Edgar Raven

Washington - Seattle

2010-08-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

Alexandra and I also visited Seattle. I've heard how rainy it is here, but we did not see any of that. The weather was beautiful!

Canada, British Columbia

2010-08-26T09:41:00.001-07:00

Alexandra Diaz took me to Victoria, British Columbia. What a pretty and interesting place! The totem pole sure was tall!

Oklahoma

2010-08-26T09:33:00.001-07:00

I visited the Oklahoma History Center and saw an Allan Houser exhibit. Houser (Haozous) was born in Oklahoma even though New Mexicans claim him as their own. His sculpture, "Unconquered" was very impressive!

Czech Republic - Prague

2010-08-26T09:30:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are in Prague. There is the Prague Castle. Wow, the place is huge! I hope they don't lose me in the dungeons! (I won't cause anymore trouble at the hotels! Promise!)

Germany

2010-08-26T09:26:00.000-07:00

We took the train to Rothenbuer, Germany. We then flew out of Frankfurt, Germany to our next destination. These Lemmons really know how to get around!

Germany

2010-08-26T09:23:00.000-07:00

Yes, Germany! Joan and Larry Lemmon took me on a tours of Europe. Here we are at a Catheral in Cologne Germany. Wow, pretty gothic. Just my thing!

New York - Silver Bay, Lake George

2010-08-26T09:20:00.000-07:00

The Jenkins invited me to a family reunion in Lake George, NY. What a family!! What a beautiful location with the lake and trees! The hotel was fabulous, as you can see.

Missouri

2010-08-26T09:19:00.001-07:00

Well, after all that outside activity, we went to St. Louis for some culture.

Missouri

2010-08-26T09:16:00.000-07:00

Hi gang,

I spent some time in Missouri with Jennifer Mays. While in St. Charles, we spent sometime outdoors along the Missouri river.

Nevada - Las Vegas

2010-07-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

But alas, I tried my luck at the slots and almost lost my tail feathers! I knew it was time to return back to Santa Fe, New Mexico. It will be good to be back home in the library.

Nevada - Las Vegas

2010-07-23T08:13:00.000-07:00

For lunch we dined at Pink's, famous for hot dogs. A Hollywood legend since 1939.

Nevada - Las Vegas

2010-07-23T08:12:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite places to visit was the M&M store. I got to meet Green and get my picture taken with her. (WOW!)

Then I enjoyed satisfying my sweet tooth with a few different colors.

Nevada - Las Vegas

2010-07-23T08:09:00.000-07:00

While in Vegas, we got to see some awesome shows!

Although I was a little scared going through the Shark Reef in the Mandalay Bay. They have rather sharp teeth!

Nevada - Las Vegas

2010-07-23T08:07:00.000-07:00

The Lorings had planned a trip to Las Vegas and invited me to come along. How could I refuse?

We stayed at the Aria Resort & Casino in the MGM's new city center on the Las Vegas Trip.

New Hampshire - Freedom

2010-07-23T08:01:00.000-07:00

We didn't stay long in Concord because the Lorings were headed to camp out at Danforth Bay Campground in Freedom, NH.

While here I tried to connect with a few feathered acquaintances, but they weren't too interested in socializing with me. But I did manage to make friends with a couple of red squirrels. They were pretty chatty, I could barely get a word in of my own.

That night I got to roast marshmallows by the campfire. It came out just the way I like it. Yum! Yum! Good!

New Hampshire - Concord

2010-07-23T07:56:00.000-07:00

One of my friends from the library thought it would be great to send me to her sister's home in New Hampshire.

I arrived at the Lorings home in Concord, NH, which is also the capital of the state. Their home is located in a lovely community called the Vineyards.

New Hampshire license plates bare a unique motto: Live Free or Die. You'll also see quite a few vanity plates throughout the state.

Chicago

2010-06-19T10:06:00.000-07:00

Edgar had a great time exploring Chicago with his friend Sophia.

Chicago

2010-06-19T10:04:00.000-07:00

Edgar was not impressed with the airline food and went in search of the famous Chicago dogs as soon as got off the plane.

Chicago

2010-06-19T10:02:00.000-07:00

In June, Edgar went to Chicago with Sophia and her family. He has been getting a little lazy with all the traveling around and decided to fly by airplane.

Angel Fire, New Mexico

2010-06-15T21:52:00.000-07:00

Edgar visited the Vietnam Memorial in Angel Fire on Memorial Day weekend with code name "Desertraat.":

"The renovated visitor center was rededicated on Sunday morning with Govenor Richardson speaking. I guess I surprised him when I perched on the podium.It was a fabulous weekend for flying and people watching and remembering all those military and their families who have given so much and continue to doso for our country. It was an honor to be present." - Edgar

Italy

2010-06-15T21:42:00.000-07:00

Edgar was VERY BUSY in May. He traveled to Italy with Pat Kuhlhoff, stopping in Florence and many other places along the way. Much of the trip was by bus, which allowed Edgar to meet many people between stops. He also managed to fill up on good food. As seen in one photo, Edgar was busy eating all kinds of pasta, even chocolate shaped pasta!! (Edgar may need to go on a diet when he returns!)

Memories of Edgar's Bon Voyage party

2010-06-15T21:41:00.001-07:00

Missouri

2010-06-15T21:39:00.000-07:00

The Abernathy's and Edgar were wecolmed to Missouri by a student at Cottey College

Oklahoma

2010-06-15T21:37:00.000-07:00

Edgar, Hope and Jack Abernathy were warmly welcomed to Oklahoma by the staff of the Oklahoma Tourist Center.

Edgar travels to Kentucky

2010-06-15T21:27:00.000-07:00

In May, Edgar accompanied Hope and Jack Abernathy on a road trip through the southern part of the United States. While on tour in Kentucky, they visited the grave of Colonel Sanders in Louisville, Kentucky; Edgar met with the security staff at Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby. Edgar also met a young baseball fan at the Louisville Slugger Museum.

More Yale

2010-06-15T21:20:00.000-07:00

Edgar Goes to Yale and Atlantic City

2010-06-15T21:04:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

When I arrived at my friends’ house in Richmond, VA, I was very excited to learn that we had been invited to attend a graduation at Yale University. I took lots of notes, and some pictures for you to be able to share the experience with me. After all, not many of us ever get to Yale!

Friday, May 21, 2010

We arrived at 8:30 pm at the hotel in Milford, CT which is about 10 miles south of New Haven on I-95. The drive up took eleven hours on I-95! I could have flown much quicker, but I thought that would be rude to my hosts. So I just settled in for the drive.

We were glad we made the whole trip today, should be able to stay up for tomorrow night’s festivities. Hotel is filling up, looks like there are two graduations this weekend.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Our friends, the graduates’ parents called around 9:30 am, they were only 30 minutes away! They made record time and had no hold ups with traffic. They had to move some of their son’s stuff into storage, so we had a look around Milford, very pretty place. An Irish coffee and a beer overlooking the harbor was delightful. We had a quick walk along the beach, and then met up with our friends for our first look at Yale. Apparently it was started by a gentleman named Eli Yale, who broke away from Harvard. The story I heard was that Harvard had become too liberal. Obviously there has been great rivalry between the two schools ever since. The buildings are quite old and one especially impressive one is the wonderful library.

We attended a reception at the President’s house, there was a very long line to get in. He shook hands with everyone, and congratulated us - I guess on being at Yale! I didn’t realize his house had lots of artwork. A Turner and a Constable, that I would have loved to have seen, but alas, we rushed thru and missed them.

We had a nice dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant, then headed to Sprague Memorial Hall for the Glee Club Concert. It was excellent! They sang a variety of songs, some written by Yale grads but the funniest was toward the end when four bright lads came on stage with no shirts on and Y A L E painted, or probably chalked, one letter on each chest. They all sang the Yale Football Melody, which includes “Boola, Boola”!

Sunday, May 23rd, 2010

We left the hotel around 9:15 am and got back at 10:20 that night. It was a really long day. However, the first thing was the Baccalaureate Service in Woolsey Hall. We were scheduled to attend the 11:00 am service. We arrived at 10, and joined the line which was already a block long! We were across the street from the cemetery where lots of notable Yale people are buried, and there were pigeons there too. I went over to say hello, but didn’t stay long, since I was afraid I’d lose my place in line. The hall is a fabulous old building, with a pipe organ that would put any Cathedrals’ to shame. Gorgeous ceiling paintings, and a balcony all around the sides and back. Yale has been holding a Baccalaureate Service for over three hundred years. Since there is such a diversity now of faiths on campus, after the opening prayer, by the University Chaplain, Sharon Kugler, three students each read a sacred text. The first was an old testament psalm for Judaism, the second from the New Testament for Christianity, and the third from the Qur’an for Islam. The President of Yale University, Dr. Richard Levin, whom we’d met the previous day gave, what I thought to be, a super speech, and it was a lovely service.

Later on was the Class Day Exercises. For this all the grads, 1,350 of them all wore funny hats. Quite an odd tradition, but very funny, original, inventive, etc. my new found friend wore a Darth Vador Mask, which served as a hat when flipped up. I saw one “Sorting Cap” from Harry Potter, and some inventive girl had stuck sneakers to a ring that balanced on her head. One brave lad wore a “Miss Me Yet” picture of George Bush. I say brave because Yale is a very liberal school.

The Class Day speaker was former President Bill Clinton. I have to say we all thought he was excellent. Both his message, and presentation were truly good. And, surprisingly non-political. We were not able to find seats close to the stage, but thankfully there were several giant screens erected.

The Senior Class had made a movie, which was about not leaving any stone unturned. I thought it was rather good. I think the graduates were each given a video of the entire program, I hope so, it would be lovely to look back on in years to come.

We grabbed a quick lunch at a nearby deli before attending the reception given by our graduates’ College Master Judith B. Krauss and President Hugh M. Flick, Jr. That was much more enjoyable that the previous day since there were fewer people there. They served a very nice champagne punch and lots of goodies to eat, sausage rolls, spanakopita, and various other savory pick ups, plus huge strawberries and cake and cookies. We sat in the big marquee that had been set up for the actual diploma presentations that would take place tomorrow.

That evening we returned to Woolsey Hall for a concert by the Wiffenpoofs, which were fabulous, and the women’s senior acapella group, which was a little disappointing. The guys were very funny, good, and easily understood. The girls background totally overshadowed the front soloist, and none of the words were audible, except for one girl who sang about falling in love with the Latte Boy at her local Starbucks. It was a cute song.

Monday, May 24th, 2010

The third day, and I think, perhaps, both grads and guests were ready to get on with the presentation of the diplomas. First though, all the grads and masters do this huge parade around the green, rain threatened, but it held off. We didn’t know ahead of time that there would be Honorary Degrees presented, so as we stood behind ribboned off sidewalks, closely guarded by campus police, we saw two limos arrive, and two enormous
bodyguards got out of one, and opened the door for --------- none other than Aretha Franklin. She arrived to be presented with an honorary degree in Music. Had I known who it was, without having to ask, I might have called out to her. That ceremony was a bit of a zoo. Thousands of people there, and we couldn’t really even see the big screens. We eventually wound our way back to Silliman college for the final moment that we all came to see. The Master gave a really lovely talk. Wish I could have taped it. Then each Senior, over 300, received their diplomas. We have never been in the company of so many people, so much smarter than we are! The number of kids with double majors was quite amazing. Some of the subjects, I didn’t even know what they were!

After taken some final pictures and saying goodbye to our friends, we headed south on I-95 again, anxious to get passed NY as early as possible and arrived at Atlantic City by about 7:40 pm.

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Lay in - at last! Super buffet breakfast, and a stroll along the Boardwalk. We left Atlantic City a little poorer than when we arrived, but overall had a wonderful time.

I’ve had time to rest up now, and my friends tell me they are sending me off across the Atlantic! I can’t wait to see where I’ll end up. I’ll be in touch…….Edgar

2010-05-14T15:41:00.000-07:00

While in Dummerston, Edgar also visited this covered bridge built in 1862. The West Dummerston Covered Bridge is the second longest covered wooden highway bridge wholly within the state of Vermont, and the longest covered bridge still open to traffic. Edgar also wanted to take cold dip in the river below but was reminded of his delicate paper condition.

2010-05-14T15:37:00.000-07:00

Hi! Edgar recently visited the green mountains of Vermont and soaked up some history. He visited the small town of Dummerston and attended a service at this simple white church built in the late 1800's. The light summer breezes flowing in the large windows during the service, made the experience memorable.

2010-04-29T08:46:00.000-07:00

Edgar in Telluride, Colorado in April with Ann Jenkins, our board president.

Edgar's Friends!

2010-03-25T15:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog. My name is Edgar and I am the mascot for the Vista Grande Public Library in Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S. of A.