1. I'm back in Vancouver. And exhausted. I've got seven days to get my crap together, including: banking, car servicing, making arrangements for the house, and making a turducken AND piecaken for this Sunday! 2. The official announcement on my new series is coming. No, really! Apparently, Tuesday is the day. 3. Ever wanted to…
October 7, 2014: Moving Forward, Looking Back!
Today, we discussed casting, the budget, locations, post-production, and superheroes. Okay, maybe that last one was a little off-topic, but still - another productive day. I have to say I am very pleased with all of the people I've met to date. Super-talented, super-positive, and super-pleasant - I really look forward to working with them.…
October 5, 2014: A Toronto Cameo! Saturday mornings without cartoons?! Say it aint so!
So my flight got into Toronto at about 7:00 p.m. local time and it was a half hour later when the driver dropped me off at my new residence. I had just stepped out onto the sidewalk with my four pieces of luggage when some passing pedestrian stopped and pointed at me, eyes wide, mouth…
October 2, 2014: Akemi’s Japan Vlog!
Tokyo! Tsukiji Market! Tea Ceremony in Osaka! Check out the first installment of Akemi's Japan vlog: Next time, let's make it a group vacation. Who's in?!!
September 30, 2014: My new mystery show!
Well, it's actually a scifi series, but it IS a mystery insofar as no actual details have been released. I've been told the network will only make an official announcement once the deal has been finalized - and it looks like those lawyers sure are being sticklers. So...soon? Certainly before we go to camera in…
September 29, 2014: Akemi, kids, and dogs!
"I don't know why I am so popular with kids and dogs,"Akemi mused today after our night out with friends Steve and Jodi and their daughter (Akemi's new best buddy) Gemma. And, after some consideration: "Maybe kids think I am kid and dogs think I am dog." Maybe. Akemi claims she essentially re-set her age…
September 26, 2014: Your continuing guide to Akemi-isms!
Please add to your ever-expanding glossary of Akemi-isms: FIY = FYI Gram molass = glamorous Hinch = a hunch Lettucehead = letterhead Melancholy syndrome = depression Rock work = Geology Shoe fly = fruit fly Snow killing = snorkeling The Tim Hortons Team = Green Bay Packers
September 25, 2014: ECHO! ECHO…ECHo…ECho…Echo..gardiogram!
"Ah! You have a baby in your heart!" - Akemi today after I told her about my echocardiogram. Yes, today I went in for an echocardiogram, a procedure that uses sound waves to produce an image of the working heart. Sort of like a pregnancy ultrasound - but different. Still, that didn't stop me…
September 23, 2014: Resident Film Critic Cookie Monster Returns and Reviews Man of Steel!
Monster spend last few months on vakation where me bone up on cursive writing, try all tree boardings - wake, paddle, and water for first time (Me MUCH prefer first two!), and generally healing from mental scars inflikted by 94 straight weeks of Supermovie reviews. Now me back after much-needed R&R (Rest and Remi Martin) and…
September 22, 2014: The New Fall Line-Up!
Here are a few of the new shows I'll be checking out... GRACEPOINT Premieres: Thurs., Oct. 2 at 9 p.m. on FOX I loved the premise of the original, Broadchurch, but was disappointed in the finale. Apparently, this one is the same premise - with a different solution. And it's a self-contained 10 episode mystery. I'm…
September 21, 2014: Again! Back on the home front!
Both Akemi and I managed to sleep through most of our 9 hour flight back so that, by the time we landed at 9:30 this morning, we were well-rested and rarin' to go! Well, I was anyway. Akemi decided to lie down for a little while and, seven hours later, came downstairs looking like a…
September 21, 2014: Japan Day #11!
We were standing at the hotel reception, purchasing our tickets for the shuttle bus that would take us to the airport. The middle-aged Caucasian guy beside us was purchasing a ticket of his own. "What's your room number?"asked the staff member. The guy looked around anxiously, then leaned in conspiratorially and whispered his room number.…
September 20, 2014: Japan Day #10!
I love Japanese department stores - not only for the quality and scope of their products, their terrific customer service, and their impeccable gift-wrapping, but for the little things. Like the fact that, right around closing time, they always play Auld Lang Syne to let everyone know it's time to clear out. And, I discovered…
September 19, 2014: Japan Day #9!
Today, we had plans to meet up with our friend, Nihei, for a yakitori lunch but, unfortunately, a last minute meeting derailed those yakitori plans - and sent us to Butagumi, my favorite tonkatsu restaurant, instead! Tucked away in a little side street in Nishi-Azabu, the rustic restaurant offers varieties of tonkatusu (golden-fried pork cutlets)…
September 18, 2014: Japan Day #8!
I finally hit the wall. Mark the date and time: September 17th at 7:23 p.m. That is, officially, when I stopped being hungry. Yep, I'm done. At this point, I'm just going to reduce my portions to the point where I can simply wean myself off food. Today, I met up with my oldest friend…