Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Whew! I finally got to use the computer! I have such cool pictures to show you and Miss Elaine has been hogging the keyboard! I didn't get to tell you about the really neat baseball things I did in St. Louis. St. Louis is going to host the All-Star Game in July -- that's why we went to the city.

The first thing that happened after we landed is -- we went to Albert Pujol's restaurant. Okay, I'll admit that Miss Elaine had to tell me that he is probably the best player in baseball today. When we walked in, I saw a tall, black man sitting at a table with the other writers. He was really handsome and was wearing a gold necklace. There was a lady and a little girl there, too. Guess what -- it was Albert Pujols and his wife and daughter. They were really nice and his little girl wanted to hold me. I liked her a lot.

Albert and I got our picture taken together -- then Miss Elaine got in the picture. Albert signed a baseball for me.

Later in the week, I met Mike Shannon. He is the announcer for the Cardinals -- and he used to play for the team. He has a restaurant, too. I guess baseball players get really hungry! I got my picture taken with him, too.

Miss Elaine left me in the hotel the night she ate at Tony's -- a really fancy restaurant. She said it was because it was raining, not because I eat with my paws because I can't hold a knife and fork! Anyway, she met Tony LaRussa, the Cardinal's manager (he used to play baseball, too). She said he was really nice and he signed an autograph for William Shorow. I wish I had been there -- I bet I could have gotten another picture. I help Miss Elaine that way a lot.

I also got to go to the Build-A-Bear Workshop at Busch Stadium. You know I was born in St. Louis. I met lots of friends and Miss Elaine made a Fredbird (the Cardinal mascot). They mailed him to us. He's nice, but he doesn't get to go on trips like I do.

And I'm leaving on another trip this morning -- so look for postcards. Miss Elaine and I are going to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Love,

Teddy

What's in a Name?

Hi Kids,

A long time ago, William Shakespeare wrote "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." That's kind of an Elizabethan way of saying "It is what it is" no matter what it's called. Except I think I disagree. Miss Elaine took me to the St. Louis City Museum a few days ago.

"Hmmm. City Museum," I said to myself. "What's there? That doesn't sound very interesting."

Now that I've been, I think they called it that because they couldn't think of anything to call it that would describe it! It was full of all sorts of stuff to do, to explore, to climb on, to peek in, to make -- it was fantastic. And you never knew what you'd see around the next corner.

A lot of things were made out of stuff that other people would throw away. It's in an old shoe factory and the people who made the museum used lots of old equipment. Giant industrial coils turned into great climbing tunnels -- some kids call them "the slinkies of death!" A whole wall is made of old laboratory trays and the bannisters on the stairs are made out of old rollers from conveyor belts.

Here are a few of my favorite things:

A giant whale

A huge pipe organ

A circus school -- the man who runs it used to be a human cannonball!

Magical looking fish (you have to look hard to find me!).

A pretend alien Elvis baby

And the world's largest underpants! They're kind of hard to see because I'm sitting on a pinball machine in front of them. And those funny words above them -- "Semper ubi, sub ubi" -- Miss Elaine took Latin in high school and explained them to me -- "always where, under where." That didn't make sense until she made me say it fast ten times! (It sounds like "always wear underwear!)

What would you call a museum like this? I guess maybe City Museum isn't such a bad name.

Love,

Teddy

Atlanta -- Part I

Hi Kids,

By now I hope you've gotten some of my postcards. Miss Elaine mailed them at the hotel front desk each morning and when she was checking out, they asked if I had enjoyed my stay. Oh, yes! We stayed at the Marriott Marquis downtown. I don't know how tall it was but we were on the 36th floor and there were a lot of floors below us. The strange picture is what it looked like looking down 36 floors. When a building has an open center from bottom to top, that's called an atrium. Do you know where that word comes from? Don't you just love the view? Miss Elaine held on to me tightly!!!

The first day we went to the Martin Luther King, Jr. historical site. I wrote you a card about that. Then we went to the Carter Presidential Library and Museum. I got my picture taken with a new friend, Little Louis. He's from Wisconsin, he says, but I think he looks Australian! We didn't get to sit in the president's chair like I did in Texas. (Okay, I know you haven't seen that picture yet because Miss Elaine is really behind on my blog -- but, trust me, she'll help me get it done one of these days!) Little Louis and I sat in chairs in front of a picture of the President's desk.

President Carter worked very hard to bring peace to the Middle East and he was given a very special prize -- the Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. King got one, too, for his work in civil rights. Did you know that there are only two cities in the whole world where two people have received Nobel Prizes? Atlanta is one and Johannesburg, South Africa, is the other.

I'll bet you can guess that going to the World of Coca-Cola was one of my favorite things in Atlanta. Coke was invented here! When you tour the World of Coca-Cola, you will learn about the history -- more people around the world recognize the Coca-Cola label than any other label. There are several theaters here -- my favorite was in 4-D -- not only did things seem to come off the screen, but the chairs moved and we even got splashed with water. I wasn't scared and I held on tight to Miss Elaine so she wouldn't be scared either. I got a big hug from the Coca-Cola polar bear. He gave me a big kiss, too. His breath smelled like fish, but I didn't say anything.

On Friday I went with my friend Little Perk (his whole name is Perkerson Price). We had a party with his class -- teddy grahams and Kool-Aid. He stayed with his class. The class loved me, too. This is Trayveon holding me. I'm glad I have so many new friends. They were very happy to get the cards you sent and they loved the picture of you and Mrs. Kysar.

I will write more when I get a chance. Miss Elaine is ALWAYS using the computer to work on her book and I have to sneak on when I can. We are going to St. Louis Wednesday. I hope we get to finish writing about Texas and Georgia before we write about Missouri but I'm not counting on it!

Love,

Teddy