STRAYCAT’S DOGGONE BLOG

Con”GRAD”ulations Dawn

May 26, 2008 on 9:28 pm | In Family |

Congratulations to niece Dawn. She now has two Bachelor’s Degrees from San Jose State; one in History and the second Anthropology. Both are way over my head.
I managed time off to attend both ceremonies, on May 22nd and 24th, although I cut my arrival for the first ceremony (History) rather close. I arrived about an hour before it started. I met the family at the San Jose house because there wasn’t time enough to drive to Palo Alto then back to San Jose.


After the Ceremony, we all went out to dinner at the Palo Alto Grill. After dinner, we went to Don’s house. I crashed early, about 2130.

On Friday, made my delicious biscuits & gravy for breakfast, then Lou and I went grocery shopping for the weekend. A big BBQ was planned for Saturday after the Anthropology Graduation. When we returned, I began the prep-work for the BBQ. I “Tom Sawyered” a lot of the grunt work between Dawn, Courtney, and Dawn2. I made Porcupine Meatballs for dinner.

On Saturday, we cleaned out the refrigerator for breakfast. Memorial Day weekend is also when I celebrate the MMM’s birthday, so they also had a nice treat for breakfast.


They are 8 years old this year.
The Anthropology Graduation was at 1300 with snacks before. Don, Lou, Dawn, and I all arrived in one car. Courtney and Dawn2 met us there as did Lou’s Sister, one of her nieces and her family who drove up from Fresno. The actual Ceremony was mercifully short (a little more than an hour).

On the way back to the car, which was parked at their house in San Jose, I took some pictures of the Campus.

It is quite beautiful.
When we returned to Palo alto, I immediately fired up the grill, and about an hour later, we were eating. About 25 of Dawn’s neighbors, friends, former classmates, former teachers, and of course family showed up at the house. There was plenty for everyone to eat. I BBQ’d Pork Chops and Chicken Breasts which I marinated overnight in Zesty Italian Salad Dressing, my current favorite marinade. I also BBQ’d some Hamburgers and some Vegetable Kabobs. Lou had smoked some nice Salmon Fillets. For accompaniment, there was Potato Salad, Deviled Eggs, Green Salad, assorted chips and dips, and a relish tray (hence the prep work yesterday).

There were also 2 cakes. The Garden Gnome remained stoic despite all the hubbub.

A good time was had by all.

I left early the next day (Sunday) and drove back to Las Vegas.