#nitoc

[lillian-1st-maskarran-insol]

Just had a dream about Netêsh getting fused with Savathün, and becoming a full hive god. There was a little fox there, and I had no legs and had a big spell book. And Cayde was there except he was a blue dragon born. And Veltras was there except she was a green dragon born. I don’t understand why but I feel like it was important. Maybe if I go back to sleep, they’ll keep fighting, keep winning against taken. Dreaming of allies is a good thing, right?

Maybe I’m going crazy.

[perfectlynormal33]

NITOC 2014 Favorite Quotes

Montgomery: I don't even understand my own jokes . . but I think they're so funny! Mitchell: I was ignoring that. ...Actually I didn't get it. Isaac and I defining friendship: Isaac: Our communal exchange of.. Me: Existence? Liana: There is never something that warrants TOES on you!!! Joseph: How did we get from Revelations to robot sex???!!! Where is the link??? Brizy: Have you been working on your dribbling? Me: Yes.. Brizy: Did you hit yourself in the face? Me: No... Brizy: Progress!! Me: I'm starting to zone out, if you haven't noticed. Brizy (zaps into reality): I'm sorry? Mitchell: The advantage to the free one is that it's free. Mom (looking at the mess): It's like a hurricane hit a travel agent. Liana, Charlotte and I discussing how women should be taken at their WORD: Liana: I am not saying cryptic things to confuse you! Charlotte: "Go away" is code for LEAVE.

[post-femme]

NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid NITOCbid

[perfectlynormal33]

NITOC 2013- part 3- Some Highlights

1. THE WAY UP: On the way up we made food puns. I do not mean a *few* food puns. I mean outsiders would have questioned our sanity. But that's okay because they would have been right. But in all honesty, I was riding with Michael and Jonathan almost the whole way, and in case I have not established this already, those guys are *fantastic.* We also had to laugh when Alex and Mitchell's "military maneuvers" got them lost in Memphis (I'd just like you to picture this... two white guys listening to veggie tales get lost in Tennessee after trying to race the girls...too good). Also hilarious was Liana and Charlotte's running narration of Becoming Jane, a movie that was made slightly less depressing by their reactions. Though I hafta say, if I ever want to be demoralized right before a tournament, I may *definitely* watch that movie. -.-

2. THERE: I have to say, watching the bro code get broken definitely deserves to make this list. As does psychologically intense staring contests with Alex. I also have to say, having your TP partner from last year reassuring you through your hardest event is pretty nice, too. 

3. Frankly, when we entered the town I was slightly despairing. Last year was in Colorado, and what was this? A tiny little broken down town in Arkansas. But it surprised me. Because those abandoned little streets had original, adorable coffee shops that boasted all sorts of unexpected things (gluten free bread for my curried chicken salad? Yes please). And the campus was beautiful... though more dangerous than I expected. I mean, who expects the guys in your group to ram into/block your car with a THREE PERSON BIKE OF ALL THINGS?? 

4. I didn't particularly plan on the tornado, either. Frankly, I think I would've rather faced the tornado than the crowded and overheated halls into which we were crammed like tiny little sardines. 

5. Abi goes without saying. ;) Naturally talking and eating nutella and generally being in the same location is just a happy thing.

6. I discovered P.O.D.

7. We all know that guys wonder one question fairly consistently: Why do girls go to the bathroom together? Abi and I were trying to explain this to Alex, who, characteristically, was making fun of us. "No, no, you meet people! Like, you can strike up good conversations and socialize in the bathroom!" But our efforts were in vain and we went ahead to the bathroom (together, of course). And just as we said, we struck up a conversation with someone we hadn't met. It starts with a compliment on her outfit, and then we launch into a discussion. It ends, she leaves, and Abi and I immediately turn to each other and say in sinc: "SEE????!!!!"

Now, I am all for pranks, but the guys definitely outdid themselves. You see, mom had gotten Jon and Michael a tub of chopped liver as a harmless little joke. However, this was blown greatly out of proportion after they decided to keep it (let's face it, we all know they were plotting revenge) but forgot that meat WILL spoil after about four days at room temperature. -.- In fact, it spoiled so badly that the fumes popped the lid off, turning their once nice hotel room into... something I wouldn't wish on the maid. Inviting the others to smell, Jon and Michael brought a crowd of guys into their room- a crowd that quickly flew back out in various doubled-over positions and faces expressing the whole gamut of human disgust. Personally, I think this was entirely their fault. But that logic was clearly not shared when they decided to destroy our hotel room. Finally retreating to my "safe haven" I found out that it was NOT so safe. Twine traversed the room like spiderwebs of death (mostly because it was wrapped around the lamps and every other conceivable thing that could fall and cause unprecedented damage and/or costs). Toilet paper hung like ornaments from basically everywhere and foil was randomly wrapped around various objects, all adding the trailer effect that I am sure they were going for. Checking the shower head, I noticed something sticking out as if one of our sabautours had lost a thumb or something; it was cool-aid. Thank God that one, at least, failed. And also, we all know that no shower cap smells like synthetic cherries, guys. I was pretty proud, actually, having spotted most of the tricks that weren't obvious. However, approximately four in the morning I found out that they had stuck poppers and a partially opened packet of mayanaise under the toilet seat. That part was especially lovely. That was the point in which I sent the text: "Jonathan Pickman and Michael freaking Tant, my room is a minefield, and next tournament you are going DOWN." Btw, I intent to keep that promise. 

If I think of more I will add it, of course.

[perfectlynormal33]

Nationals was a lot of fun! I have to say that it was like living in a bubble with a group of some of the funniest, nicest and smartest people in the country. I didn't want it to end!

Jonathan Pickman, who just stated incredibly well how I feel about my debate people.

[perfectlynormal33]

NITOC 2013- part 2- Quotes

...I don't guarantee a complete lack of paraphrasing.

1. Michael: "Jonathan got me this book for my birthday."

Jonathan: "It's called Thank You For Arguing. It's about manipulation."

Michael: "No no PERSUASION!"

2. Mom: "We reallllllyyyy shouldn't teach teenagers to think."

3. Mom: "We are pushing the rules a bit."

Charlotte: "I prefer to call it preemptive winning."

4. Context: *Us girls are watching Becoming Jane*

Liana: "You act like you like the Irish guy then walk away well WHICH IS IT?"

Charlotte: "She's confused..."

Liana: "I see that she's confused. Because HE'S confusing! So ditch HIM. Then you won't be confused anymore."

5. Jonathan: "That's manipulation." ?

Michael: "No, Jonathan, that's just deceiving stupid people with your smart tactics."

6. Jonathan: "I will pursue a mate after college."

7. Context: *Jonathan decides to go to walmart late at night and Margaret is trying to convince me to play mafia*

Margaret: "All you hafta do is pick a person to kill; and if Jonathan is here that'll be easy!"

8. Michael: "If we are operating under the paradigm of awesomeness, safety is of little concern."

9. Jonathan: "V, do you have an opinion? Just kidding. What IS your opinion?"

10. Context: *Mrs. Rhodes is pretending to do a sort of interp of what she half expects teen couples will do*

Mom: "Are you okay?"

Abi: "MY MOM JUST TRIED TO LICK ME"

11. Michael? : "Judge, when you were young and dinos still roamed the earth..."

12. Michael: "Mrs. Scott, your text language is atrocious. No matter what generation you are from, you should never, EVER, under any circumstances, have A SIGNATURE at the end of your text!"

13. Jonathan: "Jesus is saying, 'All you suckers who don't wanna walk on water? Yeah. Suck it up.' THAT'S MY KIND O JESUS!"

[perfectlynormal33]

NITOC 2013- part 1

I'm at home, sitting at my round breakfast table with my laptop, a science fiction novel, a phone, food (well... the remains of it) and kind of also a heavy heart. I am so used to being alone, and after debate tournaments I desperately miss *people.* It's funny, because I'm definitely an introvert. Yet somehow these people make sense... it would make sense for them to be around me all the time. And it bothers me that all my best friends are always so far away. These are people that can roll the conversation in any direction- from hilariously funny to sobering to informative to silent. And everyone genuinely cares for and loves each other in such a different way. 

So with that, here goes some of my favorite stories and quotes and such from NITOC. What I will remember and what I want to remember and what makes me laugh and what makes me regret being gone.