AFTER THE FIRE COMES A HAPPY ENDING

Everything about our lives changed after we moved into the house my father built for us. The picture The Greenspan Company created of my loss for the Insurance Company, forced them to pay me the full value of what it was worth.  I moved back into my home feeling like a Queen and never looked back.

Georgia and I were once again happy and had a bright future to look forward to.  For me it was going back to College and finishing my Bachelors Degree in Psychology and writing my book.  For Georgia it was going to college, finding a husband and someday being a Bride.  We both made those dreams a reality.  Georgia and I graduated from college within the same week in 2001 and she married the following year.  My book was published in September of 2010 and I am at last a published author thinking of writing my second book.

My father's beautiful Art Deco, Mediterranean design.   Here is the entry and stairs leading to the living area.

The window seat at the top of the stairs with an Ocean view.

The Living room, dining room, kitchen and TV room behind the kitchen.  Stairs lead to my Master Suite.

The Master Bathroom with a fireplace, 
double sinks,Jacuzzi tub and Ocean view. 

 I never dreamed this beautiful home was in the deck of cards representing the events in my life, but by the Grace of God I was blessed beyond measure.

                                 THE END.

Thank You for following the Vintage Maybelline Docu-Blog.  Stay tuned for more Fabulous Posts next week.

AFTER THE LAGUNA BEACH FIRE THE REBUILDING PROCESS BEGINS.

The excitement, frustration, anticipation, fear and finally.....the joy of building my house from the ground up.

A year and a half after the fire my lot was cleared and prepared for building process to begin.

My dad Bill Williams, ( here with his wife Gloria,) worked with Architect Bruce Spielbuehler, to design our new Mediterranean, Art Deco home.

Georgia stands on the cleared lot.  The view is spectacular, but our neighbor's Mark and Barbara's house will eventually be rebuilt across the street. 

My dad visits the site everyday.  Acting as Boss he makes sure every detail in the blueprints are properly addressed and fires subcontractors he doesn't think are doing their job.  I could never have done this alone.

The hill had to be pushed back five feet and major retaining walls built before the first floor could go up.

Gloria directs traffic as nonstop trucks go up and down the hill. The narrow street made It nearly impossible to squeeze enough space for trucks to stop and deliver wood, dirt etc.

My dad and Gloria see the vision of his imagination

unfolding like magic before their eyes.

My full time job as owner/Builder was being at the site everyday working with the Builder, Architect and my Dad..... I put in eight hour days answering questions, picking out tile, paint, appliances  and writing checks from the insurance money. 

The garage walls go up and I can't help think the safe that was in the floor holding my Baby diamond ring.  How could it have survived the firestorm? 

My Architect Bruce Spielbuehler and Builder Randy Smith, check the blueprints after the house was framed.

Even my brother Preston, helped a great deal, doing all the wiring for the stereo and surround sound.   

Finally the most exciting moment came when my dad and I climbed the stairs to the second story and stood in my new bedroom overlooking the ocean.  Maybe I wasn't able to write my book yet, but the dream of having a second story on my home came true for me.

To be continued tomorrow.

To see the whole series I did on the Laguna Beach Fire please check under archives. 

Maybelline Story Author lost her home in the LAGUNA BEACH FIRESTORM, October 27, 1993

www.GirlBehindTheFence.com for more information

. 

As fierce wildfires fueled by 70 mph Santa Ana winds swept through the Laguna Canyon and hurtled towards their neighborhoods, people found themselves literally racing to escape the 200-feet-high flames. When it was over, the fire had claimed 366 homes. 

Excerpt from my, 1993, Diary, unedited. Post - Oct 27.

I laid there, in my boiling hot room, and sorted out my day. The first thing I had to do was call Barbara - my neighbor across the street - and see if she put the copy of my William Morris book contract, in my mailbox... so I could take it to school, and go over it.  My Attorney had faxed it to her husband Mark's office and he was nice enough to bring it home for me.

I knew it was going to be a difficult day, because of the heat, and my back was still killing me.  My face too, was dry, itchy and pealing, because I'd just had another deep face peal, and  couldn't wear make-up again today. I wished I could stay home and hide, but I had to get the contract figured out and faxed back to David by the end of the day.  This time, I was determined... nothing would stand in the way, of me writing my book.

Before Georgia left the house for school, she turned on the T.V., and I heard the reporter say, Orange County was on fire.  I'd heard this before, but was never alarmed.....I figured we were safe here Laguna, tucked away from the rest of the county in a Lagoon..... but when I got up, and looked out the window, I was stunned by the amount of smoke in the air and how the sun looked like it had turned to blood.

Than I noticed Mark and Barbara's roofer's, working at 7:00 a.m., and worried about the hot tar blowing in my windows. I knew I couldn't stay in the house with the windows shut all day.  The heat would kill me.

The Santa Ana winds were out of control, blowing 90 miles an hour, or so it seemed, by the look of the palm trees swaying in the wind. I forced myself to get dressed, and get out of the town as soon as possible until it blew over.

Before I left, I called Barbara and told her the roofer's had an actual fire going on her roof, but figured they must know what they were doing, so didn't worry too much about it.  We talked about the brand new Black Cherokee Jeep, she'd just gotten, and I remarked on how spoiled she was, having a rich husband, who buys her anything she wants.

"Oh, I know," she agreed, "isn't it terrible, how spoiled we both are," she laughed, throwing it right back to me.

"Well, I suppose you're right," I said, "I'm very lucky too, after all I  get to spend the day doing aerobics, Yoga and Tie Chi, than study my contract while eating lunch."

We both laughed, knowing that few people had a lifestyle as comfortable and as fun as ours.

"What do you think about the fires," I asked her, needing some reassurance before I headed out of town.

"I'm worried, of course," she confessed, "but it looks like they're pretty far North, don't you think?," she said.

"You're right," I said, "but doesn't it look like the end of the world? I've just got to get out of here."

"I'm so sorry," she said, "about the roof.  They were supposed to be done a week ago, but you know contractors, you can't depend of them."

"It's okay," I said, "I need to get to school anyway.  I've missed the last two days of exercise classes, because my back went out."

"Well, good luck with the book contract," she said, "I'm excited for you.  I know the project is going to be great, how can it miss, the story is phenomenal"

"Thanks Barb," I said, "and thank Mark for bringing the fax home."

I got off the phone and called David next to tell him everything was on schedule and that I'd call him in the afternoon when I got home. Than I threw on some old cotton shorts, a crummy t-shirt without shoulder pads, and some tennis shoes. The house looked neat, and clean.  Everything was in order.  My manuscript, family pictures, and letters, all filed in boxes and stored under my desk next to the door. I walked out the front door and down the old red brick steps to my car, than hesitated for one second, wondering if I should bring the pictures with me to decide which one's would be best for the book. Than thought, "no, leave them, they're safer in the house and I wouldn't want to take any chances of losing them."

I pulled the car out of the garage, locked it tightly with the new pad lock I just bought and backed it out of the driveway.  Before I drove off down the hill, I looked back to admire the new paint job, and landscaping.  It was just darling and I was proud I'd restored it to it's rightful position in the neighborhood, after years of neglect during my long divorce. I dreamed about the day I could finally build a second story on it and have a perfect view.

As I drove through Laguna Canyon, at 11:15 a.m., I noticed police cars, than saw the police putting yellow cones in the highway, to stop traffic from coming into town, it concerned me, but not enough to turn around and go home.   

How strange, I thought, as I sped past them. I looked in my rear view mirror and vowed not to worry, I'll be home at 5:30, I said to myself, and everything will be fine.

While I got on on the 405 freeway, heading South.....
Georgia was dressing for P.E. and going out to play soft ball on the field, when she looked up at the sky towards our house, and noticed it was blue and purple, with scarlet clouds... too eerie to be beautiful, and yet amazingly hypnotic, she thought. The other kids were singing, "it's the end of the world as we know it"... even though, at that point they really didn't know a thing.  There was a scary tension in the air, but the P.E. coach kept everyone playing outside, in the horrible heat.

By lunch, it was clear there was a problem and out in the distance Georgia, could see a cloud of black smoke slowly getting bigger and bigger, right over the town. Reports of a fire in Emerald Bay, a few miles North, began to filter across the campus, and though nothing was confirmed until she got to her 5th period class..... she knew it wasn't good.

Finally the word came that Laguna was on fire......but not to panic.

Bathtub Options and Styles Here are two of my custom tubs

 

When it comes to choosing the right bathtub for your home, it isn't as easy. There are so many beautiful styles and options available in magazines, showrooms, catalogs and on line,  that you might feel overwhelmed. Be sure to do research and know exactly what kind of statement you want to make before you start the process. It will cut out a lot of legwork.  

 

I choose this  beautiful Jacuzzi tub, while designing my new 

home, after my original home burned down in the 1993       Laguna Beach Firestorm.  It's elegant, feminine and sleek. Just what I needed after so much soot and ash after the fire.

   

This glitz and glamour Jacuzzi tub, belonged in my father's over the top, Art Deco master bath. Unlike me, his bathroom screamed, "look at me aren't I gorgeous." He loved making a statement that's for sure and his home reflected his personality.

Though entirely different, we both wanted to make an architectural statement that complement our style and personality. Most bathtubs are a bit more modest, but like these beautiful tubs, they will reflect you and your home.   

If you are remodeling your bathroom and are not sure of the kind of tub to chose from. take a look at the options and styles I have outlined here for you. 

Bathtub Options and Styles

These days, bathtubs are created so as to make some kind of bold statement within your bathroom. There are copious styles and types, so how do you select the right one for your requirements?

Leave well behind the idea of investing in an unattractive bathtub that serves to do little other than hide behind the shower curtain. Nowadays, bathtubs can – should - be elegant, pretty, and streamlined. From a soaker tub to a whirlpool system, today’s bathtub options and styles should act as a centerpiece within your bathroom.

Ideas and Inspiration for a Beautifully Luxurious Bathtub

The bathtub style that you ultimately choose will depend on your personal style preference as well as the available budget. Manufacturers of bathtubs produce many different styles and looks, and no doubt some of those you will find match to your taste perfectly, while fitting into your budget with relative ease.

The first step in the process of selection is to have a good look through a wide array of bathtub options online and/ or in design books. That will help you to determine which style suits your own preferences.

First, give thought to the primary use of your bathtub. Perhaps it’s going to serve the role of providing lengthy and relaxing soaks and time to yourself. Or, at the other end of the spectrum, it may be used more for the kids or maybe even for washing your pets.

Whatever the need, the bathtub should serve your lifestyle very well. And do keep in mind the size as well as the requirements for installation. The tub should always fit into the available space so that it looks right.

If you have something of a penchant for the vintage look, go for a freestanding clawfoot tub. These are not only beautiful in their own right, but also work well to save on space. They serve as a bold feature within the bathroom.

You can also select the feet design as a way to reflect upon your own personal style. Some of these tubs feature a heightened back as a way to support the head and neck to enhance the experience of an ultra-long lie in the bathtub.

A whirlpool tub is best at providing a form of massage to select areas of the body, such as the neck or the back. A water jet system comes as standard with the majority of whirlpool baths. Prior to making an investment, do be sure to check that each jet has the capacity to adjusted for speed. And do note that these type of jets are a little noisy when operated, and they will require a regular cleaning operation to keep them functioning properly.

If you have a preference for a relatively simple tub without any accompanying fuss or noise from jets, the soaking tub is designed as a way to provide for a simplistic, relaxing escape from the pressures of life.

Some of these tubs come together with armrests which are molded into the tub’s sides. By virtue of the smooth surface, you might consider one that has a slip-resistant floor.

There is a variation on this type, and that is the Japanese soaker tub. This is traditionally manufactured from wood and is deeper but also shorter than what is considered as the typical American-style tub.

Increasing in popularity is the walk-in tub, given that they are very easy to use and they provide extra safety features. The walk-in tub has doors that afford easy access, and they can also include many different features such as handrails, adjustable jets, slip-proof textures, and sometimes also a seating facility.

If space is at a premium, you might wish to consider a corner type bathtub. These have been specially designed so they can be installed into curved or angular spaces within the bathroom. On the other hand, this does not necessitate that they must be small. Frequently, a corner tub is positioned beneath a window, in which case, you can enjoy the natural lighting and views of the exterior while investing time in the bathtub.

A further space-saving alternative is the tub/ shower combo. The benefit of this type of two-in-one unit is that any limitations on space are made the most of, while simultaneously, bathers are afforded both options to choose from. These are excellent in guest or children’s bathrooms.

For an expansive selection of bathroom accouterments, including taps, toilets, faucets, vanities, drains, and bathroom sets, visit MaestroBath.com.

21 year Anniversary of my home being destroyed in 1993 Laguna Beach Firestorm,

MY HOUSE BURNED DOWN IN THE LAGUNA BEACH FIRESTORM 1993,

         Laguna Beach, October 27, 1993.

As fierce wildfires fueled by 70 mph Santa Ana winds swept through the Laguna Canyon and hurtled towards their neighborhoods, people found themselves literally racing to escape the 200-feet-high flames. When it was over, the fire had claimed 366 homes.

Excerpt from my, 1993, Diary, unedited. Post - Oct 27.


I laid there, in my boiling hot room, and sorted out my day. The first thing I had to do was call Barbara - my neighbor across the street - and see if she put the copy of my William Morris book contract, in my mailbox... so I could take it to school, and go over it.  My Attorney had faxed it to her husband Mark's office and he was nice enough to bring it home for me.


I knew it was going to be a difficult day, because of the heat, and my back was still killing me.  My face too, was dry, itchy and pealing, because I'd just had another deep face peal, and  couldn't wear make-up again today. I wished I could stay home and hide, but I had to get the contract figured out and faxed back to David by the end of the day.  This time, I was determined... nothing would stand in the way, of me writing my book.


Before Georgia left the house for school, she turned on the T.V., and I heard the reporter say, Orange County was on fire.  I'd heard this before, but was never alarmed.....I figured we were safe here Laguna, tucked away from the rest of the county in a Lagoon..... but when I got up, and looked out the window, I was stunned by the amount of smoke in the air and how the sun looked like it had turned to blood.


Than I noticed Mark and Barbara's roofer's, working at 7:00 a.m., and worried about the hot tar blowing in my windows. I knew I couldn't stay in the house with the windows shut all day.  The heat would kill me.

The Santa Ana winds were out of control, blowing 90 miles an hour, or so it seemed, by the look of the palm trees swaying in the wind. I forced myself to get dressed, and get out of the town as soon as possible until it blew over.

Before I left, I called Barbara and told her the roofer's had an actual fire going on her roof, but figured they must know what they were doing, so didn't worry too much about it.  We talked about the brand new Black Cherokee Jeep, she'd just gotten, and I remarked on how spoiled she was, having a rich husband, who buys her anything she wants.

"Oh, I know," she agreed, "isn't it terrible, how spoiled we both are," she laughed, throwing it right back to me.


"Well, I suppose you're right," I said, "I'm very lucky too, after all I  get to spend the day doing aerobics, Yoga and Tie Chi, than study my contract while eating lunch."


We both laughed, knowing that few people had a lifestyle as comfortable and as fun as ours.


"What do you think about the fires," I asked her, needing some reassurance before I headed out of town.


"I'm worried, of course," she confessed, "but it looks like they're pretty far North, don't you think?," she said.


"You're right," I said, "but doesn't it look like the end of the world? I've just got to get out of here."


"I'm so sorry," she said, "about the roof.  They were supposed to be done a week ago, but you know contractors, you can't depend of them."


"It's okay," I said, "I need to get to school anyway.  I've missed the last two days of exercise classes, because my back went out."


"Well, good luck with the book contract," she said, "I'm excited for you.  I know the project is going to be great, how can it miss, the story is phenomenal"


"Thanks Barb," I said, "and thank Mark for bringing the fax home."

I got off the phone and called David next to tell him everything was on schedule and that I'd call him in the afternoon when I got home. Than I threw on some old cotton shorts, a crummy t-shirt without shoulder pads, and some tennis shoes. The house looked neat, and clean.  Everything was in order.  My manuscript,
family pictures, and letters, all filed in boxes and stored under my desk next to the door. I walked out the front door and down the old red brick steps to my car, than hesitated for one second, wondering if I should bring the pictures with me to decide which one's would be best for the book. Than thought, "no, leave them, they're safer in the house and I wouldn't want to take any chances of losing them."

I pulled the car out of the garage, locked it tightly with the new pad lock I just bought and backed it out of the driveway.  Before I drove off down the hill, I looked back to admire the new paint job, and landscaping.  It was just darling and I was proud I'd restored it to it's rightful position in the neighborhood, after years of neglect during my long divorce. I dreamed about the day I could finally build a second story on it and have a perfect view.

As I drove through Laguna Canyon, at 11:15 a.m., I noticed police cars, than saw the police putting yellow cones in the highway, to stop traffic from coming into town, it concerned me, but not enough to turn around and go home.   

How strange, I thought, as I sped past them. I looked in my rear view mirror and vowed not to worry, I'll be home at 5:30, I said to myself, and everything will be fine.

While I got on on the 405 freeway, heading South.....
Georgia was dressing for P.E. and going out to play soft ball on the field, when she looked up at the sky towards our house, and noticed it was blue and purple, with scarlet clouds... too eerie to be beautiful, and yet amazingly hypnotic, she thought. The other kids were singing, "it's the end of the world as we know it"... even though, at that point they really didn't know a thing.  There was a scary tension in the air, but the P.E. coach kept everyone playing outside, in the horrible heat.

By lunch, it was clear there was a problem and out in the distance Georgia, could see a cloud of black smoke slowly getting bigger and bigger, right over the town. Reports of a fire in Emerald Bay, a few miles North, began to filter across the campus, and though nothing was confirmed until she got to her 5th period class..... she knew it wasn't good.


Finally the word came that Laguna was on fire......but not to panic.