Atlanta trip- the fun

So, I have said it before, and I will say it again: my life runs kinda like a sitcom.

So, the trip starts like this.  Trotting into the Winnipeg airport, all cute boots and stylish, thinking of hanging with my girls, with my Juki sling over my shoulder in my handmade tote.  Am going through the rotating door thingies when....SMASH!  The straps on my tote give way, and my Juki falls to the ground, wedged in the revolving door, with that patronizing electronic voice calling "stay clear of the door, please!".

So I grabbed what was left of the handles and dragged the bag, sled style, through the airport.

The security guard at US customs asks what happened to my bag, and what is in there that is so heavy that the straps would break.  I tell her a sewing machine, and she replies, "Well, why not go find a plug and stitch it back up?" I told her I would if only I hadn't CHECKED MY THREAD with my suitcase.  Grrr!!  But the two of us then dissolved into eye watering laughter....how many people can say they did that with an airport customs guard?

To make matters worse, I then noticed a bunch of dentist coming to the flight waiting area....crap!  Forgot I was SUPPOSED to go to the big dental conference in Chicago this weekend, which I am connecting through to get to Atlanta, but when some friends bowed out on the conference I had made up an excuse how I had to stay home, too.  You know, for the kids.  Busted!  So then I had to explain to each of them that, no, I wasn't going to the conference to better my education, and yes, I really was flying all the way to Atlanta to sew stuff.  With people I had met on the internet.  Somehow it doesn't sound so awesome and cool when you say that out loud to non-quilters!

Anyhoo, a couple flights later, and dragging my sled-bag through three airports, I made it to Atlanta to meet up with 8 of the most fabulous women I am proud to call friends.

Ali (a2w) arranged it all, and Kaelin (plaid scottie), Angela (cut to pieces), Elena (hot pink stitches), Michelle (i like orange), Cherie (sew and so quilts), Kelly (kelby sews) and Cara (me? a mom?) all joined in and brought their A-game for good times.  We did fun things like stab cans with knives, drink wine, have handstand contests, drink wine, watch girly movies, play a game I invented called "boob or butt?", drink wine, have a plank-off (I'll get you next time, Cherie!!), and oh yah, we sewed quite a bit as well (more on that tomorrow!).

(p.s. that Kelly is such a tart, she likes to sew topless ;)

We rented a house that had lots of space and a great layout for us all to sew in the main area.  But the sitcom continues as we noticed a gas smell.  So Cara (who, incidentally, had also driven 8 hours to join us and forgot her suitcase!!), called the "gas cops" who came and told us that there was a major leak and shut off the gas.  No heat, no cooking, no hot water?  Well, it all got fixed and we made it out alive somehow, so all is well that ends well.

So that more of less wraps up this segment of the sitcom.  Tune in next time to see the sewing and swapping magic!!