Update November 2006 In early September we finally moved from the donated double wide trailer back into our home! With unfinished bedrooms, the kids slept on mattresses on the floor in a different room and mountains of unorganized mess was, and still is, all around us. We're slowly getting a handle on things, attending to our neglected house and making it liveable again. We repaired the bare minimum so we could return home, now the daunting task is presenting plans for the remainder of the repairs to the city for approval. This is no small feat for us do-it-yourselfers and will take time and patience. We're doing what we can to keep costs down since there is no landslide insurance and no FEMA for residents. My dad has been instrumental in helping us get back up on our feet and home. He donated his time and skills to us and we can't thank him enough....all fathers should take a lesson from him. The hillside reconstruction continues behind our home. There is a GIANT mountain of dirt being stored just 20 feet from our back door. It towers over our house and is twice, or three times, as tall. They will be recompacting the hillside that slid and removing the dirt as they go. The schedule promises the dirt will be back in place by Mid January and our yard will be our own. It's amazing how important the four walls you live within are. It's even more amazing how you don't know it until they're gone. This family won't be taking anything for granted. September 2005 Update An update on our situation….We are currently living in a home donated to us by a "perfect" stranger. In November we will move on to our next stop, a trailer donated to us by the city. Our home is almost ready for repair. A massive amount of support "shoring up" has been added to the damaged area. A gigantic beam now runs through the middle of my sons room, out his window space and over to a deck support. The master bedroom deck and lowest, play deck, have been removed. It was a difficult day when the decks were hauled off. The play deck wasn't even a year old, it was outfitted with a fort, swings, and a slide (all courtesy of dear old Dad). We had a sandbox below the deck (thanks again to Dad) which is also gone. The other day I got down on my hands and knees and sifted through the now dirty sand searching for beloved toys. I was able to retrieve a few. The workers discovered one of Ty's Tonka trucks, half crushed under a 70' tall tree, with a hammer we'll bend it back and clean it up. Shortly the workers will have their temporary road moved over twenty feet or more so we can unearth my neighbors concrete foundation and haul it out of our house. It'll be a tricky maneuver hauling out that massive hunk without damaging our house further. When that is removed we can begin repairing. The danger is that the air is getting more moist as we head into Fall and the mold will set in. I already see signs of it growing on a door downstairs because that whole area is open to the elements. So the adventure keeps going. As hurricane Katrina wiped out the South, we are thankful we still have our community and support systems in tacked. We have many things in common with the former residents of the South…only we are without FEMA and insurance. Oh, and by the way, every geologist involved with the Landslide in Laguna has confirmed that it was caused by the heavy rains we experienced early this year….even the Federal Governments geologist came to that conclusion. It's a mystery why our application for FEMA was rejected. The city is paying dearly to repair the hillside, replace the public utilities, and protect the thousand people who live above the canyon (who currently have only one road out of their neighborhoods without the destroyed road….VERY dangerous if there were a fire or other emergency) and the hundreds of people who live below the canyon (who's homes will surely flood if this work is not completed). Many people have been asking me for details about the recent landslide in Laguna Beach. Our home was severely damaged when my neighbors crushed home was pushed through the walls of my children's bedrooms. Our decks were demolished by debris which included 4 story tall trees that were swept from their location and rammed into our home. Our home is "red-tagged" which means that we are unable to enter un-escorted. We don't know how long it will take to fix, or how much it will cost. Many people have been asking how they can help, you'll find a list of ideas below. First of all, the more money I make the better off my family will be….so if you've ever thought about buying my work, now's a good time, and an even better time to pass on my web address to friends and family. My husband left his position last January in order to give me the opportunity to pursue my career. I would be so sad to give up my dream because of the landslide…if gainfully employed, my husband would have a better paycheck than me, which we're prepared to pursue, but it will cost me my chance, and I've patiently waited a long time for this chance. August 2005 Update The following are some ideas to help my family…. We have an account for donations set up at Bank of America account # 0097340508 Paypal donations are being accepted through helpbluebird@hotmail.com If you'd like to help all victims….. South County Bank has a fund set up in the name of the Laguna Beach Resource Center (949-497-7121) via: Laguna Relief Fund, care of South County Bank, 540 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, Calif. 92651. Laguna Beach Resource Center phone number www.lagunabeachcity.net includes individual bios of each victim and info on ways to help.