TNNA - THE NATIONAL NEEDLEARTS ASSOCIATION TRADESHOW

 My travels have now brought me to Columbus, Ohio for the TNNA Show. The National Needlearts Association tradeshow. This show occurs twice per year.  In the earlier part of the year, usually January, the show happens on the west coast. The summer show has traditionally taken place in June in Columbus, Ohio. Beginning next year, the show is scheduled to visit different cities instead of almost always being in Columbus. This wholesale only show caters to Needlepoint and Yarn Shops.  As most fine yarn shops carry specialty buttons, one of the companies that I represent as an independent sales rep, Dill Buttons, is a vendor here where we have lots of customers.

THURSDAY MENU

breakfast  oat meal                                                                                                    300 calories
lunch        Turkey Jerky, Fruit & Nut bar, two apples                                               800 calories
dinner       Chili Bowl, wedge salad                                                                           608 calories
snacks      salted plantain chips, 7 Quaker rice cakes, 4 Glenlivet's on the rocks    1017 calories

total caloric consumption  2725 calories

CALORIES BURNED
PRECOR AMT TRAINER with OPEN STRIDE  (HILTON HOTEL)                      596 calories

FRIDAY NET CALORIS   2129 CALORIES

INTERNATIONAL QUILT MARKET - SPRING SHOW - MINNEAPOLIS

Yesterday I finished my two day excursion into Wisconsin and returned to Minneapolis for the 2015 International Quilt Market.   The 'spring' show is in a different city each May and this year it landed in Minneapolis. This show is for the thousands of independently owned quilt shops across America and the World. Each fabric company sets up elaborate booths highlighting their brand-new cotton fabrics that are unveiled at this show. The show also attracts hundreds of peripheral vendors, and both  Products From Abroad Ribbons and Trims and Dill Button Company are at the show as well whom I both work for. (not too sure about that sentence structure?)

The 'quilting' industry convenes at a huge tradeshow twice per year.   Each October the show takes place in Houston, Texas.  And the Spring show takes place in a variety of cities throughout the United States.  I do attend the each show.  The last time I saw my colleagues, customers and friends at one of these shows was last October in Houston.  At that time, I was still on my way up to 309 lbs.   Fast forward to this show, and my appearance has changed rather dramatically - I have lost 90 pounds since so many of these people last saw me.  I confess, I am looking forward to presenting myself over the next few days.  Today, Thursday, is 'set-up' day and the three day show will actually begin on Friday.  I am looking forward to it!

Dinner my first night in Minneapolis

The Local - An Irish Pub

931 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, MN 55402

Phone Number: 612.252.1618

Fax Number: 612.904.1005

AHI TUNA NICOISE
Rare seared tuna with green beans, beets, Kalamata olives, potatoes & tomatoes on tender greens tossed with cucumber, radish

The Local - AHI TUNA NICOISE (calories 375 approximately, just a guess)

WEDNESDAY MENU

breakfast   two eggs, three sausages, two cups oatmeal, two small apples                   655 calories

lunch         turkey and cheddar lunchables, two apples, colossal smoked oysters can  590 calories

dinner       AHI TUNA NICOISE SALAD @ 'THE LOCAL'   three apples                 612 calories

total calories consumed 1857 calories

CALORIES BURNED

HUDSON, WISCONSIN YMCA   elliptical  340 calories

WEDNESDAY NET CALORIES   1517 CALORIES