@ 5:30 P.M. a army of emergency vehicles starts screaming past my window. Then my apt began to rattle from helicopters. I was going to go outside, but figuring it could be a domestic violence situation( bullets in the air) decided to let those window shaking helos tell me what was going on via the TEEVEE. About then I smell and see the hillside behind my apt on fire. Oh, o.k. initiate preliminary bugout plan of arm wrestling two cats into carriers, calling outside contact, emailing Doug. I'm nicely framed on three sides by the 101 freeway, largely following the historical route of the Portola expedition and later El Camino Real, a major offramp and the canyon drive with this hillside and canyon complex behind me. And then they came,on foot or by vehicle countless obvious 'lookylous' to the point firetrucks were driving partially on the sidewalks at points until CHiPs and Sherrifs could deploy detours and road closures. There was NO WAY I coud drive my car the scant few yards to relative safety out. I even had one woman and her kids knock on the door wanting to use my bathroom. There was a measure of payback, the ChiP and one VSD outside my window began issuing citations. I walked out with a cup of coffee, which he gulped greatfully before chasing another motorcycle going down the sidewalk! Buggout?No way! I returned to the reality of the TEEVEE for updates, with comic relief by Eri(K) Estrada selling land parcels. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Chris, maybe this time you won't spend the night a pond <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Dave

"Ponch" has been selling that land in Northern CA, now I also see he is selling land in Arkansas or somewheres out that way... Always good for a laugh. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Sounds like L.A. was a hub bub of activity today.

"..."Ponch" has been selling that land in Northern CA..."

What is scary is that his land (and apparently he actually owns the land, as opposed to just being a talking head for someone else) is in the same part of the state where we bought some land years ago as a possible retirement home (that plan has changed if anyone is interested in two side by side lots in a small quiet town), so I guess that we could be neighbors with ole Ponch. I met him years ago on a Chips set, but I'm not sure I want him for a neighbor. 'Specially now that he has been a "real" cop, he would probably want to tell war stories all day or something...

I always thought he was just the mouthpiece for L.S., didn't realize he actually owned some of the land. Interesting -- learn something new every day.

Aren't he and some other celebrities are on that show on CBS where they become reserve cops in Ohio or Illinois or some such place? Haven't seen it, but saw the preview one day. The people in that town must be rolling their eyes...

"...Aren't he and some other celebrities are on that show on CBS where they become reserve cops in Ohio or Illinois or some such place? Haven't seen it, but saw the preview one day. The people in that town must be rolling their eyes... "

Yup, comes on tonight. Stupid idea, but the show is actually entertaining (for the most part). And, at least in my opinion, ole Ponch is coming off pretty good. Comes on tonight, at 8 on the west coast. A better show to watch than some non-sexual wife swapping thing.

Re the land thing, my wife read somewhere that he owns the land in CA, don't know for sure myself, but she is usually right...

It's interesting how sometimes people are drawn to events like moth to a flame (no pun intended) but other times, they're not. Reminds me of an incident last year when I was up in West Hollywood. I had just parked on a main street and there was a wildfire less than a mile away. Since the street basically pointed straight at the small but fierce fire, anyone on the street had an excellent view of the action. Lot's of flame and smoke and literally at the doorstep of urban downtown civillization. However, looking around at the drivers and pedestrians on this busy street, very few people seemed to be that interested beyond a casual glance that way. YMMV I guess.

Chris, what exactly were the citations for? Just curious if it was for blocking the road with their vehicles, or are there no-gawking ordinances out there that I'm not aware of.

My huge apt complex spans the block at the foot of this fire. There are two streets on each end, and two entrys into the complex off the main cross street. The sherrif Dept set up roadblacks and were only allowing people in with proof of nearby residency. The gawkers simply slipped into the complex by foot and vehicle and drove out onto the streets again. This got pretty rediculous with several near misses until yet more officers had to deploy in the complex itself. I am assuming a few folks got some form of simple trespass citation. I was serving coffee to the police and firecrews when this idiot on a full dress HD decided to drive down the sidewalk gunning the throttle. A CHiP literally handed me the cup of coffee back with one hand and stopped him with the other.

There is a really neat section in the CA Penal Code (please don't ask me to rememer the section, it has been too long) prohibiting stopping at the scene of a disaster. Disaster being defined as, among other things, fires and traffic collisions. Comes in real handy in incidents such as this...

yeah i saw that "Armed and Famous" episode tonight with latoya jackson posing as a prostitute in a sting operation. god i hope thier guns aren't loaded. seeing eric estrada reading this guy his miranda rights almost made me spit up my drink. i was thinking, "what has our world come to?" why did the police ever agree to this? sorry, but when an out-of-work, no-talent, actor can wear a badge and start reading people their rights, its a sad day for humanity. it is entertaining though.... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />