Near Catastrophe At Tarantula Arms!!

[compactelectra]

A little over a week ago we had a major warm spell (over 60 degrees) in Chicago. The foot of snow melted in a day. This kicked off a chain reaction in my basement with an outcome that could have been disatrous if more snow were on the ground. It was bad enough as it turned out. I have triple redundancy in sump pumps in my basement. Two regular AC pumps and a battery backup. About 3 weeks ago the alarm went off on the battery backup indicating that the battery was dead. I was going to replace it, but wasn't in a hurry in the middle of winter. Big mistake. The snow melt kicked in the two sump pumps which tripped the circuit breaker. You guessed it - I stepped down into the basement and the vacuum rooms and the carpeting was totally saturated. I got the pumps working again, but mildew had already started to set in. <br
This caused me to have to move all of the machines and shelving units and clean the rugs. This occurred over three nights this week. Tania came down just in time to help me put it all back together. It appears that the rugs are salvaged, and caused a thorough cleaning of the vacuum rooms at Tarantula Arms <br
Needless to say, that battery is getting replaced right away, and an electrician is coming to put in separate circuits for those sump pumps. Here are some pictures of the activities, including some fun with "I Dream of Tania." <br
We are now off to visit with Jeff Parker, Michael Shelley and a trip to Mike Rogers in Indiana.

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/0...TELECTRA.jpg&dir=/COLLECTIONS/COMPACTELECTRA/

 

[compactelectra]

PS

Nothing makes you appreciate how many machines you have until you have to move them in a hurry. I am vacuum cleanered out right now. But not Tania - I hear the whoosh of some vacuuming going on below <br
Fred

 

[crevicetool]

Fast work!!!

Sorry that happened. Luckily, every one pitched in and saved the valuables! Darned sump pumps! Have a well deserved good time with Jeff and the Mikes <br
Rick

 

[vinvac]

Fred <br
Give Tania a hug from me!!! Give her some posting lessons while you have her there... she would add so much to the forum <br
Glad to see that things are back in control...of course... now you have to get Tania away from all the vacuums...LO <br
Have fun with Jeff, Michael, Tania and Mike Rogers. Tell Mike R. I owe him a phone call <br
Morgan

 

[petek]

Glad to hear you didn't sustain too much damage. I'm fearful out boiler will one day leak and oddly there is not one drain anywhere in the basement flooring and there sit all my vacs and treasures as well. Our house is literally built on sand so flooding from rain and snow isn't as much a concern as other parts of town experience.

 

[arh1953]

I'm glad you got your problem under control with help, and it was successful. I have a small CBS home with 3 bedrooms, and my room, the back bedroom, and the closets in all three, the hallway and kitchen had water from two hurricanes, and I didn't have help. It's a miracle nothing here got really ruined. It took my roofers over eight months to finish all the other jobs to get to mine. You haven't lived until you've watched water pour out of the ceiling fixtures.

 

[rexaircollector]

Fred

Sorry to hear of the mishap but on the other hand, glad that it was not more catostrophic. Spoke with Jeff last night and he said you all were going to visit. See you in Feb <br
Caio
Robb

 

[charles~richard]

Why is Tania wearing Airway Charlie's "I Dream of Jeannie" costume?


http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/0...TELECTRA.jpg&dir=/COLLECTIONS/COMPACTELECTRA/

 

[hygiene903]

Fred,

Sorry to hear of the near disaster, but glad to hear things weren't any worse than they were. And how nice of Tania to help you with the cleanup! Hope everyone has a great time at your "mini-meet!&quot
Jeff

 

[luxg]

Fred, I am sorry to hear about the problems. I am just so glad it wasn't any worse. I bet it was great to have Tania there to help. That is a beautiful Electrolux polisher in Picture #20, is that a new one? Terry

 

[buffster]

Wishing I was there...

Fred <br
Again, I'm so sorry about your mini flood. What a royal pain. But, it looks like things are in tip top shape again. And, it looks like you, Tania, Jeff, Michael and Mike had a wonderful weekend. Thanks for sharing the pics. Wish I was there. <br
Mike

 

[logan]

Fred

What is Tarantula Arms?

 

[compactelectra]

Logan - You've Been Away For A While

Tarantula Arms is what Charlie Watrous aka Helen Lawson calls my house. It has been the setting of many a vac gathering. As you can see, the basement is full of vacuums. If the walls of Tarantula Arms could talk, I shudder to think about the stories they would tell. Here is a picture from outside as the vac folks converge during the Chicago convention <br
Fred

 

[logan]

Fred

Interesting name!

 

[compactelectra]

Indeed Logan

Helen says it is like a web a la Hotel California - You can check out, but you can never leave!

 

[arh1953]

Little Me

I believe once when the great stage and screen actress Belle Poitrine fell on hard times, she had to stay in a hotel known as the Tarantula Arms. I read her autobiography, what a fascinating woman!

 

[dial-a-nap]

Glad to hear the water didn't cause any lasting damage - water escaping it's boundaries is always a PITA!

Good to see Tania too - always the glam girl.

 

[petek]

What a beautiful house, looks like a French style cottage design by the renowned arachnidtect Auberge Tarentule

 

[compactelectra]

Alan - Tarantula Arms

Your post caused me to do a bit of research. I guess the name Tarantula Arms has some other history as well. From Wikpedia - "the hotel where Blanche Dubois received gentlemen callers in Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire"

Still seems quite appropriate, don't you think?

Ida