WE'RE GOING TO MICHIGAN!!!!!!!

WE GOT 1ST PLACE IN RUBE GOLDBERG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We got to the Cradle of Aviation at 9:00. We all looked very nice in our suits and dresses (concert attire). None of the other teams looked nearly as nice as us. We set up relatively quickly. As the other teams entered, we got a little nervous. Some looked pretty good, but ours seemed to relate to the theme best. We hung around until Kyle went for the captain's meeting. We drew for spots and ended up going second to last. We glanced around as the other teams were being judged and saw that a few of them were having obvious problems. Just before we went, Peter gave the speech from 300 and we all responded with "AOUGH AOUGH AOUGH!!!" It was pretty cool and I think it earned us a lot of team chemistry points. When it was our turn, Kevin explained our contraption. Kyle initiated it and we had a perfect run except that a green ball rolled out of our 6 x 6 x 6 area so we lost five points. Other than that, it was a great first run. Peter and Kyle reset the machine and we waited for our second run. During this run, razor bow wasn't properly secured to the screw and swung a little off-kilter. But have no fear. Each team was allowed to void one run and have a third without deducting any points. So we reset the machine and had a flawless third run. We did a few runs for the public while the judges conferred in a secret location. We did quite a few runs and it seemed as though we were the only team doing extra runs. I took a trip to the upper levels of the atrium with Kate, Elaina, and Mc G's daughter, Kylie. Then, it was time for the winners to be announced. Honorable Mention went to the team that was only middle school kids. They had a nice machine and it ran very well. 3rd, Riverhead Team (?). 2nd, Riverhead Team 4. Their theme was toys. It was good and very complicated but didn't fit the theme well. And in 1st, WANTAGH HIGH SCHOOL WITH JUNKYARD JAM!!!!!!!! We all rushed forward screaming and smiling. I don't think anyone actually heard more than Want--- because was were so loud and excited. We all gathered together for a picture. Then, all of the teams took a picture together. We took a picture with the judges (As seen above). I had so much fun today and all throughout the process of building this thing. And guess what the best part is? The winners (that's us) get to go to MICHIGAN FOR THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT!!!!!! We're probably going to take a road trip there. It's going to be sooooooo much fun!

We dismantled the whole thing and packed it into Mc G's car and we all went to lunch at T.G.I. Friday's. We discussed our trip and how we can make our machine even better for most of the meal. Today was awesome and I'm so glad that we get to work on this for another month and then we get to take a road trip to Michigan for nationals!!!

To Mrs. M (a.k.a. Mc G or Hyphen) and Ms. C,

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! Thank you for helping us build this whole thing over the past few months and for staying late with us for this week so we could finish it. You don't know how much this means to us. We are so thankful that you encouraged us to finish this and for sacrificing your time to help.

Love,
The Wantagh High School Rube Goldberg Team
(a.k.a. The Nerds, The Ruben Goldbergers, The Rockin' Rubies, and some other names I forgot)

Oh and the big surprise I mentioned a few weeks ago was that Cake Boss was going to be coming, but because Sal died, they were behind schedule and dropped this event because we weren't paying them. It would've been cool to see them and be announced as winners on TV :(

In about an hour, I'm going to check coats with Nick for Polish Night at the Knights of Columbus for my grandpa.

This picture was taken by Nicole. Kev and Peter are on the bottom, Doug is trying to figure out who's hand is on his shoulder (it's K-po's and he's behind Doug), Elaina is next to K-po, Hyphen is next to Elaina, Kate is behind and in between Avery (in the stripes) and Kaitlin (the one with the plaque), Perri is next to Kate, then it's Alyssa, Jaclyn, Lindsey, and me. Kyle and Chris are wearing the hats and Shaymus is next to Chris.

Word of the Day: Risible - Exciting or provoking laughter