Back from TCAF, aka the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, now since Monday, and I still haven't unpacked yet. Think I should just leave all my stuff in my suitcase until MoCCA next weekend? I think that sounds like a plan. Well here's my measly recap:

After being chauffered to the airport by the lovely Marj, I moseyed on over to the Air Canada counter to procure my tickets and get on what I was assuming would be a normal-sized plane. Oh ho was I wrong. Air Canada had become "Air Canada Jazz" where the Jazz stood for "you'll be flying in a freakishly small plane with propellors". So I boarded the toy aircraft and started reading Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides, to keep my mind off how easily we could be knocked over by bigger jets while en route. Luckily the book worked, as reading about incest kept me from yelling, "DEAR GOD WE'RE GOING DOWN!" at every hint of turbulence. I arrived safely in Toronto, where there were about 10 enormous lines at customs. The fun part about waiting in line, though (yes, there was one) was that every time they opened a new line, they would make an announcement, and people would make a mad dash for the available line. Everyone was giggling, and I thought, yes, I'm in Canada.

I zipped through downtown Toronto to the Days Inn, where I was relieved to find a Tim Fish waiting for me in my hotel room. Without working cellphones, I was convinced I would never find anyone I knew, the convention, or my flight back, and I would be forced to live in Toronto. Forever. But such was not my fate. So we gabbed, Tim about his successes of late -- being added to The Advocate's summer reading list, for one, no small feat. Then we ran into a sauntering Ed Mathews on the streets of the Church-Wellesley district and his lovely man Matt, and headed to Woody's; a bar specializing in Rhinos and 80's gay porn on the TVs. After a standard amount of time, we went in search of potato wedges, which we hoped to find at Zelda's, an outdoor BBQ place. Instead, they turned us away to the Five Alarm Diner down the street, where we walked and found to be closed. Henceforth, "Zelda's" became "Zelda's Hate Shack". Instead we went to Byzantium, got fruity martinis, and lounged in a big booth. And nursed our pride. The highlight of the evening came when we went to a grocery store. There we found not only Kit-Kat's in every flavor, but cereals that no one's ever heard of! "Lean On Me" and "Vector" -- 2 cereals that apparently did not need to list their ingredients in order to be enjoyed. Oh that wacky Canadian food.

Saturday -- the convention! Tim and I enjoyed a big breakfast at the Golden Griddle, where our waitress amused us with her "eh" usage quite frequently. Then we embarked on the 40 minute walk from our hotel to the convention. Oy. But how else are we supposed to see a city, when we're trapped in conventions for most of the day? It seemed like a good idea at the time, until we had to arrive at the TCAF tents all sweaty and needing coffee. TCAF turned out to be cozy, packed at all times, full of amazing artists, witty banter, free donuts, a scary man completely encased in black vinyl, Chris Butcher, Jonathan Ellis, Derek Kirk Kim, Paige Braddock, Dave Roman, Raina Telgemeier, Scott Robins, Rich Stevens ... of course many other wonderful people I'm totally forgetting ... basically, fun to be had by all. The hike to La Hacienda, a building around the corner, that housed comic artists, panels, and the bathrooms was a fun break to take. The monstrosity that is Honest Ed's discount store was always looming and tempting me with its evil trinkets. (In the end I resisted the urge -- too dangerous to venture into on my own.)

The day ended with Tim and I breaking down at a pub for dinner before engaging on our looooong walk back to l'hotel. There I took too long getting ready, and we hit the comics after party where hahaHA, I was the only one in my group to have saved my special Beguiling wrist band. I rule! The rest of those pansies had to wait for Chris Butcher to bless them before being allowed in. Soon after arriving there, I ditched my friends and forced Paul Hornschemeier to hang out with me, because he's just so darn fun. And by fun, I mean hot. Go read his comics and feel very, very small. Oh, and he's in a band that's actually good and stuff too. Damn. A very enjoyable day and a super enjoyable evening, altogether.

Except for the lack of sleep. Sunday was a daze of sleeping standing up, drinking nasty chai, making a Death sketch, fetching sodas, touring the uber-cool Beguiling with Paul, saying sad goodbyes, and finally Tim and I packing up and heading off to dinner. It was a cool evening, but still perfect for sitting outdoors and I enjoyed the Torontonian atmosphere. I won't go into the lame, staying-in evening Tim and I had except to mention that Star Trek part VI was involved. Yeah.

After allllll that fun and schmoozing and super cool people talking to me I must say I've regained my motivation to do comics. Screw worrying about my purpose in life, I want to write kooky stories and draw till my hand explodes! Though I doubt I'll have anything ready for MoCCA, but gosh darnit, I'll be excited to be there!

Here's some photos, and if they're too lame for you, check out Raina & Dave's uber-cool recap for better: