While at the Fan Expo last weekend, I had to chance to meet with Fernando Ruiz, one of the writer and illustrator for Archie’s comics…
Writer and Illustrator, Fernando Ruiz
Not only is he very pleasing on the eyes, he’s also quite a nice person. We didn’t talk for long but after looking at the particular comics he had to sell, I decided on Haunted House which looked perfect for the Halloween time to come, he graciously offered to sign it for me. I know he’s there for that reason but it was nice to not have to ask.
I’m gonna go back to all my old Archie’s now and see which other ones he wrote.
Anyone who has a job dealing with the public will know that it’s not always easy. Be it at a restaurant, a store or a service counter, the public will be either polite, indifferent, happy or angry, you never know what the next person you serve will bring up. I feel we are always on our guard, but, like I always say, they pay me very well to do my job, so I do my job well and keep going in everyday.
Sometimes though, it’s nice to get away from it, even if it means just a little washroom break.
Today, I went to the main washroom on our floor, the same one used by the members of the public. I got in and the place was empty. There are 2 stalls, 1 urinal, 4 sinks and 2 paper towel dispenser. It’s not very big but it’s clean. I take my spot at the urinal and do my “bidness”. Suddenly the door flew open behind me and this guy waltzed in. I couldn’t see him but could tell that he was walking fairly fast. All of a sudden, he cleared his throat something fierce, this deep gargling sound coming from his stomach all the way to his tongue. I heard one of the stall door swing open and he spat. Ptewww! And again. Ptewww! AAAAAnd again. Ptewww! And fluuuuuuuuusssshhhhhh.
I was zipping up my shorts when he left just as fast as he came in without even washing his hands. He didn’t do anything else but storm in and spit, but still… I’d expect him to wash his hands… On my way out, I sneaked a peak as the stall’s door was wide open and noticed he had also left a gift after flushing… and at closer look… two gifties.
Please don’t elect R. Ford as he keeps promising to cut taxes. With less money coming in, they might start cutting programmes. And one programme I won’t be able to live without is our great janitors…
Last Saturday, DR and I got up early, had breakfast, took our vitamins, grabbed tea for him and coffee for me and then made our way to the Sci-Fi Fan Expo at the Convention Centre downtown. We really needed a strong kick of geeky-freaky-sci-fi-y-horrory-gamy to make up for the last 3 weeks. See, 7 years ago DR took me for the first time to the Fan Expo and I immediately loved it… The content was nothing like it is now, it was a lot more intimate in its setting and space and the crowd was decent, not over-crammed with selfish freeloaders who’ll step on your feet, push you out of the way with their fat bums, cut lines, grab any freebies regardless of what they are like it’s a fucking fortune hunt, complain about everything, LOUDLY complain about everything, without any consideration for anyone else.
This picture was taken at 10:15, these many people in front of us to buy tickets (same amount behind us)
This said, I still had an amazing fucking good time again this year. It is our favourite “end of Summer” outting. It was busy. It was crowded. But it was full of fun costumes, great displays, tons of merchandise I wanted to take home. But most importantly: Stormtroopers of all kind: Imperial Stormtroopers, Snowtroopers, Scout Troopers, Sand Troopers and Clone Troopers. Even a Shadow Stormtrooper… YEH.
I owe this sudden love of everything Stormtrooper to DR and to Disney as I love both and both seem to have an awful lot of love for everything Star Wars. On our last trip to Disney together, we were lucky to have timed it again with Disney Star Wars weekends and I really loved watching all those Stormtroopers. They are fearless and disciplined and shiny and gorgeous… So it was my greatest pleasure to hang around some of them during this last Sci Fi Fan Expo…
Here I am with my boys
A friend
Two friends
How can you not love this face?
A fan carrying a friend
The infamous Shadow Stormtrooper
I found Waldo, now can you find the Stormtrooper?
I want all these toys.
In fact, I might even seriously want to get outfitted to join Vader’s First 501st Legion… Yeah, I’m that crazy right now.
With this incredible weather we’re having in Toronto these last few days it’s hard to ignore Summertime and I find myself reminiscing about some of the good old days of my youth and the fun Summertime I’ve had. Here is, in no particular order, my favourite top 10 Summer memories:
#05 = Summer of 1974
In 1974, I was sad to see the school year come to an end, I actually had some good friends in my class for once, in particular, 2 girls I really enjoyed hanging out with. Both of them lived on the same street but quite far from where I resided, so we basically saw each other at school only. On occasions, my father would drive me to their neighborhood on a Saturday afternoon so I could spend time with them and he’d picked me up again before dinner. From my home, it was probably a good 20 minutes drive. Way too long for a walk and also too dangerous for bicycle ride as it was main streets and boulevards all the way. I had just turned 10 after all.
The 3 of us continued our friendship through telephone calls… loooooooong telephone calls that would drive my mom crazy.
One very nice summer day, after talking to one of them on the phone, I decided that I’d go and take the local bus and go visit her. It meant walking off the island to a bus stop on the main boulevard. It would take me at least 30 minutes to get there. I went into my piggy bank and took out a handful of coins for fare. As I was leaving my home, a neighbour friend of mine asked where I was going. I told him and he decided he’d walk with me to the bus stop. We got there and waited for the bus to come… Waited and waited. Finally it came, I said goodbye to my friend and climbed on the bus, took a whole bunch of coins from my pocket and paid the driver. I sat near the front as to not miss my stop, I had been a few times by car, I knew I’d recognize where to get off. And I did. In fact my two friends were waiting for me at the corner.
The girls and I spend the afternoon together, one of them had a playhouse built in her backyard. I remember we played boardgames and barbie. We also helped picking up tomatoes in one of the girl’s veggie garden. All of a sudden, one of the girl was called inside the house and a little bit later came out looking sad. Apparently my mom was on the phone and wasn’t very happy… I had to go in the house and take a phone call. My mom didn’t yell but she was pissed. She had asked everyone I knew if they had a clue as to where I was and finally that one kid that walked with me to the bus stop told her what I had done… My mom told me not to go anywhere because my dad was now leaving to come get me. I suddenly knew I had just bought a one-way ticket for a trip to Shitville.
We spent the rest of our time together sitting in front of the house, not really talking, just watching the long road for my dad’s car to arrive. When he did, he went to ring the doorbell to thank the girl’s mom for everything and then told me to say goodbye to my friends. He also didn’t yell at me, I think he was relieved that I was alright, but he told me that I had acted very stupidly and that I should’ve asked permission to go there. And that I was grounded. For a long time.
I didn’t see my friends for the rest of the Summer but we continued to chat on the phone. I spent a lot of time around the house. After a few weeks, I was permitted to go play with my local friends again with a certain curfew. In time, the curfew was lifted. I remember that my sister had the 45 of Rock The Boat and I played it on and on and on.
Both of the girls were in my class again the following September. And we reconnected just like no Summer had ever taken us apart.
They were perfect for my Summer days at work, while matching my Summer wardrobe which is a little bit more sporty than my formal Winter one, they would also be perfect for all the running around I do in a day.
It has become a custom for us to buy our shoes at that particular store, we go in the Spring and again in the Fall… and also before going on a trip. Our rule is one pair in, one pair out. For sporty wear, not gym wear, I prefer Skechers, they’re comfy and have the look I’m usually searching for. This store carries the whole line.
Last Thursday, while getting dressed for work, DR noticed that my fairly new Skechers were looking a bit sketchy… one seam on the left foot had totally disintegrated and was ripping open… I know I’m a bit rough on my shoes, I walk everyday to and from work, 25 min each way. I also walk a lot while at work, but not enough to ruin a pair of shoes in only 2 months. Regardless of all this, I needed a new pair of shoes pronto.
On Sunday, after meeting DR’s brother for brunch, we decided to go to our shoe store and look for a replacement pair. I spotted these right away:
Same sort of general look I needed, but this time no laces and no seams on the side where the other ones had split. As I get to the cashier, I ask if she can check exactly what date I was there last (they have a point system where you have to give a phone number everytime you purchase items), she explains that their system doesn’t record that type of information, just the purchase themselves to convert into points. I tell her that a couple of months ago, I bought these Skechers and they are now ruined and could she maybe see if a discount is possible. She calls the manager who’s now gone for lunch, so another person comes in and hears the story, takes a look at the ripped shoes (I was wearing them to show and also just to leave behind after purchasing the new ones). He goes into some mumbo-jumbo shoe talk and she starts tapping on the key board, a box of shoes gets scanned, a gift card comes out of the drawer, it gets scanned as well, more tapping on the keyboard, another box gets scanned and boom, the total on the cash registers shoes $5.80…
I’m a bit stunned, I’m happy, but I have no clue what the hell just happened. All I know is I have a new pair of shoes, I had to pay $5.80 for and I have to leave my old ones there. They apologize for the inconvenience and give me a $10 coupon I can use on my next purchase. DR and I look at each other, incredulous, but both smiling.
As we leave the store, I’m looking around to see if we were somehow being filmed for a Candid Camera type show.
Oh and just in case you haven’t seen it in a long time, here is that Shoes video:
This week, I tweeted about how a fucktard in my office said I dressed in a constant state of grunge because I wear shorts to work. I’m so tired of that battle, I’m not doing anything that outrageous, shorts are part of our dress code, but for some fucktards I guess it’s an abomination. This is what I wore the day pointed me out:
See, nothing bad there. No cut-offs, no fringes, no cargo pockets (these ARE not permitted at work).
After telling him to basically grow up, I referred to him as a fucktard with a coworker who was there when the exchange happened and he started telling me some stories about how much of one he really was. My favourite is one I will call: The Milk Man.
A few years back, before my time in that office, an employee who wasn’t liked much decided to move on to another job and threw herself a goodbye party. She booked the conference room, brought in some snacks and alcoholic drinks for the after office hour shindig. Well, like I said, she wasn’t well-liked and no one showed up except for that fucktard mentioned earlier… And when she asked what he wanted to drink, he replied that he only drank milk, which of course she didn’t have at the party, but found some in the kitchen. About an hour after the “party” started, a very polite coworker came in the room to say goodbye to the departing one and saw, a semi drunkish girl sitting on the conference table with a doofus drinking milk standing by the snack table. She only stayed long enough to figure out what was going on and left…
I don’t think that anyone who goes to a party, as sad as it is, and only drink milk has any right to criticize me at all…
Going through an experience such as losing a close relative that you love is very difficult. Support from family and friends is very much needed and so welcomed.
DR and I received many loving notes from our family and friends that were very touching, they were very much needed and appreciated. Thank you also to all our online friends who have shared on their messages, their feelings and their thoughts.
Who surprised me the most though were the younger family members DR and I know and how well versed they communicated with us, how eloquent they were for such “young” people, who are unfortunately very often more identified with parties and their own young lives.
The day after DR passed, we received this email from my niece Max (20 yr) who lives in Vermont: Dear Ted and Michel,
I am so so sorry to hear about your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. If there is anything we can do, you know we are here for you.
Stay strong. Love you guys!!
~Max
Then yesterday, Ted’s nephew, also named Max (12 yr) came to me with a copy of the Toronto Star that contained DR’s dad’s obituary. He asked if I had read it, I said yes and then he said: This is a very nice article about him. I’m very sorry that he died
And then this morning, after returning from a camping trip, my nephew Shaun (18 yr) sent this email: Hey Guys,
Hope you’re doing well. I heard the bad news and I just wanted to say how sorry I am about your dad Ted. I know he was like a second dad to you Michel. You must be going through a lot at this time. Just stay strong! my thoughts and prayers are with you guys and your family Ted.
Talk to you soon,
Love,
Shaun
I can’t totally remember how I wrote and spoke when I was 12 or 18 or 20, but I’m fucking impressed by these 3 guys today. They have given me another proud reason to call them family.
Also, a friend who really knows me well sent me this, following a much longer email of condolences and thoughts: I know things are really difficult right now but I just wanted to send a little something that I think might make you smile.
And it worked… Nothing makes me laugh harder than someone falling down… well, ok, maybe farts are just one notch funnier.
