So, guys, the Southgate meet. Let's start there.
It was a fun meet, I must say. First night induced a slight panic (okay, maybe not very slight), but the quiz had gone well... I was just getting really worked up over... Well, not nothing but nothing worth panicking over. However, I got more sleep than I thought I would (thanks Melatonin!) and woke up motivated and ready to quiz the next morning. The quizzes in the morning weren't that bad, but not really that great either. NEXT 1 was really in the zone, but in the end we ended up in consolation. We were happy though... It wasn't like we had quizzed badly, and hey, I made a good point during a challenge... I wasn't the one who challenged, but I used the rule book and stuff :oP So I'm proud of myself for making a legitimate point in a challenge. NEXT 2 did fabulously and ended up in finals in the rookie division yet again :o) Seriously, those guys are unbeatable.
I wish I had more to say in this update but I'm afraid that most of the meet is a blur for me, except the challenge and making another awesome story up during the light testing... That was fun!
I've been studying a lot more since that meet, especially since I didn't qualify for Great West. It really is a shame since I won't have the chance...
WHAT? Oh yeah, I didn't mention that. Even though I'm only 15 and have been registered as a grade 11 quizzer all year, I will be taking post-secondary schooling (a teacher training program at Edmonton School of Ballet, hopefully, if not then I'll be going to Concordia for my Bachelor of Arts in Music) in the Fall and will as a result be ineligible to quiz anymore :o( I'm hoping to coach in the Fall and will continue to put any tips I get, or anything I come up with for memory up in the site. I will be starting a new blog... I think I'll call it "Beyond the Benches" or something like that. It might be less interesting, maybe more... who knows? You'll just have to stay tuned for that!
On that note, I might as well start mentioning Nakamun... My final finals. I've been preparing my brains out as I would really like to have less than 10 errors in my last quiz meet... Wouldn't you? Anyways, I'm getting ready for that. I'm likely gonna miss getting the grade 12 pin and stuff since I have to be back home for kids ministry and dance team on Sunday morning/afternoon, but I'll savour the moments that I have while I'm out there and still a quizzer. Keep an eye here for my last blog post in "Tales of a Quizzer"... It'll likely be kinda sentimental and emotional, probably have a lot of bad jokes in attempt to lighten the moment, and give you an idea of when I'll start blogging as a coach or tablestaff or something cool and awesome like that.
Until then, question of the blog: When are you graduating? If you already graduated, how do you recommend spending my last meet? Any cool stuff that I should do while I still have the chance? (No, I'm not going up to answer a question and lying on the floor for 30 seconds) (... or am I?)
Quizzers... UNITE!
Maegan
Well, I finally got around to creating the blog about the Vauxhall meet. The drive was, like, 6 hours so that's naturally where I'm going to start this blog.
We watched, according to my request, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat (I got it on DVD for Christmas), Star Trek, Kung Fu Panda 2... We were watching movies for almost the entire ride, if we weren't sitting around making odd noises at each other. I'm serious. Braeden and I were definitely talking weird almost the entire time we were in the van. We stopped at Scott's Parable where I got 4 CD's for 8 bucks (W00T!) and we continued on to Lindon where we stopped for some amazing lunch and the best pie in the world, and it was generally an awesome ride down.
Quizzing starts, not a great first quiz. I don't remember if I erred out or just didn't do very well but we weren't too happy with that quiz. -shrug-
The hotel was fun... We went to Boston Pizza despite our experience with the wait times there at the last meet, and headed back to the hotel to enjoy it while watching the last 20 minutes or so of the King's Speech. It was interesting from what I remember but I don't remember much... I had melatonin in my system and I was doing flashcards (let me know about any typos... I am sure that there are several)
I woke up against my better judgement at 5 in the morning and tried to focus on my studying as I couldn't get back to sleep. Patricia insisted that 7 was the best time to meet for breakfast so that's when Lana and I went down, eventually no longer making any resemblance to zombies and getting pumped for the rest of the meet.
The rest of the meet was kind of a blur. NEXT 1 was either really tired or just not prepared enough... We ended up in consolation in the afternoon despite a WXYZ quiz that went a thousand times better than the rest of the morning. Didn't do too well in consolation either, though, so I guess it was a good thing that we didn't end up in championships... we would've gotten crushed. As Jon said, it was a lesson in humility if anything... A reminder that even if we had a good meet last meet and a good year last year doesn't mean we can study less or not try as hard. I think it was also a reminder that getting into championships, doing well... They're things to be proud of. Puts things into perspective.
NEXT 2, however, rocked the socks off of the meet, winning the Rookie Division finals! (They were amazing. Seriously. NEXT 1 could learn a few things from them).
The drive home was filled with G.I. Joe and studying... Chapter 8. You'd think that I'd give myself a bit of review time after that meet... Heh. It probably would've been a really good idea. But at least I'm really good at chapter 8. Its an easier chapter but I'm good at it now.
From the ride home I went straight to LAJ with Lana... It was an extremely surreal weekend, to be completely honest.
NEXT 2 has been keeping up the good work at practices and seem to be getting better every work, and NEXT 1 has, with renewed focus, gotten back on track and are ready for anything next weekend at the Southgate meet. Well, almost anyways.
Once again, I am studying for my Highland theory and realizing how much my Quizzing is helping my Highland and vice-versa. For example: one thing my teacher told me at my private lesson once that has become my motto for the rest of the year: "They're not neccessarily better than you... You're just not trying as hard as they are." I feel like I haven't been trying as hard this year, and I feel like keeping that in the forefront of my mind will remind me that it isn't an issue of being a 'good quizzer'... It's a matter of effort and trying hard.
Anyways, I'll blog about the upcoming meet another time. I only have up to chapter 5 in flashcards done and I really need those things...
Question of the blog: How was the last meet for you guys? Learn anything new?
Quizzers Unite!
Maegan
Is that even a word? I'm not sure. But April once again is awesome and has reminded me that I haven't blogged announcing the next quiz meet yet, like I usually do! Obviously, Winter break has taken a bit of a toll on my mind (and as my team would testify, my quizzing :oS). But I do have a list of valid excusees including the following (yes, I'm about to list a bunch of excuses for not blogging):
It's January, and not only does my dance school have our recital in the beginning of January, the 25th of the month is Robbie Burns Day, and Highland dancers are naturally super busy around that time. I had a dance performance yesterday and I will have another one tomorrow. If that's not excuse enough, my class was also working on new choreograpy at the beginning of December that we had just over a month to prepare, and I have a championship that I've been preparing to enter in, so I've been super dedicated to my dancing lately. Not that I haven't been trying to study as much quizzing as possible, of course.
Also, I've been really busy with my new job at Jysk. At one point I was working 20 hours in one week, although now it has eased up considerably to 7 hours, 6 this week. I literally wore pieces of dance costumes under my work clothes twice this week.
Annnnd I am now co-directing (coaching and choreographing for, scheduling practices for, writing letters to the parents of) a dance team at my church. Which if you lie in Edmonton you need to ask me about because it is awesome.
So if that's not excuse enough to have been caught up and not available to blog much, you either aren't a dancer, or didn't actually read the last few paragraphs.
But, yes, thus is my life. My flashcards are WAY behind, my blog hasn't been updated since... did I even blog about the last quiz meet? At all? Man, do I have some catching up to do!
So, let's start with the last quiz meet. Lots of fun stuff happened including a massive game of Gump that got slightly out of hand, falling flat on my face trying to do fouettes without warming up, running off to the mall during the break between prelims and championships... and oh yeah, QUIZZING :o)!
We had some really really good quizzes, all of which I am extremely proud of. There was one really crappy quiz which I would prefer not to really talk about, which was our last quiz of the day (Lana almost fell asleep on the benches, actually. It was pretty funny), but it was a fun day in general. Like normal, we took the long way around things, and placed 7th in Championships! Without a stats sheet in front of me I don't remember how NEXT 2 placed, but they did really awesome. In my opinion, they could be in the Senior bracket but *shrug*. They're doing awesome.
Personally, I placed 8th in the championship bracket which is a huge success! Not a personal best, but awesome nonetheless.
This next quiz meet is just... Gah. I'm too tired most of the time to really force myself to get pumped (dancing takes a lot of emotional, mental, and physical energy which I don't seem to have a lot of lately). However, while well-rested and caffienated, the thought of it sends my stomach butterflies insane. Without caffiene I'm not panicking though, so I guess that's a good thing and a bad thing at the same time. Bad thing because I am WAAAAAY behind and a little bit of freaking out could do my quizzing a lot of good.
I'm looking into binaural beats for focus and high brain activity, and I'll let you guys know what my experience is. Right now I'm desperate so I'll try almost anything.
Quesiton of the blog: Do you get less motivated over the Winter months? I sure do.... this happens every year!
Anywhoodiddles. There is studying to be done and I have a dance out tomorrow and I don't really have the time to be blogging :oP
QUIZZERS UNITE!
Maegan
Yeah, I know this is kinda last-minute for most of y'all but I FINALLY got some flashcards done. I mean, I had some done before but not enough that I was about to post about them. That would be embarassing. But anyways: FLASHCARDS! Knock yourselves out, kids: http://www.flashcardmachine.com/1507808/t1g3So. We at WCD are approaching quiz meet #1... the regional. My outlook on this meet: Positive. We have some pretty die-hard rookies and I'm actually caught up all the way for once! No cramming for me! I'm not stressing yet (well,no more than I usually do at quizzing) but that'll come in due time.
Speaking of cramming, the week of chapter 3 (2 weeks ago) we had pretty much THE worst practice ever. We as a team made, what was it... 17? Errors IN A ROW. Blech. It was horrible. Thankfully last week we redeemed ourselves and had some amazing quizzing going on!
Tonight is an important practice for me... This will give me an idea of what I need to be studying this week right before the meet... Which verses and sections I need to work on more than others. Not that I won't be studying it ALL but y'know. I didn't post this in the last blog, but for every error I get this year in practices, I write that verse out for one page... 30 times. Yeah, probably overkill but I figure that it's constructive in the end. Besides, it keeps me busy and errors suck. After Great West I did something similar (every verse once for every error I got there... Never ended up finishing that) but it was WAY too much and too sudden. Heh heh.
So... That brings me to the question of this blog (I can't believe I've been able to keep these up)... I know I already asked about weird quizzing habits, but I never asked about studying... Do you do anything weird when you're studying that nobody else does (or is willing to say they do)? For me, it's the 30-verse thing, and probably the fact that if I take breaks, I lose every bit of motivation to study I had. I have to study in lonnng sessions or I just don't. Every
Anywhoo. I'm going on for too long. *steps off of soapbox*
Quizzers Unite!!
Maegan
For starters: Yes, it is excusable that I didn't post last week because the first quizzing practice was TODAY. Aware as I am that most of you started LAST week, I didn't have much to post about.
Well, things are a bit weird this year... John and Laura won't be on the benches with us (tear, tear), and we have some new awesome quizzers (who are doing amazing by the way... Just sayin). As much as it won't be the same, and as much as I complain and complain about that, I am looking forward to seeing how this year goes, and how our rookies all handle the awesomeness that is quizzing.
Today I got, 4 errors? I think. I'm not sure. 3 of the 4 said errors were in the same verse. Ouch. 1 Peter 1 hasn't been treating me so well. But ya know what? I'm out for revenge on Peter this week. Yes, I will study so much that my quizhelper won't know what hit... him? I guess it would be a male since I'm in a committed relationship with... him. Anyways. And next week... NO errors! No stupid errors, no 'I didn't hear the question' errors, no 'stare-blankly-and-hope-that-I-don't-have-to-sit-here-for-30-seconds-cause-I-have-no-idea' errors... NONE! (Yes, I know I shouldn't make that promise but I can dream, right? *sigh*)
Oh, and a question... When an answer is out of context, and it is in the first answer, but the main word in the first answer is in context (not in a rookie division scenario... I'm talking championship finals situation) could that be challenged because the PHRASE isn't in context? I think so but I thought I'd check with my expert blog readers.
By the way, I know you guys studied over the Summer. I've been getting visitors consistantly from May till now so I'm taking that as a sign that you've all been studying. So I think I should expect some fierce competition at the next meet, right, guys? Right?
Flashcards should be started up between a few days and a few weeks from now :o)
So. Question of the post. How did your first practice go? How's 1 Peter treating you (or mistreating you)?
Good luck, all, in the new year, that in cludes you, coaches, officials, and parents who have to deal with the quizzers!
Quizzers Unite... 2011/12!!!
Maegan
Do you miss me? ... I know I shouldn't ask these questions. Oh well. Since its been such a lonng time, I guess I should start with Great West, hey?
So... The Englers were kind enough to take me with them in their vehicle to Chamisall... Thanks Englers! We sang songs all the way from Cochrine to camp... it was awesome! The first night we tried to watch a movie but half way through it stopped working. We also tried to play a game, but it was IMPOSSIBLE!!! You try to balance a ball on a board with STRINGS, walk across the room, and put the ball through a hole in the board into a basket. I think that one tea got one in, but that was luck...
On the Friday we did some practice quizzes, and I did well, I'm not gonna lie. I was on a team with Tomi, Kyle, April, and Heather... And even though we didn't get into championships (which was probably my fault... heh heh) we won consolation! WOOT!!!!!! Snowmen were built, jokes were made, we nicknamed Ben (he is now Kutchmababins... if thats how its spelled), and it was an all-around great weekend. Personally, I came in 35th or something crazy like that, with an average of about 9 (I'm rounding to make myself feel better) and 15 errors.
After that, I resolved to copy out the material 15 times. I tried... but it didn't happen. :o(
Nakamun came pretty fast after that, and with only Love According to John and study week between GW and Nak... it was insane! NEXT went in head first though, and we rocked it. Our cabin was awesome, as we all respected each other's needs to sleep, studied together, made up really stupid moose and monkey stories with watermelon... but nobody's gonna understand that...
NEXT 1 decided to take the long road to championships, placing 4th in the morning, and starting the afternoon with a 2nd and 3rd. So... we had a LOT of quizzes after that. BUT! Even though my mom was sweating bullets and each quiz came down to the last question (literally, out last 4 quizzes of the afternoon were all either tie-breakers or last-question-makes-or-breaks-this quizzes), in the end we made it to finals, and we were all ecstatic, especially since it was Jon's last quiz meet, and probably Troy's last time coaching us.
Nat's qualifiers went well, I got, like, 5 right or something, and I was awful proud of myself. Didn't make the team, but I'll admit, I wasn't quizzing very well this year anyways, and would've brought the team down anyways.
Finals finally came around, and it was an intense quiz, and we came in second to Foothills 2... which wasn't a bad thing, because, as Troy would say, it's not that bad when you lose to a team thats genuinely better than you.
Jon went out with a bang... he placed 9th! Sadly, Jon graduated at Nakamun, and I think I speak for everyone at Next when I say, we're gonna miss him. Not only cause he's extremely good at quizzing, cause he is, but because practices are going to be really boring without his puns. well, that is if we don't somehow convince him to coach... Keep your fingers crossed for our convincing skills!
While I'm being emotional here, Troy is probably leaving us, too. Its not gonna be the same... Troy got NEXT 1 to where we are... He is the best coach EVER! I'll admit, I cried when we had to leave, knowing that Jon and Laura wouldn't be on the benches with us, and Troy probably wasn't going to be coaching, but I'm trying to look ahead. I'm trying to get Lana and Patricia all psyched up for next year, I don't know whether its successful or not, but I hope so.
anyways, enough with the sentimental stuff. In the end of it all, I've learned a LOT this year, and all good things have to end eventually, right? I mean, I'm leaving town after I graduate, so I can't blame other people for not coming back and coaching, right?
So... now that its all over, what are YOU guys doing with your life? What have you learned this year? I learned that work ethic DOES need to be renewed, that team dynamic is just as important as individual scores, and all good quizzers make errors... you just have to learn from them and keep going.
Well, see ya in August for the countdown, maybe earlier if I find some tips or study methods... I'll try to update you on studying over the Summer, I've already started Hebrews... Last year I took a long break and regretted it, like< REALLY regretted it. Are you guys taking a break? Who's graduating?
QUIZZERS UNITE!!!!
Maegan
Tomorrow! Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrooooooow there'll be suuuuuuunnn! Just thinking abooooout.... Tomorrow! Wipes away the cobwebs and the sorroooooow till theres noooooone...
Yeah. The quiz meet? Its tomorrow. Lets all break out into song. From Annie. Yeah. We're all that cool. Who's ready? Not me! Although, when am I ever ready for these things?
So... after arranging rides and everything to and from Calgary, NEXT had an epic practice today! Our last-minute stuff always goes well... even though today we were all acting unnaturaly protective of our specializations and stuff... we're trying to all get really great personal scores to get into Great West and that I guess is turning us all into total divas... LOL!
Preparation for the meet... I'm going to wake up early tomorrow morning to get my flashcarsd done and getting everything ready for the meet tonight so I have nothing to worry about tomorrow morning. Around this time every meet, I usually have my cards done. Unfortunately, this time I don't. I apologize.
Here at NEXT we have decided (well, at least kind of decided) that we are going to attempt to avoid the candy, sweets, and any form of unhealthy food that we may come across for this entire weekend in attempts to have sharper minds and healthier bodies for quizzing. Jon's theory is that the 'junk' food will slow us down and we won't quiz our best. Or, ahem, as Patricia would say, beyond our best. Hopefully this is the right move, or at least a good one that we can keep up. I guess I'll have to switch to herbal tea to keep me awake, huh?
Well, I have flashcards to do, sleep to try to get, and a bag to finish packing.
Question: What is the most important item you have at a quiz meet, other than studying materials?
So... until we meet again, QUIZZERS UNITE!!!
Maegan
I... sorry, I need a moment...
Okay, so I have a diploma exam for Math30P next week, right? I am in a 4-day super intense diploma exam preparation course this weekend that's supposed to get me ready for the big test, and I have tons of work to do and material to study and I think that it'll go really well, ya know? Like, I've got everything I need right in front of me to do well.
My mom doesn't see this in the same light...
She thinks that my quizzing will distract me from my math or something. So I am not allowed to study anymore. Not until after my exam is done.
WHAT?!?!?!?
I'm gonna die! I'm gonna just roll over and DIE right now! I JUST started getting back into this whole studying thing from my little rut at the beginning of the year, and now it's all for what? A good math mark? Entrance to University? ...Okay, yeah, thats what its for. BUT really... not at all? That gives me NOTHING to work with at the next practice. NOTHING!
Anyways, I hurt my foot last night. Which will not help my jumping much. I think its either a sprain or a minor fracture, but I refuse to go to the doctor cause I don't want to end up in a cast... I don't care how muchlonger it'll take to get better... I can dance with it and as long as I have an ankle brace on its totally fine.
So. That's my life right now. My question for today: Does school ever interfere with your normal studying?
Quizzers Unite!
Maegan
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone! I hope that you're all doing well after the holidays and that you haven't fallen behind as a result of Christmas shopping and parties. For me, I've had an emotionally trying Christmas this year, and my parents went away for a week... which gave me time to study, while I didn't have to do chores... LOL! I am also going to be starting to see a therapist about anxiety issues after my doctor ruled out a thyroid problem... I knew I was a bit weird... but then again, aren't we all? So I might get more tips from that... for the nerves section... maybe even studying tips.
Anyways, I've been meaning to write a blog on this forEVER now... odd habits of quizzers. Taylor and I were chatting on Facebook and we somehow got on the topic of odd habits. I've noticed a few, but I know there are more. Some people always clear their throat before they answer, some people always say um before they answer, no matter how confident they are in the answer, some are obvious and easy to pick up, and some are so subtle that nobody, themselves or others, ever really notice unless they try. My mom said that I tend to do rond de jambe's when I'm answering a question, and I've noticed that I do jig shuffles (Highland dance) when I'm reciting... Its really funny, in my opinion.
So, question of the day, do you have any weird habits? What are they? Have you seen any that are really awesome?
Other question: Did you study over Christmas or take a break?
So, until I find something else to blog about...
Quizzers UNITE!
Maegan
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