Northridge Earthquake 30th Anniversary

Incredible as it seem, today marks the 30th anniversary of the Northquake Earthquake.

I was living in North Hills at the time and when the quake struck at 4:31 in the morning, it seemed like my bed was jumping around like Linda Blair's in The Exorcist. 

The 6.7-magnitude Northridge Earthquake occurred at 4:31am on Monday, January 17, 1994. Its epicenter was around Wilbur Avenue and Arminta Street in Reseda.

I had some damage to personal property and had it all boxed and separated for the representative from FEMA to inspect. He didn't bother to inspect it, but wrote out a check. I used the money to buy a camper shell for my 1985 Nissan Pick-up.

This was one of those life events a person who experienced it never forgets.

Food In L.A. Last Weekend

Above, my Tommy's breakfast sandwich. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I went to Los Angeles last Friday to attend the 50ish Hawthorne High School Reunion, I made it a point to go have a breakfast sandwich at Tommy's in North Hills. This I accomplished. I was craving Tommy's chili.

As for other food outside of the reunion, the gang of us headed to Pancho's Mexican restaurant in Manhattan Beach. While planning the trip, I had my eye on either Pancho's or Cozymel's Mexican Grill.

Above, Pancho's looked the same. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, Cozymel's was closed down several years ago as their rent was increased and the plaza was being remodeled. My late mother and I used to go there for dinner quite often. Therefore, as Pancho's was still operating, we went there.

The place still looked the same and the food was still good. I used to bring Young Republicans there in the 1970s and 1980s whenever we had a convention in Los Angeles. Pancho's didn't disappoint. I had a cheese enchilada and chile relleno combination plate.

Above, the gang at Pancho's last Saturday evening. 

A friend here asked me how did the food at Pancho's compare to the Mexican food in New Mexico. I said that although the food at Pancho's was good, the Mexican food in New Mexico is better and hotter. (It must be the Hatch Valley chile peppers in the sauce.)

The only favorite place I missed was In-N-Out Burger while in L.A. Oh, well. Next time.

Northridge Earthquake - 28 Years Ago

Above, Balboa near Rinaldi - Gas line explosions the morning
 of the Northridge earthquake, January 17, 1994. I lived about
 two-three miles from it. Photo from the Valley Relics Museum.

It is amazing that 28 years have passed since the Northridge Earthquake in the San Fernando Valley.

I was living in North Hills at the time and my bed shook and jumped around like Linda Blairs's did in The Exorcist.

I had some personal property damage, but FEMA took care of it. 

One good thing about the aftermath, I was able to get adjusting work on a catastrophe team for 20th Century Insurance. I later learned that the claims put the company out of business. But that wasn't exactly the case. They pulled out of the homeowners insurance market and later was bought by Farmers Insurance from AIG Insurance. They only offer auto insurance today.

One interesting thing, after the quake, the power citywide was totally out and we were able to see a sky full of stars without any light pollution to obscure them.

27 Years Since The Northridge Earthquake

Somehow, I missed this.

Yesterday was the 27th anniversary of the Northridge Earthquake. At the time, I was living in North Hills, California, about 6 miles from the epicenter.  

The quake was so strong that my bed was jumping like Linda Blair's in The Exorcist.

From History.com:

At 4:31 a.m. on January 17, 1994, a 6.7-magnitude quake struck the San Fernando Valley, a densely populated area of Los Angeles located 20 miles northwest of the city’s downtown. The quake was caused by the sudden rupture of a previously undocumented blind thrust fault. The Northridge quake, named after the San Fernando Valley community near its epicenter, was the costliest in U.S. history, with damages estimated at more than $20 billion, and resulted in 57 deaths.

 

Happy Father's Day!

1993:

1963:

The Beast Repaired and Clean

Above, while The Beast was being worked on. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Beast is all repaired.

I took it in to Niel's RV in North Hills this morning and got the new passenger rear side marker light replaced. I had crunched it with a pole I couldn't see.

Above, the flag is half-staff at Niel's RV in honor of
 the Orlando shooting victims. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The part came in yesterday and set an appointment with Niel's for this morning.

Following the completion of the repair work, I headed off to the coin-operated car wash and gave The Beast a bath. A lot of tiny bugs were squished on the side view mirrors.

Above, the new light. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

So now The Beast is as good and clean as new.

Above, all repaired and cleaned. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At least until the next camping trek.