Graduation - the details

Now that Athens has emptied out, peace reigns, giving me the chance to think more clearly.

Graduation was pretty intense. I am only now really recovering and processing.
I got out of work a bit early on Thursday, which gave me a jump on cleaning up my apartment for my guests. Washed a mountain of dishes, cleaned the bathroom, packed up a bunch of winter clothes and books for my parents to take home. Dug out the clean sheets. Domestic God and J. got into Athens after 10, and we were up generally shooting the shit till quite late.

Which was unfortunate, since we had to be up mighty early. Everyone had to be showered, dressed and assembled at the Convo at 8.30 to meet Domestic God's fam. But part of that involved multiple attempts to remove the wrinkles from the extra-chitzy robes. Hanging for a week only removed the plasticky funk. Taking them into the bathroom during a hot shower does nothing. The hand-steamer couldn't put a dent in it. Domestic God, the newest costume tech MFA, then hosed his down with wrinkle release, which couldn't touch it. So we hung the gown outside while we sipped tea/coffee.

(girls fussing over Dr. J)

Spent a while waiting in the heat, being steamed in our crappy gowns, watching everyone else fighting with their hoods, as I choked on my tassel. We didn't actually process into the over-ACed Convo Center for an hour, which gave us lots of time to find new ways to amuse ourselves. Lots of sexy scholar pix, playing with our silly sleeves and such.

(lookie - we're seals!)

The ceremony was long, dull, but unlike the audience, we couldn't escape as readily. Amazing CoFA wasn't the last to be called. There were only 5 of us walking from Theater. But the announcer was pretty amazing, especially with all the ethnic names. Cross stage, shake hands, try not to trip, get paper saying "Your diploma will be mailed once we verify that you have completed all of the requirements." Oy.

Had to find the fam in the crowd, which is always a fun challenge. Hiked across the grass to the reception in a really pretty rotunda. They served WANGS, which made me happy. Mostly I was happy to be able to pee. So I unloaded all the crap out of my sleeves (camera, phone, "Sunny D," sunglasses. Although that still isn't as memorable dashing into the bathroom as we began to process (I was at the very end of the line). Kept smacking myself with my sleeves, trying to put my hood over my shoulder as I did a catholic-school pee, when Lil Sis runs in screaming that we are on the move. Which induced an unnecessary panic, since we still had quite ways to travel.

Steak with the fam. Mmm steak. Drove back from Parkersburg to hang out with my guests, which mostly consisted of us loafing on the couch, watching Indiana Jones on USA, eating cake and ice cream before totally passing out.

It was a great weekend, seeing people, eating well, and snarking in silly regalia. But in a moment of poetry, I have finalised my housing at UCSB this weekend.

Now I must create a new normal, if only temporarily, for this summer.

on the tube: the Tony Awards.
(I feel a little part of it, if only being part of the Chicago theater scene that supported August: Osage County before it became a phenomenon - even if Steppenwolf wouldn't let me have tickets.)