Happy Birthday Old Block!

Happy Birthday Mike Noyd!

Today is Eric's Dad's birthday. I like Mike, he cracks me up. On of my favorite moments was being at Mike and Linda's house for dinner and card playing one night… perhaps just the second time I ever met/hung out with the Noyd clan… and Mike asking me during a lull in the card game "Do you fart in your sleep?" I thought it was great because one, it is an excellent question, and two, the look on everyone else's face was priceless. Eric was pretty cool, he knew me rather well by then and knew I would think it was funny… but Travis was beside himself with "Gee Dad, she's new did you have to quiz her about farting so early?!". The answer to the question was "I assume I do, but I haven't ever been awaken by said farts so I can't confirm" If this topic sounds familiar it is because I blogged about it when it happened.

Mike is also quite the Cash Cab player. When we were in Springfield for the Masonic Grand Lodge (state meeting for Masons) were were killing some time before a dinner in Mike's hotel room. Eric and I introduced him to our favorite show Cash Cab (a game show you play in a cab in NYC that is on Discover) and he was totally into it. We definitely need to get to NYC sometime and take a cab ride… I think the three of us make a good team and could win some serious cash.

I see a lot of Mike in Eric... that's a good thing by the way. You might say that Eric is a "chip off the old block"… hence the title of this post. They both have kind of a quiet side where they are content to take in the surroundings and situation and wait to jump into the conversation only when they have something of consequence to say. The both can be quite literal and punny, and even silly at times. They both know their Bible and are truly men of God, and put family first. I must say that as I write this I am very thankful that my future-husband has had his dad as a role model… I think I will be in good hands.

Happy Birthday Mike!

DW, The Preacher, That Weird Guy from Florida, The Happy Couple and Darn It I Love The Guy in the Funny Blue Hat!

Hang on everyone, I have lots of random things to blog about.

Friday night I went to the Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz game at the Assembly Hall. I was supposed to go with my three nephews but Eric Pfeiffer (now referred to by his last name as not to be confused with my Eric, Eric Noyd) has to cancel because it was senior night for his golf team, so my Dad filled in.

I was great to see Deron Williams... former Illini and Olympic gold medalist. He is big time now... as you can see in this picture, he has his own stretcher now. Lane was totally geeked out to see DWill and even wore one of his retro DWill Illini shirts, oh how we miss #5. He was yelling and cheering for him all night.

Jeremy and I were very entertained by all of the non-basketball stuff as well. We are now huge Benny the Bull fans, especially when he was sporting his Illini shirt.

A pleasant surprise was getting to see The Preacher, former Illini Roger Powell play for the Bulls and he actually scored six points. I think it was perhaps even more exciting than seeing DWill because we all knew Deron would do well in the NBA but who knew we would get to see the Preacher... you have to admire that kind of perseverance.

Another Bulls player is Joakim Noah, or as Lane referred to him before the game when we were talking about the teams that were playing... "That Weird Guy from Florida". I don't really have much against the guy... he plays hard, but I have to agree he is kind of weird... the goggles and the fuzzy hair don't help much either.

Saturday I headed to the QC to see Eric. I had gotten a voicemail from Nathan and called him on the drive up. He had some very exciting news... he and Stacey are engaged!!!! Yippeee!!!! I am so happy for them. Nathan and Stacey started dating about the same time that Eric and I did, and it just took me back to a conversation Nathan and I had one afternoon last winter about how we thought that we had each thought we had found "the one" and that we thought is was just so crazy that it happened at the same time and that we didn't know who to be happier for... ourself or the other one.

Saturday night I went to a Scottish Rite banquet with Eric. He was awarded the Moline Cross award for service to their organization. FYI, Scottish Rite is a Masonic organization... kind of like the Shriners is a Masonic organization but without the funny little cars that they drive in parades. Eric did get a cute little blue hat that he gets to wear. I am really proud of all of the service work he does. He takes care of everyone else just as well as he takes care of me.

In other random news...Kudos to Busey Bank. They are going to let me work from home, which is awesome. First, I like my job. Second, I have 12+ years in there and just really wasn't looking forward to starting over somewhere. Third, now Eric and I can start looking for a house now and I can move up and get settled before the wedding. Fourth, with moving and planning a wedding I just don't think I had it in me to search for a job as well. And finally... I will get to work in my pajamas!!!!!

Happy Birthday Lil' Sis!

Happy Birthday to my Lil' Sis, Nathan. You can read last year's post to learn the history as to why Nathan is my little sister. I think it is a cute story... what is not to love... it involves MC Hammer.

Today is Nathan's 30th birthday. I don't know about the rest of you, many of you are not 30 yet, but a lot of you are... but personally my 30's have been fabulous. I think I finally figured out that you don't have to have it all figured out and just starting enjoying life.

This year Nathan is spending his birthday with his main squeeze, Stacey. They started dating about the same time that Eric and I did. New Year 2008, was really good for us sisters!! It has not worked out for me to actually meet the wonderful Miss Stacey, but I already know she is fabulous. She makes Nathan ridiculously happy, and she enjoys good beer... what is not to love?

Happy Birthday Nathan! Sorry we will be missing your birthday party, but I hope we make it to Chicago to visit again soon... we can celebrate then.

I am just not that big of a person...

So the Cubs went down in flames in the playoffs. I wish I could say I was a better person, and that I didn't take at least a tiny bit of delight at their demise... but I did. There are delightful Cubs fans out there, my pastor, Andy, Greg from my office, Allison's husband, Abe, and the other Allison and her husband Bill. For Cubs fans like you I kind of feel a little bad the Cubbies didn't come through for you. But... then there are those less than delightful Cub fans... you know who you are... that it is kind of fun to watch suffer. I am not proud of that... wishing suffering on folks, but there it is. As to the reason for the Cubs demise, I can only go with my original theory, Jim Edmonds signed with the Cubs in order to bring them down from the inside.

At least Cub and Cards fans alike can sing in harmony this year.... "Well there is always next year!"

110... My Beer Hero

Saturday Eric and I headed to Peoria and met Scott & Tara for dinner at Old Chicago. Eric finished his World Beer Tour... it took him about four years, but he managed to drink 110 beers. He is my beer hero! He went with a Harp as #110, a tribute to his Irish heritage, and well I think it make for a good picture.

I am at #24, only 86 more to go!

A Day Late, But Worth the Wait

So I have a couple of birthday blogs... actually their birthdays were yesterday, October 3rd, but well... time got away from me.

Happy Birthday John & Steff!

John Thomas is my friend Jenn's husband. Although we met via Jenn I would like to think that we would friends anyway. We enjoy the Illini, good beer and good coffee... what else to we need...oh yah... Jenn! John says that when he retires from the military he is going to be a spiritual advisor to rap artists, and change his name to White Mocha. How can you not love someone who has a brain that works like that.

John has had a couple of tough months. He Mom passed away recently, and he is living away from Jenn and the girls. He was transferred to Colorado Springs and Jenn and the girls are still in Omaha until their house sells. So... keep the prayers coming their way folks... I am sure they are appreciated.

Steff, is my future sister-in-law. She is married to Eric's brother, Travis. I am excited to get know her better when she and Travis come visit for the weekend for the Iowa football game. I already know I like her, when I had to use the restroom at the fire station when we were there for the memorial service, she guarded the door because it really wasn't designed as a public restroom. It reminded me of grade school when our bathroom stalls didn't have doors and your friends would say "I will be your door". Steff is a great mother to my future niece and nephew, Katie and Alec, and put on a yummy Father's Day spread at their house.

Happy Birthday John and Steff... albeit a little late. Hope you both had great days!