The other night, I was awakened by a kerplunk (!), the unmistakable sound of a portly, elderly pug falling off the bed. I sat up to discover 15 year old Jelly, struggling to stand up on the polished hardwood floor. She seemed surprised but otherwise okay. Just in case though, I brought her out to the backyard to make sure. She did her business and seemed perfectly fine, so I scooped her up and we headed back up to bed. This was the first of several incidents involving my old gal who has seemed notably crankier of late. Akemi suspects it’s because Jelly senses my impending Toronto trip and is demonstrating her displeasure by acting up. Apparently, when I’m away, she is uncharacteristically quiet, sleeping through most of the day and only getting up for meals. This is in sharp contrast to her demanding, downright “diva-esque” attitude when I’m home. Nary an hour goes by when she isn’t whining or crying or barking at me to pick her up, take her out, give her a snack, or generally demanding my undivided attention. I’m amazed she’s able to get along without me and I wonder how she’ll do while I’m away. I suppose she’ll be fine so long as Akemi remembers to keep her updated by reading my blog entries aloud to her.
Yes, I’m headed to Toronto for a few days to discuss strategy and come up with a game plan for my new scifi series. We fly out early tomorrow morning and get in with plenty of time to have dinner with a former fellow Stargate writer-producer. Then, on Thursday, it’s all day meetings re: budgets, locations, visual effects, and deliveries. I figure we’ll assemble a writers’ room here in Vancouver for a month in July-August and hammer out our 13 stories, then disperse and retreat to our respective lairs where we’ll write 10 of those 13 scripts. I’m assuming we’ll go to camera sometime in early 2015. This will give us plenty of time to prep what should be one hell of a twisty, turny, suspenseful, spectacular, action-packed, character-driven inaugural season.
Friday, I’ll be fly out of Toronto and head to Montreal for a day to visit with mom and sis and then, Saturday night, I’m homeward bound!
Of course this blog will be traveling with me. I needn’t remind you that, tomorrow, we kick off our Star Trek: The Original Series re-watch. Me and my fellow reviewer, Cookie Monster, will be weighing in on episode #1: The Man Trap! Watch the episode and join tomorrow’s discussion!
Today’s entry is dedicated to blog regular whoviantrish.
Good luck Joe. Have a safe flight and a terrific visit with mom and sis.
Thank you for the blog dedication. And you did it again.. Stargate: TOS. 😀 I so needed a laugh. That just amuses me more than it should.
And great news about your series. I’m so excited about this! If you’re going to camera next year when will WE get to see this masterpiece?
I’m glad Jelly is ok. You do realize she’s the boss of you, don’t you?
Jelly’s behavior is much like that of an elderly person when they know the family is going away. I’ve heard stories (and seen some myself) of an elderly person suddenly coming down with a mystery illness or other problem when they learn they’re going to be ‘alone’. My neighbor (who lived by herself, but had daily visits from her daughter) always had ‘spells’ as soon as her daughter and her family tried to go away, even if just for a weekend (and even though she had other children living nearby who could be right there for her if need be). Many times her daughter had to turn right around to rush to mom’s side, sometimes right after arriving to their destination. As soon as she’d get back to mom, mom suddenly had a full recovery. She was very manipulative that way, and caused her daughter much stress and distress.
And I’ve heard the same thing from others with elderly parents or other family members who expect family to be there for their every beck and call. It’s a combination of the insecurity of being left alone (even if they live alone), and control issues, especially when it comes to a parent and child relationship. I even see it with my dad – when mom and I go out of town (like we did today for mom’s doctor appointment), dad’s on the cellphone a dozen times fretting over what a terrible day he’s having and saying how we have to get right back to fix things. As soon as we get home it’s like the good fairy waved her magic wand and made all the bad things go away, because suddenly there’s no problems or dilemmas or anything else troubling him. Of course, we’re wise to his antics, and warn him that if he’s not careful we’re not going to take him seriously when he does have a real problem, like the boy who cried wolf.
das
@ whoviantrish – {{{hugs}}} Cancer is a terrible thing. I also have a friend who’s been battling it for years, and the last time I saw her (last summer) I really didn’t expect her to be around much longer. But this weekend we attended the same event together, and it just warmed my heart knowing that – despite living with a debilitating illness – she’s still fighting, and living her life to the fullest extent possible.
das
Have a good flight, Joe and good luck with your prep work for your new series.
@whoviantrish: Cancer is an evil, insidious bastard. Give your friend our best wishes.
@ whoviantrish
so sorry about your friend.
@Joe
To ease the separation Akemi can make a doll with your hair like the Husky´s one. But considering the minimum size needed we will need a lot of hair. 🙄
About the Show only say that some here are still volunteer to be thrown out the airlock to the vacuum. 👿
Enjoy the travel!
The looks when you bring out a suitcase. And the size of the case determines their anxiety. For me, as my two get older it’s harder to justify going away because I know they’ll fret, but damn, the human is going to miss them too.
I work from home when I’m not travelling so they spend close to 24/7 with me.
I’m due for two weeks off in August and the plan is to get on a plane and head somewhere warm. Leaving my elderly dogs though, takes the shine off it.
I hope Jelly perks up and understands you when you say, ‘I’ll be back. I promise.’
@whovintrish, I will keep you and your friend in my heart. Much love.
Did I miss something? Are you at the helm (get it?) of a new Star Trek TV series??? If so, Send my family some flowers or a card or something, Because I ‘m about to die of happyness. Granted it’s not Stargate, But Star Trek will always be my first scifi love 🙂
Poor Jelly!
Safe trip Joe. Hoping you can spill the beans soon. Also hoping that it’s not filming in Toronto. Although it sounds like it. That wasn’t your favorite place to be a few years ago.
Si j’avais les dvd de la série originale Star Trek, je suivrais vos visionnements. Dommage.
Aurons-nous enfin une nouvelle série de science-fiction??
Je suis bien content pour vous …et pour nous !
So sorry about your friend Whoviantrish. Cancer does suck! We’ve lost a lot of good people.{{{Hugs}}}
Poor little Jelly….Does she like it when you Skype? How large is your band width? Maybe you hook up a laptop and set up Skype so she can hear you talking all day.
iI guess you mean STAR TREK rather than Star Gate, eh…
Do you have a safety rail for the bed? They make nice meshy ones to keep babies from rolling off the bed, so that Jelly can enjoy her sleepy time:
http://www.target.com/p/safety-1st-top-of-mattress-bed-rail/-/A-15060005#prodSlot=medium_1_1&tempterm=baby+bed+rail+safety+1st
Looking forward to the Toronto food reviews. I’m ready for Man Trap, that’s where Spock sings? I adore that man.
How was your flight? Hope Jelly does well. Senior dogs do act a little weird. Mine sure did. Can’t wait to hear who is with you there in Toronto besides Paul, and what you do each day.
@whoviantrish – Sorry about your friend. I have a few friends and one family member fighting it right now. I know how you feel.
@das – Isn’t that beckon call and not “beck and call”? I’m not making fun, just wondering. My inglish is pathetick and I cain’t spell worth a dern.
This coming as a surprise is what I get for being about 4 1/2 years behind on your blog.
Congratulations on the new gig, Joe.
Ponytail
it beck and call, becken call is a misinterpretation of beck and call.
Hope Jelly is okay. Exciting news about the new series. Can’t wait to see the final product!