Weather was great, pun-off went a little long (or maybe we need to pack some food next time). The first round went very well for me -- I'm told the category was "Drinks" and that I got some good puns off. Of course I don't remember anything because as soon as you step on stage all the blood drains from your head and time starts moving at five times normal speed. This is all in accordance with relativity theory but quite unnerving all the same.

In the second round I got "Nucular Energy" which is a terrible topic: a crapshoot as to who misses the low-hanging fruit first. (You'd think I could come up with a billion different topical words, being a fizzicist and all, and in fact I can -- but if you examine words from this topic you'll realize they're really difficult to pun on). I tried and failed to make a pun with plutonium or uranium and got dinged out. Which is not to in anyway diminish my opponent, a friendly and bright guy -- I just know I could have done better than I did.

It wouldn't have mattered, as our draw for the next round was Alex 'The Terminator' Ramirez -- a man with an amazing pool of quick low-level groaners who can outlast almost anyone. The Terminator lost in the semifinals to eventual victor (and clearly most deserving) Brian Snider, in a marathon slugfest on the topic of 'Male First Names.'

Overall, I'm really happy with how I did and I'll probably go back next year. (Nate 'Mickey' Meredith has signed on to manage me to a strong showing in my final year of competition).

Feel free to shame me with your best "Nuclear Energy" puns below.