Little Smokey
by Pasadena Adjacent
Today marks the one year anniversary of the San Gabriel Mountain Station Fire. In remembrance of that horrific event, we here at Pasadena Adjacent have been joined by Mr V in his retelling of the True Story of Smokey Bear. All Smokey Swag (ruler, bumper sticker, comic book) courtesy of the US Federal Government
bad management also . . . destroys
Pasadena Adjacent 
The bear cub in the photo was peering into what was once the historical Vetter Fire Tower. All gone.
Station Fire Statistics
8/26/2009 1,174 acres
8/27/2009 5,205 acres
8/28/2009 31,772 acres
8/29/2009 57,160 acres
8/30/2009 7,638 acres
8/31/2009 13,644 acres
9/01/2009 21,400 acres
9/02/2009 7,302 acres
9/03/2009 3,963 acres
9/04/2009 2,401 acres
9/05/2009 4,241 acres
9/06/2009 2,239 acres
through October
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Touching remembrance. Thanks for posting it.
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Thank you! Mr V and your able assistant. I love Smokey and I’m glad to hear his story, but I have to say he still looks cute but he must be getting a little long in the fang by now. Nice swag, looks new, I think you’ve been scoring at the ranger station again.
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Because you so often give us a quiz later on, I did stay for the whole presentation. Mr. V’s laconic delivery put me in mind of Grapes of Wrath.
I also enjoyed the fact that forests should be saved so we can chop them down.
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What a treasure trove! Never heard of most of this. Thanks for the introduction, even if a year/years later.
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Yo, PA – a classic post and a classy collection! (will be back for the story, cannot find headphones).
To add to the sad story…a week ago the fire up from Llano (road to Wrightwood) burned the cafe about 10 miles up the road. We just went there for the 1st time 2 months ago. Real nice Korean woman about my age ran it. Her dad kept some poultry I think. Hope they are all OK.
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Is there life for a females artist after 50? you betcha! Smokey Bear knows
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I sure do Lisa. And if you boys and girls select Lisa’s name, you too can learn all about the pleasures and perils of life for female artist’ in their advancing years
As for me, 20 days before the ill fated Station Fire that most likely took the life of my friend you see peering into Vetter Tower Lookout Station, I turned 65. As to the fire, I blame forrest supervisor Jody Noiron and the cover-up currently under investigation. I’ve heard Pasadena Adjacent refer to this anniversary as “the loss of a million souls” and I would agree. Only you and decent management can prevent forrest fires.
Anyhow, Although I’m now considered a senior citizen, and can order off the value menu at all participating Sizzlers, I continue to keep up my appearance. Thanks goes to graphic artist’ who are experts at pixel nipping here and pixel tucking there. They did the same thing for Betty Crocker and Aunt Jemima. That puts me in pretty good company…right Lisa? right Liz?
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The comic book story of the fire is strangely moving. It makes me sad. I’m glad they’re still investigating and that it hasn’t been swept under the rug.
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I didn’t know about the investigation, Smokey. I hope they stick with it.
I’ve learned something important from Ivan and Katrina: whatever your situation after an event like a natural catastrophe you can try and try to put things to right but you can never anticipate all the twists and turns once policies and procedures are put into place. Government agencies, insurance companies, banks – they’re all about them. If you feel you’ve made a good faith effort to salvage your mortgage loan, your home, whatever, but feel completely overwhelmed by it all talk to a lawyer and then walk. Move on. You can put your ethics and morals to better use elsewhere. And you can always rebuild your credit rating and you won’t have to go through something like PTSD or worse, if there’s anything worse.
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love Mr V’s reading of Smokey Bear. We have one of those comic books and i thought that would be a good thing to do to. I pushed share but did it. ???my facebook friends would like it…maybe, I think we’re getting old.
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I remember those comic books from when I lived in Montana in the 1970s. Smokey the Bear was a big deal. We were all afraid of matches. Also, we were all afraid of the Woodsy Owl.
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That was obviously a life-changing experience for those of you in SoCal. Having your local info and perspectives was a help to me in appreciating the the creepy drama and heartbreak of it–but also the collective spirit you all showed in responding to it. Another stroke for blogging and the internet.
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This cracked me up. Your pointing skills are so good you’re ready for Antiques Roadshow.
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Jean S: Thanks
Paula: A visit to the Chilao Visitor’s Center resulted in scored swag. Even pre-fire I never saw someone manning the Center. Of course the volunteer would end up being my Eaglerock adjacent gay neighbor Mark (which explains the pink ruler). The next post will have us “back on track”
AH: Pop Quiz for the Pop Tart. I’m hoping there’s money in that laconic voice. Presently silent commentor “Chef King Walter” (now west side Walter) is cooking for a somewhat successful casting agent. Consider this Mr V’s audition
btw: the irony here is that much of the charred wood on the big trees is actually salvageable and marked with blue tape for logging.
Brenda: Welcome and many happy returns! did I guilt you into a visit? no one phises quite as transparently as I. Where most of us grow thick in time, Smokey Bear keeps getting better and better. I think he presently “bears” a striking resemblance to GI Joe
Tash: C-R-A-P I was just in that area at the beginning of August. Not the road to Llanno (but coming out of Wrightwood) I still need to check out how much loss occurred in recent Frazier Park fire. Thats where I camped out a year ago….and we still have the Santa Annas to contend with
Lisa: I hope a few folks visited your Huffington Post article. No one is more cruel then artist commenters. Youngster fucks
Smokey Bear: I thought about posting images of stunned and charred wildlife (for which I am haunted) but instead opted for a kinder softer approach. I miss Vetter Tower. From there you could see the peaks of nearly the entire range.
I found this link to spherical Panoramas of the San Gabriel Mountains before the fire. The second one is of Vetter Tower
Petrea: I just don’t buy the party line etc etc. I’ve talked to firefighters and city workers alike, and they don’t buy it either….Mr V’s a bit on the dyslexic side so we went through it a few times. I think his stammers and pauses are touching
Rozz: FB is a vexing form of communication but I do like my big ass farm in Farmville. Should I do a post about it?More crops dear..add more crops
Margaret: I want to know more about Montana. Thats hard core country.
Some interesting trivia on Smokey Bear. Before he became the US Forest Service’s mascot they were using images of fascist dictators to get there forest protection message across. Part of the war time effort
Banjo52: Here is a poem for you from Mr V’s High School friend. It explains this place
Rebecca: I’m pretty good at it. I used my newly aquired tag sale Tuesday paint brush
The first day of the Station Fire. The Teepee (is/was really a standing teepee) and refers to the destination one aspires to when they take the fire road just beyond the “Fire Station” I have memories and I have photos
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I didn’t know what to make of your piece of performance art, I don’t know you or Mr V, really. I was afraid to say anything.
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Is Pasadena Adjacent
a. a user friendly blog
b. interesting and informative
c. suffering from a lack of direction
D intimidating
E incomprehensible, unworthy of further exploration
F gawd awful
G other
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I choose B
Pasadena Adjacent,
The video was funny… and educational :-)
I always love your blog and and the getting it cheap esthetic. I forgot to tell Becky last night and you’ll love this; on my Eaton Canyon hike yesterday I passed a beat up dumpster loaded with nothing but garbage except at the very top were 2 nicely built pine book shelves. We have enough junk in our tiny house but they were so well
made that I drove over there after my hike and rekindled my San Francisco dumpster diving past. They are now standing in the garage awaiting Becky’s inspection.
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Dear PA Stat An Surv. It is all those things and more, except F.
Why would the Park Service retire such a young looking fictional bear? I hope they gave him a decent pension.
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PA, your posts always take me to unchartered territory. It’s like going through a maze with new discoveries around every corner.
I’m glad you didn’t post pics of charred animals. The mere suggestion is enough to get me choked up (no pun intended).
Mr V was great. Reminded me a bit of Mr. Rogers.
I wasn’t tuned into the Station Fire anniversary. Yikes. Don’t want to relive that. Sobering statistics. Also, I’m only slightly aware of the station fire politics, investigation and cover up. Just thinking about it makes my head hurt.
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A + B + G = other (worldly)
I don’t know if you’ll take this as a compliment but there are very few blogs that keep my interest for any length of time but yours is right at the top of that very short list and in what I consider very good company. Now have a caramel or two and enjoy every morsel.
PS I think I wrote my rant because of what Susan said, it made my head hurt: the oil spill, the memory of what you guys went through with the fire, the threatening hurricanes for this year, my stupid foot, you really have to be prepared for so many twists and turns.
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Pasadena Adjacent Statistical Analysis Survey: Good work team! Perhaps we should hire you more regularly. It has often occurred to us here at Pasadena Adjacent, how odd it is, that our hard working little blog leaves thoughtful comments at a number of other area blogs (as well as outside zip codes) without ever receiving so much as a return peep from said offenders. Do they not realize that we here at Pasadena Adjacent would appreciate a little feed back too? Do I need to name names? Please let us know how we’re doing here in the “adjacents”? We would enjoy hearing from you too!
Alphie: Welcome to the Adjacents. I’ve had to slow down on my curbside collecting due to the fact that I can no longer turn on my patio. You’ll be happy to know that when I next post on the “TT” subject it will be using material given to me by your wife. Maybe if I give it back you can fill those shelves up.
D: but what about E? Smokey isn’t retiring yet. He’s a bit like Lassie in that way. Always keeping up with the times and burying the rest of us.
Susan Campisi: “Uncharted territory” stick around, more to come!
When I moved away from home and was living in a dank studio apartment (complete with murphy bed) I would watch Mr Rogers daily because of the calm in his voice. On weekends, I’d drive home to Pasadena. Mom/Ramona (and she remembers this) asked me why, and I told her it was because when I got within eye shot of the San Gabriels, I felt safe. I’ve always kept the head of my bed facing the range. Mecca me
PJ: I take it as a total compliment and am grinning ear to ear. I appreciate that we have a relaxed give and take. I was once told it was the quality of a comment and not the quantity that mattered. Yours are dear to me. (plus I think of you as a fellow artist; which is why it didn’t surprise me you moved away from format)
I liked your rant.
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Except E also. I must have had my head up my A when I missed that.
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I finally got back from my coffee, and having almost recoverred from Rock Candy Mountain …and my birthday, I finally got to hear Mr.V’s reading of Smokey the Bear. I love being read to. Yes it was touching.
About the quiz:
Pasadena Adjacent is the best example of Intermedia that I have ever seen and I supposedly have a degree in it.
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