Whenever we bring out the suitcases, the dogs start to worry. And, invariably, Bubba parks himself inside one of the suitcases as if to not-so-subtly suggest we might want to consider bringing him along. It was only when he saw us packing away his dog bed that he seemed to calm down, presumably realizing that,…
December 19, 2014: Prep hiatus! I’ll sleep ’til January!
Today marked the end of our final week of prep before the holidays - and despite the fact that it wasn't all that busy (it WILL get busier), I'm exhausted. Some of that may be attributable to the last mad dash to get pink drafts of episodes #101 and #102, and production whites of #107,…
December 12, 2014: Dark Matter! The Week in Meetings!
We are officially in prep on episodes #101 and #102 of Dark Matter. The train has left the station and is barreling down the tracks. There's no turning back now. We're making a t.v. show! As we creep ever-closer to our first day of shooting, the days grow longer, the pace more frenzied, and the meetings…
December 7, 2014: The weekend roundup!
Errands, errands, and more errands. And I still didn't have time to get around to a couple of them. Despite the fact that our apartment is an island of dog beds, that hasn't stopped us from picking up a few more. Like this one we thought might be too tiny and tiny but Lulu manages…
December 6, 2014: Stand or die!
Apparently, some Brazilian doctors have developed a test that predicts mortality. It's a "simple" sitting-standing exercise that measures flexibility and your chances of dropping dead soon. Real soon: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2858804/Can-exercise-test-predict-DEATH-People-struggle-sitting-rising-test-five-times-likely-die.html Here's it is: 1. From a barefoot standing position, lower yourself down to a cross-legged sitting position without using your hands (or any other body part) for…
December 2, 2014: Cookies, Snow Monkeys, and Exercise Accessories!
We interrupt the previously scheduled blog post for this important announcement. Monday, December 15th will be the very first Dark Matter cookie exchange. Participants are required to make a half dozen cookies for every other baker in the exchange "plus a half dozen or so extra for the rest of the (lazy) office to sample!"…
November 30, 2014: Videos of note!
Robot Dance Japan: Wanderers - a short film by Erik Wernquist: <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/108650530">Wanderers - a short film by Erik Wernquist</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user13714879">Erik Wernquist</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p> Best Snow News Bloopers Ever: Black Friday shoppers, take note! This is how to line up in an orderly fashion: This reminds me that I've got to start…
November 29, 2014: Things I miss about Vancouver!
1. My Home Gym I'm not the most motivated guy when it comes to working out and yet, when I was living in Vancouver, I would schedule two-a-days: a 45 minute run in the morning and a 45 minute weight workout at night. How did I manage to pull off such an ambitious routine? Well,…
November 27, 2014: The Uninvited Dinner Guest!
Today, Akemi made a roasted pistachio-crusted lamb shoulder. She spent over a half an hour toiling away, de-shelling the pistachios and de-skinning them. Her arduous work finally complete, she stepped away to use the bathroom and, when she returned not a moment later, discovered Lulu up on the table, enjoying the fruits of her labor. She…
November 25, 2014: Akemi opining, Snow Monkeys winning, doggies relaxing!
"Tastes like old man who likes pachinko." - Akemi on the smoked trout I picked up last weekend. Well look at which team is sitting in second place in our fantasy football League of Accommodation. Yep, my Snow Monkeys, on the strength of a close-shave two-point victory this past weekend, wrapped up a playoff spot…
November 24, 2014: Introducing Dark Matter Set Designer Doug Slater!
I love working with talented people. Pleasant talented people? Even better. Pleasant talented people who also happen to be scifi fans? Best of all! Such is the case with Dark Matter Set Designer Doug Slater. He's a good guy, great at what he does, AND loves SF. And his love for the genre is clearly evident in his…
November 23, 2014: News of Note!
Why do Japanese people hate root beer? http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/11/21/why-almost-all-japanese-people-hate-root-beer/ But, on the other hand, they do seem to LOVE their tomato/cherry and carrot/orange ice creams: http://www.tsunagujapan.com/40-haagen-dazs-flavors-only-sold-in-japan/ Polish lawmakers take stand against pantsless "hermaphrodite" I used to spend time all the time in my younger years: http://www.vanityfair.com/vf-hollywood/2014/11/winnie-the-pooh-hermaphrodite 13 character posters for the upcoming live-action Attack on Titan movie: http://www.toplessrobot.com/2014/11/13_character_posters_for_live-action_attack_on_tit.php Mmmmm. 21…
November 22, 2014: Akemi’s inspired creations!
"This tea tastes like the bitter sweat from a salaryman's collar." - Akemi, the other day, on the green tea she was served at a hotel restaurant. So it's come to this. Bubba is now an unwitting model for Akemi's inspired creations. Here a simple towel transforms him into a cross-special Princess Leia. Keeping with…
November 16, 2014: Life in Toronto in Pictures!
The return of my bento box breakfast. Peanut butter oatmeal with cherries and burnt white chocolate for dessert. My every-chilly girlfriend. Almost 16-year old Jelly, already in the Christmas spirit. Jelly sleeps off her walkies. Akemi's latest passion = popcorn! And, apparently, knitting! Well, at least her ears are warm. Getting together with the gang…
November 13, 2014: C-c-c-c-c-cold!
I woke up this morning and it was snowing. Snowing!!! And the temperature has dropped about 20 degrees in a day. It's so cold that Akemi refuses to go out. She has vowed to never leave our apartment until spring. I feel terribly, for her and for the dogs, especially Lulu and her super-sensitive paws.…