I started our modest little book club as a means to motivate SF fans to pick up a book or two, share my love of reading with them, introduce them to authors they may be unfamiliar with and, whenever possible, shed the spotlight on some of the new up-and-coming talent out there. One such writer…
February 27, 2010: April’s Book of the Month Club Pick! Still cookin’! And Mystery Medical Diagnosis – Round Four!
Allow me to start off today's blog entry by clearing up a common misconception. Today is NOT Sunday. It would seem that my internet is down. Again. As a result, I am uploading tonight's entry via my iPhone. Also, I am very, very angry. On the bright side, I have our April Book of the…
February 26, 2010: News of note! And the return of the mailbag!
When Paul and I joined the writing staff of Stargate: SG-1 back at the beginning of its fourth season, it was with the understanding that the show would run for two more years after which we would all go our separate ways and I could go back to spending my afternoons watching The Price Is…
February 25, 2010: Goodbye, Akemi!
It seemed like only yesterday I was prepping the guest room and stocking up the Lush basket in anticipation of Akemi's arrival and suddenly, the next thing I know, I've seen her off at the airport and am heading back home for a quiet afternoon with the dogs. It was a wonderful ten days -…
February 24, 2010: La Quercia! JapaDog! A final stroll! Mom update!
This past week or so hasn't been all fun and games. There's been some serious eating as well. And time spent perusing the audition streams for both the Ginn and Simeon characters. Lots of terrific performances and we've all been weighing in, gradually narrowing down our choices. Hoping to have both parts cast by the…
February 23, 2010: Akemi calls the shots! Tojo’s! We do lunch!
Anymore suggestions on the book of the month club front? I'd like to make the grand announcement by this weekend to give everyone time to pick up the title and start reading. In the meantime, finish up March's BOTMC selection: Boneshaker. The discussion begins Monday and author Cherie Priest will be coming by to answer…
February 22, 2010: Out and about! Ganache Patisserie! Bistrot Bistro! Narrowing down our next book of the month club pick! And an Olympic update!
Yesterday, we headed to the city's Yaletown district to do some strolling, some shopping, have a little lunch, and potentially run into fellow writer-producer Carl Binder who has been in town checking out the free events and, if my sources are correct, representing Djibouti in the skeleton and freestyle skiing. Alas, no Carl sighting on…
February 21, 2010: Somebody get me those Ghost Hunter guys! Dinner at Lumiere! Nebula Noms!
I fear my house has become a massive cold spot for bizarre, inexplicable occurrences clearly supernatural in nature. It began a few days ago in the form of random manifestations in the various bathrooms that, like crop circles, seemed to contain some sort of otherworldly messages in their design. I provide photo documentation of the…
February 20, 2010: Gusto di Quattro! We get cookin’!
Given that Akemi hails from what I consider to be the best city in the world for eating, I was a little apprehensive about taking her out while she was in town. Now the great thing about Tokyo is that you can be blown away by the culinary offerings at a simple hole-in-the-wall ramen-ya just…
February 19, 2010: Dinner at Bishop’s! Sushi at Aki’s! Checking out the art scene!
Last night, we went to dinner at a place many consider a Vancouver institution: Bishop's Restaurant. It had been a year since my last visit and I was eager to see if it was still as great as I remember it. Our meal went something like this - I followed by usual M.O. when it…
February 18, 2010: Disaster denied or simply delayed? ReFuel! And Bathtime for Bubba!
I feel like I'm a character in one of those Final Destination movies. The reason? Well, way back when I was in fourth grade, I was helping my gym glass set up the trampoline. At one point, a section of the equipment clamped down on my fingers but I was able to quickly slip my…
February 17, 2010: Dog time! Dim sum! And your Olympic update!
Finished (not "fished") two of my three books last night (I would've gone back and corrected the entry, but then that would have left those of you correcting me in the comments section looking silly. So, instead, I'll just look silly myself - which I'm kind of used to anyway). Akemi, meanwhile, is having all…
February 16, 2010: Playing Host
Having already established that I am unable to sleep through the night prior to a day on which I fly out, I can now confirm that I am unable to sleep through the night prior to a day someone flies in - if I'm charged with the task of either picking them up or dropping…
February 15, 2010: Some last minute chores! That comic book project! Dog pics and vids! And another Olympic update!
Today, I completed all of my last-minute preparations for Akemi's arrival. I shined my shoes, steam-vacced the theater room carpet, did laundry, organized the dvd room, and, most importantly, bathed the dogs so that they could be smelling their best. Earlier today, on the prospective comic book front, I completed a breakdown of the first…
February 14, 2010: Valentine’s Greetings! Olympic Update! And – A Reality Check!
Happy Valentines Day! I celebrated by thinking warm thoughts of each and every one of you. And pan-frying some chicken livers with caramelized onions and a plum port reduction. While many were celebrating the start of the Olympics, many others were protesting...well, I'm not exactly sure what the hell they were protesting. I'm sure there…