The evening of August 20th, a day that will live in infamy. For me, anyway. I was searching for a fillable 3rd ed Shadowrun character sheet and I hit a....
bad link. My laptop was infected. I went through and deleted everything that had downloaded. It was too late. I had adware, badly written ransomware, and a trojan. I tried downloading anti-virus software my friend recommended (Avast) but it was infected; it interfered with my ability to get online. The ransomware put up a fake blue screen of death, but that didn't take long to ignore and fix.
The trojan was harder to get rid of. I spent 2 weeks trying and finally took it to a computer shop to get it cleaned. It was not cheap but at least it's functional again. I missed the rest of RPGAday. Oh well.
Yes, I should try to recount what happened over those three weeks, but frankly, I can't remember. That's why I keep a journal. I did Jane Eborall's New Moon twice, or almost. I messed up on one (in purple thread) and decided to keep the mistake as 'do as I say, not as I do.' I did it again in orange-red thread. I tatted Nina Libin's split ring jewelry set I. Once in red metallic (oren bayak?) and once in silver thread Nina provided. Such a pretty pattern. I went to a tatting meeting. I tried a demo
CD and I went shopping at the same time I dropped off my laptop. He found a couple of very nice shoes for me. One of them didn't fit so we had them check. Another store had them in the (possibly) correct size. The next day however, it was off to do stuff for my mom.
Wednesday, it was errands (like picking up my laptop) and a dentist visit. I did laundry and packed for Palmetto Tat days. Our new washing machine takes longer than our old one. I didn't take that into account.
I left early Thursday morning to get Anitra and we drove to Georgia. We took my car because her car AC died. We stopped at lunch and I took a call regarding mom's insurance. I'm glad it came while I was at lunch because it was a long phone call.
We knew about two construction zones and planned our timing to accommodate the delays. The other two work zones came as a surprise though. We got to
Tat Days about 10 minutes before the teachers and aides meeting. We went right to it, not even enough time to register.
After, we registered, took a load out of the car and went to supper. After supper, we got another load of stuff out of the car. We had both packed fairly lightly. We had a suitcase each, a tatting bag each, and some stuff for the swag table.
We tried the
bobble pattern. I finally understand the rib method for 3d tatting. I need to try that pattern again. I used size 20 thread and the button really needs size 10 thread. I bought some thread from the vendor and promptly lost it (I spent all weekend thinking it was lost in the bottom of my bag).
The lady who won the vintage tatting spread last year brought it back, sewn onto a quilt. This looks fantastic doesn't it? The podium is included for size comparison, then a closer look at the the quilt and a close up of a motif.
Friday, I spent every break making phone calls. I was scheduling movers to get the furniture out of mom's apartment and to her new one. It wasn't easy.I never got a chance to go to the vending room. I did manage to drop off my stuff for the silent auction. I gave some duplicate thread and tins.
I helped Nina with her
class in the morning. She had 3 assistants, so each of us could help people at each table. The individual focus really helps. I'd managed to leave my Nina thread sample at home, so I quickly tatted up one earring Thursday night.
Friday afternoon, I
assisted Jane. There were one remarkable tatter. She hadn't known how to tat before the weekend started and came into the class not knowing how to make rings. But she already knew how to make split rings.
As usual, one picture (at least) of the lake outside the dining hall.
The banquet was Friday night. As usual, there was great fun. There were two colored handbells on each table. Volunteers went up and Donna T held up flashcards. I was one of the people from our table. Then I handed off my bell to someone I didn't know. I figured we could talk later and it would be a nice ice breaker/conversation starter.
The live auction was after and I didn't buy anything. The things I like went out of my reach fairly quickly. Oh well, at least the charity benefited.
Saturday morning, I was taking the
rocket ship with Richard E. He's a new teacher at Tat Days. I'm glad it was a two session class. None of the techniques were new to me, but I had a brain hiccup and could not remember how to make pearl tatting. He had to show me.
A few auction items had gotten mislaid so they had a second live auction. I managed to snag a crochet hook in a pen tube. Instead of an inkpen, a crochet hook emerges. I also managed to get one of Marie Smith's beaded shuttle bags. I got it early, before other folks woke up or warmed up. And yes, I danced in my seat.
After the auction, Georgia wiped her forehead with a cotton hankie. Sort of as a joke, one of the Palmetto Tatters bid $1 for the hankie. I bid $2. Georgia pulled out her beginner kits; which have a hankie, a small shuttle, a cluny shuttle, etc. We paid her and she distributed them.
Saturday afternoon, I took a simple class. Sherry P taught how to make a
flower hair clip. I finished it in class; the only project I finished this weekend. Other than Karey's early bird
magic decoder ring class.
I also picked up my sole win from the silent auction. I got outbid on everything else. It's a tatted dresser scarf. I really didn't expect to win it. I'll try to remember to take a picture of it. I also need to take pictures of my purchases.
At breakfast, I found out I'd left my thread on the vendor's table. And they'd already packed them up. We came to a solution so I can get my thread. After breakfast Sunday, we headed home. We took the wrong turn circling Charlotte. I finally got home around 8 pm.
There were people who weren't there whom I missed. One had a death in the family, one has an ailing relative and I don't know about the others. But they were missed.
Monday, I went to help mom move. Met the movers and got her bed, a couple chairs, etc to her new place and got them in place. Then I moved her stuff from her temporary room to her new one. I missed lunch and headed home just after 4pm. I finally got some granola bars about 4:30 pm and CD brought Chinese food for supper.
I woke up aching this morning. But I wore a pair of my new shoes. I took a pair of well-worn shoes, just in case. Good thing, about midday, I needed a break from my high (ish) heel Mary Janes.
Work was as you'd expect after being gone for a week.
