We woke up this morning to my mother hard at work on dinner... Mom made orecchiette (aka little ears pasta) because Akemi is a big fan. We headed over to our favorite coffee shop in Montreal - Victor Rose - for some mocha and their seasonal maple latte. Meanwhile, Lulu and Suji settled in. Suji, maybe a…
December 22, 2018: Back in my hometown of Montreal!
As much as I really love to travel, I really hate to travel. The planning, the rushing, the crowds, the flying. Akemi spent most of this morning running around, doing laundry and generally cleaning the apartment - to the point where I wondered whether she had rented our place out as an Airbnb during our…
December 21, 2018: Gearing up for holiday travels!
Tomorrow afternoon, we are Montreal-bound for 11(ish) glorious days of eating. And family time. Now eleven days may seem like an unusually long time to bunk at mom's (I'm sure it's just coincidental that Akemi's interest and enthusiasm for purchasing a condo in the city is inversely proportional to the dwindling days towards our departure),…
The Absentminded Professor
That's what my mother used to call me growing up. The Absentminded Professor. My father, on the other hand, would simply tell me: "You'd forget your head if it wasn't screwed on." And, in all fairness, it was hard to argue. I've been a habitual forgetter for as long as I can remember. Names, faces,…
December 19, 2018: Week’s Best Comic Book Covers!
These were my favorites! Captain America #6 (cover art by Alex Ross) Darth Vader #25 (cover art by Elia Bonetti, Giuseppe Camuncoli) Domino #9 (cover art by Gang Hyuk Lim) Friendo #3 (cover art by Martin Simmonds) Outpost Zero #5 (cover art by Jean-Francois Beaulieu, Alexandre Tefenkgi) The Life of Captain Marvel #5 (cover art…
December 18, 2018: My Top 20 Reads of 2018 Published Before 2018!
Given the insane number of books I read in 2018, I decided to forego my usual Year's Best rundown in favor of separate lists for varied categories. Today, for example, I'm offering up My Top 20 Reads of 2018 Published Before 2018. General fiction, non-fiction, sci-fi, horror, fantasy, crime & thrillers, YA, graphic novels -…
December 17, 2018: My Top 10 Christmas Movies (revised)!
Just in time for the holidays! #10. A Charlie Brown Christmas Like Nutella and Fantastic Four comic books, the Charlie Brown holiday specials never fail to stir the nostalgia. #9. Stalag 17 An under appreciated classic. #8. On Her Majesty's Secret Service Speaking of under appreciated, there's this surprisingly poignant entry in the film…
December 16, 2018: Suji Sunday!
Snow dog! Bath time! Our little angel. Thinking... The 2019 Suji pins are on their way!
December 15, 2018: Schadenfreude!
Read a couple of books today, one of them, Schadenfreude: The Joy of Another's Misfortune by Tiffany Watt Smith offers a delightful exploration of the complex emotion that sees us derive pleasure in the failures or humiliations of others. And, by "others", I mean rivals, bullies, hypocrites, and runway models in impossibly high heels. Anyway,…
December 14, 2018: My Glorious Reading Year!
Not bad. Not bad at all. With roughly twelve reading days left in 2018, my goal of 365 books (Yes, a book a day) looks well within reach. Granted, roughly 25% of those books were graphic novels so purists could argue I attained a much less impressive 275 titles on the year but still -…
December 13, 2018: Japan Photos – Final Edition!
Pokeman-inspired offerings at Osaka cafe. Just a few of the Hello Kitty-themed phone accessories at the Sanrio store. Akemi snags a biscuit from some poor unsuspecting elderly shop mascot. I suspect this is an advertisement for some spa where you can get away from it all, enjoy a sumptuous buffet, and then enjoy a nice,…
December 12, 2018: Week’s Best Comic Book Covers!
There were my favorites... Spider-Man Worldwide, vol. 9 (cover art by Alex Ross) Doctor Strange: The Best Defense #1 (cover art by Greg Smallwood) Shadowman #10 (cover art by Tonci Zonjic) Star Wars, Vol. 9: Hope Dies (cover art by Travis Charest) Sword Daughter, vol. 1 (cover art by Greg Smallwood) Peter Parker: The Spectacular…
December 11, 2018: A cryptic text, going for 365, my Snow Monkeys, and the sun hog!
Hmmmmm. Received a most intriguing yet mysterious text this afternoon by someone with some very interesting news. But the number is not in my list of contacts and, while I can possibly guess the sender's identity (New phone number perhaps?), I can't be certain. My "Wait. Who is this?" response went unanswered and so, for…
December 10, 2018: Japan video journey!
Tokyo cityscape Awesome TV Asahi big screen commercial The streets of Osaka The streets of Nishi Azabu Akemi's conversation with Pepper-kun The decontructed/reconstructed truffled egg yolk
December 9, 2018: Japan Etc.
Some of the many highlights of our recent Japan trip that I didn't have time to upload while traveling... Our hotel was located close to the Takarazuka Theater which hosts nightly performances of an all-female musical theater troupe comprised of six groups numbering a total of 400 members (graduates of the esteemed Takarazuka Music School).…