F&M First Year Students

Sunday night I hosted a trivia show for Brooks House, which is roughly one quarter of the Class of 2013 of F&M (190 people). It was a good ice-breaker for the new students and featured a leopard print Snuggie (and you though they just came in blue and burgundy) as grand prize. Here's a pic of the winning table, Team Alouette, who aced the last round and surpassed 18 other tables. Thanks to Don Heller, Dean Godin and Drew Slater for once again hiring me. Also, thanks to Justin Shiffer, who subbed for me at Cafe Chuckles. Next week's Chuckles theme is, appropriately enough, Labor Day.

This was the scene before the throng arrived. Sidebar comment: I recommend the Eden Resort's Sunday brunch. It's pricey, but worth it for a special Sunday meal of all you-care-to-eat goodness.

VFW: Hogs Gone Wild

Tonight's motorcycle trivia night featured a reunion of sorts of one of the original rock bands of the VFW, We're Here for the Beer. Frank and Dave were added to It's Just a Freakin' Game and it looked like they were going to win. Then the last round kicked in. Who Will Be Buried First: Ted Kennedy or Michael Jackson? buried the competition, with a 19 point win. Chicks and Dicks was second, one point ahead of Cheryl's team, Devilin'. The B52s were right behind, followed by the Freakins and D&M. Theme choice for next week goes to Giggles and Friends and they chose da Bears (Chicago, that is).

Bube's: Trivia and a Show

We had a special treat last night after the show when musician Randy Stern played some tunes on his guitar and harmonica. He was heading back to New York after touring half way across the country. Check out his website: randystern.info. Randy also enjoyed the special tattoo picture round, where everyone had to match up the celebrities with their tattoos. Eric Is Many Unmentionable Things and Will Have Unspeakable Things Done to Him was tonight's top team. Quietly Making Noise made a big jump in the last round and took the silver. There was a tie between the Toxic Olives and the Tony Danza Slap for third, but Becky was MIA, so the Olives lost. You're Still Part of Everything I Do You're on My Nutsack Just Like a Tatoo was fifth, followed by Bev's Next Door. 'Ere We 'Re Again are our theme-pickers and they have chosen Saved By the Bell.

Chuckles: The Wedding Party

It was somewhat unsettling to see a wedding party at the bar on the night when we were asking trivia questions about a wedding party that is bumped off one by one. Ubersmack also bumped off the competition, making it a three-peat. Matt, Michelle and Josh (AKA This Just In: Bret Favre Just Retired) gave them a run for their money, but fell 7 points short. The Ingenious Basterds returned to their lucky bar and placed third, 4 points ahead of The Price Is Right. Fifth went to the birthday-celebrating Confucious Say Rick Is an Idiot and We Agree. There was a tie between Gawky Domino and Out of the Vortex, so it was Kim vs. Marge in the Captain Jack-off™, with Kim victorious. That gave the Dominoes theme choice and they are going with Red Dwarf, since Bubba wants to put his complete DVD collection to good use.

VFW: TV Land Revisited

Bob and Karen celebrate their victory by taking a cruise around the world with their winnings. The duo managed to shake their tie with Chicks and Dicks. Rick Pitino's $3,000 Healthcare Plan took the silver. Erma then had to face Captain Jack against Laurie, with Laurie's team (Devilin') taking the bronze . Next week's theme choice goes to 2-H and they chose motorcycles.

Bube's: A Photo Essay

Next week's themes: medicine and L.A. Ink

Chuckles: Eight Is Not Enough

In honor of the Jon and Kate theme, We Can Win... With Tickets!! added some new members and made themselves octuplets. It was almost enough to dethrone Ubersmack, but not quite. We had a tie-breaker between Bubba of Gawky Domino and Bob of Stx and Gigs, with Bubba victorious. Prius was right behind, followed by Skirtland and Marge of Out of the Vortex. Theme choice goes to the Miami Blades, who are going with the murder mystery show Harper's Island.

Bubba represented Gawky Domino in the Captain Jack-off™ and claimed the bronze.

We Took the Brown Acid. Unfortunately, the acid wore off by the fourth round.

The Zombies recruited a new Zombette.

Skirtland moved to a new neighborhood.

Nurses: We Keep Doctors From Killing You was hoping to get theme choice for the third week in a row.

VFW: Arlen Gets Some Respect

Karen and Bob used their S'mores goldfish as some brain food and took second place tonight, right behind the Arlen Specter Fan Club: Lebanon Chapter. The B52s took third, ahead of Chicks and Dicks. D and M was one question behind, followed by Brown Chicken, Brown Cow. That gave theme choice to It's Just a Freakin' Game, and they are going with TV sitcoms.

The Good, the Bad and the Crazy made a rare appearance since Gary had the night off.

Bube's: Happy Birthday Amanda!

I didn't realize it was Amanda's birthday tonight until after the show, so everyone should sing while reading tonight's blog. It was a very close night, with only two and a half questions separating the top seven teams. Stupid Flanders held off Does She Know About the Shrinkage? You Know... Of the Nutsacks (I WAS IN THE POOL!!!) to take first. Communist Man of Gusto was third, followed by One Ball Paul, the Tony Danza Slap and No Soup for You! Chubby McBoner gets theme choice (see below).

Eric sports a new earring, while Nutsack New Guy (in the back) is ecstatic that he won a Nine Inch Nails t-shirt (complete with bonus cat hair!). Nathan does not know these people.

Chubby McBoner and the Loner celebrate winning the grand prize (six ears of corn) and also getting to pick the theme for next week: welding.

One Ball Paul and the Rhythm Disciples was promoted to the front room.

Lisa helped out You Can't Fix Stupid, but the results stayed the same.

Keith named his team the Fat Bald Guy at the Bar, even though neither he nor his teammate were fat, bald or at the bar.

The Tony Danza Slap, hepped up on freeze-dried bananas.

Brian recruited Travis once his wife left and took home the bronze.

Randy abandoned his fellow Cogitators once they placed last week.

Merciless... Merciless Man was ticked that they missed the last Seinfeld question.

Stupid Flanders also won the treasured Wheel of Lasagna bonus prize.

The Toxic Olives were front and center.

Brent predicted that he and Tariq would not do well on the last round, but they only missed third by one question.

Loaded, in a good way.

Barbie-cue Again?

Tired of the same-old, same-old meals at home? Come on out and eat at your friendly neighborhood trivia venue!

Chuckles: I Want a New Drug

(Still continuing with the text-only updates for now). I returned to Chuckles after a two-week absence to find the crowd none-the-worse for wear. Thanks to Justin and J for ably filling in. Ubersmack returned to the winner's seat, besting the Pixie Sticks by one question. The Zombies were only 3 points behind, followed by Canteen Boy, Pat and Company and the Yummie Mummies. The drug-friendly Nurses: We Keep Doctors from Killing You once again get to pick our theme for next week and are going with the wild and wacky Gosselin family. And Twin Roses would like to forget about tonight.

Chuckles: Theme for Sunday

The theme for this week's Chuckles show (August 9th) will be pharmacology. And yes, I will be returning as host.

VFW: May I Quote You?

A small crowd had a good time with what I would like to call Quoting Quotables (in honor of Jeopardy). Clinton's Asian Imports had a come form behind victory, 14 points ahead of last week's champs, Chicks and Dicks. They were one point ahead of the bronzing Just Us, featuring clutchman Mike. We had an unusual three-way tie for fourth between K & B, It's Just a Game and the B52s. As predicted by them, D&M placed seventh and are going with the Solar System as next week's theme.

Bube's: Can You Do the Fandango?

Until I get back into the swing of things after my extended vacation to beautiful Lancaster, PA, I'm going with stripped down recaps. First up: a packed night at Bube's saw No Time for Losers Cuz We Are the Nutsacks of the World fend off a last round attack by the Cogitators, as they won by one question. One Ball Paul and the Rhythm Disciples were right behind and took third. The Queen-loving Stonecutters were fourth, followed by the Olives and Cafe Chuckles' own Gawky Domino. Buzz gets to pick the theme for next week, and they are going with Seinfeld.

Recommended: Long Way Gone

Over vacation, I finished reading Ishmael Beah's harrowing account of growing up in Sierra Leone, forced to be a boy soldier. I recommend the book which sheds some much-needed light on the horrible conditions in sub-Saharan Africa, a subject that gets little press here in America.

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

Themes?

Sunday, 8/2, Chuckles: Green Day (as in the band)

Tuesday, 8/4, Bube's: Queen (as in the band)

Wednesday, 8/5, VFW: Famous Quotes (not a band)