I just got out of the county ICU and Burn Center yesterday night, where for a couple days I wa hooked up to every instrument in the word while they removed the skin from my hands...: My entire home and worhshoppe
burned down this week, taking nearly every object inside with them. The fire started at my tech bench and I could not contain it, even at personal risk to myself, and I have no idea what is what at present. The entire area is full of melted plastic, metal, scrap, black slime and whatnot...
Over 200 FC unit, dozens of Twins. thousands of games, and just about every FDS title, including keys, gold disks and the like, (most in duplicate) went up in the blaze. I have solid blocks of them that I will photograph for you allm once I can, as my camera iwas nowhere to be seen, and could be a blob of plastic and glass . One at least of the games was unique, and to be honest, I am so devastated that I am at a loss for words.
As things progress, I will replace or reimburse any customer items, paid orders, or service jobs in my possession. I am not closing my doors, but I am halting all operations (for now), with no known time at which point I shall resume. Likely in the fall. I will remain on the boards, but I will be unlikely to be selling or buying anything. I will however continue to work on the NESpander and RetroIdeo products. (My NESPander prototypes were burned up as well.)
Honestly, everything I loved just turned to ashes, so I'm at a loss for what to do at all. Maybe I'll move to Nippon or H, find a nice lady and just retire.
There is little else I can do at present, and my $50,000+ Famicom collection,including actual unique games and items, my C1, my entire Sharp collection, my virgin SBFCs, and all that I had poured my heart and soul into for years is gone, dust, cinders, or melted plastic. I hold out hope that some is salvageable, but the fire claimed about 2/3 of my building.
My collection, and my inventory all essentially went up in smoke, After I was released last night I went to inspect the damage... Looking at was once my life is truly and utterly depressing, and I'm not sure what I'm going to do, or if I will ever resume doing this. Photos will follow when I can replace my camera. I can't even find my wallet and car keys and was taken away stark naked as my clothing (that I was wearing) ignited, and I choose not to be burned up.
I have moderate to severe second-degree burns on my hands and arms, mostly from trying to put out the fire and to stop it spreading. I thought I had it out, and as I went outside for clear air and to treat my burns, I looked back and saw giant red columns of flame and thick black plumes of smoke rushing out at me. I had to rip my shirt and pants off (that had caught on fire) and thus, i was stark naked when I ran out to the front to call for the firemen.
My phone went up too, as did my wallet. My netbook was thankfully in the car, as were the backups of my literary work. Everything depends now on what the insurance company does, as I am up the Styx with a spoon and no copper coins.
I have a temporary pay-by-the-day phone on which any of you you may ring me. Just ask for the number.
Right now I honestly have no emotional capacity remaining at all... I have severe burns on my hands, and I am not even sure if I will be able to do this kind of work in the future. If now, I will live up to my word and release my documentation on FDS service. I had not intended to do so for years, but if I am never going to do it again, I will tell you all how to do it.
I will also never stop playing these games, but I think that if I do decide to rebuild my collection, I will do it from inside Nippon.
In any case, if you have anything with me, your equipment is covered. I may take a vacation to Nippon to recover, and if I do, I will be sure to get you something in addition to replacing your damaged system. If there is anyone living there (who smokes) that wouldn't mind a visitor for a while, that would be fantastic.
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