Ryan Kanno: The diary of an Enginerd in Hawaii

For the record, today just might have been the best day of my entire life.

Retirement Party

After slaving away for months planning my parent’s *surprise* retirement party, everything came to full fruition today. Thinking that they were attending an awards ceremony for the University of Hawaii’s Shidler College of Business, my parents were completely taken aback as more than 150 of their closest friends and family gathered to celebrate their retirement.

(Thanks to me and my sister!)

There’s a lesson to be learned here. If you want to see the most bewildered look on your parent’s face as 150+ people scream “Surprise!”, shoot me an email. And trust me when I say this, but…

It was all worth it.

I’ll post some pics once I get them developed. Thanks to everyone who showed up as well as everyone who made it all possible.

I seriously <3 my family.

Illinois gets a whiff of the Roses

The Illinois seriously needed the moons and the stars aligned today for their hand to be dealt the right cards.

1. Virginia Tech beating BC allowed Illinois to move into the top 14 of the BCS poll.
2. Pittsburgh beating West Virginia and/or (whatever way you want to look at it) Oklahoma beating Mizzo allowed Ohio State to move into the BCS Championship Game.

(As much as I hate saying this… but “Go Buckeyes!”)

Since Ohio State was going to be the Big Ten’s representative to the Rose Bowl, moving into the BCS Championship Game means that another Big Ten school could be selected to take their place.

Enter Illinois

After a dismal 2-10 season last year, the Illinois came roaring back this year with wins over then number five, Wisconsin, and then number one, Ohio State. Featuring a potent running attack, an amazing freshman, Leman led defense, and a surprise resurgence of “Juice” Williams, a whiff of the Roses will be well deserved.

Hawaii says pass some Sugar, baby.

For those of you on the East Coast that couldn’t stay up to watch Hawaii’s wild win over Washington, please, please watch today’s replay. Not only does it exemplify Hawaii’s heart and soul displayed throughout the season, but it’ll show all you analysts what to watch out for on New Year’s day.

All I can say is…

If Colt Brennan isn’t a Heisman finalist, something is seriously dead wrong with the system.

All the ESPN and BCS committee haters can stop drinking the haterade because the University of Hawaii showed true heart and grit in its final four games of the season. Not many of the so called “experts” and “analysts” gave them a chance to be the only undefeated team in college football. Notice, I didn’t say all because there were a few here and there.

But 12 games and a 12-0 record later, here we are.

Since Boise really paved the way for non-BCS conferences last year with a wild win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, the Rainbows are expected to get an at-large BCS selection to the Sugar Bowl.

Go Bows!

Now my only dilemma is what bowl game will I attend?

Living up to a promise I made a few years ago, this past weekend I left my confines here in paradise and traveled to the sub-zero, Windy City to celebrate watch in agony as my beloved Bears fell short against the Indianapolis Colts in Superbowl XLI. And though Da Bears didn’t come out victorious (I say they should’ve remixed the “Superbowl Shuffle”), there’s something to be said about watching the most popular US sporting event in a city united under one cause – something really lacking out here in Hawaii.

Not to mention, I was able to catch up with people I haven’t seen in almost 5+ years. I most definitely have to thank my old roomies, my CS friends, Scoot and Harpster, and of course I can’t forget the 1109 / B-balling crew – for taking time out of their lives to allow me to remember what a great time U of I / Chicago was in my life; a time I hadn’t remembered in recent years, but one I’ll never ever forget. As I left Chicago this past Monday, I realized that though distance will probably always be an obstacle, friendships will always span that gap.

And of course, as a reminder of this weekend of reminiscing and good times, check out this youtube video @ GameKeeper’s in Lincoln Park after Moose scored the Bear’s second TD.

Go Bears! (Where is Fisch and Steder headed off to?)

and of course, here’s a special vid just for Steder,

Hey guys, I’m gonna eat light today – I think I’ll have a salad.

And as always, take a look at my flickr set to check out all the pictures from this weekend!

It’s been 21 years in the making, and though my Bears have sometimes looked very lost – they have finally found their way back home – to the Superbowl. And in celebration, we’re bringing it back… way back.

Let’s kick it old-school

And we can’t forget about the SuperFans – Daaaaa Bearssss!

Go Bears!