Today, the crew of The Raza hit Fort Falls, Wisconsin... Android, dressed for the weather. Carmen, Matt, and Alyssa show off their cycling skills. Directing Craig David Wallace, popping and locking. Goth chick! Akemi preps for Thursday's big blueberry pie scene. While tomorrow... Today, Bubba attended his first acupuncture session: How'd he do? Well, hard…
February 27, 2017: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 57 of 91!
Production resumed today on Dark Matter's third season with director Craig David Wallace (Slasher, Todd and the Book of Pure Evil) calling the shots on Episode 309. We were on The Raza today, checking out Pollux and deathcore, but tomorrow we're off to beautiful Fort Falls, Wisconsin for some skulking, pursuing, and awkward bike riding. It's going…
February 26, 2017: The Doggy Update! Hiatus winds down!
Despite his dire prognosis (2-3 months), Bubba has seemed pretty good this past week. Following a single morning when his appetite apparently deserted him, he's been back to his old self - eager to eat, walk, and sit on our laps. He has been unusually needy of late, following Akemi around the apartment whenever she…
February 25, 2017: The Hiatus Culinary Highlights!
Those I remembered to photograph anyway... Banh Mi Boys: Crispy squid taco, fried chicken bao, pork belly bao, and tofu taco. Le Gourmand: Chocolate chip cookie. Yasu Sushi Bar: Katsuo nigiri Yasu Sushi Bar: Tuna trio (otoro, chutoro, akami) La Banane: Liver & Onions (chicken liver mousse, cippiloini onions, hen of the woods mushrooms). La…
February 24, 2017: Separating the artist from the art!
The first time I met Author X was at a Comic Con party. We were introduced through a mutual friend. I didn't really know much about him but had seen his big fat books at my local bookshop. As we shook hands, I congratulated him on his success and told him I was looking forward…
February 23, 2017: Please spare me your dishonest Best Of lists!
So, going through my list of everything I read in 2016, I note there were a lot more misses than hits last year. This, in itself, shouldn't all that surprising. After all, I'm an admittedly tough reader. What IS surprising is the disproportionate number of misses resulting from my being foolish enough to place my…
February 22, 2017: A new Dark Matter episode title!
We have a new episode title! The people have spoken. And the winner is... "Episode 30: All The Time In The World" Thanks to everyone who voted. You'll get another say in another episode-naming poll next week! Today marked Bubba's first day since starting the Palladia treatment and we're not sure if it's drug, the…
February 21, 2017: Vote for a new Dark Matter episode title!
As promised in yesterday's blog entry, here are your choices for the Episode 304 titles. Select one... Do you notice a, uh, recurring theme? Vote! Polls close in 24 hours! I've started compiling my Best of 2016 lists in preparation for the the third annual Rogue Star Awards. Over the course of the next week…
February 20, 2017: Hot sauce! Directors! And our Android!
My third and final batch of hot sauce (habanero, shallots, garlic, salt, pepper, smoked Chilean merken pepper, organic apple puree, apple cider, honey, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar) is a lip-smacking (in both senses of the word) masterpiece. It's a scorcher...but delicious as well. A true culinary capsicum achievement. I don't know whether to…
February 19, 2017: Spicy and scary!
Another day, another hot sauce. This one is a cascabel pepper and yellow bell pepper base with shallots, garlic, salt, apple cider vinegar, pear juice, honey, dehydrated organic Japanese pepper, and dijon mustard. Surprisingly, a touch hotter than the cayenne pepper-based sauce I made yesterday. But it will no doubt pale in comparison to tomorrow's…
February 18, 2017: What’s best for Bubba
There are still some rewrites to do, a couple of polishes to finish, and a series finale to break but, for now, I'm taking it easy. For now, it's all about the dogs. We broke out the stroller for the dogs while Lulu managed to limp her way to the dog park long enough to…
February 17, 2017: Dark Matter Season 3 Day 56 of 91!
And that's a wrap on Dark Matter Season 3 Production Phase II. The third and final phase commences a little over a week from now. Until then, it'll be R&R&R (Rest and Relaxation and Reading) for me. Unfortunately, not everyone made it to the hiatus. But those that did have earned a well-deserved break from 7:30…
February 16, 2017: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 55 of 91!
"It's like when you make ganache and you put it in the fridge and when you take it out it's an hour too early and it's not yet set. That's what it was like." Akemi describing Bubba's stool sample this morning. Today, we took Bubba a very relaxed Bubba (he's already on vacation!) to see…
February 15, 2017: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 54 of 91!
"Is your dog relaxing or in distress?"asked the receptionist, prompting Akemi and I to swing a look over to the shiba inu sprawled out on the floor by a row of seats at the back. "Relaxing,"replied her owner. "She hasn't eaten in five days." Five days?!!! If any of my dogs skipped a single meal,…
February 14, 2017: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 53 of 91!
Let's celebrate Valentine's Day (except in Pakistan where it's apparently been outlawed) with a brand new episode title! Here are the results of yesterday's fan poll: Wow. This one wasn't even close. I honestly thought "This Galaxy's Most Notorious" would have put in a better showing, but what do I know? That's why I just…