In less than four hours now I’ll be on a plane headed back to Minneapolis, but before that happens I wanted to write a few words here. I want to thank everyone for another great year. Our success two years ago — when we finished fifth, but appeared to have a chance at a top-three finish most of the weekend — might have given us some unreal expectations, but the truth is that I’m personally more than happy with finishing how we did because we had a blast doing it. Thank you to everyone who came from across town, across the state, or from out of state. Thank you to everyone who took off of work to be here, and thank you to everyone who squeezed in a couple hours to play with us between work and sleep. And, of course, thank you to our fabulous hosts, without whom none of this would have been possible. It sounds to me like everyone is really excited about next year, and that being the case, I see no reason why Too Much Trivia in the Pants shouldn’t return for a thirteenth year in 2010.

I managed to get photos posted from this year while I still have Internet access, so go check those out. I know that there were several people with cameras around the War Room this year, and if you have photos you want to share, feel free to e-mail them to me and I will try to get them posted as soon as I can (again, no guarantees on a timeline here, as I don’t have Internet access at home).

And so, with that, trivia officially closes for us for the year. (Yes, for those not in-the-know, trivia for our team is practically a week-long affair.) Planning is already under way for next year, and — to the best of my knowledge — the dates for next year’s contest should be January 29-31, 2010. I will try to make it back to town at some point over the next year to see all of you here, but, if not, I hope to see you when we gather again next year for Great Midwest Trivia Contest XLV.

♥k!

After my last experience staying up the whole weekend back in 2006 I hadn’t planned on doing it ever again, but this year — like that year, really — just sort of happened. I’m not going to lie — I’m tired — but I think I might actually be in much better shape than I was three years ago. We definitely had our lumps this year (mostly the result of incompetent phone answerers who unscrupulously stole points from us over and over again) but whatever. Anyway, the Garrudas are coming soon, so we’re gearing up just like everyone else to sprint to the finish and still have time to hit last call tonight. And to think that this is my vacation!

♥k!

Wikipedia douchebag/trivia-asshole Halfazebra just got banned from Wikipedia for vandalism. The system works!

Another downer for this year’s contest. Throughout the weekend, critical information for trivia questions has been edited in Wikipedia as the questions are being asked. We tracked down at least one IP from these cheaters to Lawrence University. Are the Triviamasters doing this because they are lazy question writers or are the trivia teams doing this to prevent other teams from getting the right answer?

Other trivia teams, check the history if using Wikipedia or you may be misled.

If you are the ones doing this, stop being assholes.

We’re still having fun — don’t get me wrong — but a few things are a little frustrating this year. For one, the extremes in volume between the music and the trivia masters’ microphones is pretty annoying. Our volume control is getting quite the workout this weekend. And second, we don’t want to sound like jerks, but there is one very specific trivia master this year who, well, is pretty much intolerable. He is rude to those who come down to answer phones, he is rude to off-campus teams, he is rude to teams calling in with answers, and we can never understand what he says when he’s reading off questions and answers. Oh, and he was quite rude and most unhelpful on the complaint line. Whatever. Anyway, we’re still having fun.

We’ve got a ton of people here, 40s, food, and a party panda. Unfortunately, we’re sucking it up on the actual trivia questions.

Jay and Pete have been rocking Neverwinter Nights for most of trivia. That’s dedication.

It’s party hour and the Party Panda is awake again.

Arrrrrrrrrrrrgh!!! We ♥ you guys! Keep it up….

The panda bear got all tuckered out from eating cigarette butts all day and fell asleep.

They finally played our song and we danced it out.

I think we were showing signs of fatigue, but then Sean showed up with another case of 40s and now we seem to have caught our collective second wind. Dick Enrico would be proud.

So, umm, this is Man Hour, right? You would think we were an all-female team based upon our performance this hour. Dang….

We’ve got 12 awake and more or less sober team members right now. Also, Wisneski is here.

I think we’ve hit a collective wall as a team. Haven’t been getting so many right lately (of course, as I typed that we finally got one). I think everyone is getting a little tired, but we’re still going.

…is waaay too long to wait for “Africa” to make its first appearance during trivia.

“Sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti.”

Kobe, how’s my jam taste?

» No _____ on the Subway! [Gothamist]

The cheeseballs have finally been broken out. It’s about friggin’ time.

We’re only four hours in but we already reek of liquor and broken dreams.

I’m trying to type out the questions in our database as they are asked over the air, but, man, are they ever long, long, long this year! Dang….

T-minus ten minutes and counting. We stopped by the station shortly after nine and talked to the trivia masters. Grand Master Erin said they would play “2 Much Booty (In the Pants)” for us. Kick ass, sea bass!