Weary traveller has returned...

What a month September has been...and I know that I have been remiss in posting to this blog...but viewers...please cut me some slack :)

It all started with the Labour Day long weekend...getting the kids ready for school was a challenge...Alex at a new school for the 5th time in 5 years and Tori starting Grade 8...sooo many supplies and clothes to buy. So I started the week off broke but looking forward to the Stamplicity retreat on Sept 7-9.

Pauline and her crew outdid themselves! The projects were amazing and I had a blast with my friends. I was frugal this year...seeing as how I have a room full of supplies that I won't use in my lifetime...but I have alot of new projects planned with the ideas / projects from the retreat. I had fun with Heather, Debbie, Cathy, Nancy, Marlene and Caroline - that was my favourite part...being with my friends for the weekend. And I went home happy...but very very tired.

I had 2 short days to recover...then we launched into the CamAm Shop and Hop...a 2 week-long event where I shopped in 14 different scrapbook/stamp stores in both Canada and in the US. I managed to visit 6 of the Canadian stores before I was packing up for a work trip.

I attended my company's strategic conference from Sept 16-18th and was priviledged to attend the most amazing seminar...Keeper of the Flame, with Mike Lipkin. If anyone has the opportunity to read this book, I highly recommend it. I left the conference feeling exuberated and ready to tackle any task that life would throw at me! I was full of new ideas to overcome problems both at home and at work. I felt like a million bucks...and left the conference to continue on the second leg of my trip...business meeting in T.O.

This leg of my journey was not without its problems...the hotel that I had a confirmation for...had me booked in for the following week and were completely booked when I arrived. They were kind enough to point me in the direction of another hotel - gee thanks guys! This hotel had only one room left...some conference in town, no doubt - and the room did not have air conditioning. Since the weather has been slightly chilly...I figured it was only for the night...so grin and bear it. I regretted my decision at about 11:30 pm when the temperature did a spike from 13 degrees to about 29 degrees in one hour. I was drenched in sweat, unable to sleep thru the numerous police sirens down the block and wishing I was home. Six am could not come quick enough...and I made full use of the executive lounge to have a free breakfast before my meeting.

I suffered thru the mornining meeting (so tired and cranky in the heat) and then it was off to our office in Collingwood for 2 days. I enjoy my time in the northern office, the people are so much fun and very down to earth. It makes my job easier to deal with very co-operative people...and it doesn't hurt that I bust a gut laughing when I am there!

Thursday afternoon, I was finally on my way home. Home to my darling husband, who had been my rock thru the entire trip...taking calls of me whining that I wanted to be home, etc. Home to my kids...who I missed like crazy...and home to my fur babies, who would greet me at the door with love and affection...and some pain if they managed to knock me down!

I was sooo happy to be home...for one day...Friday - then back to the US to finish off the CanAm Shop Hop with my friend Cathy. We had a great time...traveling thru north New York state, thru farm and forest, getting lost, but then eventually finding our way. We found some great stores...Buffalo Stamps, Utopia and Simply Scrapbooks to name the best 3! And got to meet some really nice ladies along the way. We didn't get home until after 10 pm...we started the trip at 8 am...so it was a brutally long day. I found so many new products...things that I had not seen in Canada...so it was definitely worth the drive.

Sunday....a day of rest for some...but not me! I finished the CamAm Hop and turned in my passport...14 stores in 14 days...some thought it could not be done...but Cathy and I proved them wrong! We have empty wallets, tired feet...and a new appreciation of what it takes to run a scrapbook store! Kudos to the stores in Niagara...still the best customer service in the land...and there is no place like home!

I have tons of pics of me in front of the stores...requirement for a challenge on the website...and I have inspiration enough to last a year or more! Enough posting on this blog...off to play with my stuff!