No sooner do I return home than I am preparing for my next trip - this one to L.A. in a couple of weeks. Tomorrow, Paul and I get on the phone with our agent to discuss the specifics: when we're going, how long we're staying, who we'll be meeting while in town and, most…
July 18, 2012: Vegas Day #3!
Yesterday, we were up early so that we could do a little more strolling and try our luck against the scorching heat. We headed over to Caesar's for another lunch at Joe's Stone Crab. We were a little early and Akemi needed to use the facilities. I consulted the handy mall map and their directions…
July 17, 2012: Vegas Day #2: Mesa Grill! Serendipity! Jaleo!
This is the first and probably the last time I'll be staying at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas. In addition to the trifling annoyances (in-room safe not working, housekeeping skipping our room today, being told I could leave my valuables at the front desk only to be told by the front desk that I…
February 16, 2012: Marty G. tries to continue his Road to a Dream! Tara’s long-awaited Dark Matter review! Top Ten Tokyo Pleasant Surprises!
Quelle surprise! The day after my Toronto nemesis, Tara Yelland, makes a bid to be cast in the potential Dark Matter television series (based on the comic book of the same name) by posing with a copy of the first issue, which came two days after Carl Binder did pretty much the same thing, which came a…
February 15, 2012: It was only a matter of time before Tara tried to get in on the action! Top Tokyo disappointments!
So, the day after the day after I call Carl Binder out for posting a pic of himself holding a copy of the second issue of my comic book series, Dark Matter, in a transparent attempt to get himself cast in a potential Dark Matter television series, which came the day after I called out Alex Levine…
February 7, 2012: Tokyo Day #12! Berkserk! Nakajima! Taku! And a fond farewell to Star Bar! A mini mailbag!
On my second day in Tokyo, I came across a poster for Berserk (Golden Age Arc I: Egg of the Supreme Ruler), the first part of a three-part film trilogy based on one of my all-time favorite anime series (which was, in turn, based on a wildly popular manga series). The movie's opening happened to…
February 6, 2012: Tokyo Day #10! Still thinking about it! Dim Sum! Ueno! Back to Harujuku! Another night with the ladies!
Hey, I hear what you're all saying. There's a big difference between visiting a place for two weeks out of the year and actually living there, however I am a creature of habit. I adjusted quite quickly to Vancouver after the move from Montreal and then adjusted to life alone with the dogs. When Akemi…
February 5, 2012: Tokyo Day #9! Good news! A formal lunch at a casual restaurant! A gay egg! A rose-donkey! And a night out with the gals!
Woke up to some very good news. From the government no less! Akemi's application for permanent residency has been approved, meaning she won't have to leave Canada when her visitor's visa expires (on her birthday!) this April. According to the letter I received, the paperwork has been sent to Tokyo for processing - whatever that…
February 4, 2012: Day #8! Considering a change in location! Visiting Geek Central! Dessert for dinner and dinner for dessert! Make your own ice cubes – Star Bar style! And a mini mailbag!
The more I consider it, the more I think I could actually give it a go here in Tokyo. Of course, the move wouldn't be as simple as just picking up and shifting my life over to the other side of the world. Some issues would have to be addressed. Chiefly: 1. What would I…
February 3, 2012: Tokyo Day #7! Braving the cold! Kaiseki! Football Avenue! And it’s all business! Sort of!
Woke up to an email from my friend, Sohaib, over at www.fictionalfrontiers.com informing me that the audio interview I did in support of my comic book series, Dark Matter, is up. You can check it out here: http://bit.ly/yiGl0i. We talk about making the transition from television to comic books, my years on Stargate, and the various mysteries (and…
February 2, 2012: Tokyo Day #6! Samurai Joe, Nodaiwa, Faro!
We started the day by checking out the surroundings - and it don't get any closer than the Imperial Hotel itself. We strolled through the shops on the basement level where we happened across a place called Shokendo, a shop that sells and displays antique Japanese swords. Mrs. Aota struck up a conversation with the…
February 1, 2012: Tokyo Day #5! Catching up with my old friends Joel Robuchon and Ishikawa-san,
The second issue of my comic book series, Dark Matter, hits the shelves soon (February 8th last I heard). If you haven't picked up the first issue yet, I strongly urge you to do so as reports have it selling out. This, of course, means it is a sought-after collectible no doubt destined to be…
January 31, 2012: Tokyo Day #4! I discover the world’s greatest pizza, check out some ukiyo-e, partake in more desserts than most eat in an entire week, do some sushi, then cap the night off Star Bars style!
I woke up from my previous night's sleep well-rested, with ten hours of uninterrupted snoozing under my zzzzz belt, ready for a big day. The great thing about traveling to Asia is that jet lag actually works to your benefit provided you're not a night owl looking to party. By the time 10:00 p.m. rolls…
January 30, 2012: Tokyo Day #3! Testing my cranial limits, pizza over pasta, and feeling the burn!
Well, after being up for twenty-four hours straight, traveling halfway across the world, suffering two sleepless nights and two early wake-ups, and experiencing the most splendiferous sugar-high, I came crashing down last night halfway between the Pierre Herme pistachio macaroni and the Margherita pizza. But I get ahead of myself. I'm not much of a…
January 29, 2012: Tokyo Day #2! Chocolate, Tonkatsu, Le Bourguignon, and a visit to The Master!
With my first full day in Tokyo behind me, I have a lot to cover here on the blog - and a lot to look forward to in the coming days. The change of pace and location has provided a much-needed, greatly appreciated distraction. Still, I think of Maximus often and wonder how the other…