Saturday, April 11th, 2020

So, wow.  A lot has changed in this world since my last blog post.  It was a month ago today that Nolan last had school (March 11th), and that will likely be his last day of first grade.  Due to the new coronavirus and COVID-19, the world as we know it has came to a screeching halt.   Elizabeth has not been working from her office since March 13th.  It's a good thing that she has been able to work from home during that time.  As of now, I am still going into the office, but my hours have been reduced to working only 3 days a week.  When I first enter my building my temperature is taken, and I am screened for any COVID-19 symptoms.  All gatherings of over 10 people are cancelled.  Restaurants and bars are all closed, although some places still offer takeout.  All sports have been cancelled, which included my favorite sporting event of the year... March Madness. 

As of today in Iowa, there have been 1,510 positive cases of COVID-19, with 122 of those new cases just today.  A total of 34 Iowans have died from the virus.  As of this afternoon, a total of 20,229 people in the United States have died.  Millions of people across the country are out of work.  It's hard to find any news story that is not related to COVID-19.  People are advised to stay at least 6 feet away from others.  Just going grocery shopping has been a big deal.  There was a rush on toilet paper, and it's been hard to find it recently in stores.  We try to only go to the grocery store once a week or less now. 

The price of gas in Ames today is $1.79 at most places.  I actually heard a report of gas just under $1.00 somewhere in Missouri this week. 

My family has definitely been feeling cabin fever recently.  The boys have a hard time being cooped up in the house all day.  We take them for walks, but even the playground equipment at the parks are closed, so we just have to stay on the trails.  The highlight of today was just ordering takeout from Pizza Pit.  Elizabeth and I have been trying to support some local restaurants as best as we can.  For my birthday I ordered some brisket from Cornbred BBQ. 

Cheese pizza for the kids.

Sausage and onions for me :)

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020

Well, the 2019-2020 Iowa State men's home basketball season has come to an end.  Tonight I went over to Hilton to watch the Cyclone's Senior Night game against West Virginia, and the Mountaineers came out on top, 77-71.  West Virginia played well in the first half and took a 44-31 lead into the locker room, but the Cyclones managed to fight back in the second half and actually led by 4 points with about 9 minutes left to play.  Unfortunately, the Mountaineers made the key plays down the stretch and came out with the win.  Tonight's ISU seniors were Michael Jacobson and Prentiss Nixon.

Rasir Bolton led the Cyclones with 21 points.  He was joined in double figures scoring for Iowa State by Nixon (19) and Solomon Young (11).  Tonight marks the fifth time I have seen a game between ISU and WVU.  The Cyclones won in 2019, 2018, and 2013, while West Virginia won tonight and back in 2017.

Overall this season I saw 11 wins and 4 losses:

Wins:

• Mississippi Valley State
• Northern Illinois
• Southern Miss
• UMKC
• Seton Hall
• Purdue Fort Wayne
• Oklahoma
• Oklahoma State
• Kansas State
• Texas
• TCU

Losses:

• Iowa
• Florida A&M
• Kansas
• West Virginia

Tuesday, February 25th, 2020

Tonight I was able to take Eben with me to watch the Cyclones defeat the TCU Horned Frogs, 65-59. 
Tonight's game was much more stressful than it needed to be.  Iowa State started the game well and led at halftime 41-25.  The Cyclones would lead by 18 points early in the second half, only to squander the large lead they had built.  TCU actually led the game 55-53 with just over 5 minutes left to play.  It was frustrating to watch the Cyclones almost let the game slip away from them.  Thankfully, Iowa State was able to make some plays down the stretch to seal the victory.  Solomon Young was the player of the game for Iowa State, as he led the team with 20 points.  He also made a big basket down the stretch.  He was joined in double figures scoring for the Cyclones by Tre Jackson (18) and Rasir Bolton (11).  Both Bolton and Jackson hit some key free throws with less than a minute left to help ice the game. 

Tonight is the 6th time that I have been to a basketball game between TCU and Iowa State.  The Cyclones have won five of those games (tonight, 2017, 2015, 2014, and 2013).  TCU's only win came in 2019. 

Go State!

Saturday, February 15th, 2020

Today has been a good day so far.  For starters, the temperature got into the low 40s, so there has been lots of melting snow.  That always makes me happy.  Another thing that made me happy was taking Nolan over to Hilton Coliseum, where we watched the Iowa State Cyclones dominate the Texas Longhorns, 81-52.  I was not expecting such a dominant performance from Iowa State, especially since their star player, Tyrese Haliburton, is now out for the rest of the season due to a wrist fracture.

Michael Jacobson was the player of the game for Iowa State, as he led the team in scoring (21) and rebounding (13).  He was joined in double figures by Solomon Young (17), Prentiss Nixon (17), and Rasir Bolton (10).  The Cyclones got out to an early lead in this game, led by 11 at halftime, scored the first 9 points of the second half, and cruised to an easy victory. 

I believe that this is the 20th ISU men's basketball game that Nolan has attended with me, and it was his 7th conference game.  Like I mentioned in my previous post, one of my goals is to take both Nolan and Maxwell to victories over each of Iowa State's conference opponents.  As of today, Nolan has now seen wins vs Texas, Baylor (2018), Texas Tech (2017), Kansas State (2016), and TCU (2014). 

As for myself, today was the 8th time that I have attended a game between ISU and Texas.  The Cyclones are 7-1 in those games, including wins today, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, and back in 2004.  Texas's lone win came in 2018. 

The Cyclones won the opening tip-off.

GO CYCLONES!!

Saturday, February 8th, 2020

Maxwell and I just got back from Hilton Coliseum, where we witnessed Iowa State's victory over the Kansas State Wildcats, 73-63.  Coming into tonight's game, the Cyclones and the Wildcats were tied for 8th place in the conference with 2-7 records.  The only conference team with a worse record is Oklahoma State.  Despite this not exactly being a battle of heavyweights, it was nice to see the Cyclones come out on top.  Especially considering that Iowa State's best player Tyrese Haliburton had to leave the game late in the first half after re-aggravating a left wrist injury.

Prior to Haliburton's injury, the Cyclones opened up a 21 point lead in the first half.  Kansas State was able to get within 4 points in the second half before Iowa State managed to get some separation with timely shooting by Terrence Lewis and Prentiss Nixon.  The player of the game today had to be Solomon Young, who scored 20 points.  He was joined in double figures for the Cyclones by Rasir Bolton (13) and Lewis (12).

I believe that tonight marks Maxwell's 14th ISU men's basketball game, and it is his 7th conference game.  One of my goals is to eventually take both Nolan and Maxwell to wins over every team in the Big 12.  After tonight, Maxwell has now seen wins vs Kansas State, West Virginia (2018), TCU (2017), and Baylor (2017). 

Tonight was the seventh time that I have been to an ISU/KSU basketball game.  I'm happy to say that the Cyclones are 6-1 in those games, which includes victories in 2017, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2003, and today.  Kansas State's only win came in 2019. 

Maxwell was pretty tired by the end of the game.  Since it was a 7:00 tip-off, the game did not get over until around 9:00.  

Tuesday, January 21st, 2020

Tonight I went with Jeremy Seago to Hilton Coliseum, where we watched the Iowa State Cyclones defeat the Cowboys of Oklahoma State, 89-82.  It's been kind of a down year for Iowa State basketball, so it was nice to see the good guys get back on track.  Solomon Young was the player of the game for Iowa State, as he came off the bench to score a career high 27 points (including 13-15 free throws).  Young played with a lot of energy, as he also had 9 rebounds and 2 blocked shots.  He was joined in double figures scoring for the Cyclones by Rasir Bolton (21) and Tyrese Haliburton (20). 

Tonight was the seventh time that I have watched the Cyclones and Cowboys play basketball.  Iowa State has won six of those contests (tonight, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014, and in 2013), while the Cowboys won back in 2018. 

GO CYCLONES!

Saturday, January 11th, 2020

Happy New Year everyone.  Tonight I am pleased to say that Iowa State is back in the win column, after an 81-68 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners.  Jeremy Seago went with me to tonight's game, to watch the strong performance by the Cyclones.   Iowa State came out this game with a lot of intensity,  and they were able to build a 17 point lead at halftime, 42-25.  One amazing play that will stick out from this game was a steal right before halftime that led to a Tyrese Haliburton three pointer at the buzzer, just across the half court line.  It is worth noting that tonight was George Conditt's first career start.  However, the player of tonight's game has to be Rasir Bolton, who led all scorers with 23 points.  Bolton was joined in double figures scoring for the Cyclones by Haliburton (15), Tre Jackson (12), and Terrence Lewis (10).  It was nice to have a couple of players step up on the bench and hit some shots.  In the second half the Cyclones were able to lead by as many as 26 points.

Tonight marks the seventh time that I have seen Iowa State play Oklahoma, with the Cyclones winning six of those contests (2019, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, and tonight), while the Sooners won back in 2003 when I was a student at ISU. 

Cyclones win!!

Iowa State won the opening tip.