A few pics from our visit

I think I am gonna climb down here.. watch me!!

This is a little toad my little sister found... Madre can we keep em?

I am soooo climbin that rock!!!!!!!!!!!!

After lots of climbin, takin a break!

hello again

well I got Stuart's permission to post his blog so here is his site! it is a lotta fun to read through his adventures of the USA.

http://stuart-intimations.blogspot.com/

Meeting for the first time

I will never forget this past week for as long as I live.

We had plans for meeting for a long time, but I never thought that this day would ever come. Finally the chance arose. Finally he is comming to the USA for the summer of 08, or most of anyways. Original plans were to meet up in September after he traveled throughout the Rocky Mountains on bicycle. (something I would never have the courage to even imagine doing!) But as luck would have it, plans changed, so I got to see him sooner! Which is just fine by me.

The original plan was to pick him up at the Erie Airport at 9:50AM. But just as the rest of everything I am involved with, plans change a lot. He had somehow missed his initial flight, so then he had to get another one. So I got a phone call around 7:30AM telling me that it will be a little later than originally. I was going to now be picking my friend up in the early afternoon. But that was short lived as that plane was struck by lightening and was not able to fly til after it was fixed. I am very glad that my dear friend was not on that plane!

So Finally Mike and I (my little sister's boyfriend) headed to Erie, to pick Stuart up at 5:12PM. the trip was interesting, as we pulled off I79 and decided that backroads would be easiest instead of hitting 26th street traffic, the transmission started acting up. We had to coast through a few intersections, and couldnt get moving again until we started downhill, or the transmission would properly shift. We eventually made it to the airport, and as we pulled in, it would not shift out of 2nd gear. So we had to park it, I went inside and read the arrivals and noticed that out of the few flights that were comming in, all them were on time, except the one that my friend was on.

It wasnt that huge of a deal, and actually worked out for the better, because whilst we waited for Stuart to land, Mike and I had to rearrange another way home. Luckily Mikes mother was generous enough to give us a lift.

Now it was getting closer to the time of his arrival, so I went inside to greet my long lost friend. Finally he came through and we embraced a big hug. Then we gathered up his luggage, and headed for home. It was so nice getting to see him for the first time.

I dont honestly know what all we did the first night, but I believe we got little sleep (as with the rest of the week). Tuesday was much more eventful. We had tornado warnings. But in case you are wondering, the beer was safe lol. But his outlook on this was very comical. I will have to get you a link to his blog, after I get his permission, so that you can read it!

A few other highlights of the visit included his very first trip to a Wal-Mart. He had heard of them but never been in one before. that was neat. We went to McConnels Mills and did a little rock climbing. There was much more that I wanted to do, but I didnt want to go non-stop and I only had him til Wednesday (originally). But again, plans changed, in my favor. I talked him into staying til friday morning WOOT WOOT! Thursday we went to Coney Island in Slippery Rock, a little resturant/bar.

Oh another highlight that I forgot to mention was catching the pancakes on fire. I am afraid that I missed seeing it due to some emotional difficulties, but I did get to hear the flames go up, and Mikes reactions. Unfortunately I didnt get to taste it either, but if you wanna know how mine turned out, just ask Mariah (my dog), as I feel she enjoyed it very much.

Thursday night, we didnt get very much sleep at all, and then had to get up early as he had to be in Pittsburgh at 9:30AM. and we wanted to be there early so that there was no way of missing the flight, even though I will admit I wouldnt have minded it much, but the other end of the trip would have got too messed up for him. I took a short video of him on the way to the airport, that I have to admit to watching over and over and over due to missing him, wanting to see and hear his voice again, and because it makes me laugh hysterically. I can explain why in another post, another day, remind me.

When we got to the airport, my emotions were controlled okay for the most part, lots of hugs and snuggles. Then when it was time to part ways Danielle, my little sister, and I started to walk out to the parking lot, and he ran up behind me and gave me a last hug, that I will remember forever. I started to tear up a little on the way out to the car, so the ride home Danielle and I either talked about the week and how we all will miss Stuart or we listened to music (not sad stuff).

Even though Stuart is not here physically anymore, he definately is in all our hearts. Danielle, Mike, my mother aka Madre, Jeff, Steve aka Daddy, and even Debbie Doo have all confessed to missing him. Danielle and Mike really enjoyed his company along with the rest of us.

Thursday night, before Stuart left he had me download the movie "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and when I returned from the airport it was finished so I got to watch it. I have to admit it is interesting.

I miss him incredibly, the talks, jokes, games, fun, we had. I cant wait to see him again. My only regret is that he only got to meet Bob for like 5-10 minutes.