Hi again to the fellow members of the SRAMS. Here's another letter and update from sunny Tucson. BTW, I know you got snowed on so stay safe, warm and off of the roads if at all possible.
Now the latest news from down here but first of all I want to give a big thanks to Paul Corbett, our new trustee and webmaster. I picked up a new computer and wasn't able to get in sync with windows 11 and have been work out the bugs before leaving, so I've been writing this as a letter to him so he can publish the to the blog on the website, under the Tucson Trip, in the Events section. Thanks Paul.
Today, Leslie and I met up with board members, Susan Perrault, Stacey Sedlacek along with Kelly who was charged by Tom to keep us out of trouble and failing that, post bail. Today's big adventure was to work the frontage road south, from the Ramada Inn and to look for items to be used in the club raffle and member awards. Bet you think I'm going to give away the booty we took in. Ain't happening! If you want to see our swag, you'll have to come to the Feb. Members meeting where we'll have a mondo-super-humongous show and tell.
Staring at the Ramada, we spent a goodly amount of time outside the hotel and prowling the guest parking quite successfully. Besides the raffle and awards stuff, we spent time gawking at some of the show displays, like the world's largest big blue eye and Amethyst geode (See above). Inside we found some Cobalt-Calcite and Malachite from Namibia. Since neither Leslie or I have enough of either, we just had to buy some. Of course you all realize that we really didn't want it, but we NEEDED it. Pics above. Other things in this tent were some terrific gemstone carvings (pic above) of birds. A Marble and Malachite Chess set, some nicely cut and cheap sard and carnelian cabs (above again) And other neat things.
Just to keep things in perspective, everything is NOT bigger in Texas. Here's a Tucson Gem tree (Above)
Some things keep on going. The only guy that I will buy Mexican Opal from; I found had passed away during the covid epidemic yet his son remembered me and hins OM and is carrying on the biz with the same high standards that his dad applied. (pic above). On another somber note, I learned of the passing of our own Joyce Evans today. Joyce was the first to welcome both Leslie and I to the club, after Tom and we'll miss her welcoming and friendly openness.
On to other things. I got one of the exhibitors to let me take a pic of this room. For 2-3 weeks, a lot of the dealer's entire world is in their little hotel rooms. The live on pizza or other food that's deliver to their rooms, sleep on the floor in the middle of their showroom and rarely leave except to check on the display immediately outside of their front door (Pic above)
Here's a pic of a cabbing and trim saw unit from Beacon Star. I was told that it has 2 new motors and just needs some work to the irrigation system to make it fully operational. Leslie can supply details if anyone's interested.
I'll close today with some pics from the bird carver for y'all to look at. Tomorrow the GJX show opens and we'll be hitting that and possibly the other half of the 22nd St. Show but now, my feet are sore and my back's threatening to leave me if I keep letting Leslie fill my backpack with boulders to carry around Tucson.
Oh! One last thing. Last pic, I was able to score a half kilo of medium Amethyst Facet rough from one of the outside dealers.
Stay safe and more good stuff coming from Tucson tomorrow.
Pete
Now the latest news from down here but first of all I want to give a big thanks to Paul Corbett, our new trustee and webmaster. I picked up a new computer and wasn't able to get in sync with windows 11 and have been work out the bugs before leaving, so I've been writing this as a letter to him so he can publish the to the blog on the website, under the Tucson Trip, in the Events section. Thanks Paul.
Today, Leslie and I met up with board members, Susan Perrault, Stacey Sedlacek along with Kelly who was charged by Tom to keep us out of trouble and failing that, post bail. Today's big adventure was to work the frontage road south, from the Ramada Inn and to look for items to be used in the club raffle and member awards. Bet you think I'm going to give away the booty we took in. Ain't happening! If you want to see our swag, you'll have to come to the Feb. Members meeting where we'll have a mondo-super-humongous show and tell.
Staring at the Ramada, we spent a goodly amount of time outside the hotel and prowling the guest parking quite successfully. Besides the raffle and awards stuff, we spent time gawking at some of the show displays, like the world's largest big blue eye and Amethyst geode (See above). Inside we found some Cobalt-Calcite and Malachite from Namibia. Since neither Leslie or I have enough of either, we just had to buy some. Of course you all realize that we really didn't want it, but we NEEDED it. Pics above. Other things in this tent were some terrific gemstone carvings (pic above) of birds. A Marble and Malachite Chess set, some nicely cut and cheap sard and carnelian cabs (above again) And other neat things.
Just to keep things in perspective, everything is NOT bigger in Texas. Here's a Tucson Gem tree (Above)
Some things keep on going. The only guy that I will buy Mexican Opal from; I found had passed away during the covid epidemic yet his son remembered me and hins OM and is carrying on the biz with the same high standards that his dad applied. (pic above). On another somber note, I learned of the passing of our own Joyce Evans today. Joyce was the first to welcome both Leslie and I to the club, after Tom and we'll miss her welcoming and friendly openness.
On to other things. I got one of the exhibitors to let me take a pic of this room. For 2-3 weeks, a lot of the dealer's entire world is in their little hotel rooms. The live on pizza or other food that's deliver to their rooms, sleep on the floor in the middle of their showroom and rarely leave except to check on the display immediately outside of their front door (Pic above)
Here's a pic of a cabbing and trim saw unit from Beacon Star. I was told that it has 2 new motors and just needs some work to the irrigation system to make it fully operational. Leslie can supply details if anyone's interested.
I'll close today with some pics from the bird carver for y'all to look at. Tomorrow the GJX show opens and we'll be hitting that and possibly the other half of the 22nd St. Show but now, my feet are sore and my back's threatening to leave me if I keep letting Leslie fill my backpack with boulders to carry around Tucson.
Oh! One last thing. Last pic, I was able to score a half kilo of medium Amethyst Facet rough from one of the outside dealers.
Stay safe and more good stuff coming from Tucson tomorrow.
Pete
