Solonor's Inkwell

Hope all you dads had a happy Father’s Day. I got a giant package of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, a card that says some mushy junk (literally, it says “and all that mushy junk”), and a hug. Plus, I got to play the new D&D 4th Edition all afternoon, so my weekend rocked.

The trip to Tallahassee was cool. I wouldn’t recommend putting it in the middle of a week when you’re also volunteering at vacation Bible school, but whatever. It was one of the best orientations I’ve ever attended. FSU really knows their stuff, and I came away from it extremely jealous of my daughter.

On the other hand, she went from “giddy with excitement” to “let’s get the hell out of here” in the matter of a day. Whereas they had us parents pretty much confined to a single building for our sessions (only having to march across campus for meals), they made the kids go all over the place every 20 minutes. And it was hotter than Hades’ hindquarters last week! On top of that, she was basically told by one advisor to give up on ever making it into the film school and got a look at her creepy, tiny, old dorm room.

But it’s all good. She’s not one to give up on a dream just because some old fart tells her to, and she’s got her best friend as her roommate, so they get to “survive” the horrors of dorm life together.

Now, if we can just figure out how to pay for this…

Finally got some pictures uploaded to Flickr.

This one’s nice. It’s right after Isbell got hit in the head with a flying toy (don’t ask).

Graduation was pretty cool, and thanks to the good fortune of her going to a small school, it was over pretty fast. I don’t have the photos pulled off our cameras, yet, but here are a couple of snaps from a camera phone (click to enlarge).

It’s amazing how quickly she’s gone from this:

Me learn reed gud.

to this:

Dude. I’m a-gradumitatin’. Hells yeah.

How the hell we got two super smart kids, I’ll never know. I think someone someplace else got shorted one. Sorry about that. Hopefully, we’ll have pictures from tonight’s festivities up tomorrow. And next week we’re off to FSU for orientation!

I was going to write my thoughts about the new Indiana Jones movie, but hearing that the great Harvey Korman died today, I think it’s best to leave it until tomorrow. Instead, remember Mr. Korman: one of the funniest, twisted straight men ever.

“I want you to round up every vicious criminal and gunslinger in the west. Take this down. I want rustlers, cut throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, halfwits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con men, Indian agents, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggerers, bushwhackers, hornswogglers, horse thieves, bull dykes, train robbers, bank robbers, ass-kickers, shit-kickers and Methodists.”

Last night we went to our last school awards night ever. That’s right, kids, it’s time for the female half of the Spawn of Solonor act to graduate. In a couple of weeks, we’ll watch Pepperkat march up on stage in a funny hat and dress to receive her diploma. (Then we’ll go to Hard Rock to partay.)

I’m still shaking my head in disbelief at the realization that she wasn’t even in kindergarten when we moved down here!

Anywho, amongst the build-up of plaques that she received was a special one. She was named by the faculty and staff of the school as Student of the Year! Woo!

As one teacher put it: “How did you get that? You’re never here!”

Seriously, this girl has worked her butt off for a decade at school, in church, with the Girl Scouts, at her job. She’s an amazing kid, and we’re uber proud of her.