If rumors are to be believed (and, really, why wouldn't you believe a rumor?), i's are about to be dotted, t's stroked and, where necessary, certain vowels umlauted, graved, and aigued so that, by Monday, I'll finally be able to name the super-secret series I'm working on. Well, it's super-secret only insofar as I'm calling…
March 30, 2011: They et green grapes. They all five got the howlin’ skitters.
What a great start to my day. I walked into the production offices this morning to discover THIS tasty-looking treat... Another day of spinning. We're hoping to send everyone off with one story before we break to write. We're averaging about two to two and a half days an episode meaning we'll be finishing up…
March 29, 2011: Familiar faces and birthday dinner!
Today was Alexander's birthday. We celebrated in grand production style - with a morning director interview, some story spinning, casting discussions, and a rotisserie chicken lunch. To top things off, we received a visit from a surprise guest... Mark was in town on Echoes-related business. "What is Echoes?"you're asking. Why, it's the SF pilot he…
March 28, 2011: Toasty warm on your numbened fingers through the plastic of the poopy bag. Heavenly!
So, yesterday's dog transport went surprisingly smoothly. My awesome dogs-sitter, Christine, was kind enough to offer me a lift to the airport. Once there, I met up with Leah and, dog carriers in hand, we fairly breezed through check-in and security with minimal whining. Bubba and Lulu were pretty good too. With plenty of time…
March 27, 2011: Yet Another Travel Day!
Flying back to Toronto today with Bubba and Lulu today. Carl convinced me I'd be better off flying during the day than taking the red-eye. While the darkened environment and late-night hour of the 10:30 p.m. flight could make for sleepier dogs, it could also result in cranky fellow passengers trying to snooze through Bubba's…
March 26, 2011: Montreal is the place where people go to party, Vancouver is the place where people go to enjoy nature, and Toronto is the place where politicians and sad clowns go to retire.
I’m back in Vancouver today. Back in my home with its open kitchen and fenced-in back yard and home theater and comfy king size bed. But only for as long as it takes me to pack up my things, grab my dogs, and head back. Back to Toronto with its endless driving and frigid temperatures…
March 25, 2011: I’m going to have to start living out of my office.
Today marked the end of our my first week in Toronto, and it was a productive one. Amid the madness of the pre-production process, we managed to break two stories (episodes 4 and 5)! I also managed to put on five pounds. The shape of things to come? I've got to stop doing less burritos…
March 24, 2011: Hey, Phil, have you seen my headless, armless dummy? Oh. Here is is!
Moving to a new place always requires a bit of a readjustment. Many of the aspects of your last home that you grew to know and love may be different, if not altogether non-existent, in your new home. Things like roominess, grass, or a comfortable bed. Sure, you can focus on the negatives - "It's…
March 23, 2011: COME ON!!! Sporadic creativity! St. Roch’s School for Gifted Dogs!
Just when things were starting to pick up here in Toronto, this morning I wake up to THIS - Welcome to Toronto. I mean, COME ON! It's the end of March! I bet you it's not snowing in Vancouver! Today was a day of sporadic creative bursts as we attempted to start breaking episode 3…
March 22, 2011: I really need to hit a gym!
I need to hit a gym. It's been about two weeks since I last worked out and I'm beginning to feel myself getting fatter. I spend the greater part of my days sitting down spinning stories, updating this blog, and sampling menu selections from a plethora of new restaurants. It's a situation eerily similar to…
March 21, 2011: Conference calls, budget talks, casting, and stage walk-thrus! What a relief!
Following an exhausting few days - capped by a poor night's sleep - it was finally time to head into the production offices and kick off the pre-production on the new show. Now given the circumstances, you'd think that going in to work would be the last thing I'd want to do but, in truth,…
March 20, 2011: Damn, I miss Vancouver!
The title of this blog entry should leave no doubt as to how I'm feeling right about now. So we got to the airport late last night, dogs in tow. Check-in and security were a breeze. The airport personnel were very kind; all smiles and great with the pooches. After some initial scratching and whining,…
March 19, 2011: Travel Day! Actually, no! No, actually, yes!
After much back and forthing, stressing, and weighing of options, I decided to just pull the trigger and charter a jet for the cross-country flight to Toronto. Expensive, yes, but at least this way, I would only have to do one trip, wouldn't have to cram the dogs under any seats, and wouldn't have to…
March 18, 2011: The Meal To End All Meals!
I remember when I first started watching Iron Chef (the original Japanese version), being mightily impressed with the creativity and effort that went into the various dishes. I would sit back on my couch and envy the lucky judges who were granted the opportunity to sample the varied culinary masterpieces. And I'd think: "Wouldn't it…
March 17, 2011: Gaaaaah!
A thoroughly exhausting day and it's far from over. A little wrench thrown into my "two trips/two dogs in-cabin" plan. "Little" as in nine inches, the approximate height of the seat I'm going to have to squeeze the dogs underneath for the duration of the 5 hours flight. Suddenly, that charter jet option is looking…