Monday, July 19, 2010

The Nik at Nite Toronto Meet-Up!

This past weekend was the Polaris convention (and just like I actually intend to wrap up my writeup on the Slayage conference, which was like 6 weeks ago or something, I DO intend to write up my experiences at Polaris) and the highlight for me was a get-together with a bunch of my readers on the blog. Several people weren't actually attending Polaris, and instead just drove in for the dinner, which was awesome. Without further ado, here's the pic of the lovely folks in attendance!!!



Starting in the foreground on the left and going down the table, that's Benny in the blue shirt (yes, our beloved Benny of the Dharmaville pdf discussion!), asiancolossus (one of my earliest blog readers), Christine, Sue (my best friend who was at Slayage with me), Me, Sonshine Music and her sister AchingHope (who were also at the New York meetup! I really need to get the gals some frequent attendance cards or something... five meetups and the meal is on me!), Heather at the foot of the table (she's the head of the Canadian Browncoats), Aisling (a Lost virgin but soon-to-be convert), her auntie redeem147 (who will no doubt be telling Aisling to focus on her beloved Sayid!), Mark Askwith leaning back (he's the producer at Space, where I appeared on TV a few times this season talking about Lost, and a longtime friend of mine), SenexMacDonald (who sold my books for me at the conference, which was so awesome of her, and is the one who sent me this photo!), Gillian Whitfield (as crazy adorable in person as she is in the picture!) and her dad Mike (Christine is her mom). By the way, Gillian has two of the coolest parents ever.

Of course, someone is missing!! So now I'll post a blurry photo but he's crystal clear in the foreground:



On the right in the white shirt is none other than QuestionMark!! And both times I've met him he's said, "Hey Nikki! I'm Question Mark!" How much do I LOVE that he introduces himself that way! Then again, once he got there I was like, "And this is asiancolossus, and here's redeem, and that's SonshineMusic and AchingHope." I was so grateful to Gillian for using her real name on the blog, ha!!

Here are a few other pics. This is me with Gillian:



And here's asiancolossus with Benny:



Here are Sonshine and AchingHope with Heather (the sisters were wearing matching shirts that said, "If you mean time traveling bunnies, then yes." Ha!!)



And me with Suzie:



It was a great time, we chatted about Lost and the blog and I talked about where I'm at on the book (and probably bored some people yakking about Kierkegaard) and we had a blast. We met up at 5:30 and I was still there at 9.

Thanks so much to everyone who came out, and I hope to do more of these in the future. Who's up for one in England??!!

17 comments:

SenexMacDonald said...

I could go if given sufficient notice to make sure I get a seat sale! LOL

I am sorry that Mark, Aisling, Redeem (aka Colleen) and I (aka Cindy) missed seeing QuestionMark. I think we, Colleen and I, met him at the Live event before the finale. Hope I got that right.

Loved being able to help - and available anytime you need me again! :)

Benny said...

I missed talking to a few people from the end of the table, that's unfortunate.

But it was great to organize this!

Anonymous said...

Sayid is mine. Aisling can have Jack. Or perhaps Karl, who would be more age appropriate.

Great fun. Sorry we had to cut out early, and yes, we did meet Questionmark at the cinema.

asiancolossus said...

It was awesome meeting you guys! redeem and senex sorry I didn't get a chance to talk with you guys, it was great to put the names with the faces!

Lyla Miklos said...

I'm sorry I missed you at Polaris Nikki. I was attending a leadership conference in Hamilton all weekend. Turns out my pal Ernie was working at the dealer's table right next to where your books were being sold too. (sigh) Next year! I missed my annual geek fest and talking shop with my fellow "nerds". (wink)

crazyinlost said...

Sounds like you all had a blast...coming to the Pacific Northwest any time soon? :)

Anonymous said...

Hey, Lyla! Missed you on the weekend.

Ernie was our roomie, and we took good care of her for you. :) She's awesome.

Ashlie Hawkins said...

Ugh, I wanted to go so badly! I'm glad everyone had a great time and hopefully I can make the next one! If any of you are going to Fan Expo in August, I'll be there!

Marebabe said...

What fun! (“If you mean time-traveling bunnies, then yes.” Gotta get me one of those!) I’m so glad that a good time was had by all. Last weekend, my thoughts turned quite often to Polaris.

humanebean said...

What a swell-lookin' bunch! Glad to hear that a good time was had by all, no doubt only enhanced by the mind-shattering envy of all (Hello, Self) who were unable to attend. Hope that some of you are contemplating the LOST Symposium in Hawaii for next January. I know I am!

Rebecca T. said...

It was really great putting more names with faces! and Polaris was such a BLAST! I definitely recommend it to anyone who can make it.

And not to toot my own horn or anything, but I have set up a CafePress shop to sell those shirts and you can link to it from my blog :)

LostForever said...

Wish I could have been there!!!

"If you mean time-traveling bunnies, then yes." I LOVE the way Michael Emerson delivered that line!!!! And, what a great name for a rock band -- Time Traveling Bunnies!! ;-)

The Question Mark said...

That was a great dinner, thanks for throwing it! It was great meeting all of you guys! I also missed out on talking to some folks at the opposite end of the table, but we'll always have the blog until the next dinner bash!

asiancolossus said...

Maybe next time we'll find out the elusive "answer" to "the question mark"! :)

Austin Gorton said...

Still jealous...

When does the Finding Lost book tour kick off Nikki? ;)

I can personally guarantee you a stop at the Barnes and Noble in Roseville MN.

Austin Gorton said...

These aren't the droids you're looking for...

Justin Mohareb said...

Sorry I missed it, but, hey, priorities.