ERT -- Savannah

Did you think I was DONE WITH THE ERT report?? No such luck, people. Although I did get sidetracked by Christmas...some family drama...and a lack of mojo...I'm not quite done with Marion and Rita's Epic Road Trip......and I'm sure you want to know whether or not we ever arrived in Florida...

SO...let me see...last chapter, I believe we had finally reached the Outer Banks....

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When Marion and I started on our EPIC ROAD TRIP -- we deliberately made VERY FEW PLANS in advance. We wanted to be free to make a left turn on a moment's notice.  Or maybe just sit by the side of the road...We wanted to be open to any whim of the day...really live IN THE MOMENT. That was the beauty of the whole thing, really.  We honestly had no idea how long it would take us to drive from New York to Florida.  Because IT DIDN'T MATTER...

What a luxury it was to take our time, spend an extra day here or there to explore and learn about anyplace or anything that interested us.

Think about it. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU LET YOURSELF DO THAT??

There was one thing that was certain, tho. From our earliest planning stages -- we knew we would visit Savannah, Georgia. I've never been there -- and I was quite looking forward to it.

Savannah is a STUNNING Southern City -- this is in the square downtown, right behind our hotel.

Because it was the OFF SEASON -- we scored a beautiful room at the Doubletree in the historic downtown  for $104!!

Then, our concierge lined us up for the Trolly Tour

I LOVE THESE THINGS....you learn so much about the city!

This tour company had people (in period costumes) jumping on the trolly and acting like they WERE Johnny Mercer, for example...

The architecture and history are completely stunning...

Every street has incredible buildings, homes, churches, parks...

Oh, yes, Savannah was worth the wait. We ate the most delicious crab cakes...and walked along the waterfront just a block away from our hotel.

Here's what it's like to be me. Marion and I got off the trolly at the City Market because it was behind our hotel. I went into a store and realized I left my camera on the seat. Crap. Marion tried to run after it -- but it was already two blocks away. She saw it turn up a parallel street. She waved -- then -- the trolly turned again and was coming right back at us!  He drove right to us, stopped -- and the woman we had been sitting next to handed my camera out the window!!

Yes, people, that is a little thing I like to call Ritaluck.... (Well, honestly, it probably didn't hurt that we gave the driver a nice tip...)

Our day in Savannah was FAR TOO SHORT...and we had a spectacular time.  But wait until you her what we did with our NIGHT...

Don't TEXT while driving

I posted this ATandT video in 2010. At the time, I knew my son Elliott would text while driving. I made him watch this video, and I begged him to NEVER DO IT AGAIN.

Now -- four years later -- EVEN I DO IT. If people are being honest, most of us would have to ADMIT we do text, or look at our cellphones, while driving. Texting has become such a big part of our lives....I never thought it would be something I WOULD DO.

This is an eight minute mini-documentary...that will make you think twice the next time...

NEXT...!!

I originally wrote this blog post way back in May....but for some reason, the news that I am no longer working for Sew Expo just seems to be hitting the radar screen...and I've been getting MANY, MANY EMAILS.  And some phone calls.  Wow.  THANKS, ladies.  I'm going to miss you, too.

But not to worry -- I AM FINE.  Nobody on the Sew Expo team was ever mean to me.  Quite the opposite!!  They are wonderful women and it was a joy to work with them.  I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED that job.  So, yes, there is a small part of me that is glad you are sad that I'm no longer doing it.

Thanks for letting me know you are going to miss me...
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Original post:  May 16, 2013:

For a long, long time -- I've been saying -- WOMEN WHO SEW ARE THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. You are giving, thoughtful, caring, loving people. You always put the needs of others before your own. And you use sewing to show your love for the people in your life. For many years, I have been privileged to re-learn that lesson every single moment at the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, Washington.

Doing the marketing and PR for the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, Washington was one of the best rides of my life. But somebody a lot smarter than me said, "all good things must come to an end".


Because I've been getting calls and emails about next year's show -- it's time to make this announcement -- I am no longer working for the Sewing and Stitchery Expo.

I spent many hours trying to figure out how to write this post. At the end of the day, I decided to say good-bye with some pictures. This is a gallery, in no particular order, of some of my favorite Sew Expo people and moments. I spent an embarrassingly long time looking for pictures that don't actually EXIST...and no matter how hard I try, I left a lot of people out. I never worked harder or LAUGHED harder in my life. What a joy it was...

Keep up the good work, people!!