Lynn,

I have stayed at the Hyatt which was very nice but the bus was a pain. But you are right. Staying at the Hilton is very convenient. When you buy too much to carry, head back to the room and drop it off. Also, we keep a makeshift cooler in the room and bring quick breakfast snacks. Also crackers, canned tuna, and mayo for lunch. The grocery stores are very limited and a long walk. so we try to bring everything we can. My friend lives on Diet Coke so there is generally a coke run in there somewhere.

Diana

Joy, I missed your booth last year and meeting you but won't make that mistake again this year!

Glad all your reservations are getting made.

There is parking just to the south of the convention center (you have to get there by 8:00 though) for $8.00 (at least there was last year.) If you park at the Hilton which has a crosswalk to the CC, it is $12 or $14 a day. Still much better than $30!

Some year, although I live here, I'm going all the way and staying at the Hilton! Sounds like heaven to be able to just go to a room and rest your feet mid-day!

Lynn

Great idea! I can pull off the EQ6 part. We'll definitely talk more later!

"Maybe I'll start brainstorming about fun things we can do while everybody else is whooping it up in Houston."

Hey Bridget, maybe you and I and others can design a virtual quilt while everyone is in Houston.

I have EQ but sorry to say I'm not good at it (yet), but maybe we could have one person design the center, and then then another person design the next part, and so on and so on. Even folks who don't have EQ can get in on the fun by uploading their part and one of us that has EQ can add in their section.

What about a theme for it such as 'Wishing we were in Houston' or Fall Harvest, etc., etc.

Okay, back to embroidering more duffle bags!

JoJo

Jojo and Bridget, I'm sorry that you wont be able to go to Houston. , but I'm sure happy to add Mary Kay's name to the list of new friends to meet there Pam

Me neither.

We'll just have to reinstate the UGH Club (Unable to Go to Houston) I guess. Maybe I'll start brainstorming about fun things we can do while everybody else is whooping it up in Houston. We can meet in the chat room one night while sipping a beverage of one's choice and try to refocus -- or just cry in our beer -- or wine -- or lemonade -- or water -- or coffee -- or whatever!

(But I will say that Dana is really good at keeping me in the loop with phone calls! Thank you friend!)

I'm so glad for my friends that do get to go and look forward to seeing all the great pictures and hearing about all the fun!

I am really excited about being able to go!!!

You guys have loads of fun. I can't attend this year.

Maybe in 2010. :

JoJo

Yippee, Mary Kay! I am just writing a list of everyone I can think of who will be there. I don't want to miss meeting anyone

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!! I just booked my flight and hotel for Thur Oct 15 to Sun Oct 18!!! I will BE THERE!!!!! Can't wait to meet my TQS buddies and immerse myself in all the beautiful art that will be at the Festival!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so excited! I am coming to Houston (Ann, I didn't even have to whine). Have I told you what a wonderful husband I have! He travels a lot for his work so has tons of points built up. He booked a hotel in the medical area for me, my brother and SIL. Then he booked me a direct flight from Seattle (I did whine that I was never flying out of Spokane and making all those conncections again). So I will drive to Seattle, stay with my daughter for a night and catch a flight. Yippee!!!! I can't wait to meet all of you! And I'll keep you posted of the booth number where I'll be helping my brother and SIL.

I majorly screwed up and arranged for our trip to Tucson too early in the month! Would have been the perfect time to scoot down to Houston to enjoy the show!

Maggie in E. central Illinois

I'm laughing, Ann If it wasn't such a long drive from here to there, I wouldn't have to work too hard to convince him. Maybe I should put this on the prayer list

Just whine a lot and act like you are really being deprived because you cannot come to Houston and then tell DH there will be other DH's there to share his pain. Hope it works. I think I whined enough and let him know I was going with or without him and he finally caved in. Of course it helps that he likes Ricky and Justin and cannot wait to see them again. You have to know how to work the system. Hugs, Ann ( hope to meet you this fall)