i was staying at the fess parker’s doubletree in santa barbara when the jesusita fires started burning – these shots are from my hotel room balcony on the second floor.  one night we were eating outside and the wind changed and started blowing in ashes.  i said that it was weird to think that i might be inhaling some kids teddy bear – that’s pretty messed up, but that’s some hard reality right there.  all the vacant rooms at the hotel were slammed full with evacuees – some were sleeping in their cars that were packed full with whatever they could cram in before they had to evacuate.  in total around 80 homes were destroyed and another 20 or so were damaged.  i had a house burn down one time and that crap is no good.  but the free cookies they give you at the doubletree are fan-frickin-tastic.