I'm going to interrupt this blog's scheduled posting to dedicate today's entry to the memory of Joel Goldsmith. Joel, who passed away last night, was a much loved and respected member of our extended Stargate family; his considerable contributions to the franchise a key part of its long-running success. The son of renowned composer Jerry…
April 29, 2012: Okonomiyaki 101!
To ensure I don't fall into a hermit-like existence that may eventually find me bottling my own urine and wearing kleenex boxes as shoes, I've decided to make more of an effort to get out, meet new people, and try new things. As a result, several weeks ago, Akemi and I attended a macaron-making class.…
April 28, 2012: Today’s Blog Entry co-starring Robert Picardo as “The Dinner Guest”!
You may recognize him as The Doctor from Star Trek: Voyager, or the officious/annoying/not-so-bad/humorous/ultimately-quite-likable Richard Woolsey from Stargate SG-1/Stargate: Atlantis/Stargate: Universe, or from one of about a 100+ film and television roles. I refer, of course, to the great Robert Picardo who got into town the other night for some convention (I think it's a Star Trek…
April 27, 2012: Akemi’s Birthday Dinner!
This year, I decided to do something a little different for Akemi's birthday dinner. Rather than go out for her special meal, I decided to bring the special meal to her. I hired the services of her fave local chef, Jane Cornborough, and asked her to design a menu especially for Akemi. And so, last…
April 26, 2012: My Top 10 Bookstore Turn-offs!
You're at your local bookstore, browsing the shelves, when something catches your eye. Whether it's an interesting cover or an intriguing blurb or a fantastic review, it's an unexpected "something" that impels you to buy that particular book. Being an impulsive shopper, it happens to me all the time and I've ended up discovering some…
April 25, 2012: Becoming a No Man
Back in the day, Exec. Producer Brad Wright used to say: "Fast is good, but good is better than fast." To which then writer/director Peter DeLuise would invariably reply: "GotitgoodisbetterthafastGotit!". But there was no rush. Usually. Stargate was a well-oiled machine, this in no small part due to the writing department's ability to have a…
April 24, 2012: Recent Eats! Adoption! The L.A. Complex!
Some recent meals... Meat & Bread : 370 Cambie Street : Victory Square : Vancouver BC. As tempted as I was, I decided to take a rain check on the maple-bacon ice cream sandwich. On the home front... Heard from the Seattle Pug Rescue today. They informed me that since it was impossible for them…
April 23, 2012: The Supermovie of the Week Club reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews Captain America (1990)!
From direktor of Kickboxer 4: De Aggressor and Nemesis III: Prey Harder and producer of Breakin' 2: Elektrik Boogaloo and Super IV: Quest for Peace (uh oh) come Captain America, de greatest American hero since Superman. Oh, and de Greatest American Hero. Movie start in pre-WWII Italy. Mussolini interrupt boy's piano lesson. Boy forced to…
April 22, 2012: Beta 5! A Top Chef contestant checks in! Switching over from horror to mini-series mode!
Akemi and I paid a follow-up visit to Beta 5, a bold new addition to the Vancouver chocolate scene. Located in the out-of-the-way industrial area off Main Street (appropriately enough, on Industrial Avenue), the shop/factory offers up a variety of intriguing products, from bars to caramels, marmalade to caramelized Marcona almonds. I picked up a…
April 21, 2012: The Big Vancouver Fan Expo Report!
I was online yesterday, checking out the local weekend events, when I came across a report on Vancouver's very first Fan Expo taking place this Saturday and Sunday at the downtown convention centre. While in Toronto, I attended their annual Fan Expo and had a pretty good time walking the floor and tracking down a…
April 20, 2012: Cringeworthy moments!
Cringeworthy moments. You know what I'm talking about, those singular instances in your life - sometimes painful, sometimes embarrassing, always impossible to forget - that, when recalled, incite the sort of response commonly reserved for that part in the horror movie when the bad guy/monster/ghost/possessed grandmother crosses the line from horrifying to Oh-my-God-I-can't-believe-they-just-did-that! The mere…
April 19, 2012: 2001 – A Food Odyssey!
A couple of months ago, I was reconsidering this whole blog thing. In truth, after 4+ years of daily blogging, I was thinking about calling it quits or, at the very least, scaling back. I was on the fence and so, elected to look ahead to my next milestone post - the big 2-0-0-0. I…
April 18, 2012: Happy 2000th! And Happy Birthday Akemi!
This entry marks my 200th consecutive blog post. Yes, what began as a simple travel journal over four years ago has flourished into this unduly verbose everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-me-and-then-some collection of thoughts, essays, rants, and pictures of my dogs. And, over the course of those 4+ years, this blog has become a typical part of my daily…
April 17, 2012: Al-most there! Things that have been getting on my nerves lately…
This will apparently mark my 1999th consecutive blog entry. And, should everything go as planned, I'll upload my 2000th entry tomorrow. The milestone will happen to coincide with another notable occasion: Akemi's birthday. Akemi will celebrate by attending her English classes all afternoon. I'll (hopefully) be finishing my final (for now) pass on my horror…
April 16, 2012: The Supermovie of the Week Club Reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews Darkman!
In his most understated performance since role of Rob Roy in movie me can't remember name of, Liam Neeson play part of brilliant doctor who invent sintetic skin (lucky :)) but not having much success perfekting formula (unlucky :() but have beautiful girlfriend (lucky :)) who about to blow whistle on her crooked boss (unlucky…