Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

Elizabeth and I finally got back from Hilton Coliseum where we just watched Iowa State come from behind to defeat the Kansas State Wildcats 72-70!  This one was a little too stressfull for me to handle, but at least I can be proud to have been there by the end of the day.  Kansas State has been a top-25 ranked team for most of the season so far, but they just dropped out of the polls after a loss to Oklahoma last week.  Also, I was afraid coming into today's game that Iowa State would be flat since they were fresh off of their upset of then #5 Kansas on Saturday.  The Cyclones showed a lot of resolve finding a way to come back from a 14-point second half deficit to win. 

Royce White was the hero for the Cyclones.  He hit the go-ahead basket along the right baseline with 1.8 seconds left which proved to be the game winner.  That wasn't his only basket which got the crowd energized though.  He had 3 other HUGE dunks which each sent Hilton into a frenzy. 

I will also remember this annoying little kid (he must have been like 9 or 10), and his dad who were sitting in our same section.  They were all decked out in Kansas State gear and were yelling and whistling loudly any time ISU was shooting free throws.  I'm glad that they had to go home disappointed today :)

The view from our seats before the game.  Section 233, Row 12, Seats 9 &10.

Final score ISU 72, KSU 70!

Cyclones win!

There's a good chance this year will be the first time that Iowa State will qualify for the NCAA tournament since 2005.  It's been a long time! 

Sunday, January 22nd, 2012

This weekend has been an especially lazy one, and a nice change of pace from recent weekends.  No big plans before hand or places to drive.  Just watching WAY TO MUCH "Big Bang Theory".  

I also made an amazing pot of chili yesterday.  Here is how it's done:

• 1 pound of ground beef
• 1 pound hot italian sausage
• 1 jar of Mad Butcher's Salsa (Medium)
• 1 29 oz can of tomato sauce
• 1 15 oz can Great Northern Beans
• 1 15 oz can Black Beans
• 2 15 oz cans of Mrs. Grimes Chili Beans
• 1 cup of Strawberry Jelly

That's right.  I added a "secret ingredient" of Strawberry jelly.  OMG it made it deliciously sweet. 

Other news to report is that Elizabeth & I have planned a trip to Seattle from March 29th to April 2nd to visit Christian.  It's going to be fun!!

January 4th, 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

We had a fun weekend with Eben & Lynn coming down to spend new year's eve with us... we stayed up, drank champagne, and went to watch an ISU men's basketball victory over Mississippi Valley State.  However, that's not the game which currently has me fired up...

IOWA STATE CYCLONES 77, TEXAS LONGHORNS 71.

That's the game!!  I can say that hands down that's my favorite ISU basketball game that I've ever been too.  I did see Iowa State beat Texas way back in 2004 (78-77), but that one just wasn't as decisive as this.  Sure, it was only a 6-point win, but the Cyclones really lead for double-digits for a majority of the game.  Iowa State shot a crazy 9-12 from 3-point range in the first half... they cooled off in the second half, but hit 10 total for the game.  Chris Babb was the man, hitting 5 three-pointers. 

Another thing that I'll take away from this game was the crappy refs.  Normally I wouldn't blame them much, but all the fouls they were calling was keeping Texas in the game.  You had to be there, but there were quite a few ridiculous fouls called on ISU throughout.  I'm glad that didn't end up costing ISU because it would have at away at me. 

I'm not sure what the stats were, but ISU was pretty bad from the foul line as well.  That was definately keeping the little-horns in the game.  Ok, I looked it up, and ISU shot 21-37 from the stripe (56.8%).

Nevermind the bad spots... ISU just rocked Texas!!  Sooo sweet, especially since I can't stand Texas.

Friday, December 30th, 2011

Well I am a little disheartened tonight because my Iowa State Cyclones wound up on the wrong end of a 27-13 score in the Pinstripe Bowl tonight against Rutgers.  However, I'm not going to pout and talk about how they're a bunch of nappy-headed hoes... any chance that someone reading this understood that reference?  Anyways, I feel a little better now that I'm watching the Hawkeyes lose at halftime to the Oklahoma Sooners.  Also, I can remember all of the good things that my Cyclones were able to accomplish as underdogs this year.  In their 12-game regular season, they were underdogs 10 times but still managed to go to a bowl game.  Not too shabby.  The upsets they completed came against Iowa, UConn, Texas Tech, and the biggest football upset in the country this year... against Oklahoma State.  I'm happy for the solid season that the Cyclones put together dispite some rough spots and the loss to Rutgers.  Hopefully they can continue to build on their success under the direction of Paul Rhoades.  So I will just sit here, sip on my Hamms (from the land of sky blue waters), and root on the Sooners :) 

Tomorrow I am looking forward to having my parents come down to Ames for a visit.  We'll make it over to watch the ISU men's basketball team take on Mississippi Valley State, and celebrate the coming new year.  Here's to a happy and exciting 2012!

Monday, December 26th, 2011

Today is a recovery day from the fun, long Christmas weekend.  It's very nice to have a 3-day weekend!  We hosted the GLEKS (Gleason, Lacina, Easley, Khyl, Salton) family Christmas at our apartment in Ames.  Everyone was here except for Christian byu the time I got home from work on Friday.  We opened the family secret santa gifts that night (I gave Sarah the Hunger Games book set, and Becky gave me a pair of ISU flanel pants that I asked for).  It took a while to convince everyone that Christian would not in fact be sneaking in to spend Christmas with us, but at least we were able to talk with him a few times using face-time on Elizabeth's phone.  That Friday for supper we made a spiral cut honey ham, green bean casserole, scalopped corn, corn-bread stuffing, and queso dip with bacon & spinach.  Just foreshadowing for all of the food that we would have this weekend!

The Lacinas stayed through lunch on Saturday before they had to take off.  Later that afternoon the rest of us drove over to Ledges park near Boone.  Sullivan, Seth, Brian, Elizabeth, and I walked all the way down a very steep hill which was slippery and muddy (just ask Elizabeth's pants after she slipped)... the boys got very wet and messy after playing in the half-frozen stream, and we explored a nice stone bridge.  After driving home and getting cleaned up, we went out for pizza and chicken wings as Pizza Pit.  Of course we had to order two double XL pizzas (one taco, one sausage & onion).  After our meal (we ate maybe half of it), we drove around Ames to check out the Christmas lights.  The best was a large decorated tree on central campus near Beardshear Hall.  That night we stayed up late, watched Miracle on 34th Street, and went to a midnight church service at the local Catholic church.  Also happy birthday to Brian Gleason.

Sunday involved the boys opening all of their presents, we went to a local park to go geocaching and play frisbee, we came back for a big lunch (BBQ ribs and leftovers), hung out to play games at the apartment, they later that night we went out to Perfect Games to play lazer tag, order more pizza (we had a coupon for 4 free games of lazer tag with the purchase of a specialty pizza), and to play arcade games.  I enjoyed the skee ball quite a bit. 

This morning we bid farewell to the Gleasons and to Becky after breakfast, and we've been trying to recuperate since.  There is still lots of cleaning to do, but it's nice to be off work this Monday and only have a short week to prepare for.  We also have our refrigerator FULL of leftovers.  Next weekend we'll be hosting my parents along with Elizabeth's mom Becky again for New Years and to go to an ISU men's basketball game.  Lot's of family fun!

Monday, December 19th, 2011

A week ago today I'm very sad to report that my Grandpa Sandy passed away at his nursing home in Ruthven, IA.  We drove up to be with family on Friday, the funeral was Saturday morning, and we came back to Ames Sunday afternoon.  Here is his obituary:

Orven Sandy Salton was born August 3, 1922, the second of six children born to William Aaron and Ida Marie (Johnson) Salton on the family farm in Clay County, Iowa.  He attended Logan Country School and graduated from Gillett Grove High School in 1938 as valedictorian at the age of 15.

  On April 24, 1949, Sandy was united in marriage to Natalie Lindgren at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Albert City, Iowa.  To this union seven children were born. The couple enjoyed living on the same farm almost fifty years. Sandy took great pride in being an Iowa farmer, raising crops, livestock and kids!

          Sandy was an active and devoted member of Zion Lutheran Church in Ruthven, serving as a trustee, Sunday School teacher, Bible Study leader and usher.  He also worked to promote and support 4-H.  For 18 years, Sandy was a 4-H leader of the Logan Leading Lads. During this time, it became the largest 4-H club in Iowa.  Sandy served as the County Assessor in Gillett Grove and Greenville and as a trustee for Logan Township.

         Being around family, neighbors and friends brought Sandy great joy. He found pleasure in working along side his kids, nieces, nephews, grandkids and whomever else was willing to work. Relaxation included work, playing baseball on the town team, going fishing and playing cards. At family gatherings Sandy and his brother Kenny delighted everyone by reciting classic poetry from memory at rapid fire speed!

          Sandy passed away December 12, 2011.  He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Amanda Ann (November 26, 1953); grandson Horatio B. Salton (August 2, 1986); siblings John Salton, Helen (Salton) Anderson;  William Salton; in-laws, Jane Lindgren, Lois Salton,  Shirley and Dick Beadle, Doris Salton; Al Lindgren, Virgil Treimer, and Reuben Anderson; nieces, Neva (Lindgren) Heuton, Janet (Lindgren) Grimm; and great nephew, Taylor Lindgren.

Survivors include his loving wife of nearly 63 years, Natalie; their children and spouses, Eben and Lynn Salton of Webb, IA, Marilyn and Rick Hawkins of Mount Ayr, IA, LaVonne and Gary Anderson of Des Moines, IA, Aaron and Dianne Salton of Gladewater, TX, Susan and Chris Irwin of Sac City, IA, and Marcia and Chris  Langner of Ayrshire, IA; grandchildren and spouses, Forrest  and Marla Hawkins, Lyndon Hawkins, Brian and Elizabeth Salton, Amy (Salton) and Brandon Shostak, Sierra Salton, David Langner, Mark Langner, and Kent Irwin; siblings Kenneth Salton and Doris (Salton) Treimer; in-laws, Darlene and Jim  Embry, Paul and Donna Lindgren, Floyd and Rosemary Lindgren, and Gene Lindgren; nieces, nephews, cousins, as well as many other relatives and friends.

          Sandy will be remembered for his honesty, humor, intelligence, and strong work ethic.  He always put God first and led his family by Christian example. Sandy found the best in every person he met.  He was truly a faithful and devoted man. Blessed be the memory of Sandy Salton. 

 On a happier note, my cousin Lyndon became engaged to Missy Roberts today! 

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

So this morning I started work at 8:30... had a busy day with 3 new patients... but the fun part of the day was after work when I was able to come back to Ames, and Elizabeth and Eben were waiting for me at Hilton Coliseum!  Elizabeth had gotten free tickets from her work to watch the ISU men play Prairie View A&M!  Dad was down to stay with us for the night because he has a meeting in Ankeny tomorrow.  Free Cyclone tickets are always fun :)

Elizabeth and myself after the game.

The band was lots of fun to sit beside.

Dad & me after the game.  Cyclones win big!