Cleveland is cool

I recently returned from a multi-stop trip which began in Cleveland, OH. This was my first trip to Cleveland that I can remember. What struck me the most was its similarities to Kansas City, MO a place I called home for many years. The advantage that Cleveland has over KC is what appears to be a great public transportation system.

The folks I met in at the North Coast Knitting Guild in Cleveland were all warm, friendly and very welcoming. I particularly enjoyed the dinner I shared with my host and several of the guild members on Saturday evening at a Hungarian establishment. Both the food and the company were FABULOUS.

If you ever have a chance to visit Cleveland, I would recommend it. You might be surprised, I was!!!

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Things I Learned My Last Trip

During my last trip I had stops in Cleveland, Annapolis, Baltimore and Las Vegas. During this trip I learned many new things and I thought I would share them:

1. It really pays to be a Frequent Flyer, especially when your flight to your final destination is canceled and you are scheduled to teach the following morning.
2. Always pack more knitting in your carry-on than you think you will need. You never know when your flight will be canceled and will be rerouted through Atlanta making your trip 6 hours longer than planned.
3. You can never have enough knitting buddies. OK we all know that, but they are particularly helpful when you have an interesting design problem and need help resolving it.
4. Writing a book is more difficult than I thought and I already thought it would hard -- more on this later.
5. Lots of fluids and vitamin C really can manage a cold down to nearly nothing. Especially when you have to make a presentation in front of a room full of people and you don't want to have to worry about the effects of other medications.
6. Seeing a Cirque du Soleil performance live is truly amazing and worth the money, but next time I am going to get seats a bit further back (we were in the second row) because there is too much to see!

Next time, more trip details.

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The Last Year in Baltimore

2008 marks the last year that Stitches East will be held in Baltimore. Although I am always happy to go to new places and will go teach anywhere they will have me, I have liked being in Baltimore. One of my closest friends, Jeanne of Nature Speak Knits, live in Annapolis and Stitches East has always given me a reason to spend a couple days with her and her husband. Also, I was always able to arrange to have at least one meal at the GREAT tapas place at the Inner Harbor.

Next year Stitches East will be held in Hartford, CT. For me, it will be a new opportunity to get to learn about another place in the US. And there are few things I enjoy more than learning. I will miss the "regulars" in the Baltimore area, but look forward to meeting new folks up in the north east.

And luckily for me, I still have ample excuses to visit the Baltimore area since BWI is the airport my husband and use when we are visiting his family. Next time out will be the end of December. Maybe a get together over tapas is in order?!?!

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