Belated Birthday Post

I often feel like reflecting on another year when my birthday comes around, but for some reason, I didn't feel like it yesterday. Once again, I feel like my birthday is just a number, and I am stuck at 27 or so, and I know that the number of years mean nothing. I love my 30's, though - I feel like I know more about the things I want out of life, and I know who the important people are, and I know to let the other things and people slide, because life is way too short to waste time on the meaningless, and on regrets. My birthday, though, has always been tinged with regret, because I hurt people around me on my birthday one year, and every year, I wake up and regret that I caused pain, and the first thing I think of is how this birthday will inevitably be better than that birthday. And every year, it never fails, no matter how lackluster it is, it is better than the terrible birthday. Life has a funny way of giving you things to remember as horrible, and in that way gives you the gift of context; You can always compare an event to the event by which all other events are measured and be reminded that things are generally good, and you should appreciate it for what it is. See people? I can be a glass half full person. i can!

This year was no different. Todd took me out on Friday for my "real" birthday celebration, which meant that we were able to eat dinner together in a decent restaurant without dealing with whiners and spills, and cutting things up, and making sure things weren't too hot, and all the little things that a meal with children require of parents. We stayed out late, and we had hangovers on Saturday, and they were worth it, because we had fun together. Then yesterday, Todd got up with the kids, which meant i was able to sleep about 10 minutes later than usual. It sucks being an adult on your birthday - you still have to battle yucky weather, and get kids to school, and pick kids up. You still have to smear peanut butter on bread and pour milks. Nobody makes you a handmade crown. But you do get to go out that night and your family has you blow out candles (Yes, Rollie, they do have that many candles at the grocery store,) and you have cupcakes (chocolate with hot pink icing!). You get phone calls from people who don't call you regularly, and nice emails, and cards, and people remind you that they love you. And you feel loved. And you win at trivia, and that is always a great birthday gift.

Thanks to all the wonderful people who made me feel very special yesterday, in a ton of different ways. You know who you are, and I love you all.

Trivia Answers, Dec. 4th, 2007

Round 1

1. Lucas: What in the '97 special edition Star Wars movie created an uproar among SW traditionalists? It was in the Greedo/Han confrontation scene. Greedo shoots first.
   
2. Bands: What band was started in 1983 at Univ. of VT by Trey Anastazio, Jeff Hollworth, Mike Fishman, and somebody Goldberg? Phish.
   
3. Cartoons: Where do BooBoo Bear and Yogi Bear live? Jellystone
   
4. Griswolds: Where is Clark taking the family in the first Vacation? WallyWorld
   
5. Authors: What Suspense novelist, best known for fiction, wrote the non-fiction best-sellers "Skipping Christmas" and "Playing for Pizza?" John Grisham.
   

Bonus - Muppets: What are the names of the two muppets who sit in the balcony on the Muppet Show? Statler and Waldorf

Round 2

1. Movies: What is the name of Adam Sandler's production company, which produced movies such as Little Nicky, Deuce bigelow, and 50 First Dates? Happy Madison
   
2. Guitar Gods: What guitarist played with The Whore, Quiet Riot, and Ozzy before dying in a plane crash in 1982? Randy Rhoades.
   
3. Children's Authors: Who wrote the Curious George series? H.A. Ray
   
4. EAV: What historically took place on Tuesdays around 9:30ish at The Gravity? Bingo Trivia
   
5. I've Got a Shotgun: What vehicle is responsible for our term "Shotgun!" The Stagecoach
   

Bonus - Cheers: Name the 3 male Bartenders on Cheers. Sam, Woody, and Coach

Round 3

1. Judge Judy - What is her full name? Judy Steindlen
   
2. Poetry: What is the term for a word that is spelled like it sounds? Onomonopaeia
   
3. The Soup: Who is the current host of The Soup? Joel (can't remember the last name)
   
4. Big Words for Small things: What is [I am guessing at the full question and spelling, but it is something along the lines of] "Heterogeneous hydroscopic, antisytropic lignin holding together celluloses and semicelluloses?" Wood
   
5. Howard Stern Regulars: 4' 1" tall Henry Joseph Mastiff, Jr., of the WacPack, is also known by what nickname? Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf
   

Bonus - A Clockwork Orange: Name the 4 Youths responsible for The Ultraviolence. Alex, Dim, Georgia, and Pete.

Round 4

1. Smoking: According to advertising, how far would you walk for a Camel? A Mile
   
2. Hockey: Name the last winner of the Stanley Cup. Anaheim Ducks
   
3. Blues Bros: What actress played the ex-fiance of Joliet Jakes (sp?) Carrie Fisher
   
4. The Clermont: Who at the Clermont is famous for crushing beer cans with her breasts? Blondie
   
5. Simpsons: Who is the voice of Homer's 1/2 brother, Herb Powell? Danny Devito
   

Bonus - Name the five members of The Breakfast Club. (Characters' names.) Claire Standish, John Bender, Andrew Clark, Brian Johnson, Allison Reynolds.

Trivia Questions, Dec. 4, 2007

Round 1

1. Lucas: What in the '97 special edition Star Wars movie created an uproar among SW traditionalists? It was in the Greedo/Han confrontation scene.
2. Bands: What band was started in 1983 at Univ. of VT by Trey Anastazio, Jeff Hollworth, Mike Fishman, and somebody Goldberg?
3. Cartoons: Where do BooBoo Bear and Yogi Bear live?
4. Griswolds: Where is Clark taking the family in the first Vacation?
5. Authors: What Suspense novelist, best known for fiction, wrote the non-fiction best-sellers "Skipping Christmas" and "Playing for Pizza?"

Bonus - Muppets: What are the names of the two muppets who sit in the balcony on the Muppet Show?

Round 2

1. Movies: What is the name of Adam Sandler's production company, which produced movies such as Little Nicky, Deuce bigelow, and 50 First Dates?
2. Guitar Gods: What guitarist played with The Whore, Quiet Riot, and Ozzy before dying in a plane crash in 1982?
3. Children's Authors: Who wrote the Curious George series?
4. EAV: What historically took place on Tuesdays around 9:30ish at The Gravity?
5. I've Got a Shotgun: What vehicle is responsible for our term "Shotgun!"

Bonus - Cheers: Name the 3 male Bartenders on Cheers.

Round 3

1. Judge Judy - What is her full name?
2. Poetry: What is the term for a word that is spelled like it sounds?
3. The Soup: Who is the current host of The Soup?
4. Big Words for Small things: What is [I am guessing at the full question and spelling, but it is something along the lines of] "Heterogeneous hydroscopic, antisytropic lignin holding together celluloses and semicelluloses?"
5. Howard Stern Regulars: 4' 1" tall Henry Joseph Mastiff, Jr., of the WacPack, is also known by what nickname?

Bonus - A Clockwork Orange: Name the 4 Youths responsible for The Ultraviolence.

Round 4

1. Smoking: According to advertising, how far would you walk for a Camel?
2. Hockey: Name the last winner of the Stanley Cup.
3. Blues Bros: What actress played the ex-fiance of Joliet Jakes (sp?)
4. The Clermont: Who at the Clermont is famous for crushing beer cans with her breasts?
5. Simpsons: Who is the voice of Homer's 1/2 brother, Herb Powell?

Bonus - Name the five members of The Breakfast Club. (Characters' names.)

Answer in the comments, pretty please, and I'll post the correct answers tomorrow.

Trivia Answers

Round 1 -

1. ATL sports: What is the name of the now defunct professional women's soccer team in Atlanta? The Beat
   
2. Barbie: What year was Barbie introduced, within two years: 1959
   
3. Bond: What was the name of the last Sean Connery Bond film? Never Say Never
   
4. US Capitals: What is the capital of North Dakota? Bismarck
   
5. U2: What was U2's first full-length release on Island records (hint: 1980): Boy
   

Bonus: Name the two actors who played Bo and Luke Duke in the recent movie. Johnny Knoxville and Sean William Scott.

Round 2 -

1. What article of clothing did the invention of the bra replace? Corset
   
2. Classical Music: Who wrote the Brandenburg Concerto? (There might be more to this question, but if there is, I don't remember) Bach
   
3. Metal: Kevin Dubrow died this week. What metal band did he front? Quiet Riot
   
4. East Atlanta Village: What happens at the former location of the Kingfisher school on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings? Dog Park
   
5. Gods: What is the name of the Egyptian sun god? Ra
   

Bonus: Name the four members of the Walsh family on Beverly Hills 90210. Brandon, Brenda, Jim, and Cindy.

Round 3 -

1. Math: What is the cube root of 152? 8 (i think?)
   
2. Authors - Who wrote the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? Douglas Adams
   
3. Cel Phones - What is Boost Mobile a subsidiary of? Metro-Pcs or Sprint
   
4. Plague - Within ten million, how many people died during the middle ages' Black Plague? I can't remember what the answer was.
   
5. Cartoonists - Name of the comic written by Berkeley Brethed that spawned another comic strip called Outland? Bloom County
   

Bonus - Name the three members of Run DMC. (Either their stage names or real names.) Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, and Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell.

Final Round -

1. VPs - Who was the first vice president? John Adams
   
2. Video Games - What classic video game company created the game Centipede? Nintendo
   
3. Wildlife - What is the only place on earth where alligators and crocs coexist in the wild? Florida
   
4. acronyms - What does MARTA stand for? Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
   
5. Beer - Which has the fewest calories? Coors Light, Bud Light, or Miller Light? Miller Light
   

Bonus - What are the top five highest-grossing film series of all time, based on unadjusted gross receipts?

(in no certain order)
Pirates of the Caribbean
Star Wars
Harry Potter
Lord of the Rings
Bond

Trivia

So, I have the most awesomest sister in the world. She worked a twelve hour shift yesterday, wiping geriatric butts, then rushed over to watch my kids so that I could go out and play trivia. Then, she got up with them, fed and dressed them, and took them to school so I could sleep late. Oh, and she is knocked up, so she did it without copious amounts of coffee. What an amazement.

We did okay at trivia last night, and came in third, but I was a little disappointed that we blew the first place lead we carried through the first two rounds. Much fun was had, though, and our all-girls team picked up a few male scabs and . . . well, we didn't really need them, but it was good to see them. There has been much discussion about whether our trivia team should be open to males or if it is a girls' only night, and so the desegregation was not bad at all. I even picked up one very funny naked skateboarding story. You can't beat that.

On to the questions, if i can remember them:

Round 1 -

1. ATL sports: What is the name of the now defunct professional women's soccer team in Atlanta?
2. Barbie: What year was Barbie introduced, within two years:
3. Bond: What was the name of the last Sean Connery Bond film?
4. US Capitals: What is the capital of North Dakota?
5. U2: What was U2's first full-length release on Island records (hint: 1980):

Bonus: Name the two actors who played Bo and Luke Duke in the recent movie.

Round 2 -

1. What article of clothing did the invention of the bra replace?
2. Classical Music: Who wrote the Brandenburg Concerto? (There might be more to this question, but if there is, I don't remember)
3. Metal: Kevin Dubrow died this week. What metal band did he front?
4. East Atlanta Village: What happens at the former location of the Kingfisher school on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings?
5. Gods: What is the name of the Egyptian sun god?

Bonus: Name the four members of the Walsh family on Beverly Hills 90210.

Round 3 -

1. Math: What is the cube root of 152?
2. Authors - Who wrote the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?
3. Cel Phones - What is Boost Mobile a subsidiary of?
4. Plague - Within ten million, how many people died during the middle ages' Black Plague?
5. Cartoonists - Name of the comic written by Berkeley Brethed that spawned another comic strip called Outland?

Bonus - Name the three members of Run DMC. (Either their stage names or real names.)

Final Round -

1. VPs - Who was the first vice president?
2. Video Games - What classic video game company created the game Centipede?
3. Wildlife - What is the only place on earth where alligators and crocs coexist in the wild?
4. acronyms - What does MARTA stand for?
5. Beer - Which has the fewest calories? Coors Light, Bud Light, or Miller Light?

Bonus - What are the top five films of all time, based on unadjusted gross receipts?

Trivia

We came in 4th by one measly point. We were in first, but spectacularly blew the lead with our ill-advised wagering. Still fun, though. Here goes:

Round 1 -

1. Beer: # of ounces in a Foster's oil can of beer.
2. Billionaires: Founder of the Virgin corporate empire.
3. South Park: What year did South Park premiere?
4. Car Companies: What is the parent company of Lexus?
5. Presidents: Who is the most recent President to win the Nobel Peace Prize?
6. Bonus - Dekalb County: The position Vernon Jones currently holds and the position he is seeking.

Round 2 -

1. Booze: Jagermeister translates to the English for ______.
2. Civil War: Where did Lee surrender to Grant?
3. EAV: The year that the Gravity Pub originally opened, within one year:
4. Great albums of the past: What did Rolling Stone say was the record of the decade for the 80's?
5. Heavy Metal: What is the name of Motley Crue's first album?
6. Bonus: Who were the three original members of the band Nirvana?

Round 3:

1. Movies: What George Lucas film made only 750,000 at the box office, but is the most profitable film in Hollywood history?
2. Napoleon Dynamite: What is Napoleon Dynamite's brother's name?
3. Polka: Who is the "American Polka King?" (Hint: He shares a name with an accordion-playing pop star.)
4. U.S. Capitals: What is the capital of Montana?
5. Art History: What artist created "Sunday Afternoon on the Grande Jette" (sp?)?
6. Bonus - 80s Sitcoms: Name the four actresses who played the leads on The Golden Girls.

Round 4:

1. TV Commercials: What was Mr. Whipple's catchphrase?
   
2. Simpsons: What Star Wars figure from Ralph Wigam's (sp?) diorama was broken when he fell?
3. Sports: What NFL team holds the record for the most points scored in a single season?
4. TV: What tv show features characters named: Dennis, Frank, Mac, Charlie, and Sweet D?
5. Band Names: The band Nerf Herder took their name from a line in what 80s movie?
6. Bonus - Baseball: What 5 franchises have the most World Series wins?

I think we only missed six of these. How did you do?

Trivia Answers - Almost Forgot

1. What year was the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre released? 1984
   
2. The Arthur Miller play based on the Salem Witch trials. The Crucible.
   
3. Total number of movies in the Friday the 13th, Halloween, and Nightmare on Elm St series, including the combination movie, and any remakes. 27!!!!!
   
4. Birth name of the serial killer nicknamed "The Killer Clown." John Wayne Gacy.
   
5. What is the name of the pub in which Shaun and his friends holed up to escape Zombies in "Shaun of the Dead?" With Robin's help, we would have come up with this one! The Winchester.
   
6. In the Rocky Horror Picture Show, which two characters are brother and sister? RiffRaff and Magenta.
   
7. What was the name of the sequel to Rocky Horror Picture Show? Shock Treatment.
   
8. On South Park, what was mixed with Kenny's embalming fluid to cause him to become a zombie? Worcestshire.
   
9. Name of the monster who prowls Mexico eating goats? Chupacabras
   
10. In Evil Dead, what is the name of the book of the Dead? Necronomicon
    
11. In the original Friday the 13th, who was the killer? Jason's Mom, Mrs. Voorhees. The Mom.
    
12. Evil Poets: Who wrote "The Raven?" Edgar Allan Poe
    
13. What are the three original Romero zombie films? (We only got two.) Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead.
    
14. What beer would you use to kill a werewolf? Coors Light.
    
15. What actors portrayed Marty Coleslaw and his uncle Red in Stephen King's Silver Bullet? Corey Haim and Gary Busey
    
16. What were the vampire-killing brothers, one of whom was played by Corey Feldman, referred to as in The Lost Boys? The Frog Bros.
    
17. What musician is credited with popularizing the "devil horns" rock n roll gesture? Dio
    
18. What 1922 film was the debut of the vampire on the big screen? Nosferatu
    
19. Classic Arcade Games: What are the names of the four ghosts in the American version of the game PacMan? (We only got three.) Inky, Blinky, Pinky, and Clyde.
    
20. The name of the English punk band whose ever-changing members included members named "Rat Scabies," "Captain Sensible," and "Urbana?" This one drove Robin and I crazy, because it was on the tip of our tongues. The Damned.
    
21. Ancient Celtic festival/ritual credited with being the original Halloween? Samhain.
    
22. What does Mexico's Dia de los Muertos (sp?) mean? Day of the Dead.
    
23. Number of bones in the male body? Bonus for naming the state in which this number is an area code. 206 (Washington State.)
    
24. What is the only mammal naturally capable of flight? Bat.
    
25. Final Question: Name the actors who played each of the following in The Rocky Horror Picture Show -
    
    Dr. Frankenfurter - Tim Curry
    Brad - Barry Bostwick
    Janet - Susan Sarandon
    RiffRaff - O'Brien
    Eddie - Meatloaf

Fun times. Who's with me on Tuesday???

Happy Halloween Trivia

I played trivia with my sister and Robin last night. Tres fun! We didn't dress up (Shit, i barely got my teeth brushed yesterday, much less take a shower and plan a costume!), but some people did and there were some funny costumes. The best one by far was the "Dick in a Box" guy. So funny.

I have been dying to go to trivia for weeks now, but haven't been able to get anyone to go. I fear that they are lying to me when they say they have other plans, and in actuality, they are just afeared of my ridiculously competitive nature. (Think Monica on Friends.) Apparently, Lisa and Robin ran out of excuses. I also think i lured Robbie in with the fact that the horror-themed trivia would include multiple Rocky Horror Picture Show questions. Yes, she is one of those people.

My competitiveness does not mean, of course, that I rule at trivia, just that i like to feel like i gave my best shot at each and every question. Last night? That so didn't happen. I even wore my Cramps Halloween shirt for good luck; We completely choked on some of the questions. We did not even place in the top three. It will not happen again.

Just kidding.
Kinda.

I ran the questions by Todd when I got home, and it turns out that if Robin had made it on time (she missed the first round because of work) and Todd had gone with us, we would have done a lot better. Also if we didn't have Friday the 13th killer name debacle. (Sorry, Lisa!)

So, here are the questions. The ones that Robin, Lisa and I managed to pull out of our asses. And a few that are so Mickey Mouse that the question writers should be ashamed. And the ones that we didn't get are in bold. Do you know the answers? Googlers are cheaters, and cheaters never prosper. Kind of like those fuckers at the bar last night who were cheating. You know who you are, blond chick with the blue and white striped shirt. A curse on you, and the guy who gave you the answer, too.

1. What year was the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre released?
2. The Arthur Miller play based on the Salem Witch trials.
3. Total number of movies in the Friday the 13th, Halloween, and Nightmare on Elm St series, including the combination movie, and any remakes.
4. Birth name of the serial killer nicknamed "The Killer Clown."
5. What is the name of the pub in which Shaun and his friends holed up to escape Zombies in "Shaun of the Dead?" With Robin's help, we would have come up with this one!
   
6. In the Rocky Horror Picture Show, which two characters are brother and sister?
7. What was the name of the sequel to Rocky Horror Picture Show?
8. On South Park, what was mixed with Kenny's embalming fluid to cause him to become a zombie?
9. Name of the monster who prowls Mexico eating goats?
10. In Evil Dead, what is the name of the book of the Dead?
11. In the original Friday the 13th, who was the killer?
12. Evil Poets: Who wrote "The Raven?"
13. What are the three original Romero zombie films? (We only got two.)
14. What beer would you use to kill a werewolf?
15. What actors portrayed Marty Coleslaw and his uncle Red in Stephen King's Silver Bullet?
16. What were the vampire-killing brothers, one of whom was played by Corey Feldman, referred to as in The Lost Boys?
17. What musician is credited with popularizing the "devil horns" rock n roll gesture?
18. What 1922 film was the debut of the vampire on the big screen?
19. Classic Arcade Games: What are the names of the four ghosts in the American version of the game PacMan? (We only got three.)
20. The name of the English punk band whose ever-changing members included members named "Rat Scabies," "Captain Sensible," and "Urbana?" This one drove Robin and I crazy, because it was on the tip of our tongues.
21. Ancient Celtic festival/ritual credited with being the original Halloween?
22. What does Mexico's Dia de los Muertos (sp?) mean?
23. Number of bones in the male body? Bonus for naming the state in which this number is an area code.
24. What is the only mammal naturally capable of flight?
25. Final Question: Name the actors who played each of the following in The Rocky Horror Picture Show -
    
    Dr. Frankenfurter
    Brad
    Janet
    RiffRaff
    Eddie
    

Have fun! I'll post answers tomorrow.

Trivia Time

Slow day here for me. We are getting ready to go to the beach, and I just don't have much interesting to say about my little old life. I just want to escape it with a bigass margarita in hand.

I played trivia last night with some of The Creekers. Honorary Creeker, Camille was there, too. We are all heavier, balder, and grayer, but it is so comforting to be with people who have known you since before you quit wetting the bed. We used to play trivia together a lot more than we do now. I think we used to be better, too. We definitely used to drink more.

Anyway, Leelee was the big brain last night, but every decent trivia team knows that not only do you have to have people with vast trivial knowledge, but those people also have to be know-it-alls and push their right answers on the rest of the team. Lisa evidently still thinks that me and Ev are actually smart; I know good and well she has been there for much of my brain-cell-destroying activities, so Leelee, speak up. You were the smartest one there last night! Argue with us. We like it.

The first half of questions were easy peasy. We kinda tanked on the second half. Questions (paraphrased based on my patchy memory,) with answers to come tonight:

1. On Family Feud, what did most respondents say is most often given to people in the hospital?
2. What product uses the advertising phrase "Taste the Rainbow?"
3. What movie did Tom Cruise have to learn Japanese sword-fighting and the Japanese language for?
4. What major city does Logan airport serve?
5. What sport did b-baller Joaquim (sp?) Noah's father, Yannick, play?
6. What hormone does the pancreas produce that lowers blood glucose levels?
7. What talk show host is married to Marlo Thomas?
8. What word, from the latin for "to entrust," means to keep a jury in isolation?
9. What jazz trumpeter was nicknamed "satchmo?"
10. Halftime question:
11. What four artists did the song, "That's What Friends are For?"
12. What Four Seasons song title came from a Clark Gable movie line?
13. Which of the following is the Laker's all-time top scorer? Kareem, Jerry West, or Magic Johnson?
14. What branch of our military has a red stripe on their dress blues called a "blood line?"
15. In the zodiac, what sign are you if you are born on Feb. 29th?
16. On what continent is the Balkan peninsula?
17. What '92 movie had the tagline, "You'll laugh, You'll cry, You'll Hurl?"
18. What computer modeling program demo became famous after being featured on the tv show Ally McBeal?
19. Which of the following had a number one hit in the UK with their song, "Cherish:" The Association, Kook and the Gang, or Madonna?
20. Whose wife and daughter were killed in a plane crash, ironically, near Mt. Everest?
21. Final Question:
22. Of the ten top-grossing films of all time, which two are not sequels and do not have sequels?

Come on, smart people.