Saturday, December 12, 2015

Saturday afternoon stuff

* It's in the 70s here. In December. I had to put the air conditioning in the car on on the way home from graduation - it was so humid in the arena where graduation was that I began having a hard time breathing and had a little bit of what I am sure is asthmatic coughing.

* At least the storms held off. I was worried about it a couple days ago, what would I do if my windshield got destroyed by hail? We have NO places open that do that thing on weekends, and Monday I have my dental appointment to get the final crown in....

But it was just starting to spit rain as I got home. (And I have a headache; apparently this front is going to be a big one)

* Also, once again I'll note: if I ran the show, I'd ban air horns from indoor graduations, and ask security to bounce anyone who uses one. It's painful if you have sensitive hearing, and it's rude to the person "walking" after because sometimes you can't hear their name.

* One thing I would ask our president to do when he speaks on a mike: slow down a little, and try to project more. It sounded like he was swallowing his words and it was hard for me to make sense of what he was saying. (The mike this year wasn't very good; several people didn't come through clearly). It's slightly surprising to me he's not better at that; he's an attorney so surely he has a lot of public-speaking experience, and when I've heard him speak to smaller groups, he's been fine - maybe it really was just a very badly positioned microphone.

* The campus cops were in "plain clothes" (suits and ties). I don't know if that's because someone suggested they look a little more formal (fitting the occasion) that way, or if they figured it was better to not look like cops today. I don't know. (Anyone who is on campus a lot would probably recognize them; I recognized the man who helped out in my department when we had the break ins, and I noticed the officer who is usually on duty when I go to pick up vans)

I'm going to think the nicest possible thing and believe they dressed like that because they wanted to look nice for graduation.

There were Highway Patrol guys in their uniforms there, so maybe that was the reason.

(And I admit, this is how the world is now - from my seat, I checked out the two nearest exits and thought about how I'd get to them quickly and safely if I "had to." Though I suppose that's not a bad idea even in safer times, because of fire and stuff)

* There were a few of "our" (department) students graduating. Mixed feelings about a couple of them: happy that they're going on to the next level, but a little sad they won't be around to take more of my classes. I know at least one of them is planning on graduate school.

* Other than that, I'm tired. It was an afternoon graduation, and that kind of kills the whole day - you can't do a whole lot before, and after, you (or at least I) am tired.

* So now all that remains is church tomorrow, and the final-crown-seating Monday, and CWF party Monday night (hopefully, my mouth will be okay for eating. It's a potluck and I decided to bring macaroni and cheese, which don't require a terribly functional jaw to eat). So I have that kind of loose-ends feeling - trying to plan to use stuff up that's in the fridge, thinking about the various errands I have to run, all of that. Also I need to make time to wind off some yarn for projects I want to do over break - a couple pairs of socks, a shawl (I am trying to decide between starting the Scottish Thistle Shawl or a huge but not too elaborate circular laceweight shawl from one of the Stories in Stitches book). Have to decide whether to take one of the sweaters-in-progress. I started a new pair of mittens so I suppose I will take those.

* It looks like my little Pony gift to myself won't make it here on time. Unless it arrives Monday....I am going down Monday morning to arrange for a mail hold, so I guess they will have to wait for me.

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