Questions I Have Asked Myself Today

Can I bring my knitting?

Science Girl's convocation ceremony is on June 11 in the Nation's Capital.  It starts at 9:30 and runs for approximately 2 1/2 hours.  She has to be there an hour before to collect her rented gown and academic hood and to get wrangled into line.  Which means we have to be there at 8:30 as well because we're not driving her downtown and back to our accommodations and then back again.  We wouldn't have time anyway. 

If you've ever been to a convocation ceremony, you'll know how absolutely mind bum numbing they are.  There are speeches by people you don't know, blethering on about things you don't know about.   There are awards given to kids not your own. Your kid walks across the stage, shakes somebody's hand and walks off the other side all in about 5 seconds.  They don't even get anything on the stage anymore, at least not at University of Ottawa.  They already have their hood on and they get their diploma afterwards.  And I don't think we can even get out of out seats to take a picture of these 5 seconds. 

I wouldn't consider not going, of course, but can I bring my knitting? Just to keep myself calm so I don't run screaming from the room.  And to let my mind wander a little bit away, but not too far away that I miss her 5 seconds.  I'm a quiet knitter, no clicking of needles from me.  And nobody would even know if I sit in between Himself and Lego Boy. And I'll take socks so I don't need a pattern book.

So, can I?

What should I get her?

Science Girl is extremely hard to buy for.  She is the most unsentimental person I know.  So a Royal Doulton  figurine of a graduate would be a waste of a few hundred bucks. Or a keepsake from the University of Ottawa would be equally unappreciated.  I thought of a ring from UOttawa but apparently it was a crap school and she wants no reminders of it whatsoever (and they don't sell them anyway). 

I tried to start her on a collection of nice jewellery - I bought her a gold bangle for her 21st last summer.  She didn't take it back to Ottawa to wear.  I tell her that in the future she might appreciate some nice jewellery because, let's face it, it's not something you would buy for yourself.  She tells me that she can't foresee any time in the future when she would need to wear nice jewellery.

I've been asking her since around Christmas to think about what she might like.
After much thought and consideration, she informed me she wanted a vacuum cleaner, but a good one like a Dyson.  A vacuum cleaner!  To commemorate 4 years of hard work!  No, I said, I am not buying you a vacuum cleaner for your graduation.  Then she suggested a microwave because she and her room-mate don't have a microwave.  No household appliances I told her.  Like I said, very unsentimental.

So here we are, a week and a half before the event and I have absolutely no idea what to give her to celebrate her achievement.

Will it rain today?

It has been very hot and humid in this part of Ontario for several days now.  Every day, the weatherman predicts late afternoon and early evening thunderstorms and rain.  Because of the build-up of humidity, this is to be expected, hoped for even to relieve the mugginess.  This rain has yet to materialize. I don't like to complain about the heat because it's cold for such a long time here during the winter but I would like to open the windows to let in some nice fresh air.