May 8

Today was a great day.  Got up early and left the house around 8:20-ish with the parents to head to State.  We ended up getting there with plenty of time to spare for all of the various ceremonies.  First we stopped by the Breslin Center to pick up Tori's Honors College stole and have some breakfast.  I'll be honest, the breakfast was lacking, but I guess the fact that they had a number of students and family that needed to be fed could have factored into that.  Next we went around MSU's campus and took some pictures (we'll get back to that one).  Then it was off to another building where a little celebration was being held for all of the Communicative Sciences and Disorders grads.  We had some cake and punch, chatted for a second, and left right away to get back to the Breslin Center for the "interlude to the actual commencement."  This included an honorary degree and speech by Desmond Tutu (which was amazing).  That lasted for about an hour then there was a little intermission.  During this period Tori headed back on down to the floor where everyone was getting lined up and a few of her friends arrived in East Lansing.  It's always a good feeling to have friends come to see you graduate.  Forgot to mention, while we were out earlier, my Grandparents got to the Breslin early to get seats.

Commencement started around 3:30 and lasted until 5:45.  Some more speeches - some better than others - and honorary degrees were given out.  This time around, everything was geared toward the Communications field.  I also realized something...MSU has a ton of students that graduate every year.  There will be 2 more ceremonies being help on Saturday and Sunday at various times to finish off the class of 2009.  Wow.  Anyway, nothing too exciting followed.  We were eagerly anticipating the calling of my sister's name while a ton of the other kids were being called up.  Funny story...we got to see Goran Suton get his degree today.  Everyone was trying to pass the time when, out of nowhere, the entire crowd started to cheer.  I looked down and noticed a giant individual walking up to the podium, and then his name was called.  Haha.  He's going to be missed on the basketball team, for sure.  More time passes and, finally, it's Tori's program's turn.  We saw her get up from her seat and stand in line, but she was soon lost when the line turned (she's not very tall).  We spotted her again when the line was weeded down to 3 people ahead of her.  When he name was called, everyone let out a big cheer (or gigantic yell, in my case) and Tori acknowledged her fans.  More time passed, the students officially became MSU alumni, and we headed on out to Outback (with more pictures being taken in-between).

Basically...Outback was amazing because we were all hungry.  Family and friends out to eat is a can't beat situation, especially when you just finished 4 successful years of college.  Cards and presents were given out, food was consumed, and we left.  I can bet that Tori will be having a fun time tonight.  Haha.

Not to end on a F(*&# ANNOYING note, but let me shine some more light upon the pictures comment from before.  I've been having problems with my computer ever since I had it "fixed" the first time.  Even after I JUST took it in to the Apple store yesterday, I was having problems with it.  Well, I managed to get it turned on when I got back from State (a miracle in it's own right) and just as I finished uploading the pictures from today...black screen.  No burning this time.  No smell.  Just a click and a black screen...again.  I tried restarting it multiple times to no avail.  Basically, I'm pretty pissed off right now.  I'm going to leave it unplugged for the night and when I get back from SVSU tomorrow night, I'll try the same process over again.  If it still won't come on, I'm calling and complaining to the Novi Apple store.  This is just ridiculous.  At this rate, I'll never be able to finish any new projects let alone get more time to test new techniques out in After Effects or Illustrator.  Like I said...it BETTER turn on tomorrow.

Let me say one more thing...I've had to open my machine up every single time I want to turn it on.  Hold down the button behind the fan, wait 10 seconds, and let it go.  Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't...and this was all yesterday.

I really do hate to end on a sour note because, like I said, today was awesome.  So I won't.  If my computer doesn't work, oh well.  I'll take it back, tell them to FIX IT, and won't leave until we turn it off and on at least 52 times with no problems.  And I won't pay for it.  Thank YOU!!!

Congrats again, Tori: Bachelors Degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders with HIGH HONORS!!!  WOOO!!!

Hope you enjoy the camera,

B