Back to Toronto

Last year, my friend Minh took me to a festival that I had only read about in magazines, or snickered at while someone talked about attending one -that would be the ComiCon. Last year I finally had my chance to go and experience what it was all about. I went, I laughed, I snickered (and Minh yelled at me most of the time) and I met a whole batch of geek icons. This year, however, was going to be a bit different.

Now being a seasoned veteran at the ComiCon, I went down with my friend Mike. Now, some how Mike had managed to get us in early.... Now, getting in their early entailed a few things such as:

1) pretending that we were supposed to be there early
2) make sure that we evaded anyone that was going ask us why we were in so early.

As soon as we got in, Mike wanted to head over to his friends that have a comic book booth. When we got there, they were not even close to set up. Being the people that we are, we helped them set up. Unpacked boxes, set up, and wiped layers of dust off some of the packages. Once we were done that, we decided that we were going to run to every booth possible and get as much free stuff as we could. This is the swag I took home:
-5 T-shirts (mostly from Horror movies that will go straight to video)
-deck of playing cards that feature gore (not Al, but actually blood and guts)
-Mardi Gras beads
-Wind up toys
-Ping pong balls
-shot glass
-and many other useless gadgets that I will decorate my office with.

Now, the piece du resistance.... ADAM WEST!

Adam West was not supposed to sign on Friday, however, I heard an announcement and ran because I was going to meet him. Now, my friend Ian was there with his sister and friend, they didn't get in as early as we did.... details. However, when I got close to Adam West, Ian appeared. Ian was the official photographer.

I finally get up to the front of the line, pay my bazillion dollars, choose the photo that I wanted him to sign (Mayor West, clearly) And this is what happened:

Adam: "Well arn't you the curly haired one."
Me: "Nice to meet you."
Adam "You know, my wife has the same hair as you so. All curly like that."
Me: "Um... thanks."
Adam "So, whats your name:
Me: Nicole
Adam "What was that"
Me: Nicole, but could you write something like "How do you know my name?" or "Stop stealing my water."
Adam "Hahahaha."
Me: Or maybe just your favorite line from the show
Adam: hahahaha.
Me: I've been singing the Adam West song all day
Adam: Sing a bit for me
Me: Adam West...Adam west...adam west....
Adam: HAHAHAHAHA. You are too funny. We should tell Casey Kasum. He should play that. What if I sign it Mayor West?
Me: What about Mayor Adam West?
Adam: Deal.
(At this point Ian takes another picture of Adam and me together)

Me: Great meeting you
Adam: You too Nicole.

I then continued my day all giddy that I had met Adam West. He really is like his cartoon on the TV show. It was a bit funny.
There is such a culture to ComiCon. There its cool to search for comic books, talk about Star Wars, play video games - a real opposite on the world. There were 1000's of fellow dorks, I was looked down at because I wasn't dressed up (and probably because I couldn't stop laughing) I even reconized people there from last year (and we were able to catch up on different dorky geeky things....) So really, I have just made this wall post to admit that I am a dork and a geek, but I'm ok with that. Adam West likes my hair and that's what matters....

So, another thing that happend at comicon that I could not write on facebook So I happend to bump into a few students there. One of them, totally not surprised to see him. We kept calling eachother when we found free stuff to alert one another where to find it. The other, dressed in full anime-costume...kid you not. Now, this other one, we will call him Anime, went on a rant and rave about how we (my job) should have a speed-dating program. Inside, i was cracking up. On the outside, I told him I would look into it...


Anyways, comicon was fun. I missed being there with Minh, but I had a great time with Mike, Pete, Ian, Naomi.
I still miss Israel and my friends there, but this made things a bit better.... pictures to come....

Oh, and at the end I got a picture with a Pirate.

Update...

This entry is being written at a whole different altitude than normal. I don’t know exactly how many feet I am in the air, but I know it’s big, or else this rather large KLM flight would just be a bus on the road.

So I am going to attempt to summarize that past few weeks the best I can. I realize that the point of this blog was for me to update people on my life in Israel, yet, I just didn’t. OK, so I suck. I admit it. However, I have had some great adventures.

It was really hard to wrap my brain around the fact that I was going back to Toronto – even though I am currently in the air, it still has not hit me. I am sure, in a few days I will have a but of culture shock (ok fine, the moment that I get off the plane… details….) However, as a new friend of mine so nicely put it I “have a great job and the worth that I do is worth it.” He’s right, I love my job (ok, minis the days that I am at the office until the wee hours of the morning…) Anyways, this is the next part of my journey and I know that it is going to lead me somewhere amazing – my current plan is to be in Toronto until mid-April with a birthright trip somewhere in December to break it up. Really for me the big thing is to be back for Pessach (C’mon people, KOSHER FOR PASSOVER BURGER KING… I kid you not, I do it once a year and know that eat year that passes my arteries get more and more clogged with garbage. That’s the current game plan as of now, I am sure that during that time I will get out to NYC, Florida and maybe somewhere super extra special. Not sure where that super extra… (Ok, I totally lost my track of thought here; the stewardess just came by with drinks last call if you will. So as I am on KLM I ordered a Heineken.) Ok, back to where I was Oh yes, super extra special. So yes, I am sure that I will try to go on a few adventures. I would really like to continue my MLB stadium tour, so we will see what I can do…

I should probably mention that I am currently in transit, as I have been for most of the day. I left Amsterdam a few hours ago. I was there for a 4-hour layover. I got on the train at the airport and decided to just wonder around town and buy stupid things – like wooden shoes, tulips and snow globes (oh and socks… they were cute and I “needed” then….) had breakfast this morning with some random Italians from some small town in the middle of no place. Really funny conversation as only one of them spoke English, one guy that kept ranting and raving in Italian and the other guy that didn’t talk. It was cool. I’ve now learned that when you travel alone; just make friends – why not. Cool conversation. I bid them a farewell, finished my cappuccino (which tasted pretty gross actually…(and then decided to walk back to the train station. I then got to the airport. It was a mess. So there were two flights to Toronto, only one of them was listed on the board. The flight that I was on was not listed for some strange reason.

So back to Israel.

As I wrote last time I had a few fun things coming up… my friend Rivka was taking me shootin; I realize that that sounds totally ridiculous, but I sooo wanted to do it. So I did. Now, I had a little class that explained to me how the gun works, and then it was off to the range. Riv (as she had already done the class) joined me in the range; we went last out of all the pairs. I got used to the sound fairly quickly, and was surprised that there really was a flash after each shot. Now, here I am all ready to shoot. So I do. The first shot really had a kick, once I got used to that, there was no problem. I actually did really well. Out of the first 50 rounds, 48 hit the paper and 43 hit the target circles. I got to a point where I would release the magazine in the air after clearing it. The instructor was surprised that it was my first time. In the end, I shot about 100 rounds…. It was a great time and I am looking forward to doing it again and getting my license. I met someone that also shoots (and has a lovely 9mm “Mossad”) so hopefully when I am back him and I will get to go shooting. Now, many people say “But Nikki, why on earth do you want to know how to shoot a gun?!?” now, here is my response. I live in a country where guns are everywhere, I want to know how to handle one and not be afraid – and I’m not afraid.

What else? Hmmm…

The Beach

I have a tan, for the first time ever in my pasty life I actually have a tan. Spent some time on the beach with Gila and it was good times had by all. We went to this place on shenkin for a class after, it was too funny for words and if I share what it was Gila would kill me, so I wont….


My Birthday

I do have to say it was a kickin party. 8.5 kilos of wings, 3 kilos of steak, 3 kilos of chicken. It was a good time had by all. Oh, 2 mini kegs too. Thanks to Rivka for hosting. It was a great party and it was great being with my friends.

Over the past few weeks before I left I made some great new friends – I’m a bit sad that I only met them towards the end of the trip, however, I am looking forward to spending more time with them in December.


Upcoming:

I start work right away. I land on Tuesday and I am in the office on Wednesday. I hope that this time around things will be easier. I know that there is a lot of culture shock that awaits, however, I know that I will be back in Israel soon. I cannot wait until I move back to Israel full-time and get to resume my life. It’s hard starting something then having to press pause until I return. The end of my time there was amazing and I hope that the same kind of fun awaits me when I get back.

Anyways, that’s an update. Be in touch, I get home sick and I need to hear from you.

Nikki

I'm writing.... you reading?

So,

I am actually going to write something. I am leaving Israel 2 weeks today to head back to Toronto for another round of work. I will be back though in December for a bit, and then back “full-time” pre-Pessach, so that is something to look forward. This year I have decided, for my own sanity, NOT to sublet my room. This way, when I come back, I can actually go into MY room and not sleep on my futon. The futon is great, but I’d rather be in my bed. J Speaking of my room. I have curtains. It’s very exciting. Got them last week and they are up. Fine, I have lived in this apartment for a while without having them however; it was time to get them. They are orange. So what have I been up too? Well. Here is a point form excitement of my life:

1) Sick with the unusual allergic reaction that nobody seems to know what it is
2) Had a MRI at 3:15 am. It was horrible. I’m claustrophobic so it really didn’t do well. My teeth hurt after, strange…
3) Spent the day at the Dead Sea with Yannah
4) Spent Shabbat in Tel Aviv at Dave’s place. Shabbat was spent on the beach, it was wonderful.
5) As I am a fan of going to places that we (as Jews) are either celebrating or commemorating, went to the Kotel for Tisha Ba’av. Nothing like reading Aicha while sitting in the ruins. Went with Gogie, Rebecca and Binyamin.
6) Built an Ikea cabinet with Binyamin and Avi. I have to say, it took us FOREVER, but we had fun, so it’s all good.
7) Work work work. Went out to Rehovot a few times to work with the group that is there.
8) Working on my weekly parsha classes for next year. (ooh classes!)
9) Hung out with a batch of sports writers from Canada as they were here to see Israel (and got to be their speaker at dinner… which was at my fave restaurant….)
10) Read Harry Potter. (Thanks Anna!)
11) Saw Harry Potter the movie. (And had a huge popcorn fight post-movie with Shoni and Eynat….)
12) Spent a nice Shabbat with Chaya and Hymie Hymes (seriously, that is their names)
13) Spent time with Gogie doing stuff. I don’t know what we did, but we did lots and we had fun doing it.)
14) Hooked up the TV. I now have 3 channels. I watch lots of useless programming. However, it’s fun. Funny thing, as I am typing this, I am watching the opening of the Hutzot Hayir on TV. It’s happening near the old city. So it’s all live right, so they started showing the fireworks, which I can hear from my apartment. I think it’s funny anyways…
15) I have a tan! It’s true; I am not (as) pasty! I also learned that if you put sour cream on your sunburn, it makes you feel better. True story.
16) Ummm… I don’t know. I am sure that I am forgetting something, or six things, however, this is a post.

On that, have a great day. I will write more soon as I am doing some cool things this week…. Like learning how to shoot a gun, going to the chocolate restaurant, probably the beach again, some more work…

Ok, Law and Order is on TV… Gogie and I are going to watch. It’s even one I have not seen!

Nikki

Dinner: Chicken Breasts stuffed with brown rice and carrots (I even cooked! Ooohhh…)

Tagged

So, I have been really bad at blogging, but I will try and update in the next few days. Really, I will... until then, since Michelle AND Adiv tagged me. Enjoy these bits and pieces of useless information!

Four jobs that I've had:

1. Chicken Mascot. I was a chicken mascot for a store in Toronto called "CDPlus." For some reason they thought that if they had a chicken in front of the store it would bring in more customers - who knows if it did. I was there for 2 years until I "flew the coop." I was 15 at the time, it was a great job.
2. USY On Wheels Staff. I traveled with 52 Jewish teenagers around the US looking at cool sites and learning about how to be Jewish anywhere. And I mean anywhere. I once did Havdallah (the ceremony that concludes the Jewish Sabbath) in Butte, Montana where there is a 10 Story Virgin Mary over looking the city. Danced in a parade (twice) at disney, saw the grand canyon (4 times) corn palace (4 times) fed a tiger (once, in WA) and did many other cool things. It was a great trip (hence why I did it 4 times...)
3. Hillel Staff. I work for Hillel in Toronto doing lots of cool things. This past year alone I worked on a concert that featured the Idan Raichel Project (whom I love) and also included driving them around. I work on one of the biggest campuses in Canada which is not only challenging, it's really cool.
4. Branksome Hall Tennis Camp. I worked as Off-court staff for a great summer camp that catered to Toronto's rich and famous. Met a lot of kids with famous parents (Eugene Levy was one of them) Really we did everything BUT tennis. Dodge ball, arts and crafts and more. It was cool.

(I chose some random things I'm done to give some readers a different side of my crazy-ness...)

Four films or shows that I can watch repeatedly:

1. Star Wars (4-6...) Nuff said.
2. Bridget Jones Diary (If you know me, you know why)
3. High Fidelity
4. PCU

Four places in which I have lived:

1. Toronto- lived there for 22 years(ish) of my life.
2. Jerusalem, Israel
3. Anytown, USA. After traveling with Wheels, I think that over 4 months of living in random US towns work. Also, all the conventions and things that I went too/staffed in the USA put me into the honary resident. However, I did have status once.. I think. But that's another story.
4. My Mothers Belly. I lived there for 9 months, I think that counts (then again, I still do believe that I was left her by aliens... another story.... ;) )

Four places that I've been on vacation:

1. Mt. Trem Blanc. I went there last year with Dave and Wendy. What a vacation it was! I went dog-sledding. Almost got killed doing it but it was fun.
2. Dead Sea, Israel.
3. NYC. I went there a lot during university to visit friends.
4. California. I spent one summer with my Safta in San Fran working at Camp when I was 13 or so. Really cool place.

(also Moldova, Amsterdam, London, Budapest, Rome, Mexico and more... but that's over 4. Oops.)

Four sites that I visit daily (other than blogs):

1. Facebook. At least it's a shared addiction -- I get a kick out of seeing how many of my friends have also been online in the past five minutes.
2. jpost.com Gotta see whats going on in the world. Even if I hate the writing.
3. my pop3 account to check my work email
4. yahoo to check my other email account

Four of my favorite dishes:

1. Steak. Mmmmm.
2. Shwarma. MMMMM
3. Birthday Cake. The white kind with white icing and flowers.
4. Schnitzel. I just love it. I swear Israel is wearing off on me. There is a shnitzel place here that delivers.... Brilliant!

Four people that I am tagging:

1. Golan
2. Gafna
3. Rebecca
4. um... er...YOU!

Ok, its 4:11 in the morning, I must attempt to sleep now. Lilah tov.

Oh, dinner was a steak wrap. And remember, Meat is Murder... tasty tasty murder :)