Friday and Saturday were insanely crazy days. A brief recap a la Helena style.

Friday:

1. Took a test in my Media Literacy class – pretty sure I aced that shit even though I rolled in like twenty minutes late. After class I ran into the most beautiful French exchange student ever – and he hugged me. We don’t really know each other, so I flushed because HE TOUCHED ME. We then talked with a bunch of people for a good while about different greetings. (Hugs, kisses, high fives, hand shakes, etc.) One of those rare, engaging conversations that are also very insightful.

2. Went to work where I wrote blogging things.

3. Helena joined me and brought delicious lunch!

4. Got too full and had to waste food. 😦

5. Dragged Helena with me to an awesome improv class, where I was a dolphin. My friend was an orca. We were new at improv so he went around screaming, “I’m an ORCA.” It was hilarious. (Helena was so funny too! I didn’t think she’d get into it – but she’d jump up and volunteer for things! She had the best joke:)

185 lawyers walk into a bar and the bartender says “we don’t serve lawyers here.” The lawyers scream, “I OBJECT!.” 

AHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!

6. Meet at my other friend, Brian’s house for a dinner with the debate team. His wife cooked a mean chili and we had way too much food again. It was also really hot, and I run hot blooded so I was sweltering. Helena found out that Brian went to the same school as another cousin of ours – small world. I felt really bad dragging her with me this time because I felt like she might’ve felt out of place.

7. Drive to the state school where our debate tournament would be the next day. Our coach had booked us “rooms” at the visitor center. Went to check in and found out that “rooms” really meant, one “room” with two beds. There were about 15 of us.

8. Sneak to the room and force everyone in for our slumber party. End up having a fun time talking all night (And I do mean all night) about debate, and then culture, then telling ghost stories – which actually were scary. Yeay! Bonding! (Helena texted me – that our talk on EU politics was so boring she might pass out. And then proceeded to pass out. Sorry, dear!)

Saturday:

1. Woke up really late, after three hours of sleep, and discover the struggles of getting 15 people ready in one bitty little bathroom. I had a super cute outfit and was ready to jam.

2. Run to the tournament on the other end of the campus with Cindy, who was wearing some ridiculously high wedges. It was crazy muddy and not fun. Helena ended up driving everyone else because we were so late.

3. Arrive in the nick of time and Helena went home. She doesn’t care for the debates.

4. Lose first round – justifiably.

It was my fault, our plan was too specific and we let the other team twist the things we said. I felt really bad about this.

5. Win the second round easily.

Find out that we’re out of the running for finals because you would need to win all three rounds to make it. Be okay with this and give some bomb-ass speeches with my teammates about economics.

6. Lose the third round – unjustifiably.

Somehow we were paired with a team that had gone undefeated which statistically speaking, shouldn’t happen. We are rivals with the team we hit, and they were hosting the tournament. I was pissed and smelled something fishy. (I realize I am probably being paranoid.)

Also, the team we went against, contained my arch nemesis – let’s call him, Dick.

I ended up channelling some of this anger and passion to give a super-amazing speech. It was funny and energetic, almost like a slam poem with the rhythm I gave to it. We ended up losing, but the judges said my speech was the best in the round and on my team which gave me heart glow.

Also while I think Brian is a great debater, I’m finding my other teammate to be  below average. She has trouble grasping concepts and needs things written out for her. She is a good friend and I love her – but as a partner, it’s frustrating.

7. Be okay with losing, because I knew my speech was fun and awesome. Also, I got to tease Dick in it – so fucking worth it. He gave a terrible joke that no-one laughed at – but people laughed at my jokes. HA!

8. Watch a really terrible semifinals round. The losing team decided to argue with a judge.

NEVER ARGUE WITH A JUDGE!

The decision has already been made – you’re not going to change their opinion now. You have nothing to gain and everything to lose. It was painful to watch and the judge, one of the most brilliant people I know, slammed that team down into shit for arguing with him over a point they had obviously lost.

5. Watch an okay finals round. The topic was awesome: sticking it to the man!

I was expecting some hilarity but It was boring and serious. Dick made the final round and gave a speech on how he was a sell-out and proud. I laughed to myself. But then he used his entire speech to talk about himself and brag about things he had done.

Vanity and arrogance are huge pet peeves of mine.

I didn’t understand how it related to the debate and was sad we had lost because Brian and I could’ve owned this round. If anything, I learned that selling out is selfish – especially since after doing it you tend to use a debate round as a platform for self-promotion, Dick.

6. Catch the bus home with my teammates. We got to debrief and talk about the rounds. I had to explain my rivalry with Dick. It’s … complicated, and I will do a future post about it.

7. Get home late – and exhausted. I had gone 48 hours with like 3 hours of sleep. Cram some food into my face and pass out in my room with my puppy.

Overall an amazing two day experience. I’m glad Helena got to come for a bit, even though she might have felt awkward – it’s too bad she’s not into debate too!

I now realize that I probably have a problem with one of my teammates and might need to switch partners. But Brian is cool! I thought we wouldn’t get along because of his super-Christian hyper-Conservative stance, but even though he believes this, he’s pretty open minded.

Sorry for dropping the ball yesterday – I’ll work hard to be forgiven.