I have had a very enjoyable day to myself thus far. For no particular reason I decided to take today and tomorrow off from work just to use a little of my vacation time. It's nice to have a 4-day weekend now and then!
I just got back from what I'm sure was my best round of frisbee golf to date. I had 7 birdies in total, and I finished at 4 under par! Much, much better than my last round which I blogged about. I would say that since then I have probably played only 4 or 5 times, so it was quite a surprising improvement in my play today. There was almost no wind to deal with which must have helped a little bit. Check out my scores:
Hole #: Par: My
Score:
1 3 3 -
Par
2 3 5 - Double
Bogey
3 3 2 - Birdie :)
4 3 3 -
Par
5 3 3 - Par
6 3 2 - Birdie :)
7 3 2 - Birdie :)
8 3
3 - Par
9 3 2 - Birdie :)
10 3 3 -
Par
11 3 2 - Birdie :)
12 3 3 -
Par
13 3 2 - Birdie
:)
14 3 4 -
Bogey
15 3 2 - Birdie :)
16 4 4 -
Par
17 3 3 - Par
18 4 4 - Par
Total 56 52 (-4)
That stupid hole #2 always gives me problems. I was quite happy to actually make a par on hole #18 which is very long. I probably should note that I was playing from the amateur tees instead of the pro ones... but come on, I'm not really good at frisbee golf anyways.
What else do I have planned for my day off? No big plans really, but I do think that I will make a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup. Mmmm.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Sunday, September 9th, 2012
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| Jeremiah George and David Irving hoist the newly designed Cy-Hawk trophy after a 9-6 victory. |
WAY TO GO CYCLONES!!! It had been 10 years since the Iowa State football team has been able to get a win on the road in Iowa City, but that streak is over! Even despite poor ball handling by the Cyclones in the red-zone they were able to find a way to win. They turned it over 3 times inside the Hawkeye 11 yard line... not usually a recipe for success. Luckily an interception by Jake Knott on Iowa's last possession was able to seal the win. The game's only touchdown came on ISU's opening drive when Steele Jantz found Aaron Horne for a 5-yard TD.
Overall the game was much lower scoring than most people expected after last year's 44-41 triple-overtime thriller. I must say that I did predict a 3-point ISU victory (even if I was a little high on the overall score). Through two weeks my preseason predictions are looking pretty well thus far:
- Week 1 score: ISU 38, Tulsa 23 (I picked ISU by 11 points, 35-24)
- Week 2 score: ISU 9, Iowa 6 (I picked ISU by 3 points, 24-21)
This all reminds me that it seems like the odds makers really never give ISU enough credit. I read here that in 14 games against BCS opponents the past two seasons, Iowa State has been the underdog 13 times. Of those 13 games Iowa State has won 7.
Of course the Hawkeyes seem to always be favored against us even though Iowa State has won 9 of the past 15 meetings between the two teams. If you consider the point spread of ISU vs Iowa games the bias becomes a little more obvious:
- 2012: Iowa favored by 4 (ISU won by 3)
- 2011: Iowa favored by 6 1/2 (ISU won by 3)
- 2010: Iowa favored by 13 1/2 (Iowa won by 28)... that's 1 Iowa covered the spread
- 2009: Iowa favored by 6 1/2 (Iowa won by 32)... that's 2 Iowa covered
- 2008: Iowa favored by 13 (Iowa won by 12)
- 2007: Iowa favored by 18 (ISU won by 2)
- 2006: Iowa favored by 14 (Iowa won by 10)
- 2005: Iowa favored by 10 (ISU won by 20)
- 2004: Iowa favored by 20 1/2 (Iowa won by 7)
- 2003: Iowa favored by 5 1/2 (Iowa won by 19)... that's 3 times Iowa covered
- 2002: Iowa favored by 2 1/2 (ISU won by 5)
- 2001: (I couldn't find this point spread, but I read that Iowa was favored and ISU won 17-14)
- 2000: ISU favored by 3 (ISU won by 10)
- 1999: ISU favored by 3 1/2 (ISU won by 7)
- 1998: (I couldn't find this spread either, but I read that Iowa was favored and ISU won 27-9)
So to summarize my findings of the ISU-Iowa game over the past 15 years, Iowa State beat the point spread in 12 of those 15 meetings. Iowa was favored in 13 games, yet ISU still won 9 of the 15.
Hawkeyes = overrated.
Most of the old point spreads I found here.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Saturday, September 1st, 2012
CYCLONE FOOTBALL IS BACK!!
...and I am offically exhausted. It was a very fun but long day of tailgaiting and football fun. Brian Gleason was in town with me and we started out the day tailgaiting with Tim Nevins and Dan Becker. I enjoyed the tailgate atmosphere between 8:15 and 2:00, and in that time I may have also made an appearance at Mark Williamson's tailgate. I make it into the stadium for kickoff, and we are all standing in the student section having a blast. Lots of yelling and cheering "that's another Cyclone FIRST DOWN"... and now I have Ames voice. It's always fun to watch a Cyclone victory though. Totally worth it.
...and I am offically exhausted. It was a very fun but long day of tailgaiting and football fun. Brian Gleason was in town with me and we started out the day tailgaiting with Tim Nevins and Dan Becker. I enjoyed the tailgate atmosphere between 8:15 and 2:00, and in that time I may have also made an appearance at Mark Williamson's tailgate. I make it into the stadium for kickoff, and we are all standing in the student section having a blast. Lots of yelling and cheering "that's another Cyclone FIRST DOWN"... and now I have Ames voice. It's always fun to watch a Cyclone victory though. Totally worth it.
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| Tim is a little sleepy to start off the tailgaiting... approximately 8:15 AM which isn't too early compared to some taligates. |
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| Games were played. |
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| Panoramic view of Jack Trice. |
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| Tim was more awake for the game! |
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| Go Cyclones!! |
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Tuesday, August 28th, 2012
ONLY 4 DAYS LEFT UNTIL CYCLONE FOOTBALL!!
In the spirit of the upcoming football season, I will make some quick predictions about how each of the Cyclone's games will shake out...
Game 1: vs. Tulsa - WIN - Iowa State 35, Tulsa 24
Game 2: @ Iowa - WIN - Iowa State 24, Iowa 21... it's been quite a while since we've won a game in Iowa City, but do you really expect me of all people to pick the Hawks in this game? Besides, the Hawkeye running game is a mess right now.
Game 3: vs. Western Illinois - WIN - Iowa State 45, WIU 10... this is really the only sure-fire win on the schedule. Western Illinois is terrible and has no chance.
Game 4: vs Texas Tech - WIN - Iowa State 38 - Texas Tech 35... this game will be a lot closer than last year's blowout win for the Cyclones. I think that it is a good thing that this one is at home otherwise I think Tech has a chance to beat us. A lot of Cyclone fans are too confident about this one.
Game 5: @ TCU - Loss - TCU 35, Iowa State 21... The Frogs are a quality football team, and there's just no way I can pick ISU to start the year 5-0. Honestly I would be surprised if we actually run the table between the first 4 games.
Game 6: vs Kansas State - WIN - Iowa State 21, Kansas State 17... the most recent few games between these teams have been very close even though ISU has always been the underdog. I feel that this is the year we finally have KSU's number (I'm guessing that they will be ranked in the top 25 at the time as well).
Game 7: @ Oklahoma State - Loss - Oklahoma State 42, Iowa State 28 - The Cowboys get a big revenge win after last years heartbreaking loss in Ames.
Game 8: vs Baylor - Loss - Baylor 35, Iowa State 34 - No way that Iowa State can win ALL of the close games this year, and I've already gave them the benefit of the doubt against Iowa, Kansas State, and TTU.
Game 9: vs Oklahoma - Loss - Oklahoma 42, Iowa State 17 - We are just outmatched in this contest, and our schedule is starting to get brutal. We are starting to wonder if our quick start to the season will even get us to a bowl game...
Game 10: @ Texas - Loss - Texas 21, Iowa State 10 - We won two years ago down in Austin, but two times in a row at Texas is a bit much to ask. Wow, four losses in a row is hard to swallow.
Game 11: @ Kansas - WIN - Iowa State 38, Kansas 28... We finally end the losing streak and become bowl eligible with a win against the Big 12's worst team.
Game 12: vs West Virginia - Loss - WVU 31, Iowa State 24... I really want to pick the Cyclones to win this game, but I feel like a 6-6 record is more realistic than 7-5. I would be so happy to welcome West Virginia to the league with a loss!! We can only hope I'm wrong about this one.
Bowl Game?? I say that we go to (and win) one this year. At least if we finist 6-6 we will have a chance to play one this year.
Let's hope that the Cyclones make me proud this upcoming season. Go State!!
In the spirit of the upcoming football season, I will make some quick predictions about how each of the Cyclone's games will shake out...
Game 1: vs. Tulsa - WIN - Iowa State 35, Tulsa 24
Game 2: @ Iowa - WIN - Iowa State 24, Iowa 21... it's been quite a while since we've won a game in Iowa City, but do you really expect me of all people to pick the Hawks in this game? Besides, the Hawkeye running game is a mess right now.
Game 3: vs. Western Illinois - WIN - Iowa State 45, WIU 10... this is really the only sure-fire win on the schedule. Western Illinois is terrible and has no chance.
Game 4: vs Texas Tech - WIN - Iowa State 38 - Texas Tech 35... this game will be a lot closer than last year's blowout win for the Cyclones. I think that it is a good thing that this one is at home otherwise I think Tech has a chance to beat us. A lot of Cyclone fans are too confident about this one.
Game 5: @ TCU - Loss - TCU 35, Iowa State 21... The Frogs are a quality football team, and there's just no way I can pick ISU to start the year 5-0. Honestly I would be surprised if we actually run the table between the first 4 games.
Game 6: vs Kansas State - WIN - Iowa State 21, Kansas State 17... the most recent few games between these teams have been very close even though ISU has always been the underdog. I feel that this is the year we finally have KSU's number (I'm guessing that they will be ranked in the top 25 at the time as well).
Game 7: @ Oklahoma State - Loss - Oklahoma State 42, Iowa State 28 - The Cowboys get a big revenge win after last years heartbreaking loss in Ames.
Game 8: vs Baylor - Loss - Baylor 35, Iowa State 34 - No way that Iowa State can win ALL of the close games this year, and I've already gave them the benefit of the doubt against Iowa, Kansas State, and TTU.
Game 9: vs Oklahoma - Loss - Oklahoma 42, Iowa State 17 - We are just outmatched in this contest, and our schedule is starting to get brutal. We are starting to wonder if our quick start to the season will even get us to a bowl game...
Game 10: @ Texas - Loss - Texas 21, Iowa State 10 - We won two years ago down in Austin, but two times in a row at Texas is a bit much to ask. Wow, four losses in a row is hard to swallow.
Game 11: @ Kansas - WIN - Iowa State 38, Kansas 28... We finally end the losing streak and become bowl eligible with a win against the Big 12's worst team.
Game 12: vs West Virginia - Loss - WVU 31, Iowa State 24... I really want to pick the Cyclones to win this game, but I feel like a 6-6 record is more realistic than 7-5. I would be so happy to welcome West Virginia to the league with a loss!! We can only hope I'm wrong about this one.
Bowl Game?? I say that we go to (and win) one this year. At least if we finist 6-6 we will have a chance to play one this year.
Let's hope that the Cyclones make me proud this upcoming season. Go State!!
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Saturday, August 18th, 2012
TWO WEEKS UNTIL FOOTBALL!! Iowa State vs Tulsa!
I love looking forward to sporting events so much. I was just talking with Lyndon on facebook IM, and it makes me want to plan a trip next year to go watch the Twins or Cubs play. The good thing is that a lot of family members do live in cities with MLB teams, so I just need to coordinate a trip around a ball game and it will be perfect.
Lyndon & Missy live out by Washington, D.C. => Washington Nationals game?
Christian lives in Seattle => Seattle Mariners game?
Forrest & Marla live by Denver => Colorado Rockies game?
The Gleasons live in St. Louis => St. Louis Cardinals game?
So many options! I'm sure I could find a way to watch either the Twins or Cubs at one of these locations. Of course 3 of those are in the National League, so it would be easier to see the Cubs play (I would rather see the Twins though). Maybe an inter-league game would be possible though. Last year the Twins played teams in the NL West, this year they played the Central (we saw them play the Cubs), so I'm sure next year they will play the NL East. That means that there will be a fair chance that they will play one series out in Washington. I'll have to remember to keep my eyes open for this!
Enough about my constant obsession with sports for the moment. Today Elizabeth was down in St. Louis for a zombie infested 5K race called "Run for your Lives". I'm still waiting for her to get back to hear all of the details, but I'm sure that she had a blast. She did tell me that her flags were taken while she was running, so she did "turn into a zombie". I better be careful when she gets home :)
One other notable thing about today... it was the first time that I mowed the yard since we moved into our new house!
I love looking forward to sporting events so much. I was just talking with Lyndon on facebook IM, and it makes me want to plan a trip next year to go watch the Twins or Cubs play. The good thing is that a lot of family members do live in cities with MLB teams, so I just need to coordinate a trip around a ball game and it will be perfect.
Lyndon & Missy live out by Washington, D.C. => Washington Nationals game?
Christian lives in Seattle => Seattle Mariners game?
Forrest & Marla live by Denver => Colorado Rockies game?
The Gleasons live in St. Louis => St. Louis Cardinals game?
So many options! I'm sure I could find a way to watch either the Twins or Cubs at one of these locations. Of course 3 of those are in the National League, so it would be easier to see the Cubs play (I would rather see the Twins though). Maybe an inter-league game would be possible though. Last year the Twins played teams in the NL West, this year they played the Central (we saw them play the Cubs), so I'm sure next year they will play the NL East. That means that there will be a fair chance that they will play one series out in Washington. I'll have to remember to keep my eyes open for this!
Enough about my constant obsession with sports for the moment. Today Elizabeth was down in St. Louis for a zombie infested 5K race called "Run for your Lives". I'm still waiting for her to get back to hear all of the details, but I'm sure that she had a blast. She did tell me that her flags were taken while she was running, so she did "turn into a zombie". I better be careful when she gets home :)
One other notable thing about today... it was the first time that I mowed the yard since we moved into our new house!
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| BRAINS!! |
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Thursday, August 9th, 2012
Today was a good day... my wallet was returned which was awesome!! The cash that was in it served as a reward to the finder.
Becky came down to donate a couple of items to our new house (an outdoor table, a 1800's family heirloom wooden chest). After I came home from work she went with Elizabeth, myself, and David (he's like our family pet now), and we went out to eat. Every time we go out to eat with Becky she insists that we go somewhere that we've never been before. That is getting hard to do in Ames, but apparently there are still places that we haven't been. Elizabeth heard of a fun burger place via some coworkers called Oddfellow's Burger Kitchen, and it turned out to be a perfect place to try. The decor of the restaurant is all things odd and obscure. There were guitars hanging from the ceiling that had wings attached to them as if they were ducks. The menu was filled with interesting combinations. Peanut butter pene pasta, all kinds of weird burgers, etc. Elizabeth ordered a burger with peanut butter, I forget what kind of burger Becky had but there were caralized onions on it so I'm sure it was good, David had a Bleu cheese & cajun seasoned "Black & Bleu" burger, and I had the monstrosity below. Two bacon cheeseburgers with grilled cheese sandwhiches as the bread. OMG. I actuall ate it all. Options for side dishes were fries, tater tots, or mac & cheese.
Other fun news about today: the Iowa State 2012-2013 men's basketball schedule has been released! I've been waiting for this for most of the summer. It goes to show how obsessed I am with the Cyclones, when I just want to know what games there are to look forward to months in advance.
Iowa State opens the season at home against Southern University on November 9th. I think that a fun game to go to would be their road game in Kansas City on December 19th when they play UMKC. I'll have to see if I can talk anyone into taking a day off from wok to go down there with me! Of course there are lots of other home games which look exciting to me (BYU, Yale, Texas, West Virginia, TCU, many more).
One more thing: 23 more days until Cyclone football!!
Becky came down to donate a couple of items to our new house (an outdoor table, a 1800's family heirloom wooden chest). After I came home from work she went with Elizabeth, myself, and David (he's like our family pet now), and we went out to eat. Every time we go out to eat with Becky she insists that we go somewhere that we've never been before. That is getting hard to do in Ames, but apparently there are still places that we haven't been. Elizabeth heard of a fun burger place via some coworkers called Oddfellow's Burger Kitchen, and it turned out to be a perfect place to try. The decor of the restaurant is all things odd and obscure. There were guitars hanging from the ceiling that had wings attached to them as if they were ducks. The menu was filled with interesting combinations. Peanut butter pene pasta, all kinds of weird burgers, etc. Elizabeth ordered a burger with peanut butter, I forget what kind of burger Becky had but there were caralized onions on it so I'm sure it was good, David had a Bleu cheese & cajun seasoned "Black & Bleu" burger, and I had the monstrosity below. Two bacon cheeseburgers with grilled cheese sandwhiches as the bread. OMG. I actuall ate it all. Options for side dishes were fries, tater tots, or mac & cheese.
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| I will have to come back to this place! |
Other fun news about today: the Iowa State 2012-2013 men's basketball schedule has been released! I've been waiting for this for most of the summer. It goes to show how obsessed I am with the Cyclones, when I just want to know what games there are to look forward to months in advance.
Iowa State opens the season at home against Southern University on November 9th. I think that a fun game to go to would be their road game in Kansas City on December 19th when they play UMKC. I'll have to see if I can talk anyone into taking a day off from wok to go down there with me! Of course there are lots of other home games which look exciting to me (BYU, Yale, Texas, West Virginia, TCU, many more).
One more thing: 23 more days until Cyclone football!!
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Sunday, August 5th, 2012
Well it hasn't been a very fun weekend for myself... lost my wallet on Friday and had to cancel my credit card & debit card :( I'm an idiot.
In other news, we've had cousin David as a house guest for a week now, and he will be staying for one more. Since we have plenty of space in our big house we were able to offer him a place to stay before he can move back into his frat at the start of classes.
Classes at Iowa State start on the 20th of this month... which means that football season is just around the corner!! ISU vs Tulsa on September 1st is less than 4 weeks away!! For some crazy reason we are an underdog to them.
In other sports news, the 2012 London Olympics have been on for the past week. I'm very happy that Michael Phelps has set the all time olympic medal record... by winning 4 golds and 2 silver medals in these olympics he now has 22 medals (18 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze).
In other news, we've had cousin David as a house guest for a week now, and he will be staying for one more. Since we have plenty of space in our big house we were able to offer him a place to stay before he can move back into his frat at the start of classes.
Classes at Iowa State start on the 20th of this month... which means that football season is just around the corner!! ISU vs Tulsa on September 1st is less than 4 weeks away!! For some crazy reason we are an underdog to them.
In other sports news, the 2012 London Olympics have been on for the past week. I'm very happy that Michael Phelps has set the all time olympic medal record... by winning 4 golds and 2 silver medals in these olympics he now has 22 medals (18 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze).
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