Trivial Pursuits

One of the most exciting parts of my life is playing pub trivia.

Not an exaggeration.

I like to pride myself on knowing obscure facts. Unfortunately, most jobs out there reward you for knowing and being able to act upon useful facts, so my skill in identifying Britney Spears songs on the first note are not exactly helpful from 9-5 each day.

I've been reading At Home by Bill Bryson, and no, for anyway who saw me reading this book in November, I'm not done yet. Almost. I've been busy. Let's not even talk about how long it takes me to get through books I DON'T enjoy.

Anyway, it's great, and a couple of nights ago, the chapter I was reading discussed John D. Rockefeller and his early life and pursuits.

So, last night at trivia, one of the questions asked what business he worked in, and the multiple choice answers were: steel, oil, and two other things. I don't remember what they were. For the purposes of this story, it doesn't matter.

I immediately said, "Steel! It's steel. I definitely just read about this a few days ago. It's definitely steel." I could see the words on the page.... "Rockefeller... money... steel..." I don't have a photographic memory, so I'm not sure where this "vision" came from, but it was there. You'd think after 24 years I'd realize I don't have a photographic memory, and second-guess myself, but no. I was so stupidly confident that I told everyone I'd buy shots if I was wrong. Needless to say, Dave wasn't present. Did I mention we share a bank account now?

So, yeah. Fast forward 2 minutes... "And the answer is... OIL!"

WHAT.

I give up. I can't even answer a multiple choice question correctly, after I had just read the answer 2 days earlier. This was frustrating for me. Maybe I'm getting too much of my self-worth from being able to answer trivia questions correctly. Probably. Whatever. (I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it - it doesn't matter how many presidents with the name James I can think of in 90 seconds)

I thought maybe he was invovled in oil and steel, but no. He's not. About 90% of his wikipedia entry is about oil. Goo. Literal goo.

By this time in the evening, Dave showed up, and upon telling him that I had irresponsibly bet drinks on my answer, he was like, "uhhh yeah. not happening." Sorry, team. Thank you, husband.

Until next Thursday...