Saying Goodbye to Georges

I attended my first back when I was a college coed in the late 1970's. My friend Jane Flack scored tickets from her family - great ones in middle, hard to get today. Of course back during the Coach Lynn Nance years - nobody went to the games. Ames High grad Chuck Harmison was on the team, along with Dean Uthoff. He's related to a kid who plays for another team in Iowa right now.

I'm fairly certain Iowa State lost that game. Nobody cared much about basketball when I was a student - wrestling was more the thing. I recall the excitement when wrestlers like Frank Santana, NCAA stud walked into a bar we were in. Paul says he would drink beer right out of the pitcher. Most of the wrestlers I saw had cauliflower ear - not attractive, in my view. So let's get back to basketball.

Iowa State did have some basketball history prior to those 1970's doldrums, in the 1950's and again when Johnny Orr marshaled in the Hilton Magic era and on to the Larry Eustachy years. Paul and I purchased basketball tickets for a few men's and women's games as our children grew up. One year we took them to see ISU play Kansas when Roy Williams coached, staying at the Gateway where the KU team stayed. Jud was thrilled when Roy waved at him as we pulled away from the motel.

Once our children attained independence (and we were no longer driving to high school basketball games twice a week), Iowa State University offered some very reasonable season ticket prices, and Paul and I snatched them up. Can you say Nosebleed? It's a 2 hour drive from Creston to Ames, so we missed most of the weekday games, and it was the Coach Greg McDermott era, so the team wasn't all that great. But we got our money's worth.

Jud and me at the B12 tourney - after we win baby!

After a couple years, the Goldsmiths moved down to the big time! Okay it was only about 10 rows down - so we are no longer second from the top. But aisle seats! Later when we moved to West Des Moines, it go much easier to make more games as it's only a 45 minute drive.

Creighton hired away GMac (Coach Greg McDermott - who was a very nice man but didn't seem to be getting the job done at ISU) and ISU took a leap of faith and hired former ISU and professional hoops player (and son of my college advisor) Fred Hoiberg. The program flourished!

Fred's tenure was a fun ride. For one thing, he is not hard on the eyes and wore great suits at games. The team improved consistently as he learned on the job. There were some exciting finishes - especially as the talent level increased in the ISU ranks. Some of my best sports memories happened in the last two years at the Big 12 Tourney with my friends and my husband and son and Kara by my side. Priceless! Last year after the season, Fred had a chance move on from the college game to achieve his life's dream - to coach professional basketball for the Chicago Bulls. Sad for us, happy for him. Enter good guy coach, Steve Prohm who should be allowed several seasons to get his team and system in place in my opinion.

Fred Hoiberg recruited many talented players who Paul and I enjoyed watching these past few years. One has become one my all time favorites. Georges (pronounced George) Niang will play his last game in Ames on Monday night. I am going to miss him as a player - unique in today's game (so much so that it's become a Bingo card drinking game joke to listen for how game announcing teams will describe his old many YMCA moves) and hard for other teams to guard. I'll also miss the character that he is - not that I know him personally, but through interviews, too countless to number. He's always crediting the fans and he himself is a big fan of ISU and Ames, Iowa. Monday night he'll be asked to give a little speech after the game. I think there will be a few tears shed - by me and many others including manly men. Someday I'll be looking up (from my cheap seat) at Georges's jersey hanging from the rafters.

Before last night's game, we met Mary and Dana at Whiskey River for a bit to eat. It was fun to catch up with them. After the game we met Kevin and Kari at Dublin Bay for a brew and to celebrate a nice victory over Kansas State. ISU games bring us together with pals and we're thankful for that!

Kevin and Kari after Saturday's win

My week...in an allergic nutshell

Whoo! What a busy winter week. It had everything. A winter storm, freezing cold and wind, Cyclone hoops, a medical appointment and a dancing date with my honey. I was exhausted by Friday.

Paul and I left early from work Monday - as the snow started flying late morning. I picked him up on the Locust Street bridge about 2:30 p.m. and it was snowing heavily by then. I avoided the Freeway - sticking to Grand and Ashworth on my way home - slowed down by a wreck on Valley West Drive. By the time we were just a few blocks from home, it was nearly impossible to see - between my frozen windshield wipers and the heavy snow. My co-pilot wasn't much help on EP True Parkway - where I couldn't see the curb or lanes. I was glad to pull into the driveway of our place! Des Moines ended up with six inches.

Tuesday night the ISU Men's basketball team had an 8 p.m. basketball game. Late night for the Gsmiths! We were lucky it didn't turn into overtime - a close game, but the Cyclones pulled it out. Phew. By the time we left Hilton, the cold had started ratcheting up. Schools were beginning to cancel for the next day.

Wednesday was Allergy Test day. Yes Dear Reader, it's more about My Health. Skip over if bored. I find it fascinating, of course...
Turn on the Wayback Machine. When I was about 4 years old, my parents took me to Iowa City to see an allergist. Since then, I've seen allergists throughout my life at various times. It's been at least 10 years since the last time I have been tested. So much more is known now about allergies than in 1960...and 1970. I had shots until I was 18 years old.


the red one is cockroach

Now I know allergies do more than just cause itchy eyes and nose. The medicine I'm taking for Grave's Disease is helping me feel better, but despite that, I have been effected with headaches for the past couple months. This time of year is when I do get more headaches. Why? I'm hoping these tests help me proactively approach this problem.

I remember that when my Iowa City allergist retired, I changed to a new one in Omaha when I was in Junior High. That was the first time I remember going through the testing similar to what I did last week - the needle prick with the offending material. This time I also had to report on several materials 24 and 48 hours after the test.

What I discovered: I reacted to Wheat, Eggs, Milk, Beef, Soy. Wow - that's a bit overwhelming. I eat that stuff all the time. The doctor's office suggests that I emit all of those from my diet for 2 weeks and see how I feel. Then I should slowly add them back in. My shopping list will be different this week! I also reacted to the usual suspects like dust, dogs, cats, mold, and cockroaches. Yep...dirty little rascals. Why would we worry about them? Evidently they are in chocolate! Google the two...ugh!

I have a couple goals. Reduce the number of dust mites in my bedroom and clean up my diet. Odie will be put in a bag. haha. No not really. Part of me thinks that changing my diet is a stretch. I've been eating all of these things all my life. But I'll give it a try - just like in 7th grade when I missed all the good foods Mrs. Elming helped us cook in Home Economics class when I went through this same thing.

Wednesday night Paul and I attended Book of Mormon at the DSM Civic Center. It was our second time to see this decadent raunchy show. I love the music and this show makes me laugh. Another past my bedtime night though...

Thursday evening Paul and I snagged broasted chicken at the Tavern in Valley Junction before attending our first Ballroom Dance class in a series of eight. Yes, it's the exact same class we took a year ago - with instructors Jim and Suzi. Jim tells the same 'ol jokes. Paul and I laughed at each other - again! My how dancing tires you out - even if you're in shape from walking miles toting a tree stand like he is.

I couldn't wait for Friday to roll around so I didn't have to go anywhere! I was tired. I did run down to Creston that afternoon and pick up my new Kate Spade glasses. It was a quick jaunt and I didn't stop anywhere else. The trip brought back memories of my commuting years though. I don't miss them!

I drove by Green Valley Chemical - where an explosion this week took the life of Eldon Ray, who sat in front of us at church at Holy Spirit for many years. We watched Eldon and his wife Cindy nurture their grandson. Periodically their daughter would join them. Thoughts and prayers go out to her and her children.

I scrubbed the allergist's numbers off my arm in time for a water aerobics class at the Y this a.m. Amy and her friend Corey are coming through DSM next week and we're looking forward to that. Winter is a busy time it seems!