Akron has Big Ones

The pain shows for our defense which played hard to preserve the win.

3 seconds left, down by 3 at the 1 yard line. Instead of going for the tie and overtime - Akron goes for the win and gets it.

It should never have come down to a final play. In fact, Akron went 63 yards in the final 50+ seconds to get the win. It was a gutsy and dramatic performance by the Zips. Congratulations to them.

Amato has the superior talent, the facilities, great assistant coaches. On field execution of plays is wildly erratic. Marcus Stone's on field performance is exasperating. With our athletes and staff - we should routinely be competing in the top 20, if not the top 10. Coach has to make it happen. That's his job.

I will say it was one of the most exciting 4th quarter of football I've ever watched.

We stayed long after the game to applaud our kids as they left the field. A lot of fans stay and do the same after a loss. It's the very least we can for these kids who work so hard to be in school and play Division 1 football. It's easy to stay and cheer the team after a win. It's even more important to show the kids support after a loss. I wish more fans would stay and do the same.

NC State vs Appalachian

North end zone was constructed over the summer along with new locker rooms underneath, a plaza from the video board to the RBC Center, 2 new video boards at the south end zone corners (not seen in this photo) and 'temporary' metal bleachers above the permanent end zone seats. North end zone is designed to allow a future upper deck to connect the east and west upper decks. Photo from red and white blog.

NC State beat Appalachian State Saturday. Our defense was impressive. Our offense was not. We have a couple of, if not 3, really great running backs. Our kicker is also super impressive and he’s going to have a great NFL career. But, even though he’s 6 and 1, our quarterback just doesn’t look too sharp. I suspect we’re going to have a so so season. Once we get into real games against Boston College, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State and the like – they will key on shutting down the run and we’re not going to get much from the passing game. Still, it’s fun to go to the games win or lose. Just as long as we beat the tar snot out of UNC. :-)

Traffic was awful. The police and Highway Patrol have a difficult job, and there’s always a learning curve – but traffic control at the game just sucked. One patrolman put me in a particular lane on the main road, and when I got to my right turn entry, the patrolman at that intersection wouldn’t let me turn. So much for following directions. Had to go way around my ass to get to my elbow and then was the 3rd car in line to cross the street to get to my parking space – and we waited. And waited. And waited. Even with breaks in the traffic, the cop at the intersection still wouldn’t let us cross. Listened to the player introductions through the window and could almost see the video board. So close and yet so far. Upon leaving – same thing. Except we had to wait at the intersection for the trooper to set up the traffic cones to control traffic. After the game was already over! Very piss poor planning and execution. I hope they get it better for next weekend.

Just lazing around the house for the rest of Labor Day weekend. Did nothing productive except for a load of laundry. Well, I did do some vacuuming also.

Tonight, FSU plays Miami. Looking forward to watching that.

Power Washing, Pig Pickin' & Pigskin

Power Washing

Last week I power washed the porch and started power washing the deck. My gasoline power washer finally gave out so I’ve replaced it with an electric one. The gas washer obviously has, or rather had, a lot more pressure – but the replacement electric washer is really all I need. This week I’ll work on the deck a little each evening and hope to have it finished by next weekend.

Pig Pickin' Party

Saturday I went to a pig-picking / party that friends (CP & SP) host once a year. It's a charity fund raiser - and an excuse to have good music and a good time. One of them, along with their neighbor, has formed a semi-professional country-rock band - MJB. They’re getting pretty good.

The gathering officially started at 8 PM, but I volunteer to pick up the kegs so I got there around 6 PM to deliver the beer and to help finish setting up. The music was great and I'm guessing about 100+ (maybe 150?) people showed up. It was a lot of fun and very successful. I got home after midnight which is really late for me.

During Sunday, I didn’t do much. Just puttered around the house and took a couple of naps. I picked up the empty kegs and will deliver them back to Total Wines & More at Cross Roads on my way home from work Monday. Actually, my friends went out on Harris Lake to go fishing so I met them at the boat ramp and we transferred the empty kegs from their truck to mine. That saved me a special trip to Fuquay-Varina.

And finally

College Football Season arrives! NCSU hosts Appalachian State next Saturday night. Although NC State will likely be average at best – I’m really looking forward to the games.

This Week at Work

This week is going to be pretty busy. I’m slightly behind on office work so I’ll be hitting that pretty hard. I’ve also got to do some work at the Morehead School for the Blind on Tuesday and three of the engineers will be in the field all week.

Hmmmmmm

Roomate JN sent me this link - he put "The Future?" in the subject line.

LOL

Pet Update

The baby raccoons (kits) are doing well. There used to be 4 but one apparently hasn't made it.

There are 2 adult raccoons. The male usually stops by first - just after dark. Later, the mama raccoon shows up and after checking things out - calls up her kits. While adult raccoons will sometines den together, adult males do not help raise the kits. In fact, earlier in the season, the female and male would sometimes encounter each other on the deck with snarling and some actual fights. Now that the babies are born, the female makes sure the male is nowhere around before she brings up the kits.

When they drink from the small water fountain on the deck, the babies will stand in the fountain and wash up. The adults eat very carefully - taking one piece of food at a time, eat it, all the while keeping a watch. The babies haven't learned yet and just tackle the food - making a mess and a lot of noise (for raccoons). The one on the screen door is the most adventurous and often strays away from mom exploring on it's own. The other 2 stick close to mama.

I tried getting photos through the screen both with and without a flash but no success. So - I opened the porch door - mom took off - but stayed on the deck (she went to the water fountain) but the babes stayed. I don't want them to get used to 'humans' so I took 2 quick photos and closed the door.

Sunday, August 6, 2006

Went to see a couple of bands Saturday night at Moore Square. Weather was too hot and muggy but it was a good time.

Right now, I’m watching Death Becomes Her. What an under appreciated film. Best described as bizarre, brutal, and somewhat restrained over-the-top. Each time I see it, I pick up on more of the little jokes and gags that are hidden throughout the film.

Later today I need to install a cell phone repeater that arrived Friday. I essentially get no phone reception out here so I hope this repeater will solve the problem. First, I have to go to home depot to get a receptacle to wire into the light circuit in the attic. The game plan is to install the antenna at the eave at the roof ridge top and place the amplifier and power source in the attic. Of course, it’s going to be in the 90’s today so this is going to be a fun job.

Well, gotta get a move on.