“Did you wrap early today?”asked Tim as I grabbed a seat at the bar.
“Nope,”I replied, settling in and flipping open the menu. “I’m off for the next four days.”
[Note: This weekend, of course, Canada celebrates one of its most important holidays – Lord Emil Froodock Day – a commemoration of one of Canada‘s most revered historical figures. The inventor of the pomegranate, the right turn signal, and that little piece of green plastic that has adorned every sushi plate since the dawn of the California roll. He also pioneered the term “chillax” long before it got really popular.)While many in the office packed up their golf clubs and headed south, I opted for an extra long weekend of staying put and doing nothing. Well, not exactly nothing. I do have books to read, a blog to update, and a certain outline that, sadly, won’t write itself. Still, on this day, I decided to take advantage of the production holiday by sleeping in an extra hour, doing a morning run, swinging by my bank to deposit some checks and put up with that one pompous teller who always seems genuinely put out to be doing his job, and then stopping by Fuel for the “Fried Chicken Friday” lunch special. This wasn’t my first time having their fried chicken (apparently cooked sous-vide in buttermilk before deep-frying). Last week, Fondy and I went for dinner and enjoyed a double-fowl fry spectacular: their fried chicken AND their fried duck confit. Golden-crispy on the outside; tender-juicy on the inside. The chicken came with biscuits and gravy (recipe compliments of AJ’s grandmother) and, by the time I was done, I was DONE! I left the restaurant feeling thoroughly satisfied – and a little guilty, which I guess is why I stopped by a fitness shop on the way back to my car and impulse-bought one of those body composition readers. You know, the kind that tell you exactly how overweight you are.
This one offers a plethora of readings: Weigh, Body Fat %, Total Body Water %, Muscle Mass, Physique Rating, Visceral Fat, Bone Mass, Metabolic Age, and BMR. Hmmm. I am decidedly average. My body fat % is a surprising 19% but, in all fairness, I suspect at least 2.5% of that is crispy fried chicken skin. On the bright side, my metabolic age is a spry 35! Also, I’m sure you’ll also be pleased to hear that I’m keeping well-hydrated.
I also swung by my favorite second-hand bookstore in Vancouver, Pulp Fiction, in search of some hard-to-find titles. Picked up about a half dozen reads in preparation for what is looking like a month-long hiatus. Last year, I went through 18 books in three weeks. While I doubt I’ll be able to match that pace, I’m hoping to make some progress on my ever-growing To-Read pile.
Today’s blog entry is dedicated to a post-exam firefly827347 and all the kids in the UK who are doing their GCSE exams.
Mailbag:
David writes: “Hey Joe. For the Super Fan videos, do you use the same Stargate for the videos every year?”
Answer: Nope. Martin wrote/directed/produced three last year, and he’s doing another three this year.
Angelus writes: “Will any of you be checking out this little upcoming online game called “Stargate Worlds”?”
Answer: No doubt.
Haliyah writes: “Do you happen to know any classy, well-priced Japanese restaurants with fantastic food in Toronto?”
Answer: Sorry, T.O.’s not my home turf. Try Ivon.
Inpa writes: “If you don’t mind me asking, why do the pictures look like an anime version of the Stargate?”
Answer: They’re promos, not scenes from an actual episode.
AV Eddy writes: “Have you ever had jerky, and if so, did you like it? Did the main Atlantis set get a new paint job for S5?”
Answers: I do enjoy jerky (Bruno’s dad makes a mean moose version). Atlantis got a paint job a couple of seasons ago and is good for another two years. Its tires may need to be rotated however.
David writes: “What do you suggest I say or do when people at my High School tease me because I like Stargate?”
Answer: Trust me, you’ll have the last laugh at your high school reunion when you’re incredibly successful and they’re still working at their career summer jobs alongside their My Super Sweet 16-lovin’ friends.
Vecturist writes: “Are you a fan of Mexican food?”
Answer: I am, although it’s near impossible to find good Mexican food in Vancouver.
Masterchief writes: “…oh by the way I’m not sure if this is a mistake but according to your answer she did in fact reveive a copy of the script. however a few months ago you claimed she didn’t.”
Answer: Sorry. The confusion undoubtedly stems from my use of the word “delivered”. In a past response, I wrote: “The content of the script (which has yet to be delivered) was never even discussed.” First, the content of the script was never discussed. The only creative issue ever brought up was the possibility of giving the character closure, which we were willing to do. Secondly, the script we sent was an early writer’s draft that, while representative of the episode shot, was nevertheless a long way from the “delivered” script (the final version which has addressed all of the other writers’ script issues and, thus, gone out in general circulation – ie. the various departments, the studio, the network).
McWraith writes: “Joe, do you know what they made the cannon out of?”
Answer: I don’t. I can only assume the bones of Martin’s last victim.
Hannastasia writes: “What’s the status of BamBam being on American Gladiators?”
Answer: Apparently, Gladiators is focusing on more of your Average Joe contestants (firemen, policemen, factory workers). Hopefully in the coming seasons, they’ll shift their focus to those with more atypical vocations (ie. stunt coordinators, fugu chefs, everyone who has ever played the part of Rum Tum Tugger in Cats).
LibKat writes: “When you decided to make next months BOTM all female authors, did you consider any books by Lois McMaster Bujold?”
Answer: I’ve been wanting to check out Bujold’s work for a quite some time. A possible August BOTMC selection?
Claudia writes: “Do you know when the fans can expect a new Season 5 Teaser Trailer, Promo etc. ?”
Answer: Nope.
K. Ryan writes: “Have you tried anything from Lake Champlain Chocolate?”
Answer: No, but I have heard good things about them.
BlueJay writes: “Will there be any new recurring wraith characters in season five?”
Answer: Possibly.
BlueJay also writes: “When wraith cull what do they do if they sweep up young children?”
Answer: I imagine they adopt a catch-and-release policy not unlike that exercised by fishermen who reel in undersized fish. Best to set them free and come back for them when they’ve had a chance to fatten up and gain a little more of that delicious life experience.
Molly writes: “Have you ever thought about getting a French bulldog/pug mix?”
Answer: I’m pretty satisfied with the four dogs we have now.
Leave a Reply