Awards Banquet #1

Saturday night (2.21) was my company's annual awards banquet for our professionals. It's not an awards banquet for the home office. Nor was the following awards banquet three days later. So no awards for me...but all fun festivities.

The event was at Union Station, and it was breathtakingly beautiful. I now remember why we got our winter wedding pictures taken there (which I still need to order. It's always gnawing at me). I thought maybe I'd wait until her prices quadruple until I place my order.

Nicole, Keri and me.


Candace, Cathy and me.

The BB girls... Ashley, Keri, Nicole, Cathy, Candace and me.

Surprise! It's Diapers!

My sister-in-law, Ann, has been dead-set on NOT having any type of baby shower.

But those closest to her, of course, do not listen to her wishes.

Angie (friend from teaching), Rita (sorority sister) and I threw a surprise baby "diaper" shower last Friday at a local Mexican restaurant.

Somehow this 6-week secret never made it to Ann. My brother was also in on the plan and was a major help securing email addresses. I would have felt badly hacking into their computer.

He also transported Ann to the surprise destination. Ann is not a "late person" and, as anyone would be, was getting frustrated that my brother was doing everything slow and everything was taking so long. On the way to the surprise, Nate told his parents that when they get home they would have to go into his bedroom for time out!

Ann soon realized why my brother was being so slow! And to say she was surprised is an understatement!

Baby Boy Book Baby Shower

Baby Boy Book will be here in early March. My brother's firm threw Steve, Ann and Nate a very nice baby shower last Wednesday.

And since I work three floors below my brother, I got to join in on the festivities!

Baby Boy Book got set-up will all sorts of things.

And, so did Nate! Seriously, this kid raked in tons of presents at this shower for his brother. My brother works with very generous and kind people. They must really like him or something. :)

#1 & Where in the World is Steve Seiler?

Wednesday celebrated the first birthday of our youngest nephew, "aka lil' Steve Seiler" Cael! Happy 1st Birthday, Cael!

On Saturday in Des Moines, they are celebrating Cael's birthday and Steve's dad's birthday, Jer.

It is 4:40p.m. on Friday afternoon as I write this, and I honestly have no idea if my husband is in Kansas City, in his car on his way to DSM, or in Dez Monez.

Or maybe even none of the above.

He's been planning to go to DSM today and drive back early tomorrow afternoon. I can't go because I have a work awards banquet Saturday night Steve "gets" to go to. But he mentioned Iowa may get snow, it's a long 6-hours in the car for a short time, etc, etc, etc.

I have left him voicemails. I have emailed his sister asking if she knows where he is. I have called my brother.

Steve Seiler is no where to be found. But I'm not worried because the one thing I know is that he can run...but he can't hide.

My Valentine's Day Week Courtesy of Steve

Each day last week, Steve gave me a Valentine's Day present.

Monday: One red youth-sized Kansas City Chiefs t-shirt.

Tuesday: Two red Valentine's scratch-off lottery tickets (no winners).

Wednesday: Three boxes of Little Debbie's Nutty Bars, and three free publications with red in them.

Thursday: Nate spent the evening at our house!...that was the best gift.

Friday: A free "I heart Morocco" t-shirt. And we went to dinner at Pierpoints in Union Station.

Saturday: A car tire.

Camo Valentine's Day

My husband is leaving me for Valentine's Day.

I am completely fine with him leaving, because he's going to have a fun(ny) time at the Ducks Unlimited Banquet with Mark. Plus, they tried to go last year and a little thing called Mark's future daughter took the cake the night of last year's banquet.

Yep, Mark and Steve are staying overnight together on Valentine's Day in Albany, Mizzoura (I think it's fitting to pronounce it this way for this situation). And if they know what's good for them, they are going to score their "chicks" back home in KC some sweet camo loot.

I Think I Need A Tetanus Shot

Thanks to my genetically blessed DNA, I have had multiple moles removed. I've always dutifully spent the following two-weeks tending to their recovery.

Recently I had two removed from my back. Unfortunately, they are in places hands don't easily reach. So Steve became the lucky recipient of being responsible for applying ointment and bandages to my back every day for two-weeks.

The first couple of days I didn't pay attention to the bandages he was using. But then I saw what is pictured below, and the following conversation immediately ensued:

Me: Steve! Seriously, how old are these bandages?

Steve: I don't know, but they are definitely older than you.

Me: And why are the bandages in a BIOHAZARD bag?

Steve: You don't need to know.

Beth: Where the hell did you get these?

Steve: At a sale.

Beth: What kind of sale?

Steve: At a sale where they sell junk. They came with a bag of junk.

Beth: Oh my god! You have been covering multiple open wounds on my back with 50-year old bandages that came in a BIOHAZARD bag?

Steve: Yep.

Lovebirds

The answer to the question below is no. But I like to believe Steve would like all ISU alumni to know our story. And I know he'd like nothing more than to be an Iowa State Lovebird with me. I have noticed he does pay special attention to swans whenever we see one...

Roses are red, And Cy is, too! Do you and your sweetie Love ISU?

If while on campus You found your amore We invite you to join up And tell us your story Like the beautiful swans Are you birds of a feather? Do you share Cyclone love and pride together?

Sign up to join the ISUAA And become OFFICIAL Lovebirds today!

The ISU Alumni Association is excited to introduce "Lovebirds," a new benefit for members that allows couples who met on campus to tell their ISU love stories and enjoy special benefits. Join the ISU Alumni Association & sign up to be a part of Lovebirds today, and as our way of saying "thank you," you will receive a free "Lovebirds" logo chocolate from Ames-based chocolatier Temptations on Main Street.
FREE GIFT!
As a member of Lovebirds, you will continue to receive special surprise benefits throughout the year. This goes along with the other great benefits of ISU Alumni Association membership, which include VISIONS magazine; local and national discounts on events, programs, and services; our colorful ISU wall calendar, and more. Happy Valentine's Day from the ISU Alumni Association!
P.S. Celebrate Valentine's Day with our miniature ISU-themed Virtual Valentines. They're a fun way to show your ISU friends and family you're thinking of them.

Sunday Funday

Sunday was a Funday for Ann and me.

In December 2001, Steve and I were given a $30 gift certificate (before gift cards were mainstream) to enjoy the VIP Room at the Cinemark Theater on the Plaza.

It's now February 2009 and we still are hanging out with this gift certificate. It's not that we haven't discussed using it. We have just not found a movie we both wanted to see enough to do it in a special room. So it's been hanging out with our (aka Steve's) other coupons...which is a separate post in itself.

On Sunday, Steve kindly suggested Ann and I go to "He Just Not That Into You" VIP style.

A private auditorium with about 40 comfy leather recliners, wine (for me), Mr. Pibb (for Ann), a personal pizza and a server throughout the movie is exactly what this 9-month pregnant woman and her sister-in-law deserved!

It goes unsaid why Ann deserved this. Mine is more of a stretch, but in a few weeks, I will be taking care of my nephew and will have the important role at the hospital of touching up Ann's make-up and hair after Baby Boy Book is born and before photos are taken. Some (I realize only me) may say these roles are almost if not as important as my brother's role...

Old Flames

A social media site like Facebook was made for me. I love it, love it, love it. When I joined 1-1/2 years ago or so, I knew three people on it. Now I know something like 450 people.

Steve understands none of it. Facebook is the opposite of everything Steve Seiler. It is not his thing.

I've created a group for my sorority, and FB has been a great way, in general, to connect with high school friends and with Iowa Staters.

One of the many great things about the Greek system at Iowa State was not only that it was huge, but with all of the houses being so close and within walking distance, you knew a lot of people just from being around and about.

Someone created a new group on Sunday dealing with FAC (Friday After Class) at People's. When I joined there were around 10-members. This group has spread like wildfire, and now there are over 700 people who belong to this group.

Over lunch today I was looking through the members for this group and saw a name that looked familar but I couldn't figure out why.

And then it hit me...

It was Steve's college girlfriend.

And I got all excited.

I have only seen her once from afar. And to Steve's chagrin, I'm sure, I was wearing a big pink flower in my hair. I have never talked to her, but I really liked seeing her because they dated for a quite a while. She's cute, blond and tall (well, taller than 5' 2-1/2").

I immediately called Steve. I got his voicemail, so I left a message telling him I thought the profile I saw for "blank blank blank" was his college girlfriend based on her name and what she looked like, and I mentioned how we have five mutual friends...blah blah blah. Again, I was excited.

Steve then left me a voicemail informing me in a very businesslike manner that he was not aware of her married last name so he could not tell me if it was her or not.

That is soooo not the response I wanted from him. As I listened to his message I asked myself, "How are Steve and I so completely different people?" It reminded me that opposites, indeed, can and do attract!

Not the Super Bowl, but a form of it.

On Sunday while I was out and about, I received the following text from my husband:
"Went to play football with Guy and Steve."

I seriously laughed out loud in the middle of the store.

Guy lives across the street from Steve/Ann. We've gotten to know Guy well and he's a blast to be around. I laughed that my husband, brother and Guy were going to play football.

It turned out 10-15 mid-30ish aged guys were "eye candy" in one of those grassy knolls on Ward Parkway going towards the Country Club Plaza as they played one-touch football. They said they received some honks and even accidently pelted a mini-van.

A couple hours later, in walks the Steve's into our house. They both were muddy (who knew touch football was so muddy) and neither of them were walking normally.

As the night progressed at the Super Bowl party at Steve/Ann's, both of the Steve's were sitting strangely, walking even more strangely and at about a 10% of Nate's speed.

Not surprisingly, they are ready to do it again. It must be that high school "Athlete of the Year" coming out in both of them...