Par-TAY time!

At 4pm yesterday, James hauled the BBQ down four flights of stairs and out to the nearby park to get ready for our Canada Day Party. I filled the waterballons and lugged the bucket of missiles out to the park. We had all of the necessary supplies in grocery bags and were rearing to go. At 4:15, a guy who runs the park pointed out that our BBQ was next to a large sign that had a picture of a flame with a big red bar across it (See pic of James at the grill).

Ooops. So we moved the BBQ to the sidewalk and set up everything else next to the see saw and slide. Of course, Costi and Danny had to try out the kiddie equipment. A grown man going down a slide never ceases to make me giggle. Assi and James let out their inner cave men and manned the fire and roasted the hotdogs to Neanderthal perfection. Unfortunately, my plan for s'mores was stopped by disturbingly well aimed water balloon by Ehud which landed directly in the last coals of the grill. Even Ehud was amazed by his own aim; he was doubled over in laughter, but I got the last laugh because I followed up with a purple ballon that gracefully lobbed though the air and broke in a spray of water at his feet.


Of course we had way more food than we needed. True to form, leftovers from a Israeli pot luck involve a metric tonne of hummus, a half a watermelon, delicious pastries that should be on the banned addictive substances list and about ten bottles of juice and pop.

For my birthday next week, my labmates presented me with an awesome two volume book of walking tours in Jerusalem. I am really stoked about this one. Our first adventure is planned for tomorrow morning.

For the past two weeks I have been thinking up some seriously diabolical questions for the Canada Day Quiz. I have posted them to see if you can beat the Israelis. The teams did not bad, but after they listed Alannis Morisette, Celine Dion, Bon Jovi and Pet Shop Boys on the list of Canadian musicians, I feel it is now my responsibility to include musical as well as chemical mentoring into part of my lab duties. Here are the questions with the teams' answers for your amusement at their expense:

1) Hebrew University is dotted with buildings built from money donated from the Bronfman family of Montreal. How did they make their money?
Team A: Alcohol Team B: Real Estate

2) About six weeks ago, Governor General Michaelle Jean visited a Northern Canadian town. She made international headlines for something she did there. What was it?
Team A: Eating a seal heart Team B: (uh, I can't remember what they said)

3) Name as many Prime Ministers that you can. Bonus points for knowing who the current one, the first one and extra bonus point for spelling the fist PM's name right.
Team A: Bob, George, Mike, Nick and MacKenzie King Team B: Stephen Harper

4) Name a city on Vancouver Island.
Team A: Vancouver City Team B: Vancouver City

5) Name as many provinces and territories that you can.
One team got six and the other got five

6) What is a toque? Hint: it is an article of clothing
Team A: Scarf and Mitts Team B: a traditional dress

7) This is related to Food: What is a double double?
Team A: Two Hotdogs Team B: (uh, I can't remember what they said)

8) What are loonies and twonies?
Team A: Cartoons Team B: (uh, I can't remember what they said)

9) Which of these is not city in Canada?
Medicine Hat, Lone Buck, Yellowknife, Whitehorse, Moose Jaw, Salmon Arm
Team A: Medicine Hat Team B: Yellowknife

10) What do the two red bands on the flag signify?
Team A: French and English Team B: The two coasts

11) MacKenzie King was Prime Minister five times from 1921-1948 and was the longest serving PM in the Commonwealth. Like many politicians he talked to people he trusted for personal reassurance. This included his mother and his dog named Pat. What was particularly weird about this situation?
Team A and B: They were dead

12) What is the national icon and is pictured on the 5 cent coin?
Team A: Moose Team B: a Duck

13) If Americans are called Yankees, English are called Brits, Israelis are called Sabraim, what are Canadians called?
Team A: Not Americans Team B: Polar Bears

14) What does it mean when a soldier wears a blue beret?
Team A: UN Team B: UN

15) A J-stroke is a maneuver belonging to what popular sport.
Racquetball, Hockey, Canoeing, Lacrosse, or Curling.
Team A: Hockey Team B: Canoeing

16) What is the Capital city of Canada?
Team A: Ottawa Team B: Ottawa

17) Name as many Canadian singers or bands that you can.
Team A: Celine Dion, Alanis Morisette, PetShop Boys Team B: Celine Dion, Bryan Adams, Nelly Furtado and Bon Jovi.

18) If you drove the whole length of the Trans-Canada Highway straight from Coast to Coast, with good weather conditions and obeying the speed limit, how many hours of driving is necessary?
Team A: 72 hrs Team B: 40 hrs