Believe it or not, The Pony is graduating from OU next week!
Well. Graduating, such as it is, by an online virtual commencement showing a picture of each graduate in their cap and gown, listing their honors. What a rip-off! Four years at a major university, earning a degree in chemical engineering, for this! Not that I wanted to hobble across campus, rubbing elbows with a (then-assumed healthy) crowd, plopping my ample rumpus on a folding chair for three hours...
Anyhoo...The Pony chose to remain on campus when they sent students home to virtual classes after spring break. At first he had a week of social-distanced time in the lab, continuing his research with nano-particles. Then that fun was dashed when everything went to online learning. I don't begrudge him his time still on campus. The rent was paid for the semester. No mention of any refunds for housing or meal plans.
Here's the problem. With Stay-At-Home-Downs in Missouri and Oklahoma, rounding up The Pony is not a walk in the park. I will not be able to go! It takes 8.5 hours to sweave from here to Oklahoma. WHAT IF THE RESTROOMS ARE CLOSED?
Because they are, you know. Almost everyplace you go these days, they have slapped up signs that say NO PUBLIC RESTROOMS. Or OUT OF ORDER if they don't want to argue. I have a sneaking suspicion it's because they don't want ne'er-do-wells stealing the toilet paper. Anyhoo...no way could I make it all the way to Oklahoma without a potty break every two hours. So Hick suggested that I remain behind. Surely he didn't have any other reasons...
We are pretty smart about planning our Oklahoma trips. The last time we went to Norman to visit The Pony for his birthday in February, we reserved our room for graduation. Three nights! For commencement, convocation, and packing up The Pony to move him home. Last week, we had a phone call from La Quinta (our 3rd choice after the local casino, and Holiday Inn Express, are booked up), canceling our reservations due to closure for the VIRUS.
Huh. Seems like most of the Norman hotels were closed. EXCEPT...Riverwind Casino. Oh, the casino itself was closed. But their hotel was OPEN! Because it's an essential service. People have to have somewhere to stay! You ain't a-woofin'! I was afraid Hick was going to have to sleep on The Pony's couch for two nights. But I got him Wednesday and Thursday at the casino hotel. Now those nights are SOLD OUT, along with the weekend. I guess we're not the only ones bringing our little Pony home that week.
I'm pretty sure the usual steak dinner will not be possible. Fast food in the car will have to suffice. Even though Oklahoma has been opening up businesses, and Missouri is supposed to start on May 4, I don't think we should count on anything being normal about this trip.
Poor Pony. It's going to be a tough job market to crack.
Well congratulations any way. He is done for now and you have another smart kid!
ReplyDeleteYes, and this one doesn't have a mouth as smart as the other one!
DeleteMy dad was a chemical engineer, so I know the Pony is really smart! He'll find a job, just maybe a few months longer than it should take. My May graduate has an English/journalism degree...he will need some luck with that one.
ReplyDeleteAs long as The Pony doesn't start making a sailboat in the basement, we'll be fine! I'm afraid his intended career in the petroleum industry has been hindered.
DeleteAbout that English/journalism degree, that's what The Pony wanted, to pursue a writing career. My old college roommate got that degree. I told The Pony all she could do was teach. He wanted no part of THAT! He's doesn't really care about helping people, you know.
Still, there are lots of journalists these days, though online and not in print. There must be a need for technical writers and media specialists. You know, the people who put out the information on websites to lure people into a company or product. Like writing content for the J. Peterman catalog!
I think The Pony could be good at dry technical manuals, but not so much at journalism.
Did not realize I told the boat story. At least pop was smart enough to get t out, and quick enough so mom did not know how he did it...at least not right away.
DeleteYes. I don't remember all the details. Something about a special floaty substance, maybe. Hick says I forget stuff all the time, but I don't forget somebody building a boat in the basement!
DeleteBut I am certain you will have a humdinger of a story to tell. Congratulations to the Pony.
ReplyDeleteI will be passing on these congrats to him. I'm sure there will at least be upcoming stories of the uptick in paranormal activity once The Pony returns!
DeleteIt seems like The Pony just started college! Where does the time go?!?
ReplyDeleteI KNOW! I feel like I've been in limbo, with my life on hold, since he left, and now he's coming HOME! Yet when I looked back at a picture from the night we left him there, he looked so YOUNG!
DeleteSomeone over here actually did break into a public restroom and jimmy open the toilet paper dispenser and get away with a whole industrial sized roll. He must have been pretty desperate. Probably never heard of using a cloth and washing himself clean, or maybe washing the cloth after is too much trouble. Now I understand Sioux's comment on the other blog, which I read before coming to this one.
ReplyDeleteI am picturing a guy trying to "smuggle" a giant roll of toilet paper while making his getaway! He might have been selling it, by the foot!
DeleteSometimes I cross-reference between my blogs, and forget what I've mentioned where. At least my readers there also read here, though not the other way around.
You are one proud mama! Too bad he wont get all the pomp and circumstance he earned. Safe travels to your men and a big congrats to the Pony!
ReplyDeleteYes I am! The Pony will get over the lack of ceremony easier than Genius would have. I will send him your congrats.
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