Hey, you know what I hate more than moving?
Nothing. Nothing even comes close. I hate the packing, the boxing up, the hiring of the movers, the move itself, the unpacking and unboxing, the farewell to your old comfy place, the hello to your new weird surroundings. As I mentioned in a previous post, even though I’m moving cross-country for work, I don’t intend to give up my home in Vancouver. At least not yet. That will entirely depend on how things pan out with the new job and the city of Toronto in particular. THEN, I’ll decide what will be in my better interest. According to my accountant, regardless of how things go in T.O., it would be in my best financial interest to sell it and downsize. He argues that, now that I’m separated, I no longer need a big house. I disagree. My dogs need running room, especially Jelly who, since her spinal surgery, has slowly but surely started to regain her ambling ways –
I’m in a cranky mood, the result of no one major annoyance but, rather, an avalanche of tiny little irritations.
Like, for instance, the “grilled cheese” croutons served with the tomato soup at Romer’s Burger Bar here in Vancouver. When they first opened, the croutons were nice, large squares of grilled cheese. Between then and last month, they’d been reduced to about a third their original size.
And then today, I go for lunch, and they serve me this –
I mean, seriously. Now they can’t even be bothered to grill them? I’m afraid that next time I go, they’ll just toss me a slice of bread and a pre-packaged Kraft single and tell me to knock myself out. Ah, screw it. With only a month to go before I hit Hogtown, I’ve got to be selective about my final meals.
Refuel, for instance, is one of the restaurants on my Farewell Tour – especially since owner Tom Doughty has advised me Chef Rob and Chef Ted have designed a special going away menu for me. Very much looking forward to it – and seeing them. On my last visit to Refuel, they weren’t around. I enjoyed two fantastic additions to their pasta menu – and then was utterly baffled to be served a dessert containing fruit and chocolate (note: You know what I hate more than moving? Nothing. But you know what comes in a close second? Fruit in my dessert.). Apparently, Chef Ted took ill and the rest of the kitchen staff was unaware of my dietary requirements. Anyway, Tom assures me there’ll be no fruity desserts on my next visit.
Oh, and another thing that bothers me is this ridiculous ten film limit for the best picture nominations. Why only ten? Why leave equally worthy candidates on the outside looking in. What about Clash of the Titans, Sex and the City 2, Furry Vengeance, and The Back-Up Plan? Where’s their reward for getting made?
Also the SGU cancellation. Which brings me to this – another behind the scenes vid. This one, console playback of (a section of) the cool new section of the ship the crew discovers in the back half of season 2:
Mailbag:
woody woodward writes: “I am trying so hard to locate a SGU Ball cap for my bald head. Is there some place I can order,buy,steal …well, not steal one?”
Answer: There’s one sitting in my office. You can have it if you’re in the Vancouver area.
IggyMing writes: “BTW, I love how Space/CTV was such a great supporter of SGU and the Stargate franchise in general. They really pulled out all the stops to market it, and it paid off big time.”
Answer: Exactly that. A perfect example of a terrific promotional campaign paying off in the form of great ratings. Also, the trailers Space cut for the show were nothing short of fantastic.
for the love of Beckett writes: “Aw, Joe. This is just sad, this pathos of departure. And you’ve taught us that until you and Paul sign your contracts, it’s too soon to celebrate. Where does that leave us?”
Answer: In a comfy little limbo. But don’t get too comfy.
hal ehlrich writes: “He must be pretty upset with them,, along with all of the other Stargate people.”
Answer: You have to understand that this is a business. Nothing personal. At the end of the day, unfortunately, Universe wasn’t getting the strong ratings that SyFy’s other Fall scripted shows were pulling in.
Bryan M. White writes: “Is Rob planning on doing any directing for the new project? -or is it too early to tell?”
Answer: Too early to tell, but I certainly hope so.
E writes: “Once SGU’s fate is determined, will you share with us an AU season 3, like you did with SGA S6?”
Answer: Unlike SGA, we didn’t have stories in place – more general ideas of where we wanted our characters, and the show, to go.
DP writes: ““It can now be found at the end of Act III.” Is that a cryptic hint about what the “suspicious character” talk is all about? Just being silly?”
Answer: Sorry, not a clue to anything beyond my skewed sense of humor.
DALLAS MARSHALL writes: “Sir, Is there any truth to this rumor? “There was a report over here in the UK last week saying that Robert Carlyle asked to be let out of his contract and that the new head of scyfy was not a fan of the series.””
Answer: Absolutely no truth to the rumor that Bobby wanted to leave. He had a great time making the show, loved Vancouver and the people he worked with – and we were very, very lucky to have him. He was a class act who put his heart and soul into the character of Nicholas Rush and I know he was just as disappointed as we were to have it come to a premature end.
walkersguidetomiltonkeynes writes: “How are you supposed to submit mailbag questions? Every time I try it this way nothing happens…”
Answer: Maybe you’re doing it wrong.
Mike McGinnis writes: “So, are you a rob or russel fan this season?”
Answer: I’m in the Boston Rob camp.
Michael writes: “Have you decided on an area in Toronto that you find suitable to look for real estate?”
Answer: Not yet. Still looking. Have a month to decide.
glennh73 writes: “Question, want to start reading books. Havent read book for about 10yrs. But want to start up but need a good book to start. I love scifi like Stargate an Charlie Jade. Any suggestions?”
Answer: Old Man’s War, by John Scalzi (who was, incidentally, a Creative Consultant on Stargate: Universe).
Gina writes: “As you are now currently between two different shows, are you finding it hard to shift back and forth between them or has Stargate been a part of your life for so long its just second nature?”
Answer: Not much shifting going on as the work left to do on SGU is minimal: commenting on the remaining mixes. It certainly will be a different to go from a well-oiled machine that has been in production for some 15 years to a fledgling production.
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