I will post a longer message with lots of photos once I get back to Iowa. I am off to get some sleep now (although I am SO excited that I am not sure I will be able to fall asleep!).
Kristin says the Cardinals only need one more win to become the World Series champions! That means they could win it all at the game Kristin and I attend tomorrow night.
Here my new friend Cindy helps me stuff a bear.
Here are the finished bears. Don't they look cool?!
Do you see the St. Louis Cardinal's player on the book cover? That's Mark McGwire. He doesn't play anymore but Kristin thinks he was a great player. That's why her rabbit's name is McGwire!
Kristin says Busch Stadium is a brand new park that opened at the start of this baseball season. I had no idea!
I am sad that I didn't get to see the game but it was really cool to be at the World Series. I didn't see any other flat people at the park so I know that my visit was VERY special. Thanks Kristin and Eugene! Tonight was one of the best nights of my life (even if it did rain).
Kristin says the ticket was VERY expensive so she didn't buy an extra one for me. But she made sure to leave a special spot for me in her backpack so I can watch the game with her.
While we were driving here from Muscatine, I learned that "Gateway to the West" is a nickname for St. Louis. I had no idea!
Kristin says people can buy tickets and ride to the top of the Gateway Arch. I asked Kristin if we could go to the top of Gateway Arch but she told me we might not have enough time. She says we have a VERY special place that we have to be soon and she told me I need to make sure to bring my coat.
Kristin was worried I might be bored on the long car ride to Lubbock but I actually enjoyed seeing West Texas (even if it was just from the car). I noticed a number of things during our car trip. First, this part of Texas has lots of cattle and horse farms. This part of Texas is also FLAT just like me! I could see farm fields for miles and miles from the car window. Many of the fields were full of small green bushes that had what looked like white puffy flowers. I've never seen anything like it so I asked Kristin about the plants. She told me the bushes were cotton bushes and that the white puffy flowers are actually little puffs of cotton. I had no idea!
The next morning, Kristin woke me up very early so we could get to her next presentation at Coronado High School in Lubbock. As soon as her presentation there was over, Kristin drove us to the airport. I was really surprised. I thought we were staying in Texas for another day. Kristin just smiled and told me that we had to fly to El Paso so she could make her final presentation. WOW! I think Kristin was worried that I was going to be bored with another plane ride so she bought me a bear with a Lubbock, Texas t-shirt so I would have some company on the plane ride. Here I am with my new bear and Kristin's plane ticket to El Paso.
Once we arrived in El Paso, Kristin got a rental car and drove us to El Paso Community College. Kristin told me to pay special attention to the left-hand side of the road as she was driving to the West side of El Paso. She told me if I looked closely, I would be able to see Mexico. Can you believe it?! I could see the city of Juarez, Mexico from the car. I was really hoping that Kristin would take me to Mexico but she said we didn't have time. I told her that was OK because I could at least tell my friends that I saw Mexico.
After Kristin was finished at the library, we went to dinner with Daniela and Gaby. They helped organize the meeting Kristin spoke at. Daniela and Gaby are very nice. They took us to a great Mexican restaurant and then took us on a tour of El Paso's scenic drive. The scenic drive has little parks where people can walk and see across the border. It was really cool especially since we went after dark. Here I am with my new friends Daniela and Gaby.
Do you see the lights behind Daniela and Gaby? That's Mexico!
I am SO excited. I have never been to Texas before. It is a BIG state. See if you can find Amarillo on the map. Kristin is in Texas to talk to college and high school students about our trip to Dubai and Doha last December.
We waited about an hour in the business lounge before walking to our next gate to catch our final flight. That's when Kristin told me we were headed for Texas. I was really happy about going to Texas but Kristin didn't look very happy when we got to our gate. That's because she found out we had to fly a really, really small plane to Amarillo. Each wing of the plane had large propellers (they look like a large ceiling fan attached to the side of the wing). I remember I flew on a plane that looked like this one when I flew from Detroit to Moline earlier this year. I think these planes are really cool. But I remember from my Detroit trip that Kristin doesn't like these small planes.
We are staying at the Homewood Suites in Amarillo tonight. Kristin's room is very nice. It even has a small kitchen. We missed the Green Bay Packers game today. Kristin told me they lost. :( Tonight we are watching the St. Louis Cardinals baseball game. Kristin is a BIG Cardinals fan. If the Cardinals win tonight they get to the next round of the baseball playoffs. I hope they win!
That's all for now. Until next time....
One of the items in the bag is a black notebook with the Stanley Foundation's name on it. I was really surprised when I saw it. I asked Kristin if she knew the notebook had the Stanley Foundation's name on it. She smiled and said yes. Guess what? It was Keith and Kristin's job to make sure the notebook was printed and placed in the bag. Here you can see me with the notebook (which included a cool postcard thanking all of the radio stations that played Keith and Kristin's radio program that I helped with).
Kristin says she might let me keep the bag and some of the cool stuff in it but only if I am on my best behavior. I promise to be REALLY good!
There are LOTS of people at the conference. Their friends Simon (from Washington) and Ken (from Minneapolis) are here. I don't know anyone else here but everyone has been very nice.
This afternoon, Keith and Kristin had some free time in their schedule so they took me to see some very important places here in Philadelphia. Did you know that Philadelphia was America's capital city from 1790 to 1800? I had no idea! Do you know the name of America's capital city now? Hint....I have been to our capital city with Keith and Kristin.
Kristin told me that many important things in America's history are located in Philadelphia. One item is something called "The Liberty Bell." Kristin says it is a symbol of America's freedom. She also says the bell was used to call people to city meetings or to warn residents if something bad had happened. I think this must be like the siren I hear when bad weather is happening outside.
The Liberty Bell used to hang on top of a building called "Independence Hall" but now it is in a special building designed to keep it safe. I think this is a good idea because the bell has a HUGE crack in it. Kristin says no one really knows when the bell broke but it was LONG before I was born. Here I am with Kristin standing near the Liberty Bell. Look closely and you will see the big crack in the bell.
The building behind us is called "Independence Hall." Kristin says the Declaration of Independence was written in that building in 1776. Kristin says the Declaration of Independence is a very important document in American history. I had no idea! I think I am going to have to pay more attention in my history class from now on.
The United States Constitution is another important document that was first written in Philadelphia. Do you know what the Constitution is? See if you can look it up. There is a museum in Philadelphia called the National Constitution Center. It has one of the original copies of the Constitution. Here I am outside of the museum. Kristin tells me the words on the wall are the start of the Constitution.
Right across the street from the National Constitution Center is a building called the "United States Mint." That's where they print money! How cool is that?
I wanted to see the inside of the building but we didn't have time for a tour. I was able to put my face on a brand new $10.00 bill in the National Constitutional Center.
Can you see me? Here's a closer look.
Isn't that cool? I think I look good! Do you know who is normally pictured on the $10.00 bill? It's Alexander Hamilton. I want to have my face on money.
Before we left to head back to the hotel, Kristin kindly bought me a book on the Liberty Bell and a stuffed eagle to add to my collection of things from my many trips.
Last night, Keith and Kristin went to a special taping of a new public radio program called "Sound Opinions." I didn't really understand most of the show but Kristin told me it is a show where the two hosts talk about music. They also had a special guest, musician Moby. I've never heard of him but Kristin tells me he is very famous. I am going to have to trust her on that!
I was too shy to have my picture taken during the performance but it was interesting to "watch" a radio program.
Whew....I must have been very tired from my busy day because I fell asleep as soon as the radio program was over. Kristin kindly tucked me into bed with my new eagle.
Tomorrow, we head back to Iowa. Until next time....
It wasn't an easy trip. Our flight from Moline to Chicago was more than 2 hours late. This caused Keith and Kristin to miss their flight to Philadelphia. It is a good thing that Keith and Kristin travel so much. Kristin was able to book us on a new flight right away. But we had to wait almost 3 hours in the business lounge at O'Hare airport before we could get on the plane to Philadelphia. Sometimes I wonder if King Tut placed a curse on Kristin because her flights always seem to be late!
The Cubs played the San Francisco Giants this weekend. See if you can find San Francisco on the map. Kristin says the Giants are a very good baseball team.
Kristin and Eugene had really good seats. We were at the very top of the "upper deck" between third base and the left field foul pole. It was really nice because we were able to sit in the shade the entire time.
The game was really exciting! There were FOUR homeruns. One was hit by Barry Bonds. He is a famous baseball player. Kristin says Bonds holds the record for the number of homeruns hit in a single season. So I thought it was cool to see Barry Bonds hit a homerun. Kristin didn't seem to be as excited about Barry Bonds' homerun. I think it is because Kristin is a St. Louis Cardinals fan.
In the end the Cubs lost the game 4-2. I'm sorry I didn't get to see the Cubs win. But I am SO glad I got to see the game. Thanks Kristin and Eugene for taking me to Chicago!
