Holy crap it’s cold here! In just the few minutes it took my sister and I to walk my mother’s dog, Felix, around the block, my ears had turned a bright, festive pink and felt like someone had sanded them down to the cartilage. A far cry from Vancouver that, while snowy, was positively…
December 26, 2008: If video games were more about love and friendship than shooting and killing…I’m guessing we’d have a lot less kids playing video games.
After a Wednesday of heavy-duty eating, I took the Thursday to relax and recuperate. Well, part of Thursday anyway because, by last night, I was back at it again in a different venue but following a very similar agenda: eat, drink, repeat. We celebrated Christmas at my sister-in-law’s along with the rest of the Tam…
December 25, 2008: Season Greetings! A Doggy Update! And a Mountain of Macarons!
Well, it would seem as if we got out of Vancouver just in time as, by all reports, the city has been blasted by another storm that has made getting around almost impossible. “Christmas is cancelled,”my writing partner matter-of-factly informed me Lawren, meanwhile, reports that his car is stuck, essentially trapping him at our house…
December 24, 2008: I’m here! Finally!
“My keys!”cried Fondy in frustration. “I can’t find my keys.” She suddenly left off her bag rooting to throw me an accusatory look. “Do YOU know where my keys are?” I shrugged and, in my best Scooby Doo, muttered: “Ruuunuhnuuuh.” She, of course, needed the keys to get into the car so that we could…
December 23, 2008: Montreal-bound!
Travel day! As you read this, I’m in the air, crossing the country enroute to my holiday destination: sunny Montreal. Either that or cooling my heels in the airport. Whichever the case, I’ll be on the go pretty much all day today with no way of knowing when and if I’ll have computer access and…
December 22, 2008: Snowbound
Yesterday, we were blitzed by a snowstorm that caused congestion, closures, and cancellations throughout the city. Being a native Montrealer, I grew up with the stuff so am unfazed by things like three foot snowdrifts. Unfortunately, however, nine years in Vancouver has made me soft and unprepared for the inclement weather. How unprepared? Well, how…
December 21, 2008: Creatively Cruising, then Spinning My Wheels in Frustration
Success! I was snowed in today and so, with no distractions (with the exception of the Denver Broncos’ glorious late season collapse that has set up an all-the-marbles showdown with the red-hot San Diego Chargers in San Diego next week), I was able to concentrate on my still-untitled short story today. I’ve been ping-ponging…
December 20, 2008: Rob’s Hilariously Dangerous Adventure, Back to the Old Chomping Grounds, Indigestives, and The Lamb Hotline
“Did you know,”said Rob, “that Applebee’s and Chili’s are two completely different restaurants?” In fact, I had long suspected that they were the same restaurant serving the same menu under different names, so Rob’s revelation was downright shocking. This interesting fact was one of many my fellow producer picked up over the course of his…
December 19, 2008:
Well, a disappointingly unproductive day on all fronts. I got distracted dealing with an issue that should have been put to bed long ago and, frankly, never recovered. I tried to work on the short story and, really, what a difference a day makes. Whereas, yesterday, I was feeling quite good about it and making…
December 18, 2008: Hey! That was MY idea!
We were in the car this afternoon, driving back home from dim sum, when Fondy turned to me and said: “Did you know…” and then proceeded to tell me a story that I did, in fact, know - because I was the one who had recounted it to her just last week. “Yeah, I know,”I…
December 17, 2008: Yes, I think I’ll have the everything.
With foodiefriends Josh and Selena in from out of town, Marty G. was looking to check out Campagnolo, the latest offering from the gang who brought you Fuel. They were joined by Special Features Producer Ivon Bartok who is always up for a feast. I tagged along to document the evening. We arrived at about…
December 16, 2008: Dinner at the DB Bistro
After the stunning reversal of fortune that saw Vancouver’s own Iron Chef champion, Rob Feenie, exit the two marquee restaurants he once called his own (the high-calibre, high-end Lumiere, and the more casual Feenies) and the ensuing closure of both locations, came the announcement that both establishments would re-open with famed Chef Daniel Boulud at…
December 15, 2008: Robert Carlyle Onboard, Earl Carl binder Scaramungous, and My Booziest Post Ever!
As some of you may have heard, the wonderfully talented Robert Carlyle has signed on to join the crew of the Destiny in the upcoming Stargate: Universe series. The award-winning actor - Begbie from Trainspotting to some, Hamish Macbeth to others - will be playing the role of SGU’s Dr. David Rush, the ship’s brilliant…
December 14, 2008: Sleep! Glorious Sleep! And the Search for the Next Big Stargate: Fan Favorite!
I don’t know whether it was the glass of wine I had with dinner, the shot of Nyquil I downed before bed, or simply sheer exhaustion, but I slept like a dogless baby last night. Out at 1:00 p.m. and up at 8:30 a.m. No tossing and/or turning. No lying awake, watching the clock. No…
December 13, 2008: Sleep-deprived and Cranky
Okie-dokie. I’ve had it. Last night, I didn’t need vomiting dogs to keep me up. I was asleep at 11:00 p.m., up at 1:00 a.m., back to sleep at 3:10 a.m., up at 6:15 a.m., back to sleep up 8:30 a.m., up at 12:15 p.m. And, no, I don’t feel particularly well-rested. I’d love to…