I've got to admit your right. I was downtown today on business and it was hot, humid, and smokey, made worse by the fact that I had to walk a total of 12 blocks both ways to get to my appointment and back to my car (It's a pain when you can't afford to park downtown).

But I have to say, as bad as it is downtown, the newscasters have also said that its worse the closer to the foothills that you are. I agree with their assessment.

Having taken part in the Downtown Sacramento smoke experience, I headed home to what I actually called a "dutch oven". The smoke was so thick up here that the houses in your photo would have been obscured. The sun light is a lovely shade of deep deep orange and its hard to even be outside for more than a minute or two at best. I've even taken to carry painter's masks in the car in case I need a filter to breath.

If you and the missus ever thought of coming by my place for a visit, wait. I'm only in it because I don't have a choice. I'm beginning to feel and smell more like smoked jerky each day.

Here's hoping my asthma doesn't start acting up again.

To quote you, my friend...

Freakin' smoke!!!

Hot and smoky, just like the way I like my BBQ. (I can't take credit, my friend Kristen came up with that one.)

You think you got it bad...come up to Roseville. At least the smoke kept the temperature to a balmy 106°. (Placerville, on the edge of the smoke, was 113°).

I need to post the pictures of yesterday afternoon. Visibility was about 1/2 mile, if you squinted.

You know those volcanic spots where you can boil an egg just by dipping it in the hot water? I had the brief image that the air over there is hot enough for roasting stuff in the open air, but that'd be damned scary if it were true....