It smells like damp...ick

So, here are some scenes from my basement:


Yes that's right, the carpet is sitting on the recliner. Don't worry, I've got a layer of trash bags between the carpet and the recliner.

The carpet was glued to vinyl tiles (see below) that was glued to the tiles on the basement floor. When I pulled up this section of the carpet, it also pulled up the ugly vinyl tiles.

And now the story of the "Ugly Vinyl Tiles"

The left half of this picture, you see a design. That is the design of the ugly vinyl tiles that seem to be hidden underneath many of the floors in this house. Two years ago when I first moved in, I pulled up the carpet in what is currently my den. Underneath the carpet, I found these tiles glued down ON TOP of lovely hardwood floors. Why anyone would do that is beyond me. So imagine my surprise when I pulled up the carpet in the basement and find the same ugly ass vinyl tiles. The good thing about pulling up the carpets is that it pulled up a lot of them with it.
Now, the question is what to do? I can put the carpet back, but underneath is pretty messed up since parts of that tile is stuck to the floor and part is stuck to the carpet, so it won't exactly be even. I'm also thinking that tiling the entire basement over may be a better approach than carpet. If it floods again, it'll be easier to clean up.
Flood again? Well, if the water flows in faster than the sump pump can pump out, it will flood and according to the plumber, there isn't much anyone can really do about it.
So if I tile over, I'd like to do it myself cuz I'm just that kind of gal. But I'm not exactly sure how to prepare the floor. So sigh, I may have to get someone in here to actually do it.
Tile floor with some cheaper throw rugs that...well, if it floods, I can just throw them out. I must reexamine how I will go about refurnishing the basement.

More casualties

My basement.
For some reason, for which I need to call a plumber, my sump pump stopped pumping water. So what happens when the sump pump stops pumping water? the water goes out into your basement. I think I may need a new basement.
At least I managed to salvage my laptop and 2 digital cameras.
I think the tv is okay. It's a good thing I had unplugged everything just before I had gone upstairs to do some dishes. And it's not like I'm worried about my Tivo since that's already dead.
So tomorrow, I'm taking a mental health day to clean out my basement. Wah!
Current count of casualties:

1. internet connection - fixed now - they had to replace the entire box where the line was coming into the house and the battery was
2. Dish alignment
3. Tivo
4. Stove electric controller - but I can still cook, it's runs on propane
5. my basement.

and the peacock feather shawl got caught up in the flood. I freaked out at first but reminded myself that when I'm done, I usually like to wash things in woolite to wash off whatever crap got caught up in the fiber while knitting...so I'm gonna let it dry out and then I can continue on...

Casualties from the storm

Thursday night, as I went to sleep, a very pretty, but loud light storm was beginning. My lights were wavering for a bit so I decided to set the alarm on my cell phone. Well, good thing I did cuz the power went out for a bit.
I woke up and heard a beeping sound that didn't sound like my cell phone...and for some reason, I decided to turn on my computer...and found my internet was out...and the beeping was the low...and it was not recharging. Boo. So, silly me, I know I have electricity but I decided to see what else was dead. Well, Tivo was dead. Wah! and my dish needs realignment.
Later last night, I glanced over at the stove and realized that something didn't look right. Well, it looks like the storm fried the electronic control panel on it as well. My neighbor came in and helped me pull in out and unplug it but no such luck.
I finally just got internet back after sitting here waiting for 2 days. Sigh.

How do I knit?

This past Sunday, I took a class on continental knitting at Springwater Fibers in Alexandria. Now, I've got to tell you, I was very enthusiastic for class but I walked away from the class REALLY REALLY skeptical. I think it's due to the fact that continental knitting is supposed to be faster and more efficient. The thing is that just from the way I am, I always try to maximize efficiency in my movements. When I knit English style, I don't really move my hands much, other than to move the yarn over the needle. With the continental style, my hands have to open and close. And because the yarn is held in my left hand and my left hand really isn't all that mobile, I'm slower in tensioning and controlling. Due to this fact, while for most people, doing ribbing becomes a lot easier, I don't think I would find this to be true for me. Boo. Seriously, I study my movements. I mean, it all comes back down to that first theorm you learned in geometry class: "The shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line." I try not to to expend extra unnecessary effort. Yes I am that lazy. But that's what makes me good at what I do.
But I have started the Somewhat Cowl to see how this goes. I shall report in periodically. It's been a long week and I finally have a moment to breathe, so I think I'm going to hop into bed early and go knit some more on the sweater.

Priorities

Monday night is knitting night. Tonight also happened to be game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. That's hockey, for those who don't know any better. I skipped knitting and watched the game with a couple of friends at a sports bar down town. Yup, that's where my priorities are...

Another week at the bead shop

That was the post class picture at Bead Obesssions yesterday. I brought in the 3 sunflowers on the right so everyone could see the class for next quarter. The purple gerbera is the shop piece and the brown/red one in the same vase was the one I was using to demonstrate how to assemble. The two on the left (peach and blue) are made by students. They look good. The thing I really like about this pattern is that no matter how well you make the parts of the flower, when you assemble it, it looks really good. Most of my students are beginners.
I love class. Everyone uses different beads and there are some colors that you never think about using, like this blue gerbera daisy. Sure, they exist in real life but who would've thought. The woman who made it loves blue. The peach one, the center, she used beads from Toho's amber series and it looks awesome.

Hockey and Beads

Stanley Cup playoffs. I had pretty much forgotten about the NHL after the college hockey season ended. I picked it up again in time for the Stanley Cup finals. If Carolina had won on Saturday, I would be skipping knitting tomorrow night to watch what could've been Carolina sweeping the series. Since they lost, I think I'll be going to knitting, but I don't know if I'll be knitting. I may be putting together a sunflower.
I'd like to have the sunflowers done by Saturday so I can bring them in for the second part of the gerbera daisy class. I'd also like to have parts made for a gerbera daisy. I'd also like to be able to get to the gym and do some running. It's going to be a busy week!
And I took the intro PMC class today. That was pretty cool. I think I could easily get into it. There is definite potential and it doesn't quite have the mess of working with regular silver and solder where you have to solder, and then worry about all the silver dust from the sanding and everything.

Forgetfulness

I went to yoga with my knitting, thinking I'd arrive early so would have time to sit around, wait, and knit. Well, I didn't. Afterwards, I walked to Cosi to grab lunch and as I was exiting Cosi, something felt missing. Well, it was my knitting. To be specific, the Peacock Feathers shawl. I think I left it in the studio. Hopefully, it will be there Tuesday night.

Well, I guess I'm beading tonight. Need to bead anyways. Must make demo pieces for Bead Obsessions for the next quarter. I'll be teaching the usual mini rose as the intro class, but also, I'll be teaching Donna's sunflower which is really exciting. I'll also be teaching a beaded cabochon class with Patricia. I'll be demonstrating how to bead the cabochon and she'll be demonstrating the actual necklace portion. Ideally, I'd like to have all of this done by the end of June... Yeah, it's probably a good thing that I've decided to just buy stuff for my relatives instead of making them stuff.

Catching up

First up...Ene's shawl finished.
Pattern: Ene's Shawl from Scarf Styles
Yarn: Misti Alpaca Laceweight in a dark chocolate brown
Needles: Size 2 Addi Turbos



Work was interesting yesterday. I got to stare out the window onto a pretty interesting view. Today was the 9th Annual CSC Invitational and the official race hotel was the Hyatt right next door to us at work...so all the equiptment trucks were parked in our parking garage. I had to move my car to a lower level for fear of not being able to get it out last night. However, I did get to spend a day looking at scenes like these (and yes, those are right out of my office window):

mmm...yummy

A pattern after my own heart from Stitch Diva Studios. Of course I bought it.