Kopaka's Ice Engineering

So this new Chinese place opened up on Kent Avenue, up by W. Esplanade (about 9 blocks from my apartment, I drive by it to go to work) a couple of weeks ago. Fu Star is its name. And I'd been putting off and putting off going there for lunch, until its sheer convenience overwhelmed me over the weekend, and I broke down and went there today. Called Omi yesterday on a supposed whim, as to what would be the best thing to get. He said "chicken," so I got chicken. Chicken curry, in fact. I brought it to my apartment, along with some other stuff I plan to bring to Brickfest, and as I'm attempting to mix the golden mustard sauce with the sticky white rice, it occurs to me: This is only the second time I've ever had chicken curry. The first time was an MRE in Marrero a couple of weeks after Katrina. Let me break it here: MRE stands for one of two things: Meals Ready to Eat, or in a previous generation Military Ration Equivalent. It is a beige plastic bag that contains, well, a meal fit for a soldier. A meat dish, some starchy side dishes, a dessert and something refreshing to drink. Condiments are included, as well as a wetnap and specially designed matches that will ignite in very humid climates (for post-meal cigarettes, I suppose, because...) It even includes a heater bag: Some black powder in a silica gel bag, you put this and the meat/potatoes/rice/whatever should be heated, then a little water (up to a very short fill line), and double over the bag end. The water chemically reacts to the contents of the cloth-ish pouch, giving off a lot of heat, which heats your meal. Trés spiffeh. And what's more, these bags and contents are all but indestructible. If the menu bag is unopened, the meal within is good for 20 years. If the bags are kept refrigerated or in the pantry (or whatever you do with your groceries, aside from freezing with Smeagol4's favorite treat (Blue Bell ½ Cherry Vanilla + ½ Homemade Vanilla = best bowl ever.)), they will keep virtually forever. Only one hitch: these meals are designed for active soldiers. One bag contains about 3800 calories, and for all the preservatives, the sodium will really build up in your system. It's a very funny feeling for your elbows to tell you how much you'd want a banana right now. MRE's....I won't say the army eats like kings, but they're a heckuva lot better than McDonald's, even the premium chicken sandwiches. *adjusts his 1/8 oz. bottle of Tabasco that came in an MRE* Where was I going with this? While I could praise the culinary expertise of Fu Star in Metairie (and it was decent curry, mind you), the memory that really struck home was how, 48 weeks ago today, life here became considerably less normal. Effects of the hydrotic apocalypse that was Hurricane Katrina can still be seen today: I mentioned driving down Kent Avenue to get to work? 3 blocks are still one-lane because of personal vehicles parked in the street. Why aren't they parked in their driveways? Big ol' FEMA trailers sitting in the way. While it may be rumbling outside (daily pattern of scattered afternoon showers), the Gulf has been quiet for 2 months. It's an uneasy quiet, though. I remember the first storm of 1992 was Andrew, and it hit after school had resumed after the summer (I had just started 8th grade. Yes, I'm old. ). Andrew waylayed south Louisiana not quite as badly as Katrina busted up the Mississippi delta and coast. I almost, no, I do want to see a storm out there, if only for it to cut a path through northern Mexico. Something to use up the warm water energy that would fuel another Andrew. Or Katrina. -KIE

What did I just say about when to post? Well geez, two days and I'm dragging bottom again. The above line was the rallying cry of Tim Allen's character on Home Improvement, a sitcom probably before most of yours time. My maw-maw always called it "Tool Time," though, after the in-show television show. Why the obscure reference? Well, yesterday I tried to use a power tool of my own volition for the first time. Namely, cut a hole in this desk here at the apartment. I mean, who makes an "office desk" with no hole to thread keyboard and mouse cords through? Apparently, Wal-Mart does. I'd borrowed a drill from my immediate supervisor, and lo and behold, there wasn't enough juice in battery to finish the job. I charged it during the day today, and finished the drilling tonight. No more cords in front of the desk for KIE... *grin* If anyone wonders what I did to Smeagol4, all I did was point out a spelling mistake. Apparently, it cut to the quick, because he edited his sig without my prompting. It's cool, Smeag. B) I took the time out to post this while waiting for a massive ophidian invasion in UO. My waiting is over, so I must go save Napa Valley. Good night, y'all. -KIE, who can hardly wait for Brickfest.

I was wondering...what's the romanized spelling of the Japanese word for "tiger?" I wanted to know this 2 years ago, and am curious, for posterity's sake. -KIE

What about Homo sapiens sapiens? What is their contribution to the dessert of mankind? -KIE, armed with his own spelling blade, to counter Smeag's grammar hammer

Yes, folks. Omi is going to get his next tattoo AT Brickfest! -KIE

Good Idea: Visiting http://www2.cruzio.com/~keeper/GIBI.txt Bad Idea: Keying Omi's ride, still parked in the fire lane. Enough said. -KIE

Dangit, Omi...now look at what you've done! You've dropped too many hints and NOW they've figured it out and can get a head start on BBC 38: Po-Koro footwear. Oh wait, did I just say that? *swallows tongue* -KIE

Simple. When my blog is at the bottom of my group of 11 favorites. Yeah, Toaraga's Rave has gathered slightly more dust than mine, but not much. I mean, I can't imagine my life is so dull that I'd have nothing to post about. *shrugs* No zany email. No more softball: we lost the first game of the potential double-header Saturday. I was the catcher for First-Kenner, and my knees are only now recovering. It's as though my shins have been spontaneously splinting since Saturday evening. Painful, so much so that I haven't been able to get up to go to Lafreniere to jog. Which is bad because I still have some weight to lose before getting fitted for my tuxedo for Michael & Brandy's (24-year-old little brother and his fiancée) October wedding BEFORE I go to Brickfest. 2 morals to this story, kids: 1) Never assume you'll have the same activity level and metabolic rate 10 years from now. 2) It's easier to maintain a healthy weight when young than to lose the extra weight when you get older. Disclaimer: NEVER will I condone anorexic or bulimic behavior. That kind of weight control is sooooo not what I'm talking about here. Speaking of Brickfest, I might be in the news come that weekend. Maybe before. You never know.... -KIE P.S. No, I'm not saying which are the other 9 blogs in my favorite list. Not right now at least.

Nonsense! I'll not have you trouncing this blog's good name! It's a businessman theme, obviously! -KIE

Question is, Nikira.... How do you like your Skyline chili? -KIE, who does *not* like his over spaghetti.

EXACTLY, Lady K. I mean, it's great to hear Rich Mullins now and then (master of the dulcimer *sigh*), but does anyone else realize how old "Testify to Love" is? Ten YEARS. And they play it every evening at 9:00 ET, top of the hour, without fail. I miss WQCK 92.7 in Baton Rouge....it's now WBKL, a K-Love affiliate. While KIKL (K-Love Lafayette 90.9 FM) is an improvement over the AFR affiliate, I miss 92.7 The Bridge on this side of the Mississippi. If WBSN EVER went to K-Love, I would go nuts. -KIE...fight the K-Love empire!

The Schexy...it is a well-oiled, finely-tuned machine to say the least. -KIE

Okay, do you have any comments on Targas (.tga)? -KIE...who has no digital camera

Game 7, we fell victim to ANOTHER bottom-of-the-sixth rally. I scored all our runs, but unfortunately, we only scored in the 3rd inning. I guess I'm developping into a decent catcher...I just can't catch Neil's pitches. Man, my knees hurt. But not as bad as they'd hurt if we played the eleven inning marathon (Softball games are supposed to be 7 innings long.) that was the second half of the doubleheader. I'm not going to next weekend's games, because my little brother and I and his fiancée are going to play disc golf with me, on a course that had been closed for the longest time after Katrina....Lafreniere Park. Mind you, Buccaneer State Park, site of another disc golf course, is still not open, due to the fact that it was leveled by Katrina on the Mississippi coast. -KIE

Wait..so what about copyleft? -KIE

I could say something about the new traffic I've gotten in the Voting Booth, but I've got softball on the brain, can't shake it. FBC-Kenner won tonight in the first elimination game. We play tomorrow morning, in less than 11 hours, actually, and whoever wins that game gets to turn around and play again, in another knockout game. See the "Playoffs?" entry for more details. Anyway, about Observation and Deduction. I'm borrowing a line from The Eleventh Hour, a book by Graeme Base. Wonderful book, I first read it in elementary school, about 17 years ago. It's a curious mystery that is kind of easy to solve, in multiple ways, but the easiest is to simply pay attention to what is going on. Here's where it applies to you: First, it pays to see if you can answer your own questions without bothering someone else. That's not saying that you'd be rude to ask an honest question, but sometimes it's more fun, and definitely more brain activity, to try and deduce an answer yourself. Case in point: two polls I closed earlier this afternoon, whose answers could have been determined by doing a little homework, so to speak. Yes, even though it's summer, you can still stimulate your brain: you don't have to have a textbook in front of your face to be learning something. Hey, you could surprise yourself with how smart you are Second, it pays to be observant of your surroundings. Not only is this key when you're behind the wheel of an automobile (had several near-misses myself this past week), but it might net you something special. Something cajun, even. This is a little contest for those that read my blog. I'm only going to say this once, so pay attention. I am going to be at Brickfest in, oh, say, five weeks. You all have seen my face on the staff page, and you see my avatar by my posts....which should also point me out there. I will probably not be able to make it to the Expo Sunday, because my flight back to New Orleans leaves rather early in the afternoon, but on SATURDAY.... SATURDAY, the first 3 BZPers that come by the BIONICLE table, or otherwise catch my attention, and tell me the final record of my softball team this year, I will give them the choice of something spicy or something sweet. Neither are poisoned, and you're not obligated to take the gift. However, it will still be sealed from the grocery store here in Louisiana. And, if one of my superiors deems this to be not kosher, well, I will come up with something. Remember....Observation and Deduction. -KIE

Gee, Cap'n, I'm not sure if I should be flattered or distraught by your comment. Anyway, I've updated the bracket again. We're set up as underdogs the rest of the way through, but we are in the knockout bracket. We need a killer instinct here on out. *psyched* -KIE

Let's hear it for random, just-for-the-heck-of-it forests! -KIE

Geez, give the entire board premier privileges, and the floodgates are opened...what is it now, 120 new blogs today and counting? I have to post something just to find my blog! Okay, so what to post about..... Ah, here we go. Today, we finished the sewer manhole surveys for RPC year 3. Let me let y'all in on what the frell that meant: Ever since I got this job, 97% of my time has been spent working on or with a sewer model of Jefferson Parish. It's not exactly what I went to graduate school for, but it is something I'm getting paid for, and I can't complain about that. What is this sewer model? Well, using a really expensive (but apparently worth the money) computer program, I have most of the sewer manholes and lines between them, not to mention the sewer pumps where they are located, all represented in this computer model. 3 quick notes: 1) What is the point? Well, once I get the model tuned to what is observed to occur in real life, I can make changes to that model and how, if at all, the conditions improve. It's better to do it in the model first than to do it in real life, because if it doesn't work in the model, it won't work in real life. And if it doesn't work in real life, your mom's & dad's property taxes just got wasted. Elected officials don't like it when that happens, because said moms & dads tend to not vote for someone who wastes their tax money. 2) How big is the model? Big. There are 70 someodd lift stations on the east bank of Jefferson parish, and we set a record for total pumps for Wallingford, I think. A lift station is a pump station where the sewer water is pumped up (in the case of my model) from about 20' below the ground to about 5' below the ground, and closer to the treatment plant. There are more than the usual number of lift stations here because the water table is so high (~8' below the ground, ~11' below mean sea level). Ask your dad or look it up to find out what a water table is, and then guess why it's bad for sewer water to be very deep below it. 3) How expensive is it? It has a hardware lock (Yes, the thing you plug in behind the back of the computer. That archaic thing.), and the program won't even run without it. A hardware lock costs, oh, about $40,000 for a one-year license. Yes, this thing is worth more than my new car. Don't think you're gonna get a copy of it off the net. Now, about the sewer manhole inspections. No, it isn't pleasant, but it's not as utterly disgusting as it sounds...most of the time. Usually, it entails prying up a manhole cover (that weighs 75 lb. (30 kg)) with a crowbar and a hook that is not sold to young miscreants that would go off stealing manhole covers. (So don't get any ideas.) Once the cover is off, we determine the depths of the pipes coming in and going out of the manhole, and how well the channeling at the bottom of the manhole is holding up, and directing the flow. Sometimes, there is water backed up in the manhole, and that is, um, unpleasant. But you do what you gotta do...and sometimes, what you gotta do can't be done. Anyway, today was the last time I have to inspect a sewer manhole in Jefferson parish for quite a while. I've got so much work in the office backlogging, I'll be busy through the end of the year, at least. Longer if I keep wasting time typing this....oh wait, it's already 5:35 PM. Softball game tomorrow, I'll update the below posting with the results. Y'all root for Kenner, okay? -KIE

Oh geez, beats me...I guess it was 2002-2003 in there... Even though I was 2½ months behind you in joining, I hear ya all the way...except for Followers, as that was before my time. Come on down the Mississippi...we got lots o' work to do down here in NOLA. -KIE, who is pouring out a 40 (of.....Abita Springs Water ) for those that aren't here no more....long live FotR!

Okay, then where does the Motorola V180 rank? I ask, because it's what I have for the 8+ months....curse you, you 24 month contract! -KIE

LB, I can't believe you'd forget she who sang your own theme song, Nicole C. Mullen!

I expect there to be a good Vince Guaraldi tune associated with my number, Omi. Who among us can't appreciate a little jazz, eh? -KIE

I'm putting the results of Game 3 in a comment here: In short, we scored 2 in the top of the third, and they rallied for 2 in the bottom of the sixth. Extra innings (softball games are 7 innings long, this one went to 8), and we walked home the winning run with one out in the bottom of the eighth. *sigh* But, the bracket has shaken out. Seeds have held, and they're set up for us...6-4-3 bang bang bang. -KIE, who as DH went 0-3, K

Might be before some of y'all's time, but that's supposed to come off like Jim Mora, Sr. (former New Orleans Saints and Indiannapolis Colts head coach) in a post-game news conference back in, I dunno, 1999 or something: Indy had just lost, and one of the reporters asked Mora about how this loss would affect their playoff chances. Mora then went on this incredulous rant as to how, after playing so poorly as they did that game, anyone would consider the NFL playoffs to be in their future. You sometimes hear a soundbite of it on sports talk radio now and then. But, in any case, the playoffs. Church League softball playoffs. We went 3-7 and made the playoffs. Mainly because there are only 6 teams. Double elimination tournament starts in about an hour, and will end the last weekend of July: (Italicized games are elimination games.) GAME 1: (1) Riverside Baptist Church 4, (6) First Baptist Church of New Orleans 0 F/6. GAME 2: (3) St. Charles United Methodist Church 8, (4) New Life Tabernacle 5 F. GAME 3: (2) Metairie Baptist Church 3, (5) First Baptist Church of Kenner 2 F/8. GAME 4: (2) Metairie Baptist Church 4, (3) St. Charles United Methodist Church 1 F. GAME 5: (5) First Baptist Church of Kenner 3, (6) First Baptist Church of New Orleans 2 F. FBCNO ends the season at 2-10 GAME 6: (2) Metairie Baptist Church 11, (1) Riverside Baptist Church 7 F/8. GAME 7: (4) New Life Tabernacle 4, (5) First Baptist Church of Kenner 1 F. FBCK ends the season at 4-9 GAME 8: (4) New Life Tabernacle 9, (3) St. Charles United Methodist Church 3 F/11. St. Charles UMC ends the season at 7-6 GAME 9: (4) New Life Tabernacle (6-7) vs. (1) Riverside Baptist Church (9-3), 6:30 PM CDT, July 28, 2006 GAME 10: Winner of Game 9 vs. (2) Metairie Baptist Church (10-3), 8:00 PM CDT, July 28, 2006 GAME 11 (if necessary): Winner of Game 9 vs. (2) Metairie Baptist Church (10-3), 9:00 AM CDT, July 29, 2006 Simplest way I can describe it is to put the matchups this way: 1-6 2-5 3-4 The winner of the top match goes straight to the winner's bracket final, and the loser of the bottom match gets a bye in the first round of the loser's bracket. In any case, we (FBC Kenner) don't play tonight, but we might have a double-header tomorrow morning. We really need to beat Metairie, even though they've beaten us twice this year. Why? Well, see where FBC-NO is 1-9? Their one win is the same game as Riverside's one loss. If New Orleans pulls off another miracle, we're dead in the water matched up against Riverside in the loser's bracket, and I sure don't want to go "two 'n' barbecue." Spent the last two days and will spend a chunk of next week out surveying sewer manholes in what is called "Old Metairie." The job stinks (literally, but not figuratively), but I really am not complaining. In any case, I'm not going to be able to post comments during the middle of the day if I'm out in the field. I had gotten another zany email almost worthy of passing on here, but I had to cull too much out to justify posting it: funny or otherwise, I'm not going to post anything inappropriate here on this blog. Turakii, that's why I'm not going to post where I get this email. Sorry -KIE Edited at 9:45 PM CDT with results and correct records Edited again at 12:45 PM CDT with more results Edited a week later, 10:00 PM CDT with more results and the rest of the bracket. Edited at 2:38 PM CDT the next afternoon, probably for the last time.