Dream Cream to be donated, LUSH will match that donation with an additional three pots of Dream Cream. They're going 100% matching on all products donated now through the end of November.

Our own LUSH employees will be going around to various shelters, hotels, and other places where displaced persons are being housed, and they will be dropping off products and explaining their use. Of course, many of our products are great for this purpose, but there are those that are more practical than others at the moment. Some suggestions are:

Dream Cream
Helping Hands
Shampoo bars
Solid facial cleansers
Shave creams
Soaps
Shower gels


Every L.A. area LUSH (Pasadena, CityWalk, Beverly Drive, and Santa Monica) and LUSH Scottsdale are participating, so come on in today! Feel free to link, forward, or otherwise pass on as you see fit. If you have any questions, you may contact me here, or call LUSH Santa Monica at 310.255.0030.

--

The "me" is chowyunsmut and I've told you she's wonderful many times already.

I also don't need to remind you that I love bath fizzies, right? Right. So do a buncha other people.

More Love -

Original Here.

LUSH Helps Victims of the Recent California Fires

Come in to any L.A. area or Scottsdale LUSH shop and purchase any item to be donated to the victims of the recent fires in Southern California, and LUSH will match your donation! So, if you purchase three pots of Dream Cream to be donated, LUSH will match that donation with an additional three pots of Dream Cream. They're going 100% matching on all products donated now through the end of November.

Our own LUSH employees will be going around to various shelters, hotels, and other places where displaced persons are being housed, and they will be dropping off products and explaining their use. Of course, many of our products are great for this purpose, but there are those that are more practical than others at the moment. Some suggestions are:

Dream Cream
Helping Hands
Shampoo bars
Solid facial cleansers
Shave creams
Soaps
Shower gels


Every L.A. area LUSH (Pasadena, CityWalk, Beverly Drive, and Santa Monica) and LUSH Scottsdale are participating, so come on in today! Feel free to link, forward, or otherwise pass on as you see fit. If you have any questions, you may contact me here, or call LUSH Santa Monica at 310.255.0030.

--

The "me" is chowyunsmut and I've told you she's wonderful many times already.

I also don't need to remind you that I love bath fizzies, right? Right. So do a buncha other people.