Graduation : Part 2

Part two, of Graduation day, memories. The 20 hour day, became 22hr day, hence the reason for Part 2. I shorted it last night or this morning actually so I could get some rest. My camera/phone as you can see in the picture above was set to 5M resolution, needless to say, big problem. My sister, after 12 hours is downloading the pics STILL, at least the 26 that I was able to edit down somewhat. I must say that I am not technically inclined. I have corrected the phone settings though.

We had a dilema with mom as we exited the Sundome and took some pics, she looks great above! You would never know 5 minutes later she was ready to collapse, just trying to get to the car, had to sit her down and wait for Help, which did come after about 10 minutes, got to the car, turned the a/c on it was 100 degrees yesterday! Changed from the big O2 tank to the portable and we then proceeeded to Christys' apartment for that quality time I mentioned before. Yes getting off campus was difficult, as was expected, but I am a patient man (most of the time), no biggie. Christy got a new appartment, and I hadn't been there yet so I was looking forward to seeing her studio apartment. This will be the first time since attending college that she has NO room-mates, nope not one, nada, just her, herself, and she,  hehehe.  Wwe finally arrive (she lives 3 miles from campus), took about 25 minutes, and Christy was hungry before we left. I knew she wanted to eat. While everyone was waiting on us to arrive, they had decided to have some barbeque, which Christy had mention while at school. Pretty sure she had a hankering for it. (Yes, I am a good ole boy, and right darn proud of it). As we pull up to the apartment, they say hey, no need to come "upstairs" first, let's go eat, then come back, so that my mom didn't have to go up twice.  Nope, we went up and my mom convinced everybody to have pizza, not a problem as most people like pizza, and all ate, we had plenty, even shared with the nieghbors, still with leftovers. Something college kids should be used to pizza, Christy likes it cold, yuk.

With eating done, and socializing handled as well, we opted to head north (Ocala), some last  minute pics, and hugs.   We're off, a slight problem getting back to the way we came, but handled that, went a different way, easy peasy. Make it to the interstate we did. Of course we now needed gas, and although we probably could have made it home, it was still an issue, we dealt with that about an hour later. I heard about it the whole time. By now the little one traveling with us, was car sick, yes car sick. My girls understand this all too well. My mom was driving, lol. We made it back home, delivered those where they needed be, and I immediately tried to upload my 40-50 pictures and videos.  After ten hours I gave up, yes I said 10 hours working on the pictures trying to get the one above for the first post and to send e-mail the family who couldnt be present. But hey you can see a part of the one above, and this too, is a good thing as it definitely makes for a memory of one very special day. Again, girls I love you and we'll do this again real soon.


P.S.
I forgot to mention the 5 car pile up and the 2 car accident that slowed the ride home abit too.
I hope that all are okay.

20 hour day

This day began 20 hours ago, whew I'm tired. Anyways, One down three to go refers to first of four daughters to graduate college. This day has long been anticipated, and we get to do this next year too, and then the year after that as well, I hope. The youngest is getting ready to start High School, so I will have a break there for a couple of years sort of.

Christy (the graduate) should be sound asleep, as she and her mother are flying to New York, very early in the morning, just a handful of hours from now actually for a week long trip. Flying out of Florida.
This day started out okay, waking up as planned, getting dressed, loading the car (we had to pack up a nebulizer, some meds, a pull along O2 tank, some smaller O2 cannisters, cooler of waters, and the like for my mother who needs those 24/7), get the cameras, ipad, you know everyday things.  No problem, then we can't find the car keys, (we do have a spare, fortunately we didn't need them), then to get the O2 tank to work, it was acting up, got it going and we're off to see the wizzard so to speak. Now to get the 4 people in the car to agree on what to eat as we are going to have some fast food breakfast extremely early in the morning, after a minute or two (lol) we agree (with my mother), let's just say the breakfast was good, and we can leave out the details about everybody but me having something to comment about their particular choice for breakfast not being "better" than it was. In short the biscuits weren't brown enough, the bacon tastes funny, etc.....You get the picture, did I mention mine was fine, okay I did. Even though the server didn't get the order totally right initially, just added an extra coffee, that was an easy fix that can be excused to the fact it was very early in the morning, and we were the first customers, I can live with it. So now to get back to get on the interstate, shouldn't be a problem take the exit from the restaurant go left to the end of the road, turn right, go the light turn left, piece of cake right?  No No No, my mom is driving and she wants to cut through parking lots, at least three, she misses the turn to get to the main road, backs up, we're off again.

We've made it to I-75, Yee Haw, now to drive 98 miles to USF. Have you guessed that we are already about 30 minutes behind schedule, we are/were. Now my mom will not ride with me driving on the interstate as I will drive 75 mph, not really a big deal as the speed limit is 70 mph. Anyways, she decides to drive 55, yes I said 55. Let me say now, that I love my mom. I kept my mouth shut for the most part, at least until Christy (already in Tampa) texted me a message that took a minute to settle in and then cracked me up and my mom insisted upon knowing what was so funny, I tried, really hard to avoid answering, but finally caved. Needless to say, it was a comment about my mothers' driving. From that it will remain an inside joke between me and my girls. I love my mom! BLESS her soul. We were about half way there, but no biggie right? We'll be able to find seating with the rest of the extended family (about a dozen, give or take). Believe it or not most were able to sit in sight of each other with only 2 couples being left for the nose bleeds. However, try walking up stairs, and down stairs with a rolling O2 tank when you can't breathe to begin with, and yes another family member had a foot in cast like boot (broken foot). I felt bad for my cuz, and my mom. People were stepping on her foot and moms breathing hose, bumping the tank, not that the elderly needed bumped to throw them off balance, but it surely doesn't help either. You get the picture, right?

By now, I bet you are thinking that this is a negative post, and we haven't gotten to the ceremony, or the fact that I spilled a $5 coke on another daughters'(Lynea, shes' the one to graduate next year at USF also) fiancee ( I got a really good butt video to prove that too, lol). The lighting kept changing making it difficult to take pictures, you set your camera, then they change the lights, ugh! Annoucing the names, hah, 2 names per 5 seconds. I remind you now, that this is a GOOD post, and was ultimately a great day, even though there were some breathing issues, both physically and literally!! Anyways, WE all made it through the day, and tons of awesome memories, pictures, and video that we can look back upon with love and laughter. We spent some awesome quality time with friends and family, and my daughter graduated college with a BA in communications cum laude (actually the middle one magna I think 3.7 wow great job kiddo!!!) I am so proud of you.

I even think I saw another cousin at the ceremony with/for his daughter who was graduating too and we didnt even know it!! Amazing day!

And to think I get to do this again next year Go Lynea!, then the next year Go Brittany! (No traveling required here, yeah baby, and then a break before Hunter the last of the Mohegans. I love you all girls, and wish for all your dreams to come true (of course I need to approve them first, lol).

I look forward and consider it an honor to be blessed with an opportunity to do this again. Girls if you read this, do not share with Granny. LOL!!