Graduation Events

Yesterday was the big day.  The College Girl is now a College Grad, a natural evolution I guess, but still.  Where did all that time go?  Wasn't she just 2 years old yesterday?  GVSU held four graduation events this weekend, one Friday night and three on Saturday.  We attended the third, and it was a pretty well oiled machine by that time.  Everybody in their seats by 3:00 pm and everyone out the door, standing in the wind next to the VanAndel arena by 5:00 pm, taking pictures of the grads.  Here are a couple of photos.

The students who were part of the international studies program wore a sash with the flag of the country they were in. 

And one taken when she picked up her cap and gown a week or so ago.

Today I took a bike ride before meeting the newly minted Grad and her family for a celebration supper at Logan's restaurant.  Her Grandfather had been cleared by the visiting nurse to attend, and he got a chance to congratulate her.  GVSU does a live broadcast on line of the commencement ceremonies, which he watched, so he got to tell her that they mispronounced her last name, and she got her diploma at 4:14pm.

Ruby Revival

I wasn't planning to ride my bike today, I'd ridden 5 days in a row and the wind was gusting from the west.  Then word came from the bike shop that they had finished replacing the shifters on my old road bike (Ruby) and she was ready to be picked up.  There was also a new chain and a new rear tire, along with a new stem and bar tape.  Nate had degreased the entire drive train, too.  A test ride was in order, and it was 10 degrees warmer at the bike shop than at home, so shortly before noon I picked her up and took her for a 45 minute spin around the neighborhoods near Cross Country Cycle.

Ruby looks so petite compared to my new bike, and I fully expected it to feel weird riding a road bike after changing to riding a hybrid quite a while ago.   I did still remember how to shift that bike, and the new Ultegra shifters are smooth.  They are a slight upgrade from original equipment, since they are a generation newer.   There was a brief period a while back when I thought I'd be getting Dura Ace, which would have been exciting, but apparently those disappeared into a black hole in the internet universe.

Two things, Ruby's narrow handlebars and friction braking, did feel odd but not my bike position.   Also, I was back to watching out for cracks in the pavement, after getting used to the wider tires on the Sirrus that just roll right over everything, pretty much.  I rode over to the tennis courts off of James Street to take an official photo of Ruby, fully functional again, and rather sprightly, I might add.  Even in the gusty winds.

I have ridden 6 times in the last 6 days now -- two of those rides were only about 45 minutes, with the other 4 a bit over an hour.  As I mentioned earlier, I am working out a new approach to biking that fits in with changes in my life and my age/body.  I'm testing out how long I can ride and still take a bike ride pretty much every day that life and the weather allow, and still have both time and energy for other important things.  Tomorrow I will be helping the Grands move their TVs and a few other items out of their dorm rooms.  It's finals week, thus moving out week.  So many changes.  But Ruby remains as she has been for the last 11 years and 17,000 miles.  She won't be my main bike at this point, but I hope she'll get ridden now and then.  She's a really nice bike.

Lorem Ipsum

Lorem Ipsum is a phrase used in graphic design.  It refers to dummy text which has no meaning, but looks very similar to real text.  It's used as filler to design around, and it was also the title of the Exhibition of Senior Graphic Design Majors' senior projects,  which included a reception this past Thursday evening.  Our College Girl granddaughter was one of the artists featured.  Here are a few photos from that show.

Any questions should be directed to the girl.  This was the capstone course for her major, and her graduation ceremonies are next Saturday.  We are, of course, very proud of her.  Where did all that time go?

Bicycle Content?

Solidarity.  No bicycling here, either.

I've spent years fine tuning what layers I need for biking in temperatures between freezing and 40ish, and these work.  Nothing works for me when there is snow on the roads.  April can be cruel.

Early April

The College Girl has a birthday coming up this week.  Both sides of her family gathered Saturday to wish her well.  It was a raw and windy day, much like the day she was born.  Funny how that works.  Happy birthday, Granddaughter.  You brighten our lives.

There's not been much bike riding to report on since our return from Florida.  I've ridden a few times, but it's generally been too cold to spend much time standing around taking photos.   Here's one from a short ride I took to the State Park last week.

I also accidentally took a ride to the Port Sheldon Party Store this past week.  I wanted to see how the new bike (still referred to here as The Bike With Two Names, since the naming process has stalled out) -- anyway, how the new bike does on the rollers along Lakeshore.  The low range of gears on TBWTN flattens them out, as I'd hoped.  It did feel like a long ride, partly because of how cold temperatures affect my leg muscles and partly because it is. The weather forecast is for two more weeks of early March like temperatures.