Hotel Comfort

During my recent trip, we stayed at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza in downtown Chicago. The hotel really amazes me.

It's not just the very nice, clean and updated rooms. (Which I believe that travelers so often take for granted.) PS. Free wi-fi.

It's not just the beautiful view from my 22th floor window.

It's not just the lovely, tastey, ewwy, gooy pizza happily and promptly delivered to my room on Saturday night after two long days of running a conference. (Although this was definately a great highlight!!)

Nor is it just the lovely lobby and dining area on the 15th floor.

But it is the same wonderful staff that greet us year after year. Many of the folks that we get to see each year, as we hold our conference in their beautiful meetings rooms, we have seen for many years. They range from the wait staff in the main dining area, the banquet staff that constantly behave as if we are doing THEM a favor by making all our needs met, to the bell hops that greet us with a grand smile as they wave and say "Welcome back!".

They indeed are people who believe highly in customer service. . . and it shows.

$1200

Last week I reported that it was Wool Week. Wool Week is part of the Campaign for Wool which was created in part by the Prince of Wales. So, of course, all the fun Wool Week activities were being held in England.

I asked a very simple question at the end of the post:  Hmmm, I wonder what the airfare would be from Wisconsin...

One of my dear friends informed me. $1200. I didn't go.

 

Staying, Sleeping, and Stitching

I recently traveled to San Diego for a work conference. Of course I took some wool-work with me. Normally I would. But especially right now, I really would - because I have such big commitments to sale/shows/stores this fall. Right now I feel like there's absolutely no time to waste. It's wool-work, wool-work, wool-work!

While in my hotel room, I wondered to myself if anyone else staying there had their extra bed filled with projects like I did. I even put out the "do not disturb" sign for two days so the housekeeping staff wouldn't accidentally disrupt my perfectly planned wool layout. Sick, I know. But it made sense to me. After all, I didn't think I needed my sheets changed that badly!

Time DOES Fly

Christmas 2009. Hard to believe. The weather-people are talking about alot of snow - plenty of white stuff to make us nervous and create more worry about our children on the busy, holiday roads.

Three college kids heading to the family Christmas celebration. How can my son, my niece and my nephew all be that old already? Seems like just yesterday when then were young and carefree...

(My son - who is now 6'5" - is in the middle!)

May God keep them and all others safe during their holidays travels.

Undeniable Blessings

Just got back from a great weekend with family. We visited my son and niece at college. What fun – and to top it off, it was gorgeous weather! 60’s and sunny. My that’s nice - especially during the first weekend of November in Wisconsin.

I headed out by myself, later Friday night for the five hour drive. The road was pretty much mine – and I kept it at an even 70 on the interstate while I privately bopped to the music on the radio. :-)

My son and his girlfriend have two young cats. Meet Leo. She has six digits on her front paws and is so friendly and loving.

Also meet Lucy. She is so cute and sweet – and has such small, dainty features.

They love being sisters and it’s so fun to watch them play (or some might call it "wrestle") together.

A blessing of a weekend with a blessing of a family. I’m a lucky gal.

Too Tired to Type

Yup. I'm back from a trip to White Plains, New York.

The travel involved a time change from CST to PST and, of course, back again.

Saturday night involved Halloween and daylight savings time.

That all makes for goofy tricks (with maybe just a few treats) on my body.

So, I'm feeling too tired to type.

I hope to see you tomorrow night.