So I was supposed to be in Washington DC yesterday for a NORML Board of Directors meeting, and then on to New York today to visit my mom and friends. Late Thursday evening I go down to the finished basement/music studio to get my suitcase and pack for my flight from San Francisco to Washington DC early Friday morning. A I step on the carpet, I notice I'm leaving dark footprints. Further inspection reveals it is water and the carpet is wet to fully soaked at one end of the room! Sitting on the ground at this end are about 15 guitars standing up in their cases, several speakers, amps, PA equipment, etc. Yikes!!!!! All 15 guitars are moist to wet inside the case at the bottom. Ouch! Luckily, it appears I caught it early and in seems maybe only one guitar was damaged and, thankfully, not an Alembic. Moved everything away from the flood and was up to 4:00 a.m. vacuuming water with my little home carpet cleaner. East Coast trip cancelled - hundreds of dollars to the airlines and hotel for nada.
Had the disaster people in here all day on Friday - walls torn away, carpet removed, water turned off to the house. Plumber here all day yesterday - it might be a leak at the foundation, but won't know for sure until they come back on Monday. Water still turned off. Now I've got two huge dehumidifiers and a bunch of fans going in the basement until tomorrow. Can't use the toaster or microwave without unplugging all the stuff downstairs or we blow the circuit. I have to go out to the sidewalk and turn the water on and off at the meter for showers. Filled up the bathtubs and use bucketfuls of water to flush toilets. It's like camping out without leaving home. Hitting up my emergency earthquake stash for drinking water.
Just as I start to relax Friday night, it occurs to me that I've got lots of guitars in a room that is being brought down to 45% humidity - not the best for instruments, especially the acoustics! So back to work Friday night carrying guitars upstairs. First shower in two days today. NO FUN!!!!
Bill, tgo
