Many may know of the Santa Barbara fire just now under control. SB is @ 90 minutes freeway north of me, in California terms my nieghborhood.
Interesting experience this time around on my part. I had just started a badly needed PT job at a major retailer.We boast the largest concentration of motels to 5 star hotels unless you go on into Los Angeles.
Lady walks in wearing jeans over a nightgown, no makeup, tired looking. It didn't take Sherlock Holmes to guess she was from SB. So I'm ringing up $500 in clothing and toiletries asking if she is a relative of the California Arts and Craft
movement artist bearing her name ( great grand daughter)and the store manager rushes over.
The store LP ( loss prevention, aka insecurity guard) was watching her and decided it was a scam.
So he takes the sale AND my 10% commision, runs the C/C and stares at it trying to spot a fake.
She leaves after thanking me and rolling her eyes. I am ORDERED to discourage ALL TRANSIENTS from SB from shopping there.
I think ( and apologies to residents who share his hometown)I replied he 'was dumber than a Kansas City steak side potato boiled in aluminum foil' before my retail career abruptly ended.
Many of our retailers hurting in the economic slowdown received a much needed boost and it was interesting to see what sells out, even short term.
Many convoys of various Fire units returned home this afternoon. We drove past several, people waving at them with upturned thumbs.
The fire seems to have started from power equippment CLEARING BRUSH. A videoed Hiker in blue, with full backpack( also blue) seen leaving the inital fire area is suspect becaue HE WAS WALKING QUICKLY FROM THE FIRE.
Note to self- if confronted by a California brush fire, dawdle around so as not to attract attention.