Another Trip Through the Wastelands for Graduation!

Daughter #1 graduated last weekend. We headed across the wastelands of Southern New Mexico and West Texas for probably my last driving trip to San Angelo. It doesn't mean that I won't see these wastelands again as we will head to Albuquerque in July for another function. The trip there was not too bad this time as we traveled the high wind areas in the morning before it kicked up. Daughter #1 and her fiancee brought goodies to the motel room when we arrived. Chick-Fil-A was brought for Mom and I had Fireball. I wasn't going anywhere so it sounded like a good idea at the time and was! Good thing we arrived early enough as the sidewalks get rolled up early in this town. This is kind of surprising for a college town but that's the way it is.

Friday night was the awards banquet where we had some nice brisket, chicken, sausage, beans w/jalapenos, salad, a bowl of jalapenos, and some other sides. The food was quite good. Daughter #1 continues to impress.

• Outstanding Graduate Student Award for the DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) Program
• Academic Excellence Award (Only 4.0)
• Research Award for Excellence in Research
• Certificate of Excellence - Outpatient Orthopedics
• Certificate of Excellence - Rehabilitation
• Authored Three Scholarly Publications
• Provided Seven Scholarly Presentations
• And......wait for it........... Did not show up in the Friday night banquet slideshow being skunked at a bar!!!

The moron (another student) that put the slide show together included pictures of them partying at the bars. There really aren't that many bars in town but some of the restaurants do serve. There was heard from one table, "You were in a bar?". I assume that was from the Southern Baptist contingency. Daughter #1 was usually too busy prepping for the next event to go carousing and wasn't all that fond of a couple of the party people. It was a very nice evening unless you were the one being chastised by you parents. 

Saturday was a fine commencement. I like it when the main speaker starts out with, "America is one of the greatest countries in the world!". I would have had to choke back the bile if listening to some politician's speech. 

 While waiting for everything I spot this. That's my daughter, boots and muscle tights!

 Getting hooded.

See my hood! Let's get out of here! 

We headed back to the apartment to do some steaks and then what is appropriate after that? 

5 hours of Star Wars Monopoly! We gave up and called it a tie. As daughter and I had basically broken the bank and had enough cash that it was just going back and forth.

We had a grand time visiting with everyone and were sad that the trip was about done. Sunday morning found travelling back across the wastelands. Then we stopped at a few of the Bowlin's tourist traps as the hunt was on for grand baby clothes that were unique.  I found some nice Ass Kickin Ghost Chili Hot Sauce and we will see who the first victim is. 

We found all the high winds and were detoured off I-10 at Lordsburg, up to Duncan, over to Safford and then back down to I-10. I would like to see a class action lawsuit against the Phoenix conglomerate that owns the land that was just grubbed out that is causing this mess on I-10 right now. If you can prove you were on the highway, it would be appropriate to charge mileage for excess. What corporate shill decided it was a good idea to clear the land at this time of year? It could not have been a farmer. 

All in all - it was still a fine time!

Congrats to the first Doctor in the family that I know of!!