Thursday, July 14th, 2022

 Today is a special day, as Nolan is now NINE YEARS OLD!!  It's incredible how fast the boys are growing up.

To recap today, both of the boys stayed home from day camp while Elizabeth worked from home.  They had lots of time to relax and play.  After I got home from work, Nolan was able to open a few presents.  The main present that he got was a rock tumbler, to help polish rocks that he collects.  He also received a Minecraft-themed Uno card game, which we played with him tonight (Nolan won by the way).  

Then we took the boys over to Edwards, where a Kona Ice truck was there serving shaved ice.  After Nolan and Maxwell finished those treats, we all went out to Hickory Park to celebrate.  Nolan actually ordered off of the adult menu instead of the kids menu... which I believe is a first time ever.  I guess that is just another sign that he is getting big!  Anyways, he ordered a pork steak (basically two 4-oz smoked pork chops) dinner with a side of fries and a side of cottage cheese.  Maxwell had a hot dog kid's meal with mac & cheese, Elizabeth had a side of fries, and I had a pork tenderloin sandwich.  Of course, they came and sang happy birthday to Nolan, and the kids got ice cream for dessert.  

When we got home from supper, the boys got to stay up later than usual to have videos in bed.  I'd say they had a pretty good day today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOLAN!!

Here we are playing Nolan's new Uno card game.

Tuesday, June 14th, 2022

 Today I am feeling pretty exhausted following the trip that Elizabeth and I just went on to EUROPE!  That's right, we just returned home this morning after spending about 11 days in Europe.  We left for our trip on Friday, June 3rd, from Chicago.  We had a layover in Lisbon, Portugal for 4 hours, before flying to Brussels.  We spent about 4 days in Brussels, 3 days in Bruges, and 2 in Amsterdam before flying home from Amsterdam.  This was my first ever trip to Europe.

You could say that the "theme" of our trip was to find the best Belgian beers that we could.  We were able to drink at the famus Delirium bar in Brussels, we toured the Lindemans lambic beer factory, we toured "De Halve Maan" brewery in Bruge, the Heineken brewery in Amsterdam, and we even rented a car and drove to the Westvleteren monastary where monks make what may people have called "the best beer in the world".  As for that, Elizabeth and I both decided that the Westvleteren 12 was good but definitly not the "best in the world".  I actually thought that the Westvleteren 8 was better.  In total, I enjoyed 47 beers while on our trip.  However, I was not what I would call "drunk" at any point during out trip.  We mainly spaced out our beer consumption to a couple during lunch, some with supper, and then maybe one or two each evening.  Of all the beers that I tried, I would say that the St. Bernardus 12 was my favorite.  My top 5 would probably be: 1) St. Bernardus 12, 2) Leffe Brune, 3) Gouden Carolus Classic, 4) St. Bernardus Xmas, and 5) Westvleteren 8.

There were many things, good and bad, that I learned about Belgium and the Netherlands while we were there.  Some things that I did not like as much were the super narrow steps that were typical to find in the Air B&Bs that we stayed at, having to pay to use public restrooms, paying for water at most restaurants, and the fact that manual transmission cars are the norm.  Since it had been probably 20 years since I had driven a manual car, I was not the best at driving them when we rented a car to drive to Westvleteren.  I think that in the future I will not be renting cars if they are not automatic.

Of course the good things heavily outweighed the "bad" things during out trip.  It was amazing to see all of the old architecture in the cities that we visited.  I think that Grand Place in Brussels was my favorite of all of them.  Bruge did have a lot of charm with beautiful buildings basically wherever you looked.  The Bruge Belfry and the Church of Our Lady were both very beautiful buildings to see.  Speaking of the Church of Our Lady, I had no idea that it housed a sculpture from Michelangelo until we wandered into the church to take a look around.  Other landmarks that we were able to see include Atomium, manneken pis, Cinquantenaire Arch, a torture meuseum, a beer meuseum, and the Anne Frank house, among others.

We also enjoyed a bunch of good food while on our trip.  My favorite food was the Flemish beef stew that I had in Belgium.  It was basically a beef pot roast with the richest, most flavorful gravy that I've every had.  Of course we had our share of street food, from Belgian waffles, frites, herring, and stroopwaffles.  All in all, it was a good but exhausting trip, and now I am happy to be back home with the boys.

Elizabeth with the Grand Place lit up green.

Here I am outside fo Atomium.

This is the Bruge canal, and we were able to board a boat for a canal cruise ride at this location.

Here I am with the statue "Modonna" that was created by Michelangelo.

Saturday, March 19th, 2022

 The past couple of days have been my favorite time in sports all year.  That's right, it's March Maddness time!  

Last night I took Nolan with me to Hilton Coliseum, where we watched the Iowa State Cyclone women's basketball team defeat the University of Texas-Arlington Mavericks 78-71 in the first round of the NCAA tournament.  UT Arlington is a member of the Sun Belt Conference.  The Mavericks actually played well to start the game, and they led the Cyclones by as many as 12 points in the first half.  Thankfully, Ashley Joens was there to lead the comeback for Iowa State.  She scored a season-high 36 points for the Cyclones.  

The game did not tip-off until 9:00, so it was way past Nolan's bedtime by the time it was over.  He actually stayed awake for the entire game, and he did a good job cheering for the Cyclones.  The Iowa State women will now play Georgia tomorrow for a chance to move onto the sweet 16.  This was the fourth time that I have seen the ISU women play in the NCAA tournament.  The previous times were in 2019 when they defeated New Mexico State, a 2014 loss to Florida State, and a victory over Florida State in 2001.  

Of course, the women were not the only Cyclone team that came up big last night.  The men opened the first round of the NCAA tournament with a victory of their own, defeating the LSU Tigers by a score of 59-54.  Tyrese Hunter was the player of the game for Iowa State, as he connected on 7 threes, including a pair of huge triples at the end of the game.  The ISU men will face-off with Wisconsin tomorrow.  It's always a lot more fun to follow the NCAA tournament when your team is still playing!  

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022

 Oof.  I just got back from Hilton Coliseum, where Maxwell and I watched a stinker of a game by the Cyclones, as they fell to the Oklahoma State Cowboys on senior night, 53-36.  I don't care to go back and look, but the 36 points has to be the worst offensive showing that I have ever seen from Iowa State.  The Cyclones shot only 28% for the game, and they were 2-17 from three.  Izaiah Brockington led the Cyclones with 13 points, and Tyrese Hunter chipped in 12.  They were the only players for Iowa State with a pulse tonight.  There's not much else to say except that was horrible.

Tonight was the 18th time that I have taken Maxwell to an ISU basketball game.  Sadly, he's had poor luck with conference games lately, as the last game I brought him to was a loss to Kansas State in February.  This was also the second time that he has seen the Cowboys defeat ISU (2018 was the other).  At least he got to enjoy a clone cone tonight.  

This was the eighth time that I have seen the Cyclones play the Cowboys in basketball.  Iowa State has won six of those meetings (2020, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013), while Oklahoma State came out on top tonight and in 2018.  

Overall this year I was able to attend 13 men's basketball games, with the Cyclones going 10-3 in those games.  Really this year has been a pleasant surprise considering the low expectations that everyone had going into the season.  To recap the season:

Wins:

• Kennesaw State
• Oregon State
• Alabama State
• Grambling State
• Iowa
• Jackson State
• Southeastern Louisiana
• Texas Tech
• Oklahoma
• West Virginia

Losses:

• Baylor
• Kansas State
• Oklahoma State

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022

 WOW.  That was one heck of a finish that Nolan and I just witnessed at Hilton Coliseum.  The Cyclones overcame a 12-point second half deficit to defeat West Virginia, 84-81.

Izaiah Brockington was the hero for Iowa State, as he poured in a career high 35 points.  He also made the biggest play of the game.  Iowa State was down one point, and it looked like they would be forced to foul.  Instead, Brockington stole the inbound pass and immediately scored a short jumper with 22 seconds left to give Iowa State the lead.  West Virginia would miss a shot, and Gabe Kalscher secured the rebound.  He went on to make two free throws to help seal the game.  

Brockington was joined in double figures scoring for Iowa State by Kalscher (17) and Tyrese Hunter (10).  This was a big win for the Cyclones, as it greatly helped their NCAA tournament hopes.  The Cyclones now own a 19-9 record with three regular season games left to play.

Today's game was the 26th game that I have taken Nolan to, and it was his tenth conference game.  After today's game, the only Big 12 teams that Nolan has not seen Iowa State defeat are Kansas and Oklahoma State.  As for myself, this was the sixth time that I have seen ISU play the Mountaineers.  The Cyclones have won four of those meetings: tonight, 2019, 2018, and back in 2013.  West Virginia came out on top in 2020 and in 2017.

This game was a good lesson for Nolan that you should never give up.  At halftime he was pretty bummed that Iowa State was trailing by 10 points.  There was also a time late in the game where he declared "Iowa State is going to lose". 

Way to go STATE!

Saturday, February 19th, 2022

 Today I brought Nolan with me to Hilton Coliseum, where we attended Iowa State's convincing victory over the Oklahoma Sooners, 75-54.  Both teams came into today's game somewhere close to the NCAA tournament "bubble", so this was an important step for the Cyclones to help play their way into the tournament.

The game did not start out very well for Iowa State, as Oklahoma jumped out to an early 8-0 lead behind a pair of three-pointers from Jacob Groves.  However, Iowa State found a hot shooting touch in the first half, and managed to lead 40-25 at halftime.  In the second half, the Sooners would get as close as 5 points, but Iowa State managed to go on a 15-0 run down the stretch to put the game away.

Izaiah Brockington was the player of the game for Iowa State, as he led the team with 22 points. He was joined in double figures scoring by Tyrese Hunter (14) and Aljaz Kunc (11). 

Today's game was the 25th men's basketball game that I have taken Nolan to, and it was his ninth conference game.  Eventually, I would like to take both kids to see Iowa State defeat every conference foe in basketball.  I'm not sure if that's possible with the current make-up of the Big 12, as Texas and Oklahoma will likely be leaving soon for the SEC.  Anyways, as of today, Nolan has attended victories against Oklahoma, Texas (2020), Baylor (2018), Texas Tech (2017), Kansas State (2016), and TCU (2014). 

As for myself, today was the eighth time that I have seen the Cyclones play Oklahoma in basketball (and the seventh victory).  Those victories include today, 2020, 2019, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013.  The lone win for Oklahoma came back in 2003.  

Go Cyclones!

I wore a white shirt for today's game, as the crowd was supposed to be a "white out". 

Saturday, February 12th, 2022

 This afternoon I took Maxwell with me to Hilton Coliseum, where we watched the Cyclones lose a heartbreaker to the Kansas State wildcats, 75-69 in overtime.  Iowa State started off hot and led 13-0 early on, which included 11 points from Aljaz Kunc.  The Cyclones led by as many as 15 points early in the second half, only to watch their lead slip away due to costly turnovers and hot shooting from K-State in the second half.  In overtime, Markquis Nowell made a big three pointer to put the Wildcats up 5 with about a minute to play, which was the dagger for ISU.

Izaiah Brockington was the player of the game for Iowa State, as he scored a game-high 27 points.  Aljaz Kunc was the only other Cyclone in double figures, with 19.  

I believe that today's game was the 17th ISU basketball game that I have taken Maxwell to, and it was the third time that he has seen ISU play K-State.  The last game I took Maxwell to was against Southeastern Louisiana.  Tonight was the eighth time that I have seen the Cyclones play Kansas State.  That includes victories in 2020, 2017, 2016, 2013, 2012, and 2003.  Kansas State won in 2019 and today.