Is anyone familiar with Southern California? My son lives in Pasadena, and he doesn't have much communication with us. (he's a doctoral student who is too busy for mom and dad. . .) I been trying to find out if there are any fires near there, but I can't find any information about the Pasadena area. Maybe that's because they're not affected yet? I could use a geography lesson. If anyone is affected, my heart goes out to you. I wish there was some way to help. What we in the midwest are seeing on TV is just awful.

This might help you; Battling California's Wildfires

Pasadena is right near Los Angeles, which is currently not affected from anything I could find. I just recently moved from LA, and my family is all down there, so I've been keeping an eye on it.

Thank you Marimaru. I hope your family is OK.

Currently none of the fires are anywhere near Pasadena. Basically the areas getting hit are out in the more "wilderness-y" areas, not the more compacted cities. I live in Orange County but am currently on vacation in Nashville (where it is raining), so I'm following everything pretty closely.

HI ,

I LIVE IN SAN DIEGO AND I KNOW THAT PASADENA IS NOT BEING AFFECTED AT ALL . SO NO WORRIES . I JUST ASK ALL OF YOU TO PRAY FOR THIS FIRES TO BE DONE AND OVER WITH . ITS HARD TO SEE AND WELL AS TO LIVE IT PERSONALLY OR WITH FAMILY MEMBERS

HAVE A GOOD NITE

CLAU:rain:HOPE IT RAINS REALLY HOPE IT WOULD !

Everyone there is in our prayers. We are anxious to get home so we can help with the relief efforts.

Currently none of the fires are anywhere near Pasadena. Basically the areas getting hit are out in the more "wilderness-y" areas, not the more compacted cities. I live in Orange County but am currently on vacation in Nashville (where it is raining), so I'm following everything pretty closely.

Heh, you aren't too far from me, then. My parents live about two hours east of there, in Crossville, and I am currently in Kentucky.

I thought you were in Kansas, not Kentucky. I get my "K" states confused LOL! Kentucky was actually our destination and Nashville was a side trip. We came to see the Creation Museum in Florence and ended up with a few side trips: visiting friends in Troy, visiting the Underground Railroad Museum in Cincinnati, and seeing Lincoln's birthplace and some caves in Kentucky. Living in California we don't do many "road trips" so this was a lot of fun.

I thought you were in Kansas, not Kentucky. I get my "K" states confused LOL! Kentucky was actually our destination and Nashville was a side trip. We came to see the Creation Museum in Florence and ended up with a few side trips: visiting friends in Troy, visiting the Underground Railroad Museum in Cincinnati, and seeing Lincoln's birthplace and some caves in Kentucky. Living in California we don't do many "road trips" so this was a lot of fun.

If you can get to Memphis, you REALLY need to see the Civil Rights Museum. It's really incredible. I mean, it's the type of place you leave with a pit in your stomach.

I thought you were in Kansas, not Kentucky. I get my "K" states confused LOL! Kentucky was actually our destination and Nashville was a side trip. We came to see the Creation Museum in Florence and ended up with a few side trips: visiting friends in Troy, visiting the Underground Railroad Museum in Cincinnati, and seeing Lincoln's birthplace and some caves in Kentucky. Living in California we don't do many "road trips" so this was a lot of fun.

You should see Mammoth Cave, while you're in Kentucky.

If you can get to Memphis, you REALLY need to see the Civil Rights Museum. It's really incredible. I mean, it's the type of place you leave with a pit in your stomach.

The Underground Railroad Museum did that to me. Disgusting part of our history. I just can't believe how people can treat other human beings with such cruelty.

We're headed back tomorrow so we're out of time to see anything else :-(

You should see Mammoth Cave, while you're in Kentucky.

We saw the Diamond Cave and the Lost River Cave. Pretty amazing stuff. I never knew Kentucky had that type of geography.

The Underground Railroad Museum did that to me. Disgusting part of our history. I just can't believe how people can treat other human beings with such cruelty.

We're headed back tomorrow so we're out of time to see anything else :-(

Well, if you are ever back this way, you should go see it. I personally think that it's something that EVERY person in our nation needs to see at least once. Everything is covered, from slavery to the KKK to Jim Crow laws to the Civil Rights era to modern day, everything. It's hard to take in everything in one trip. It's definitely not a place for the light of heart, either. If your kids are very young, it might be a little much right now, because a lot of the images are just brutal.

We saw the Diamond Cave and the Lost River Cave. Pretty amazing stuff. I never knew Kentucky had that type of geography.

Kentucky and Tennessee are both really wonderful places, if you are into nature. The US Southeast is one of the major biodiversity hotspots, even on a global scale. Lots and lots of great things to see.

Well, if you are ever back this way, you should go see it. I personally think that it's something that EVERY person in our nation needs to see at least once. Everything is covered, from slavery to the KKK to Jim Crow laws to the Civil Rights era to modern day, everything. It's hard to take in everything in one trip. It's definitely not a place for the light of heart, either. If your kids are very young, it might be a little much right now, because a lot of the images are just brutal.

Yeah, my kids did NOT do well with the Underground Railroad Museum. They're very sensitive (like their mother) to human suffering.

YOU should go see the Creation Museum I could even try to get you in free if you want to go.

Yeah, my kids did NOT do well with the Underground Railroad Museum. They're very sensitive (like their mother) to human suffering.

YOU should go see the Creation Museum I could even try to get you in free if you want to go.

The Civil Rights Museum probably isn't a good idea, then, at least not for several years. It's very, very strong.

I might have to go see the Creation Museum, just to see it. I don't know when I'd have time though, since I'm swamped right now. I'm trying to graduate in May and I'm trying to avoid getting blasted by my advisor (because I am WAY behind where I should be). This is my schedule for the next several months: Get the final draft of my proposal finished by the end of October (should have been done three semesters ago); have all my tapes watched, data collected, and data analyzed by mid-November; take my comprehensive exams from my committee members in early December; have the first draft of my thesis finished by late January; second thesis draft by late February; do a presentation over my thesis material at a conference in early April; defend my thesis research in early April; get the final draft of my thesis to the graduate school in mid-April; graduate in May.