Chicago!

Right after the Big Bear trip, I went to Chicago to attend The Superstar Serial Starters and Divine Disciplined Divas Get-together.  I had a ton of fun just using the initials - much like I do in my regular life of Special Education teacher.  SSS-DDD GTG is just fun to say!

I had never attended a retreat or a get together, but I had often stated that I really wish I knew more stitchers in person where I could share this love and passion with others. I (correctly) felt that if I knew other stitchers, then I could learn more, and I was certain (again correctly) that they would be amazing people.

Well, I had the chance and I took it!! I was totally sunburned from the day on the lake, but it was still great fun for me to meet all of these amazing people!!  I arrived very late on Friday night, but there was still a group of ladies awake and stitching. I walked into the room and starting being myself - laughing and joking.  The best part was about an hour into things, a couple of ladies said that they were having a great time, but who was I???  That made it even better for me!! 

I met some amazing people, I learned some new techniques, and I found new toys that I have to have.  I laughed continuously and so hard that my stomach and cheeks still hurt from it all.  I added more email addresses and Facebook contacts to my life, and now we're having a fabulous time getting to know each other better.  For the Facebook people I already had in my lists, it was wonderful to meet them in person.

Stephanie Bishop is my fabric fairy. She created and runs Hand Dyed by Stephanie and is, by far, my favorite dyer.  There are many talented dyers out in the world, but Stephanie's just call me time and time again.  So, I enjoyed every moment of meeting her and hanging out with her.  (Ken laughed when I said how excited I was because I got to share a room with the Fabric Fairy!)  I also met Lori Curtis, Karen Wilcox and Tina Bush who are in another group with me, and I loved that they are just as cool in person as they are online.

Tina is a model stitcher, so it was really fun for me to ask her questions and learn more about the cross-stitching world that I love so much. 

I felt like a dork when I realized that the Aury who was sitting at my table was THE Aury from AuryTM.  Stephanie kept telling me that she was a designer, but it didn't dawn on me exactly who she was until I saw one of her patterns - ironically, it was one I had been wanting, and Aury just handed it to me AND signed it for me.  Whoo-hoo!!

Andi Brick even joined in for a night of fun, and we snuck off to see the Blackhawks game at a bar.

 I was shocked to see goal lights on the bar!!! Every time the Blackhawks scored, the lights would go off and people would sing in the bar. Talk about being a hockey town. As a native LA fan, we have never experienced this before.

After the GTG was over, Stephanie hung out with me for another day. We slept late, talked too long and ended up taking a very late train into Downtown Chicago.  We managed to get to the Disney Store before they closed, so she could buy something for her daughter.  We also loved finding the Snow White shirts and we each bought one, and I had to kiss Johnny Depp and send a copy of the picture to Lori who is the Johnny-aficionado!

 It was a long wait for the train, but we had fun. Stephanie kept laughing at me bitching about the humidity.

 Outside the Disney Store - great quote!

 We never figured out the castle look, but it was cool!

 We missed the 8:30 train and had to wait for the 11:30. Talk about some funky people at the train station!

Once we were back at our train station - we found Waldo!! 

He was sleeping behind us while we waited for our taxi!

Once Stephanie left on Monday morning, I realized that the GTG was over. I felt a bit let-down and already missing my new friends, but I have some great memories.  Ken was amazed that I was NOT the one who grabbed the waiter's ass - that was Kathy Ayotte from Canada.  I'm not the only dirty-minded woman on the planet, and my mind has plenty of company in the gutter.  

Jason Brick picked me up from the hotel and I went to his place to visit with him and Andi.  Andi treated me to a wine tasting and supper out, but we took our meal back to her place to watch the Blackhawk's game - which they not only won, but they took the Stanley Cup!!  Jason and Andi started to jump up and down screaming with excitement, but they stopped quickly in order to not wake the boys.  HAHAHA!

A bit of champagne to celebrate Chicago's Stanley Cup win, 

and then some Zombie killing for fun!

I had a great time visiting with them both, and I wished I could have extended my trip to visit longer. At the same time, I was anxious to get home. I missed my own bed and I missed Ken. 

The flight home was long, but I made it. I was so happy to see Ken's face - it's great to know you're actually missed. And then there was his welcome home kiss.  Yum!!

I have to say, I really love our bed! It was so nice to sleep comfortably that night!