Flames and Fire on the home front

[RJ Guitars]

Just a note of thanks to everyone on the TAG forum. I've had dozens of notes indicating concern for us here in the parched mountains of New Mexico.

Here in the high and dry mountains of New Mexico we are in the midst of the 2nd major forest fire in our neighborhood in the past 12 years. We've had no substantial rain for a couple years now and once a fire gets going it seems unstoppable.

My home town was evacuated for most of two weeks but most folks have returned and local businesses are open again. My own home was never in danger but a couple friends had places in the mountains on the other side of the the flames and they lost everything. The smoke is still bad and the fire is still advancing in two directions while we hope for rain before it burns any further.

Thanks for the patience and understanding over these past couple weeks, I was out of touch for a good deal of time. The TAG crowd was all very decent and I just wanted to say thanks.

I returned home last night and hope to get back to the amp building and support efforts ASAP.

rj

[Gibsonman63]

I'm glad to hear that you and your home are ok. That's scary looking stuff.

[dartanion]

Take care RJ. I understand where you are coming from as I lived in Flagstaff, AZ from 2000 - 2003, a period of some very bad fires. We had a close call with a fire starting less than 1/2 mile from our house. Luckily our house was prepared by clearing 2 huge roll off boxes full of leaves, branches, yard debris, etc. Fire Dept said clear a minimum of a 6ft zone around your house to protect it from fire, or we'll just let your house burn if fire approaches. We were very lucky, however many folks weren't.

[amplifiednation]

RJ, glad to hear you and your home are OK. Keep safe

[Reeltarded]

Always good news to hear that disaster has been averted.

Look how human we are, more lucky than not. I am glad to hear things are going back to normal for you!

[RJ Guitars]

Thanks guys. We are at about 7500 ft elevation, similar to Flagstaff. Afternoon rains were the norm here growing up and living in the mountains. But in recent years the rains just aren't happening and the winter snowfall has been low these past couple years as well.

I remember the Fires in Flagstaff, those were some rough days and the terrain over there makes it extra hard to fight a fire. Seems like the entire southwest is about to burn up now and I know the firefighters have to be getting really worn out.

I have seen 5 major forest fires here in the last 40 years. In the big fire of 2000 several hundred homes were lost. I have a friend that lost half of his guitar collection in that fire, 50 guitars in all. I've never had the will to ask whether the Gibson ES-150 that had been mine for 20 years was lost or not. Another of many that I kick myself for selling...

[angelodp]

RJ, glad you are safe and sound and that your place made it through ok. Always a scary scenario when these fires spring up. Hope that I can get my X10 chassis with you soon.

Best Ange

[David Root]

It's been bad in the Southwest this year. Glad to here you and yours are OK, RJ.

We lived in Tucson for five years '04 to '09 and saw some fires, sometimes real close, but nothing like this year. The stuff around Phoenix was unreal, and that dust storm a few days ago was unbelievable, I would not have believed it if I had not seen the video of it. Like a tsunami of dust.

Since we moved to BC, Canada two years ago we have barely experienced summer, especially this year. May and June were abysmally wet and cold because of an extended and deep La Nina. Our summer started last week.

No forest fires yet, but there will be some in the interior. South Central BC is the northern extension of the Great Sonora Desert, which runs up thru Nevada then eastern WA into the Okanagan region of BC. Hard to believe but true. The climate is totally unlike what we have in the lower mainland. It even looks like desert country, but unfortunately no sajuaros. Some great unknown wineries in the Okanagan, however!

[RJ Guitars]

... that dust storm a few days ago was unbelievable, I would not have believed it if I had not seen the video of it. Like a tsunami of dust....

Some great unknown wineries in the Okanagan!

That dust was the most bizarre thing of that sort that I've seen on this side of the world.

Some places just work out to be ideal for grape production. I spent a little time up in Richland Washington this past year and was amazed at the number of wineries in that area. They also mentioned that the winter seemed to go on forever this year. Hopefully that didn't have any negative impact on the grape production this year.

rj

[Reeltarded]

Umm.. the curtains in that picture.. consumed by fire? Just trying to find a bright side, ya know.

[ampmike]

Good to hear your OK brother.Ill email you now,Im going to possibly do a rockster kt 66.You guys will be in my prayers for safety.Mikey

[dreric]

RJ

Glad to know that you are OK!

The weather keeps getting more extreme as our planet changes. Unfortunately, the planet is a lot more resilient to changes than those of us who live on it.

Praying for rain for you and yours.

Eric

[RJ Guitars]

Umm.. the curtains in that picture.. consumed by fire? Just trying to find a bright side, ya know.

Thanks, yes I am sure those curtains were custom made by mom to my specifications. Fortunately my favorite tapestry Bell Bottoms were in the wash and there is limited documentation on those. You cab see lots of period specific memorabilia in that photo... the coiled guitar cord and the tuck and roll covering on the speaker cabinets.

You can't see it very well but the amp that I am playing through (posing with) is a "Twin Reverb" Head by the LDH company in Japan. Maybe the best sounding amp I ever had... I got rid of it so I could buy an ACOUSTIC brand amp because the Twin started to distort when you really cranked it up. Besides tube amps were not going to be around much longer with all the great new solid state stuff that was available.

[Bob S]

Gald you & yours are safe RJ.
I had to do tube theory in college in the early 70s.
I still remember thinking "what use is this? no-one has used a tube in 20 years"...
Stupidity started early with me.

[Structo]

RJ I had no idea you were in the vicinity of those fires.

Glad you are safe as well as your stuff.

Crazy global things going on!