I...O...W...A!

I survived my first Iowa game and learned a few things along the way.

1) Never underestimate the power of a good thermos. Josh and I dropped $20 on one prior to the game in hopes that it would keep my hot chocolate and Bailey's warm during the two hour drive to Iowa City and the three hours before the actual game...and it did!

2) I'm not above looking foolish in an attempt to stay warm when the temps are falling. That is why I wore seven shirts, two pairs of pants, two pairs of socks, one hat and for a brief moment two pairs of gloves (I discarded one of the pairs when I figured out that I wasn't capable of opening or holding anything, or using the restroom with both pairs).

3) One of the most entertaining things about going to a sporting event are the crazies that you end up sitting next to during the game. We were fortunate enough to stand near a long haired blond fellow who yelled about every call that was made, played a mean air guitar to "Black Betty" and made lots of emphatic gestures/mime motions.

4) In the I...O...W...A! cheer it is not so good to be the W. Way too many syllables so it takes longer to say than the other letters, thus making it impossible to yell as loud as I, O or A. Next time if I'm in the W section I'm switching seats. I think I was born to be an O.

Overall, it was a fun experience and I hope that we get to go to more games. I think it would be a real treat if we could go to one where I only have to wear one to two layers. :)

Here's Grizzly Adams and BJ before the game.



Jill and I trying to stay warm. If you look closely, you can see that I'm sporting some man hands, a special effect from the double glove combo.

Carpet Diem!

'Slowly but surely wins the race' has become the new mantra for our basement remodel. Currently, we're waiting on carpet and the sectional from Homemakers. Next step is a bar and chairs for the game table we found on Craigslist.

July 2008.

August 2008

November 2008-this is just the pad, still waiting on the actual carpet.

Artsy

Every year at the Des Moines Arts Festival, Josh and I hem and haw about whether to take the plunge and buy something from one of the many artists on display. This past summer though we jumped in head first and walked away with three pictures. Five months later, we bought frames for these pictures.

We're hanging this in our basement eventually. As mentioned previously, we're in the middle of a little home renovation.

These photos were taken in Ireland. They'll be hung in our bedroom...eventually. That's another little home renovation I'd like to undertake next year.

I tried my hand at getting artsy as well this week. That is to say, I printed out a few wedding pictures from our photographer and put them in frames from Crate and Barrel.

These need to be hung somewhere in the living room.

Announcement

Over the past few months, some of our favorite people have made special announcements regarding a "special delivery" that they'll be getting soon. At this time, Josh and I also feel compelled to share our own announcement with all of you. Today we received a special delivery of our own. He's 50" and we expect that he'll bring a lot of joy, not only to our lives, but to all that visit our home. We welcome him with open arms as the biggest addition to our little family.

Note: This is just a temporary space for our little guy. He'll be heading down to the basement as soon as we get carpet.

The Little Boys Room

After a fresh coat of paint, a good scrubbing and a new floor, the downstairs bathroom that was once reserved for "manly men" or fearless souls has been reclaimed and is fit for the needs of all of our guests. Now I'm just counting down the days when I can say that about the rest of our basement.

Perfect for anyone who doesn't want to make the trek to the upstairs bathroom during a Hawkeye/Cubs/Bears game/other fun basement activities.

Buzz Off

Breaking news: In the past year or so, scientific studies reported that the bee population is on a steady decline and that perhaps this species is on the brink of extinction. However, on October 31, it was reported that a swarm of bees took Court Ave. in Downtown Des Moines by storm. Needless to say, this sighting has the entomology and bee-keeping world abuzz with the possibility of a bee resurgence.

Top, left to right: BYOB, Queen Bee, Beehive, B. Real from Cypress Hill, Worker Bee, Bea Arthur. Bottom, left to right: Spelling Bee, Killer Bee, Sweat Bee, B-Boy, Cuban Bee.


A deadly combination: Seek medical care immediately if you encounter the killer bee and Cuban bee.