Kopaka's Ice Engineering

Those red-eyes alone should make it crash. *hides* -KIE

*still has his wisdom teeth, and they don't hurt either* -KIE

The National Football League will forever have a giant cavity. While some can fill your persona, knowledge, and jacket size, no one can do all three. Farewell, John Madden. -KIE

I think it's because he booted North Carolina in the second round in an otherwise near-perfect bracket. *whistling* -KIE

Oh, the inanity. -KIE

Long live the Followers. -KIE

Can I get my lanyard back? I left it in Portland last time. :\ -KIE

All my life, my parents have fed me, in one way or another. Okay, not my entire life, but it has been them buying or cooking me food. Tomorrow, the tables turn. Amanda tells me that I now have two dishes in my back pocket, to pull out on command as it were. One is the chicken parm, which I still tweak now and then. (Once I get good at making tomato sauces, it'll probably settle.) The other is a variation on Asian short ribs. These are beef ribs cut flanken style (across the bones, as opposed to with the bones), marinated, and grilled hot. My marinade for tomorrow's picnic in City Park: I forgot the hoisin this time, and I didn't feel like adding a garlic clove. With the ribs, will be five-spice rubbed sweet potatoes, sliced and baked in butter spread (whatever one would call Smart Balance). The best part, though, is that Amanda will be here this weekend, which makes any rain immaterial. -KIE

It just wouldn't work, because all our power ratings exceed the square of 30, multiplied by 10.

I like to make good ones. One thing off the bucket list. -KIE EDIT: the above image is an pressing of my engineer's seal. When coupled with my [noticeably absent] signature, the above impression states that I have reviewed the document attached to the seal, and on my authority and expertise as a professional engineer, the contents of the document are correct, safe for use or construction, or whatever extent dictated by my area of expertise (Civil Engineering), within the state of Louisiana (where this seal is registered). Other states have largely similar requirements for licensure, but separate licensure boards, and thus, different seals.

For a while this past winter (What? Winter's over, right?), the IAFF and the JP council were up in arms about issues like firefighter pay and leave. At least, that's what I think it was. I'm pretty sure that, when approached with a petition in January, the petition, what the off-duty firefighter who explained the situation said, and the resolutions that signaled the end of threats of firefighter strikes at the council meeting a month ago, said three different things. For a while, things got awfully jaw-y. There was a lot of posturing and huffing to go around, and signs and placards were all over the place. Most of them are still there, a handful have "Thank You" signs taped onto them. In the end, I think the firefighters got what they wanted (assurances of hours to be worked), JP got most of what they wanted (drug testing and tighter reins to curb abuse of sick leave and personal leave), and certainly sign makers got what they wanted (business outside of election season). Over the course of the events, Amanda & I came to our own consensus: no political signs in the front yard, unless we both feel strongly enough to justify the sign, and are on the same side of the issue/campaign. (For the record, neither of us are big on yard signs.) The wedding is twelve weeks away. In some respects, the sooner it gets here, the better. However, in many others, it's just as well (and not just for paperwork's sake). For instance: Neither of us are packed for the honeymoon.We haven't even technically started pre-marital counseling. (No, waiting this late to start is not a good idea.)I'm too well-versed in being a ##### with a superiority complex. Being in the doghouse isn't fun. A situation to be avoided, sure: most every time fault is well-placed. Let it be a lesson, however, that in the case of fallen man, the seas will not be perfectly smooth. Not having an immediate opportunity to rectify the situation is even worse, however, which is the pickle I currently find myself in. Just saying "I'm sorry," won't cut it at the moment, and it appears that's all I can do for the time being. Mere promises of change are insufficient, and immediate opportunities to exercise that change are wont to show themselves. I don't ever want to go to bed with a disconnect hanging in the air, but I suppose don't have a choice tonight. I don't like this mire that is my bed, but this is the bed I made, so I have no choice. -KIE, not to be consoled

Louisiana in June!

Cavities hurt. Not just the ones in one's teeth, mind you. Nature abhors a vacuum, and I'm no exception. Right now, there's this cavity between my arms and chest, that only Amanda can fill. She won't be here until Friday, so it'll have to hurt until then. But oh, it hurts. :\ (no, this has nothing to do with the ab strain at the gym Monday night) -KIE

The first computer I ever used had a TV for a monitor. -KIE

If you want terrible, stilted acting and milquetoast screenplay, go seek out the Christian-themed movies of the late 80's & early 90's. Those hurt the eyes. While not exemplary, the acting in this movie was not horrid, nor did it detract from the film. I have not seen Facing the Giants, so I can't speak to it. My fiancée has, however, and had said nothing about the film except that some non-headline actors are in both films. -KIE

Hi. I finally got the opportunity to watch Fireproof over the weekend. Let me say two things about it: 1) This film is a must-see for anyone considering marriage, or even in a long-term relationship. Yes, it can happen. 1a) I don't love Amanda because I get or even expect anything in return. I love Amanda because I love Amanda. (If you don't understand the previous sentence, you haven't found "The One" yet.) 2) Kirk Cameron has come a long way from "Growing Pains". In other news, in light of last year's debacle, Amanda forbade me from cooking dinner Saturday night. Instead, breakfast in bed will be served some time before noon. -KIE

Wheee!

Dear 52%: I have a proposition: Three years from now, if my life and my surroundings are better off as a direct result of Barack Obama being president and his policies becoming law, I will vote for him in 2012. If not, I will vote for the Republican candidate. Now please quit chanting "Hope & Change" and "Yes We Can." so loudly into my ear. I need to get busy at work. -KIE

I'm so happy the good guys get the bling. I got two tan polos last year, missed the sponsor's dinner, didn't get a card. BUT, I did get to spend an extra night in the spare room while I couldn't get a flight back to New Orleans because of Gustav. That was as valuable as anything. -KIE

17 years 167+10 hours 1700 miles 2 jobs 11 weeks 130 miles per hour 4 cars 12 roses 13 months 3 revisions to the application 1 testing ...and 14046 registrations -KIE, who wonders who'll take a gander at the significance of all the numbers at the top.

Gee, it's not like I was in the room too or anything. Wait, I was. -KIE, who will be rooming with someone else this year at BrickFair, his wife.

In 2009, I resolve to kiss Amanda more. I've only got a moment, so I'll share something that came via email. CAT HAIKU You are my best friend, Person Allergic To Cats. Let me shed on you. I leap for a bird And miss. I pretend I was Stretching, to fool you. I'm not sure what this Was when it was alive, but Isn't it nice now? I want out. I want In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Are you angry yet? No, I don't abuse Boots. Why do you ask? -KIE

For entertainment purposes only. EagleBank United States Naval Academy (+3½) over Wake Forest New Mexico Colorado State (+3½) over Fresno State St. Petersburg South Florida (-13½) over Memphis Las Vegas Brigham Young (+2½) over Arizona New Orleans Troy (-2½) over Southern Mississippi Poinsettia Boise State (-1½) over Texas Christian Aloha, er, Hawaii Hawai'i (-2½) over Notre Dame Motor City Florida Atlantic (+4½) over Central Michigan Meineke Car Care North Carolina-Chapel Hill (-1½) over West Virginia Champs Sports Florida State (-3½) over Wisconsin-Madison (Love ya, Than. ) Emerald University of Miami (+7½) over California-Berkley Independence Louisiana Tech (+3½) over Northern Illinois (I mean, come on: it's virtually a home game for Tech.) Mobile..er, papajohns.com State University of New Jersey (+6½) over North Carolina State Alamo Missouri-Columbia (-14½) over Northwestern Humanitarian, uh, MPC Computers Nevada-Reno (-1½) over Maryland-College Park ev1.net, uh, GalleryFurniture.com, er, Houston, um Texas Rice (-2½) over Western Michigan Holiday Oklahoma State (-3½) over Oregon Armed Forces United States Air Force Academy (+2½) over Houston Sun Pittsburgh (-3½) over Oregon State Insight Minnesota (+8½) over Kansas-Lawrence Music City Boston College (-4½) over Vanderbilt Peach, er Chick-fil-A Louisiana State-Baton Rouge (+2½) over Georgia Institute of Technology Hall of Fame, er, Outback Iowa (-2½) over South Carolina Citrus, er Capital One Georgia-Athens (-10½) over Michigan State Gator Clemson (+1½) over Nebraska Rose Pennsylvania State (+10½) over Southern California Orange Cincinnati (-1½) over Virginia Tech Cotton Texas Tech (-7½) over Mississippi Liberty Kentucky (+1½) over East Carolina Sugar Utah (+10½) over Alabama-Tuscaloosa (Bama has played down to their competition all year.) International Buffalo (+6½) over Connecticut Fiesta Texas-Austin (-10½) over Ohio State GMAC Tulsa (+2½) over Ball State BCS Florida (-3½) over Oklahoma-Norman Last year: Kinda lost track after the first 15 games..... This year: Key: Correct Correct versus spread only Correct straight up, but not against the spread Incorrect -KIE, who reserves the right to update and republish this throughout the bowl season.

I passed? I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I passed! I PASSED! *hysteria* -KIE

Yeah, I do look forward to playing the part of host for the front half of a weekend.