GRAD AND DAD

Sunday, May 9. 2010

I write this as an official graduate of Beige University. It’s in the middle of the night, and everyone but me is asleep except for Fenton who is monitoring Hare-Link’s systems. That’s usually my job, but he said it’s my Special Day. In a month, of course, we’ll have Our Special Day.
Speaking of specialness, who put graduation the day before Mother’s Day? I’ll give Kell a card when she wakes up, and we’ll all go out to dinner/breakfast before everyone drives back to Domain.
Graduation went flawlessly. The weather was nice, all of the family that I care about came, and R.L. (the commencement speaker) didn’t devour anybody.
After receiving my diploma I rushed into Fenton’s arms. I think Dad was expecting me to rush into his arms first...why? oh, maybe because he adopted me, raised me practically single-handedly, employed Fenton and I, put me through college and saved Tree from certain doom. Little things like that. He got my next hug seconds later, but I could tell I’d inadvertently sent a message.
I feel a little guilty, but more about the manner of the message than the message itself. It is true. Fenton is the most important man in my life right now, and he will be for the rest of my life. I do give Dad props for handling that adjustment gracefully, (It makes me wonder how Kell really views Fiona...but that’s years and years away.)
Now, with graduation out of the way, the wedding has my full and complete attention.
My question; how do humans handle the graduation ceremony?

Posted by Lindesfarne at 12:26 | Comments (40) | Trackbacks (0)

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Graduations are usually handled with loads of gifts (of which usually have to be paid back in some way shape or form) and a party.

#1 Ben on 2010-05-09 14:13 (Reply)

Sometimes college graduates opt out of a formal graduation ceremony.

#2 Cato the Wise on 2010-05-09 15:41 (Reply)

Following my graduation, I had dinner with a few friends. I got a painting from one.

#3 Bixyl Shuftan (Link) on 2010-05-09 16:49 (Reply)

Last May, I celebrated with friends and family before hand, as afterwards everything was moving things home and trying to find places to out them, a concern you do not have thanks to Tree.

I am curious about how schools like Beige U., with programs for both predator and prey species, prevent one group from eating the other. After all, unlike students at Caliban, college students are no longer at home with parents that hunt for then. Human college students often go a bit crazy with their first taste of independance, usually over-indulging in alcohol. Does Beige have this problem, only with hunting?

#4 Hebi R. on 2010-05-09 20:16 (Reply)

Campus police at Beige have pretty tight security against predation. It's amazing how dedicated an organization can be when faced with the loss of tuition.

#4.1 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2010-05-10 02:26 (Reply)

My last graduation was from high school, but I guess it's a simular sitch. Dressed in big gowns and hats with little tassles, walked up when name was called, most of my family (including the ones from outa town) cheer, grab the diploma, smile for the camera, family and friends go out and celebrate at the local pizza place, that sort of thing. I guess the only diffrence is that we never do worry about anyone eating anyone else (I love how universes are so simular and yet so diffrent

).

btw, did you see the new Iron Man movie? Just got back from it with my mom and brother (we sometimes go to movies on Mothers Day, if it's something she'd want to see) and it was awesome.

#5 Alex on 2010-05-09 21:50 (Reply)

I haven't seen any movies in a while. When the dust settles I'm sure I'll have catching up to do.

#5.1 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2010-05-09 21:54 (Reply)

You seem to have had quite a fair number of guests there for you, you mention your parents and Fenton, I"m guessing Rudy and Coney were too, Gran(s) ... my graduation was about 15 years ago, but I distinctly remember that I was only allowed 3 guests: invited my parents and my girlfriend (later fiancee, we broke up before marrying, though) but was disappointed I couldn't bring my sister or some other friends. (A few of my friends had more than 3 parents (steps, etc.) or had spouses and children, I wonder how they got along ...

(My alma mater isn't even as big as Beige (or what I gather Beige to be size-wise) so the need for the reduced guest list has always puzzled me.)

#6 David Kendall on 2010-05-09 22:29 (Reply)

You wouldn't be related to Danielle Kendall Fennec, would you?

#6.1 Classic Steve (Link) on 2010-05-10 10:05 (Reply)

Heh, yeah, that kind of made me do a double-take the first time the strip mentioned Danielle - I don't know all my Kendall relatives that well, so there might be one missing under "mysterious circumstances" named Danielle, but it's beyond my ken.

#6.1.1 David Kendall on 2010-05-10 22:43 (Reply)

Some grads get a new car from their parents. Their ar also partys held at the home of the grad. Some have a simple barberque some have a caterer come in.

#7 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-05-09 22:35 (Reply)

A lot of speeches. My brother just got his masters and his wife her bachelors on the same day. so we had to sneak out of his to hers. oh and with Rudy's impulsiveness we can only hop he waits. Thankfully Fiona balances him out well.

#8 Mark on 2010-05-09 23:11 (Reply)

You should have cake and alcohol at a grad party.

It's only right.

#9 Ashley on 2010-05-10 01:25 (Reply)

I reply to you as a new graduate from Ashford University. I'm having my party in a month, since my college is so far from everyone.

#10 Selina Grace on 2010-05-10 02:24 (Reply)

You told us you & Fenton plan on taking short day trips or one nighters for your honeymoon. What romantic places are you going to visit. When Tree is fully recovered you can always take a longer vacation then. Like to London, England to see the sights.

#11 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-05-10 22:27 (Reply)

We are experiencing a large disaster from an oil well in the Gulf: the top part exploded, caught fire, and sank, the pipe between that and the bottom broke, the oil is likely to destroy the tidal and sea ecology of the gulf states of the US, and it is still leaking at over 5000 barrels a day.

Is this just a human side thing or is your civ so addicted to oil that you need to pump oil from more than a mile down from the ocean's surface? Ours is.

I feel that I should write a few letters: when the oil runs out, if there is not a substitute then the fertilizer for our green revolution farms will run out, the transportation will halt, there will not be food, and worst case our cities will have predator and prey.

The last pres ignored all this, we are seeing some action on the no-oil stuff. We are still so addicted as a civ to make the gulf oil disaster a likely thing.

#12 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-05-10 22:33 (Reply)

First time I graduated, my parents and family were there, got pictures, and then had to go find a job. (Northeastern University, Boston, 1977, really bad grades: my joke is that I graduated magna just barely.)

Second time was from a much smaller place: West Coast U, and got the diploma in the mail, IIRC. no big deal. Alas they have so reinvented themselves that none of the courses I took, nor the major that I did are available.

#13 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-05-10 22:57 (Reply)

My college graduation is on May 15th. It's the hundredth anniversary of the founding of the university, so they've decided to hold the ceremony outside in the football stadium. In the sweltering heat. For three hours. With over 1000 graduates getting their names called.

Sigh. I hope your graduation was more enjoyable.

#14 Sam on 2010-05-11 00:15 (Reply)

I graduated in a football stadium in June.

Some graduates wore swim suits under their gowns, trying to stay cool (my husband thought that they looked "hot"). Others sprayed their gowns with water, hoping that evaporation would keep them cool. Both techniques helped, at least a bit.

Good luck, and congratulations on your graduation!

#14.1 Owl on 2010-05-12 13:23 (Reply)

Graduation was held outdoors in the daytime, but it was at 10:00 a.m. to avoid the heat.

Yes, our worlds parallel. There is a disastrous oil spill in our Gulf of Mexico as well.

Fenton and I will be gone on a long honeymoon after all. Rhonda, Quinn and Rachel have all promised to check on Tree regularly.

#15 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2010-05-11 00:30 (Reply)

Most humans aren't willing to admit that the best source of green energy is wind power. There is a map of places within the United States where wind farms would be very successful. The truth is that wind power could power the entire United States three times over if we would invest in this form of green energy.

Tell me Lindesfarne, is your world seriously building more nuclear power plants? In my opinion its one tremendous waste of time, effort, and resources. The huge cooling towers alone would take three years to construct. A multi billion dollar project for just one new power plant. Its just not worth it.

#15.1 Cato the Wise on 2010-05-12 12:50 (Reply)

On of the local passes is covered in wind turbines, more every year, and bigger.
It bothers me greatly that the power lines from such look so wimpy, like maybe some/most are not hooked up.

'Otter

#15.1.1 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-05-13 18:22 (Reply)

Well, nuclear plants are the only zero-carbon energy source that can operate constantly. As a worker with computer servers, Lindesfarne would know how difficult it would be to operate if power turned on and off with the vagaries of the wind.

On the original subject, graduation was fairly uneventful. Immediate family visited. We went out to a nice dinner the night before, the ceremony was in the stadium, there was a speaker, and then we took pictures afterwards.

#15.1.2 Greg (Link) on 2010-05-14 02:52 (Reply)

Put some solar under the wind machines and some batteries, and you can work well.
And the batteries would give a capacitive effect that would go a bit toward negating the inductive effect of so many motors.

Electrical engineering aside, a great deal of power can be generated. Also the solar is needed and available generally when the nearby cities start needing peak power for air conditioning.
That wind pass almost always has wind.
The true solution is likely a mixture plus power storage, and the power storage could be as simple as pumping water up hill, and letting it flow back later past a generator.

(I really should have referred to Lindesfarne as a 'creature of the night' by now. RHPS and she is.)

#15.1.2.1 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-05-14 12:08 (Reply)

See wonderful wind article:
http://europe.theoildrum.com/node/6418

#15.1.2.2 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-05-14 17:11 (Reply)

At my high school it was tradition (more or less) for the graduating class to sneak in one or more of the following: Super Bouncy Balls, Inflatable Beach Balls, Silly String, Air Horns and/or various food products.

At one point during the speeches there had to have been at least a dozen bouncy balls of various sizes bouncing all over the area. It was rather funny watching the security (try to) chase them down.

Still working on college, though, so I can't say on that one.

#16 Kyra Fox on 2010-05-11 13:21 (Reply)

The Bird of Paradise did its mating ritual dance for Linesfarne & Kevin & Kell. I don't think they where very impressed by it. The bird said if you think my ritual dance is lame what do you call spending $12,000 on a party.

If the party the bird is talking about is Lindesfarnes wedding I think $12,000 is cheap when you take into mind their will be at least 3 caterers maybe even 4 if you count desert. The hall that has to hold 3 or 4 differant groups & the security to make sure the guests don't start eating each other. Then their is the band and the servers.

It all adds up. I can't even guess what the total will be. Then their is also the Honeymoon. Where will they go.

#17 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-05-11 21:50 (Reply)

Well, that depends very much on the kind of deal they managed to strike. Handling the things you mention for such a mixed wedding would certainly be a challenge...but just think how good it would look on the resume(s) of the companies providing the services if they got permission to mention the wedding in their advertising and received a testimonial from Kevin and Kell. "We provided security for the biggest mixed food chain wedding in recorded history... and NO PREDATION OCCURRED!" You can't buy that kind of press.

#17.1 Terri the Tiger on 2010-05-17 10:10 (Reply)

Catherine Aura is talking about sending someone thru the portal untill the one who came thru recovers from the attack he recived after landing on the island.

This may be a good opertunity for her to return to domain for Lindesfannes wedding.

#18 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-05-12 20:40 (Reply)

Catherine Aura may be available to attend the Wedding!
There is an imballance that must be corrected, and she could be the one. Or Nigel.
Save a place for her?
'Otter

#19 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-05-13 04:23 (Reply)

Now that Ralph is no longer out to get Kevin I think its time Ralph lost some weight. Not all that he gained. But loosing 50 to 70 lbs would be good for his health.

#20 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-05-13 13:41 (Reply)

agreed,
'Otter

#20.1 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-05-14 04:58 (Reply)

As someone who just graduated yesterday from New York University, I had a very nice dinner with my family - my grandmother came, my friends, etc. That was the big celebration.

And in regards to the rest: your wedding is in a month. Graduation is your special day, yes, but it is also your family's special day: the last moment in which the parents say goodbye to their child's childhood. The last time they can officially think of you as "just a child", much more so than high school graduations or even wedding. It was that last doorway for parents - it was their "we made it! we raised her!" moment - and you did seem to rather thoroughly ruin it for Kevin. The fact that Fenton will be the most important man in your life starts /in a month/ - you couldn't have given Kevin that one day...? I mean, seriously?

shrug Everyone does it differently, I suppose, and perhaps it's one of those world-change difference. My graduation party was far more family-based than friend-based, and certainly not about my boyfriend.

#21 Amber G on 2010-05-13 14:14 (Reply)

College graduates should not use barbarisms like "employing Fenton and I". Or do they say "employing I", rather than "employing me", in Domain?

#22 X-Lydia on 2010-05-13 21:20 (Reply)

Catherine Aura claims she can't go thru the portal to even the balance things out because she can't leave her son behind. Can't one of her group look after him. Or better find someone on the other side of the portal willing to spend some time on her side & take him with her.

#23 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-05-14 15:16 (Reply)

Or just send Nigel.
With that ex of Gregs, and their own mutual love, she might not want to go and leave him for months.
'Otter

#23.1 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-05-14 22:04 (Reply)

Or just send Nigel.
With that ex of Gregs around she might not want to go and leave him for 'months'.
'Otter

#24 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-05-14 21:48 (Reply)

Come on now. Their must be someone who is willing to change places with Nigel. Someone who wants to study things on the other side of the portal.

As for Greg I think he can take care of himself. The only reason his ex girl freind came around at all was Greg's family put her up to it.

#24.1 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-05-15 16:22 (Reply)

Nukes are worth it and a good part of the mix.
The no-nuke crowd does have its reasons, but if we are going to be self sufficient in energy we will need everything.
When the oil runs out, the current winners are Japan (nukes), France (nukes), Iceland (geothermo), Brazil (bio power from sugar cane). All other nations would just diminish greatly, become like North Korea.
I would rather not have that happen.

#25 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-05-15 16:55 (Reply)

Yo, Prof, Steven. Let's save the ethics and portal stuff for the list. This is about Lindy's big day.

#26 Mortar on 2010-05-16 23:37 (Reply)

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