On the banks of the Red Cedar

The newly graduated MSU Spartan

My oldest kid graduated from college today!  (actually yesterday as it's now Sunday)  My sister was the family photographer.  I will post better pictures when I get them from her.  I have to say that it was bittersweet sitting there.  All the years my kids were growing up I always told them that they were going to college.  Now, all of a sudden, there I was, sitting at college graduation! 

Runner Nerd

teary eyed



My kid is graduating from college today!!

My oldest kid graduates from college today.  WOW!  Where did the years go???? 

He brought his cap & gown home a couple days ago so I could hang it up so the fold lines would go away.  He just got dressed, put the tassel on his cap and took the gown and left to go to meet up where he has to be. 
I will be heading out soon to go to the college graduation of my child --unreal!!!

Runner Nerd

Water Everywhere!!

I've heard of "water under the bridge" but what about water OVER the bridge?

I had to do my long run on Friday afternoon this week.  I had to move most of my daughter's junk stuff out of her dorm today. 
The Huron River always swells in the spring but this was quite something!  In several places along my route there was some water on the trails but in one area the trail was completely under water!!  A bridge was even under water!  These pictures were taken in Fuller Park along Island Drive. 

I guess I am NOT going to continue over this bridge!

the river is on the other side of those trees!



The Huron River overflowed!



DETOUR!!!



Too much water



The river is supposed to stop on the other side of the trees.

It's now down to only 4 weeks until the half marathon.  I'm still running so slow.  Next Saturday my son graduates from college so I am not sure hwo I am going to work in my long run.  I will probably have to try to run on Friday again.

What ever happened to My Space????????

I have no idea why I did this or what even put the idea into my head; I logged into my old My Space page.  I had not logged in to it since October 30, 2009.  I had a blog on there and I read quite a few entries and I discovered that I was a much better writer back then.  It's weird but they are written so differently.  I think I had a lot more time to spend on it.  I don't even hear people talk about My Space anymore; I had forgotten about it.  I should probably figure out how to make sure all of those blog entried are saved somewhere else so that I don't loose all of that if unlogged into My Space accounts ever disappear.  (or even if My Space itself ever disappears). 
Well, that's all!! 
Time for bed. 

Running without guilt!!! AND Nerd status retained!!!!!!

9 am: a very difficult final exam for which I studied for all last week and weekend.
Then: work 4 hours
Then: check to see if exam grade posted just before leaving work.
Then: see excellent grade on final exam and see 4.0 for overall class grade!
Then: go to park where my favorite running route starts.
Then: change clothes in back seat of car (thanks to the miracle of tinted windows!).
Then: take off on a fun, guilt free 4.5 mile run along the Huron River on a beautiful, sunny and nearly 70 degree afternoon!!  Oh, it felt sooooooo great!!  The weather and no weight of the world on my shoulders!!! (or at least the weight of my future career!)  I saw BABY duckies for the first time this year during my run!!  It must be spring for sure!!  The rowing crews were out on Argo Pond and there was even some muddy spots on the Argo Bluff trail though the woods!!! 
I have 5 whole days off before the next semester begins!!!  I rented a DVD on the way home after running!!  I haven't done that in a very long time. 
I have nothing to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!  WOW, what a feeling!!!!  Well, I guess that isn't entirely true.  My house is a mess and my car looks like I live in it so I guess I could find something to do but maybe tomorrow!!  I should probably mail my son's graduation announcements too, after all, graduation is May 7th! 
The class that ended today was tough.  I went into this final one point below a 4.0.  I HAD to ace this final to bring my percentage up to a 4.0.  I barely got the 4.0.  I went into my other final well into 4.0 range and would have had to really mess up to bring my grade down below a 4.0. (I prefer it that way!)  Next semester I'll have 2 classes again and I start hospital clinicals 2 full days per week.  I will be in classes 2 full days and clinical 2 full days.  Today was also the last day that I will be working.  It's bittersweet; I will miss some things about my job but it is too difficult to try to work and go to school full time.  I am still an employee and will be working during August when I have the month off between summer and fall semesters.  I was really glad that they wanted to keep me on as an inactive employee. 

Well, I'm going to go watch that DVD now!!!!!!!!!  Don't look for me very early tomorrow morning either!!!

Runner Nerd
who is on a 5 day nerd break!

April 24th Easter & kid birthday

My oldest kid turned 23 today!  I can't remember his birthday ever being on Easter before; I'm pretty sure that this is the first time. 
He graduates college in 2 weeks!!!  I'm still trying to figure out where all those years went! 

5 weeks

I did my long run today wearing summer running clothes!!!!  I ran 10 miles after not running at all last weekend.  I had in mind to try to run right around 9:50 per mile but I couldn't quite do it.  Right now the thought of running a half marathon in 5 weeks is not a pleasant thought.  When I finished my 10 mile run the first thought I had was that I still had 3.1 miles to go for a half marathon.  I don't know; somehow I will get through it.  I'm thinking maybe 11 miles next week and 12 the next 2 weeks then the last 2 weeks until the half marathon will be a taper. 

Well, those thoughts are going to have to wait since I have the final exam of my life on Tuesday and have lots of studying to do.  Tomorrow is Easter and, as bad as this sounds, I don't have time for a holiday right now. With this final hanging over my head it's hard to get excited about anything.  I actually wasn't sure I was going to run this weekend but when I first let the dog out this morning I realized that I didn't feel the blast of cold air when I opened the door.  Then when he wrapped his leash around the light pole and I had to go out there and walk him around it I was shocked that it felt so warm.  I checked the temp and it was 57 degrees!!!!  Then I knew that I HAD to go running!!  I put on shorts and a short sleeve shirt and took off for Hudson Mills.  It was really nice to run in decent weather again.  BUT...now I have to make up for that 2.5 hours I was gone and get to work on studying for this exam.  Yippie. 

I saw something today that I have never seen before.  A dude was riding a bike around with a large BIRD sitting on the handlebars!!!  I saw him 3 different times while I was running.  As far as I could see there was nothing on the bird such a little birdy harness in case he tried to fly away.  Must be a very well behaved bird, especially since there are many many dogs being walked!!  It was really cool to see! 

OK, the running part is over so... back to being the world's oldest college student!!

Runner Nerd