NPDA Nationals roundup!

We just got back from debate nationals. The highlights include:

--I find out that tons of people read CliffGardner but never post because blogger won't let people who aren't registered comment. So, to all of you voyeurs reading this, HI! YOU ROCK!

--I finished The Da Vinci Code. I don’t want to give away the ending, but the Boxcar Children were taken in by a kind hearted elderly couple (in other words, this book read like it should have been nominated for one of those gold medal awards on elementary school “novels,” and let’s be honest—The Indian in the Cupboard is much more interesting).

--Pacific University attends NPDA for the first time, and our teams end up with a winning record overall! Josh and Kyle go 4-4 (as a freshman and sophomore, that’s really good) and Tyler and Jared (also a freshman and sophomore team) ADVANCE TO ELIMINATION ROUNDS with a 5-3 record before dropping in quad-octo-finals on a 2-1 decision. To my knowledge, this is the first ever break at any national tournament in the history of Pacific forensics, so needless to say, I am so proud that my head is about to fly off!

--I get horribly lost while trying to find food in Salem, THE CITY THAT I LIVED IN FOR FOUR YEARS, on the way back. AshAttack has one of her “fits,” laughing so hard she cries. But hey, we ate at Denny’s, so suck on that one, confusing highway systems of Oregon.

--Ashley films a documentary about Lilia Toson by following her around for the entire tournament. When you see someone as amazingly talented as Lilia debate, a lot of people tend to get a little star struck. Because of that, you sort of half expect her and Kevin (an equally great debater who earned the comment of the tournament after an elimination round from Tyler: “Kevin’s MO……..wow, man, that was a good MO!”) to be self absorbed assholes, but in reality, they’re basically the coolest people in the debate community. When they got to semi-finals I was amazingly proud of them and I know they’ll have great senior years!

--Jess and Ash sitting alone next to each other knitting up a storm in a room full of debaters. They promise to knit me a Speedo and I promise to wear it.

--Willamette won both tournament sweepstakes and season sweepstakes. I think Megan knows exactly how I feel.

--Ian and I judge an important round together and I feel smarter because we agreed on the team that won.

Wow, that tournament was exhausting. I'm sure glad I have some time off now! OH WAIT! I leave in about six hours for ANOTHER national tournament in Florida. I'll be gone this time for two weeks because I'm staying with my brother and my friends David and Kristen for a week after the tournament is over, so posting on here will be sparse for a bit, but know that I love you all!