VCUO travel with John Lawrence -- the liveblog!!

[Mewto55555]

On the plane: JL sees crossword intended "only for experts" -- despite cockiness gets one letter wrong.

After I tell the riveting tale of how I once stole a swing from kindergarteners by pretending to find four leaf clover, JL Gleefully asserts his love for swings, suggests we hit up a park on 54th street when there are no children around.

[Mewto55555]

After exiting the bathroom in Richmond, John is confused to see me standing behind a young boy drinking water from a fountain. I then fill my water bottle and ask why he was confused. He said he didn't realize there was a water fountain there, and was wondering why the kid was staring at the wall.

[Rococo A Go Go]

JL has mayo, pickles, and grilled onions.

The ideal burger.

I like mine with lettuce and tomato (also Heinz 57, etc, etc.) but those things are good too.

mayo on burgers is a war crime

WRONG! One day I'm gonna open a restaurant and then rudely not talk to you when I walk by your table.

[Mewto55555]

THE TAXI RIDE: PART ONE

We exit the airport and get in a taxi with a man JL describes as a shoo-in to win the part of Big Daddy in a production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Except far more talkative.

He asks us where we come from, we answer. He astutely notes that you could fit tiny Richmond in a corner of Chicago and lose it. We agree, and then he repeats himself. JL then says he's right, to which Arnold delivers the first of many "I know I'm right!!"s.

We then discuss the weather. He notes that rain has been ongoing ever since God created the Earth, and that it's never killed anybody. JL, after the fact, remarks on the irony in God trying to kill everyone on Earth with too much rain. I note that I'd much rather have rain and eat the crops it produces than be hungry without rain, which must have struck a chord because he repeated that sentiment five more times.

[Mewto55555]

PART TWO:

Out of nowhere, Arnold notes that summer is drawing to a close. In fact, students from VCU (where he knows we will be hanging out this weekend) will be returning to school in about three weeks, on the 20th. The
20th of August. That's three weeks from now, on the 20th of August. I nod and say I'd believe that as they're on the semester system. "I know I'm right!" Arnold bellows (JL: I'm not sure he's capable of speaking below a bellow). It's the 20th of August. Three weeks from now, VCU students will come back on the 20th. I ask if this is good for business, only to learn it is not, as parents typically drive students to move in on this first of return dates, the 20th of august. That's three weeks from now. On the 20th. This all happens to Virginia Union and University of Richmond students too. They return on the 20th. Arnold knows he's right. The 20th of August.

[Auks Ran Ova]

This thread is a treasure.

[Mewto55555]

We're taking a break for dinner (with a mystery guest to be revealed soon!). We will update upon return to hotel room.

[heterodyne]

This thread is a treasure.

^

Is this "quiz bowl talk"-y enough for Best of the Best?

[Mewto55555]

PART THREE:

Except for the freshmen.

The freshmen don't come back on the 20th (which if you recall, is the date when most students come back; it's three weeks from today). Freshmen however, come back a week earlier for some manner of orientation program. Arnold's seen the pattern. He's been here 31 years. All of them driving a cab. He knows the pattern.

At this point, my phone buzzes. A new text! John Lawrence: "I'm trying to figure out which Twain novel we're currently trapped in." I literally cannot stop laughing; I am forced to pretend a cough, then take a sip of water, then choke on this water due to laughter. Finally, I settle down, and then re-read the text, and begin the cycle anew. Arnold continues pontificating upon a subject of great importance.

Originally I was going to separate this post into two more parts, but upon deliberation JL and I have decided to condense the taxi saga into a trilogy; a marriage of parts three, four, and five, to continue our Doris Lessing-themed day.

Arnold is now talking about football players. It seems VCU football players do not return on the 20th either. He's seen this pattern too. They come back THIS VERY WEEK to begin practice for the season. John notes that the weather is not conducive to this. Arnold says he is right in a variety of different ways. He then notes that the Redskins practiced at VCU's facilities, and in fact stayed at the Omni Hotel which we were passing at the time. We then engage in a discussion (we being Arnold and me, as JL probably thinks RG3 is a protein receptor) about the prospects of the Redskins next season. I mention that I am from St. Louis, and that they got the Griffin pick from us. He gets excited, and talks about how great a coach Jeff something is. I agree that Jeff Fisher is fantastic. He tells me a lot about how Jeff Fisher is. And didn't Jeff Fisher use to coach somewhere else? I confirm he got the Titans to the Super Bowl (where they lost to the Rams!). Jeff Fisher sure is a great coach! What a great coach, Jeff Fisher is. Unfortunately, we're in the same division as the Seahawks and the Niners. That's a division of death. I opine that Arizona is not so shabby either; he disagrees. Also he's concerned that the Seahawks won't be able to repeat. I point out that no one's repeated since the Pats. He tells me how the Giants didn't repeat. I try to tell him Eli Manning sucks. He ignores me, as well as when I mention how the Ravens sucked this year too. Mercifully, we finally arrive. Jeff FIsher's a real good coach.

[Mewto55555]

In the hotel room:

MS: I'm about to start part 2.
JL: OK, I'm about to use the bathroom.
MS: All right, we'll wait until you get back. Don't rush though!
JL: Don't worry, I would never let anything interfere with doing it properly.

[Mewto55555]

Cody picks us up to go to Buz and Ned's BBQ. I misspeak and confuse this with Buzz and Negs, Chris Ray's favorite restaurant.

On the way there, Cody and John have a meta-discussion about this liveblog and the proper thickness of a mayo coating. Sources say this is the first issue on which they have ever agreed.

[Mewto55555]

At dinner, JL successfully predicts the two sides I will order with my combo deal: hush puppies and french fries. He notes that his methodology was to just guess two fried starches. JL clearly understands middle America. (quoth JL: "That's right. I feel the pulse of the people.")

[Mewto55555]

Upon returning from a fairly standard quizbowl dinner, we receive word that the esteemed Michael Coates is trapped in Philly, and will not be joining us tonight. I suggest we reduce the number of strippers we ordered for the evening by 33%. JL responds, "What?! You don't think we can handle his share??"

[Cody]

I just want to note that ARNOLD IS NOT RIGHT! How could he possibly live in Richmond for 31 years and not know that VCU has no football team? What kind of lunatic isn't aware of VCU's undefeated record in football (because we don't have a team)? Bon Secours owns and operates the "facility" that the Redskins use!

[Auks Ran Ova]

two fried starches

TWOOOOOOO STARCHES?!

[Mewto55555]

I receive many texts while typing the taxi trilogy.

JL: Are these texts fanmail?
MS: No, just friends from school. It's a group text I unfortunately got sucked into.
(another text arrives)
MS: Dammit, stop texting me about how much you benched today! That is literally the lowest priority thing for me to deal with right now!
(another text arrives)
JL: Another one about benching?
MS: Yes!! (exasperatedly throws phone on bed)
JL: Still contend that your friends are smarter than mine?
MS: ...
JL: Mine may bench less, that I grant you!

[Mewto55555]

MS: Ugh, the internet died and I just lost my post.
JL: That's why I never type my posts into HSQB.
MS: Never? Or just not for the long ones?
JL: How often do I write short posts?



aaaaaaand we're caught up!

[Mewto55555]

JL is ordering bowties from the aforementioned website. Two of them.

"What?! $10 shipping?? Still, it's worth it. I've been a good boy..."

[The King's Flight to the Scots]

Please continue this liveblog up through the tournament itself. Update between rounds, during the other team's bonus, and during biology tossups that you neg on the first clue.

Thanks,
Motbo

[Muriel Axon]

I would like you to record each and every curse he directs toward my music questions.

[Mewto55555]

Pillow talk with JL:

JL: Wait a minute, didn't Arnold say school starts three weeks from tomorrow?
MS: Yeah, that's the 23rd! The 20th would be a Wednesday! Why would school here start on a Wednesday?
JL: His whole narrative is full of holes; I think he may have been Keyser Soze!

(Note: soze's last name is spelled "s o zed e".

[Mewto55555]

I am awoken at 6:57. JL has already showered, is dressing, and has apparently written a tossup. I don't move. At 7:02 JL gently suggests that I shower, as we have a complimentary continental breakfast ahead of us.

[Mewto55555]

We discover our shared love of Lucky Charms. Skim milk, however, is to him the "blue-white water of the devil's udder."

[Mewto55555]

Chris Ray will not be able to pick us up on time. We will have to trek to the Harris Building on foot. I blame the dastardly Eric Mukherjee.

[Mewto55555]

Printer troubles at the Linden Row Inn when trying to acquire scoresheets for the day. First USB fails, then they don't have internet. Finally JL succeeds through email. Off to VCU we go! I hope we get there before 8:30, when the tournament will be starting!

[Mewto55555]

After a leg cramp:

JL: I don't want to be limping all day.
MS: You should get a cane...or a walking stick!
JL: It's in New York.

[Galstaff, Sorceror of Light]

Pillow talk with JL:

JL: Wait a minute, didn't Arnold say school starts three weeks from tomorrow?
MS: Yeah, that's the 23rd! The 20th would be a Wednesday! Why would school here start on a Wednesday?
JL: His whole narrative is full of holes; I think he may have been Keyser Soze!

(Note: soze's last name is spelled "s o zed e".

For some reason, VCU's classes actually start on Thursday, August 21.

[Cheynem]

Morris classes also start on a Wednesday; I do not think that is that uncommon. I have the suspicion that some of the things in this thread are not true.

[vinteuil]

Morris classes also start on a Wednesday; I do not think that is that uncommon. I have the suspicion that some of the things in this thread are not true.

Yale classes started on a Wednesday last year; they will again this year; this was true all four years when John Lawrence was there (page 7 for the first three, page 9 for the last one).

[Mewto55555]

Morris classes also start on a Wednesday; I do not think that is that uncommon. I have the suspicion that some of the things in this thread are not true.

You're wrong then.

[Mewto55555]

We are 3-2 and on bye. In the game we are watching Evan Adams turns to me, during the other teams music bonus, and tells me to update the liveblog.

[Mewto55555]

This will be an Evan Adams loveblog. He just yelled "get wrecked" when Brian got his team a science tossup.

[Mewto55555]

He doesn't get this tossup but he throws out a guess at the end.

[Mewto55555]

His teammate negs. Evan does that thing where you hit the table as if you know it. He probably did though since they dropped a well known clue shortly after the neg. during the bonus he seems to be flirting with George. They're leaning in close to each other and George is laughing. You got game, Evan!

[Mewto55555]

The other time one lines it. Evan says "that makes sense." He's stopped whispering with George and is now leaning back in his seat looking at his phone.

[Mewto55555]

Evan Adams doesn't seem to know science. His team doesn't get this one either. He's showing something on his phone to George. They're laughing. Poor Isaac and Brian look so left out of the fun.

[Mewto55555]

Evan Adams loses a buzzer race with mattj but thankfully matt negs. Maybe our hero can get a vulch. Nope he can't it goes dead.

[Mewto55555]

And his team doesn't get this tossup either. It goes to tommy, Evans back on his phone. Or maybe playing with his nails I can't really tell.

[Mewto55555]

This is the final tossup. Can our hero get points at last?

Nope, Jackson-smashed. Get wrecked, Evan Adams.

[Haaaaaaaarry Whiiiiiiiiiite]

We discover our shared love of Lucky Charms. Skim milk, however, is to him the "blue-white water of the devil's udder."

John Lawrence has great taste in food.

[Mewto55555]

We are now going to play Evan Adams team. Time for him to get Tyrannosaurus Rekt.

[Mewto55555]

We wrecked him. Pizza time. Current Vegas line on the second half of this tournament existing is 2:1.

[Mewto55555]

Oh my god what just happened

[Unicolored Jay]

Oh my god what just happened

Why don't you fill us in?

[Mewto55555]

I can't liveblog anymore tonight the last Tricon packet broke me.

[jonpin]

It certainly was A Thing. If you play TriCon, you will know which packet he speaks of.

[Mewto55555]

Highlights from yesterday:

MattBo tells Eric to just "close your eyes and think of England" after I get tossups 1 and 2 against them, both science. We end up getting like 15 tossups and winning the game.

After acquiring pizza and bringing it back to the tournament, JL is dismayed to realize we forgot napkins. I point out that he probably still has the extras from the airport Five Guys. His face lights up with childish glee as he thanks me profusely and exclaims, "Thank goodness for my former foresight!"

[Mewto55555]

Chris Ray can't remember where he parked.

[AKKOLADE]

Chris Ray can't remember where he parked.

candy store?

[yeah viv talk nah]

Chris Ray can't remember where he parked.

candy store?

Buzz & Negs?