Monday, May 27th, 2024

 HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

This weekend our family drove over to Nebraska, and we spent Saturday & Sunday camping with the Shostaks at Platte River State Park.  

There were quite a few things that we were able to enjoy during our time there, including: playing at a splash pad, a playground with a small "zip line", climbing to the top of an observation tower, going on a hike to a small waterfall, going kayaking, checking out a nature center, and of course making a fire and having smores / hot dogs.  

At the nature center, the kids were able to pet a few animals such as a turtle and a snake.  

Anyways, it was nice to spend some time with Amy, Brandon, Logan, & Emma!

Sunday, May 5th, 2024

 Today Nolan and I came back home after a fun weekend camping and fishing at Yellow River.  We met up with Jon, Matt, Jeremy, and Tyler during the trip.  

Nolan was lucky because I took him out of school on Friday so we could drive up that morning.  We had sunny weather on Friday, but the stream was a little cloudy because it had been raining quite a bit earlier in the week.  We did try to fish at the spot right by camp and down a ways by the first fork in the path, but we did not have even a nibble at either place.  We blamed the bad luck on the cloudy water.  We had a nice campfire Friday night, and Nolan enjoyed making smore's. The sky was nice and clear so that we could see the stars easily.

Saturday morning I took Nolan to the handicap accessible fishing hole.  I had never actually tried this spot before, but it turned out to be pretty good!  I caught 2 rainbow trout, and we both had quite a few other bites.  Nolan was getting a bit frustrated because he was not having much luck setting the hook when he would get a bite.  We came back to camp after about an hour of fishing, and I cleaned the two trout.  Then it rained fairly hard for an hour and a half, so we hung out under the canopy tent to stay dry.   After the rain stopped Nolan wanted to try his luck fishing again, so we went back to the same handicap area.  He caught 2 rainbow trout all by himself!  At this point we decided that whoever catches the next trout would be the "winner", since our daily limit is 5 trout.  We tried a bit more fishing by the hole next to camp with no luck, only to head back to the handicap area once again.  I hooked a trout and got it right up to the water's edge before it got away, so I was close to "winning".  Then after a bit Nolan caught his third trout of the day, and he became the Salton fishing champion for the year.

After all of the fishing we relaxed back at camp with everyone else.  Jeremy and Matt had gone fishing at Big Paint, and Jeremy ended up catching 2 brown trout.  One of them was a big16-inch trout.  Saturday night also had clear skies that was good for star gazing.  

Nolan and I camped at site #120 this year, the same as last year.  However, everyone else had changed spots and were a ways away from us.  Next year I should try to reserve something like campsite #115 or #117.  

Here are a few other years that I have blogged about fishing at Yellow River: 2023, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2014, 2013, and 2012. 

Nolan posing with the Harpers Ferry sign.

Here is one of the rainbow trout that I caught Saturday morning.

Nolan with one of his rainbow trout.

Sunday, April 21st, 2024

 We had a fun weekend, as the Shostaks came over to visit, and Amy came with me to Cy's House of Trivia.

Our team name for this year's Cy's House of Trivia was "Rocco's Modern Life".  Our team members included Dan & Anne Becker, Tim & Lydia Nevins, Ryan Butler, Rob Haaland, and myself & Amy.  The trivia categories were: War Movies, Which/who came first, Cartoon characters, where in the world, stage names, sports photos, finish the lyrics, and super bowl commercials.  We definitely could have used Elizabeth on the team this year for the finish the lyrics category.  Overall, our team ended up 53rd out of 100.  Last year we had a better showing.

Today, the Shostaks stayed around to watch Nolan's soccer game.  His Ames Soccer Club team ended up in a tie game with Ankeny, 3-3.  It was fun to watch him run around and compete.  Nolan is playing as a defenseman.  

Sunday, March 31st, 2024

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

That's right.  Today I turned the big 4-0.  Mike Gundy would say that "I'm a man" now.  

To celebrate, I took Elizabeth and the boys up to Eben's farm for the weekend.  I had requested a birthday meal at Godfather's Pizza in Spencer.  The reason for this was because I could remember that Lynn had her 40th birthday there, so this way I could honor her.  Lynn's favorite pizza was pepperoni, but she also really enjoyed their taco pizza.

Our pizza party was yesterday evening at 6:30.  Prior to that, dad drove us up to Milford to enjoy some beers at the West O brewery.  Well, Elizabeth and I enjoyed some beers.  The kids had root beer / cream soda, and dad was fine without any of that.  Of course, I had to order an Ames Lager, which helps to support the We Will foundation for ISU athletes.  I also ordered the Coco stout nitro and the Lake Beast, which is a New England IPA.  Both of them were quite tasty.  

Another fun thing to note about today, other than it being my birthday (and Christian's), is that today happens to be Easter.  This is the fourth time during my lifetime that Easter has fallen on my birthday.  The previous times were in 1991, 2002, and 2013. It won't happen again until 2086... when I would be 102 years old!

Cheers to 40!

Wednesday, March 6th, 2024

 THE CYCLONES ARE UNDEFEATED AT HILTON!!

Today Amy drove over from Omaha and attended Iowa State's 68-63 senior night victory over the BYU Cougars with me.  With the win, the Cyclones finished off a perfect 18-0 season at home.  It was the first time they have accomplished the feat since the 2000-2001 season.  

Iowa State came into the game ranked #6, while BYU was ranked #20 in the country. The game itself was stressful to watch.  The Cougars led by 11 points at halftime, and with just under 16 minutes left to play they still led Iowa State by a score of 46-32.  The Cyclones mounted a spirited comeback behind Tamin Lipsey and Curtis Jones, along with a great defensive effort.  BYU was held scoreless for the last 4:24 of the game.  I would say that Tamin Lipsey was the player of the game for Iowa State, as he led the team with 19 points and had 5 steals.  Curtis Jones was the only other Cyclone in double figures, with 18 points.

It had been 2 years since Amy attended a basketball game with me.  The last time she was at an ISU basketball game was against Southeastern Louisiana back in 2021. 

As for myself, this was the second time that I have watched a game between Iowa State and BYU.  The first time was a win back in 2012. 

I am excited to see how Iowa State wraps up the rest of the season.  They should be in position to have a great seed in the NCAA tournament, and it looks like they will be a 2 seed in the Big 12 tournament.

Here is a recap of the games I attended this year:

Wins:

• BYU
• Oklahoma
• West Virginia
• Texas Tech
• TCU
• Kansas
• Oklahoma State
• New Hampshire
• Eastern Illinois
• Florida A&M
• Prairie View A&M
• Iowa
• Idaho State
• Lindenwood

Losses: NONE!

LET'S GO STATE!

Wednesday, February 28th, 2024

 I'm excited right now, as Maxwell and I just got home from watching another fun win for Iowa State.

The #8 Cyclones took down the Oklahoma Sooners in the last meeting between the two schools as Big 12 opponents, 58-45.  I was nervous coming into the game, as this was Maxwell's last opportunity to watch the Cyclones knock off the Sooners before leaving to the SEC.  One of my goals was to take each kid to see a basketball win against each Big 12 school, and that could have been spoiled if Oklahoma won today... but thankfully the good guys came out on top!

As for the game, it was not pretty offensively.  None of Iowa State's starters managed to score in double figures.  The player of the game for ISU was Demarion Watson, who came off the bench to score a career-high 15 points and collect 9 rebounds.  The only other Cyclone in double figures was Curtis Jones (11).  

This was the 31st men's basketball game that I have taken Maxwell to.  He has now witnessed wins against each of the old Big 12 schools, except for Oklahoma State.  Of course he still needs to see wins against all of the new Big 12 schools.

Today's game was the tenth time that I have seen the Cyclones play the Sooners.  Iowa State has won eight of those, including today, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013.  Oklahoma won in 2023 and 2003.

GO CYCLONES!

Saturday, February 24th, 2024

 LET'S GO CYCLONES!!

Today I took Nolan over to Hilton Coliseum, where we watched the #6 Iowa State Cyclones survive a scare from the West Virginia Mountaineers, 71-64.  Coming into the game, I was expecting this to be an easy win for Iowa State.  West Virginia was last place in the Big 12 Conference, but give them credit for keeping the game close.  The Mountaineers opened up the game on fire, as they led 11-2.  Iowa State would respond to take a 40-30 lead at halftime.  In the second half West Virginia came back to take the lead 51-50 with about 9 minutes left to play.  Then Iowa State went on a 14-0 run that ended up putting the game away.  

I would say that Tamin Lipsey was the player of the game for the Cyclones, as he led the team with 14 points and 6 assists.  The only other player for Iowa State in double figures scoring was Curtis Jones (12).  

Today's game was the 36th men's basketball game that I have taken Nolan to.  It was the second time that he has witnessed a win vs West Virginia (2022).  As for myself, this was the seventh game that I have watched between the Cyclones and Mountaineers (and the fifth win).  Iowa State also came out on top in 2022, 2019, 2018, and in 2013.  West Virginia won in 2020 and 2017.