Sterling
So the Sterling Invitational Quiz was last weekend and since it’s been a week, I figure I should write about it. Several of you have already made several statements about me not posting, so hopefully this will quell any riots that may soon break out.
Sterling is an invitational bible quiz that’s been going on for many many years. I’m not sure exactly how long, but Karl (one of the other adult volunteers at the church I coach at) has been going for 29 years (back to when he was a quizzer). So it’s been going on for a long time. This was the second time I’ve attended. The first time (last year) I was a content judge in room 1. That was pretty fun, but a little stressful since I had to content the final round which consisted of the two best teams. Some of these kids really know their stuff, and you’d be amazed at how much they can say in 30 seconds.
This year I was a stats geak. Since the stats guys have figured out I’m a computer guy and that I know what I’m doing I’ve been sucked into their little group. Basically it consists of making sure all the computers are working since each quiz room has one, collecting stats inbetween rounds (basically you run around with a USB drive), and generating team and individual stats so that we know who goes where once the tournament starts. Generation of the stats is pretty straight forward. A lot of it is done via qmserver (the server application that links to quizmachine), but some of it has to be manually done. Sometime a name is wrong or a team name is wrong, and these things need to be corrected before stats can be verified as correct.
Basically I helped with running around and grabbing stats and fixing computer problems. I also helped generate some of the final team standings. Inbetween all of that I worked on a website for Q2008 which is coming up in July. Q2008 is the national quiz tournament that’s held every year and this year I’m responsible for the website. It’s a bit of an undertaking as they want quite a few things, but during the quiz I was able to work on getting some of the stats pieces working so that people who view the website can see where people or teams rank. It should be a pretty fun project, but it’s just a matter of finding time to work on it. Anyways, I had time to work on it during the day, so I got quite a bit done. Part of that involved talking with Barry (the writer of quizmachine) and figuring out the best way to do things.
I did get to watch some quizzing, though as Sara and Lena have both pointed out I didn’t watch K3 at all. The quizzing that I did watch was mostly in the afternoon (after the tournament seeding had been decided) and K3 didn’t make the tournament (I almost cried). In the morning I was busy doing stats stuff and in the afternoon I was trying to work on the website that I knew I wouldn’t have time work on any other time. I have yet to work on it since then. I probably could have made more of an effort to make sure I watched them, but I didn’t. I think I probably would have made them nervous anyways. :)
The trip itself was very fun. My team from Northside didn’t go (they would have gotten creamed), so I drove with the K3 gang. We played a bunch of Rook on the way there, at the hotel on Friday night and on the way back on Saturday. We also stopped at Culvers (I love Culvers) on the way home, so that was fun. It was a little extra driving as I had to drive to Kankakee to go with the gang instead of going straight west, but hanging out with them was way more fun than driving alone.
If you want to see some pictures from the trip you can go here. You’ll notice from the pictures that there’s no actual evidence that I was even there. Sara didn’t take any pictures either, so it’s doubtful my presence was documented at all.
Tags: personal, quizzing, travel38 Responses to “Sterling”
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Josh on February 25th, 2008
What did you eat at Culver’s?
Jeremy on February 26th, 2008
I had some sort of fish. I don’t remember the name. It was funny because I’m a fish. Lena called me a cannibal, which I suppose is true. I can’t help it that fish is so tasty.
I also had a custard creation with bananas and brown sugar. mmm mmm good!
Do you miss Culver’s since it’s not in AZ?
Josh on February 26th, 2008
Jeremy, Culvers is in Arizona also. Your ignorance is typical.
The food sounds good, especially the dessert. What’s the deal with you getting fish, I don’t remember you having much of an affinity for sea food….you giving up meat for lent?
Jeremy on February 26th, 2008
Ignorance is bliss Joshua. Haven’t you seen The Matrix?
I’ve never been a fan of crab or lobster, but I like fish of all kinds. Especially rainbow trout. Love that rainbow trout.
Oh, and I gave up dating girls for Lent.
Josh on February 26th, 2008
Jeremy you shouldn’t give up things for Lent that you won’t be able to stick to. You and girls go together like peas and carrots, like PB&J. You can’t have one without the other.
Why can’t I be more like you?
erika on February 26th, 2008
Jeremy gave up girls for lent because he can’t have me…
Although you’re still coming to my birthday, right?
Jeremy on February 26th, 2008
True, girls and I do go together just like PB&J. Now I just need to find a girl with two first names that have the initials PB. Do you realize how hard that’s going to be? That would be pretty fantastic actually.
I haven’t quite figured out my weekend after next Erika. I might be going to Indy (haven’t decided yet), so I might have to come to the Sunday excursion, rather than the Saturday one.
erika on February 27th, 2008
that’s okay.
Sara is going to Indy as well, so she’s coming on Sunday. (which is my birthday day…so that’s totally cool) :)
Just know, that you are wanted… ;)
lenabenaboo on February 28th, 2008
your the reason we didnt get to the finals fish…
ps…
i<3the pictues of me sleeping…
they are priceless…
almost making up for the fact that you didnt watch us…
lenabenaboo on February 28th, 2008
your the reason we didnt get to the finals fish…
ps…
i<3the pictues of me sleeping…
they are priceless…
almost making up for the fact that you didnt watch us…
Josh on March 3rd, 2008
Driscoll,
don’t get my wrong Timeline by Crichton is a great book, but wasn’t it published in like 1997? Shouldn’t an informed, educated person with interest in sci-fi stories have read that many years ago?
Jeremy on March 3rd, 2008
Lena,
I guess I’ll just have to make it up to you at Indy this weekend. :) Would that get me back in your good graces?
Jeremy on March 3rd, 2008
Josh,
Did you ever ponder that maybe perhaps I read books more than once if they’re good? Once again Joshua makes a non informed decision. I hope you correct that before the presidential elections or you may try to vote Bill Clinton back into office.
As a matter of fact I had not read it before, but I’ve been rather busy for the past ten years and hadn’t gotten to it. And yes I thought it was good. The ending was a little weak though. Not up to par with Crichton’s other works. Jurassic Park is pretty much my favorite book by him.
Josh on March 4th, 2008
Jeremy, what other things have you been skimping on during your “rather busy past ten years”? Showering, tooth brushing or other forms of personal hygiene obviously. Pull yourself together man, you have to make time for cleaning yourself!
Jeremy on March 4th, 2008
Josh, your brash assumptions about my personal hygiene are unfounded. Many of the readers of my blog have seen me recently and can attest to my personal hygiene habits. I may have at one point in the past forgone personal hygiene to finish the next big project, but now I just don’t date, which saves a ton of time.
By the way, I heard the song “This Kiss” by Faith Hill playing at a store over the weekend and I immediately thought of you.
erika on March 4th, 2008
1) How often have you kissed Josh that Faith Hill’s song makes you think of him?
2) Your statement, “now I just don’t date” implies that you were dating a lot at one point…when was that?
3) cough…birthday…cough
:)
Josh on March 4th, 2008
Jeremy,
first of all, Erika has a very legitimate question about you associating me with a Faith Hill song all about kissing. As no kissing has occurred to my knowledge I’m a bit concerned by that. Let’s clarify that the reason you associated it with me was that I listen to country music and that that song was on the air quite often back when we were in college together. During our sleepovers and pajama parties especially. Er…….
Additionally, you can deny your lack of hygiene all you want, but I know the truth. Maybe Pam is right and you should move to Europe where they seldom bathe so you (and your odor) could fit right in.
Pam on March 5th, 2008
Man, I missed you guys!
Though I blame you all for the picture in my head of Josh and Jeremy kissing… not cool!
Josh, I never thought I’d see the day where you said ‘maybe Pam is right,…’. I’ll just pretend I didn’t read the rest of the sentence.
Pam on March 5th, 2008
you all … no ‘ … Honey, can you fix this for me!? THANKS!
Jeremy on March 7th, 2008
Pam, all fixed. :) Noone will ever know. Except for Josh, because he lives, breaths, and eats this blog. He officially has no life.
Jeremy on March 7th, 2008
Erika,
Here’s the answers to your questions. I hope they were worth the wait.
1) Never. Though he has tried to woo me a few times.
2) First grade. All the first grade cuties wanted me because of my Spiderman lunchbox.
3) You’re having a birthday? How have I not heard about this?
erika on March 7th, 2008
If I had seen your Spiderman lunchbox, I would’ve fallen for you too. Spiderman makes me swoon. :)
(and I’m giving you a not too kind look for number 3)
erika on March 10th, 2008
Jeremy!!!
It was wonderful seeing you this weekend. Thank you for taking the time to come.
I think you need to post about it…
I’ll see you at the quiz on Saturday, right?
Josh on March 10th, 2008
Oh Jeremy you are soooo sweeeet, I could just eat you like a starving cannibal!!!
erika on March 10th, 2008
I think Jeremy’s too bony to be any good, Josh.
*sara* on March 11th, 2008
jeremy, you’ve been to a whole different quiz (at which no pictures were taken) so unless you post, we’ll never know that because you actually showed up and watched us our amazing team took…
well, i’ll let you post and tell everyone :)
Josh on March 12th, 2008
Jeremy you are a horrible friend and a tease—I mean you have this blog so we can all stay in touch with you and then you never update.
I’m confounded by your indifference.
Pam on March 19th, 2008
Jeremy where art thou!? Did you die or something?
*sara* on March 19th, 2008
remember earlier, when you thought i was pam because i was speaking german?
i think you should post about your airline experience over the past few days. I’m glad you’re going with us!!
Pam on March 20th, 2008
Jeremy, you WHAT!? There are not enough women in your life for you to have an excuse not being able to tell them apart!
Josh on March 20th, 2008
Jeremy, I heard “This Kiss” on the radio this AM myself, and I immediately thought of you. Especially that part about “It’s centrfigual motion, it’s perpetual bliss.” Oh how it brings me back!!
Pam and Erika on March 21st, 2008
Oh Jeremy, just thinking about you makes us weak in the knees!!
*sara* on March 23rd, 2008
AMAZING. so, a new post i think is probably in order soon. just saying. i miss you jeremy.
Jeremy on March 24th, 2008
Yes I made the comment that I thought Sara was Pam…but in my defense she said jaja instead of haha. Anybody would make the same mistake. I mean, it’s not like I could read the name or anything.
Sara, I’ll post about our airline adventure soon. I wouldn’t want to forget that!
Jeremy on March 24th, 2008
Joshua, thank you for the memories. I almost want to go and buy “This Kiss” so I can hear it 24/7 and think of our tumultuous past together. mmm..tumultuous.
Jeremy on March 24th, 2008
Pam and Erika,
I find it somewhat disturbing that you’re both in the same place at the same time. It’s almost like someone is messing with the space time continuum.
I’m also worried about the fact that the mere thought of me would make you weak in the knees. Perhaps there’s some underlying medical condition there. I know a good knee doctor if you need a referral. I’ll do whatever I can to make sure you both don’t need wheelchairs before you’re 40.
Jeremy on March 24th, 2008
Wow. 37 comments. Time for a new post.
erika on March 31st, 2008
I just wanted to say that I, also, am a little disturbed about the “Pam and Erika” comment…Maybe it’s a case of multiple personality disorder, but I do not remember meeting Pam.
Nor do I think I would ever say that Jeremy has made me weak in the knees.