(Y'all, I will have to update with pictures later, because Ze Flickr is not working at my office for some odd reason. And yes, I'm updating from the office.)

I got up at the unGodly hour of 4:30 on Friday morning, packed everything into the car, and set out for the airport on what was my very first Flying By Myself experience. I got through security, got through the wait, and boarded the plane with no problems. And that is where the traveling stopped being easy and got CUH-RAZY. The plane was delayed by an hour and a half because of the weather in Atlanta; they didn't let us in on this little tidbit until we were already on said plane, so we had to sit there on the ground until we got the all clear. Still, not TOO bad, and we took off. When we landed, and I emerged into the Atlanta airport, I started to think that maybe I'm not cut out for traveling by myself; I had no frakin' clue where the hell I was, which direction to go, or even what I was trying to do, to be honest. The wonderful Carrie was trying her best to direct me, but I'm a doofus. Eventually, I found a tram that zoomed me to baggage claim, which led me to doors that went outside, and I was able to explain where I was so that Carrie and Ms. Melanie could pick me up and we could head out.

Except it's never that easy.

And by that, I mean an 18 wheeler overturned on the highway and we were stuck in traffic for two hours. But I had my knitting!

So, in the end, what was supposed to be a trip that put us in Asheville by 4 at the latest actually had us checking in to our hotel at 8 pm. Thank God there was an Outback in the parking lot, because we all needed a drink STAT.  Even though the waiter sneered at my dinner choice (a steak sandwhich, which was good so SUCK IT SERVER DAN), we still managed to end the day with some fun.

The actual fest was a blast - SAFF isn't huge, but there was more than enough to do in one day, and there were so many independent yarn dyers and vendors that it was absolutely worth all of the hassle. I didn't go crazy with the yarn purchases, but I did manage to score some pretties. I met Lynnea in real life and patted The Baby Belly in person. But by the end of the day, we were exhausted and we decided to check out of the hotel early and head back to Carrie's house instead of spending another night there. So after spending some time in Athens, I got up on Sunday and made the trip back home. I walked in the door and was immediately dog piled by the kids; Sarah refused to let me go all evening, which was charming and cute and I took full advantage of it since she's not what you'd call a Super Cuddler. I gave them the presents I'd picked up for them - Bryan got a new airplane like the one Mommy was on, and Sarah got a new stuffed animal from Atlanta - and we all settled in, happy to be back together.

Carrie is trying to convince me to fly in for MS&W next year.  As long as it does not involve crazy Atlanta traffic, I might be convinced.

PHOTOS! From the top, that is Sanguine Griffon Little Traveler in Nepal, Plain & Fancy Sheep & Wool Co. Sport in Blue Variagated, and Miss Babs Yummy Superwash Sock Yarn & Baby Yarn in Ironweed. I made two other purchases that aren't listed here - one is for my Christmas swap partner, so that will just have to be a surprise, and the other is a skein of 100% silk lace weight that the fantastic Melanie is custom dyeing for me. Because she likes me so. Y'all, I can't tell you how stoked I am about the laceweight, and about the dye job she's going to do for me. It will be awesomeness personified.

And here we all are, at SAFF, the CESOB crew REPRESENTING. From the top left: Melanie, myself, then Carrie on the bottom left and Lynnea.