Graduation Things

I've been thinking about my lack of blogging for a while, and why that's been.  1, I'm out of the habit.  2, and this is the recent kicker - Netflix.  Seriously.  In January I finally decided we could pay a few dollars a month and get Netflix.  Everyone in the family loves having it, including me.  And even though I don't personally spend a ton of time watching stuff on Netflix (I'm still as movie-averse as ever), the laptop is what we use to stream it.

So, when the rest of the family is downstairs watching a movie / TV series that I'm not interested in, before I would sometimes think, "Now would be a good time to write up a blog."  Now, I might think that still, but I'm stuck.  I instead troll Facebook, or read a book, or even wash the dishes.

I'm glad that I was able to figure some of that out for you.  You're welcome.

Graduation

So, I graduated.  I graduated with a sweet GPA and so I got to wear some, uh, awesome green cords.

Check out Miciah's shirt - she painted the bottom of it.

It was WAY better than the medal they made me wear for my HS graduation.  Way, way better.  Lots of people had green cords, not just me and one other person sticking out like a sore thumb with dopey medals around our necks.  I know, I know, I should have been proud.  Wasn't.

The kids asked if they could play with the green cords when we got home.  Of course!  Happily, they were destroyed by the end of the day.

...  I texted with my family up in the stands all through the ceremony, which made the whole thing tolerable.  I slept through most of the key note address - I have a hard time with "Rah!  Rah!  You will now go conquer the world on golden wings of hope and empty promises!" types of speeches.  And after the ceremony we went out to a restaurant that we love.  All in all, a pretty good day.

The Day Before

The day before, though, was AWESOME!

In the morning we went downtown to watch the kids run their Final Mile in the Flying Pig Marathon.  They log 25 miles in the months leading up to the race, then run the last 1 as part of the race day festivities.  The kids have been doing it for years and they love it.  This is the first time I've gone down with them, and it was pretty fun.  Rob ran with Tank, and Miciah and Eliajh ran on their own.

I know you're wondering if we couldn't get a better picture of them.  No.  No, we couldn't.

In the afternoon we had a killer party!  Really, it was just a cookout in our backyard, and we invited a ton of people.  And a lot of those people came!  It was fun, easy, and low stress.  Those are the best sorts of parties.

As hostess I ran around like a crazy person, saying hi to as many people as possible as pithily, yet sincerely, as possible.  I like having parties like that every now and then because it's amazing to stand in your own backyard, surrounded by scads of friends and family, and realize just how many people love and care about you.  That's pure bliss.  Chaotic, busy, wonderful bliss.

The best part for me was that I invited enough people who know sign language that I didn't have to personally entertain the Deaf people who showed up.  It was great to look out and see people enjoying themselves, socializing in two different languages.  That was the culmination, for me, of what these last 2 years have been.  I've figured out how to navigate around another community, complete with separate language, culture, and norms.  I've figured out how to balance my involvement in that community with my other life commitments and goals.  I've figured out how to be busier, happier, and calmer.

Having said all that, I am currently being as lazy as freakin' possible.  However, laziness is one of those Life Goals I was talking about.  (I even said that in a job interview.  Probably not the best way to sell yourself, if you were wondering, but I got the job anyway.)  So, there you have it.