Hey, anyone happen to be following this story? Christie Bridge Traffic Scandal Probed by US Prosecutors (3) In a nutshell: "The Bergen Record newspaper published on Wednesday this week emails indicating that high-placed figures within the Christie administration ordered those closures after Ft. Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich declined to endorse the incumbent governor during last year’s election.…
January 10, 2014: Truffles! Dogs! Books!
Today, Akemi combined my love of booze, chocolates, and not actually doing anything to come up with the above-pictured bourbon truffles. And then, as if that wasn't enough (and it really wasn't), she came up with these: Yep. For those who prefer the lighter touch, check out these Tennessee Honey Whisky truffles. Well, check out…
January 9, 2014: Hot chocolate! Ice cream! And books!
It's that time of year again! Time for Vancouver annual Hot Chocolate Festival! From January 18th to February 14th, 24 local participants will be offering over 60 flavors. At roughly two hot chocolates a day, I think that's eminently doable. Last year, Akemi and I managed to sample about half the hot chocolates being offered…
January 8, 2014: Project-hopping! Jelly and me hanging in there! Did you vote for our Book of the Month Club?!
I woke up this morning to find the above-pictured oranges sitting on my kitchen counter, and Paul's pass on our latest script sitting in my inbox. I looked it over, made a few changes, and then sent the script wide - and, in this particular case, "wide" refers to the 3-5 individuals involved in this…
January 7, 2014: The Return of The Book of the Month Club! Cast your vote!
Following a lengthy hiatus, I think it's high time we brought back our Book of the Month Club. Longtime readers will remember our book club's past run was highlighted by some terrific books and equally terrific Q&A sessions with the likes of John Scalzi, Lois McMaster Bujold, Michael Moorcock, Jasper Fforde, David Weber, Elizabeth Moon,…
January 6, 2014: I’m Hamlet, Khan, and Charles Bingley rolled into one!
While I was in Montreal for the holidays, one of my relatives asked me for my Facebook info so that she could friend me. I was perfectly happy to do so until she mentioned having to partially block another friend because all she did was post about her burgeoning art career. In that case, I…
January 5, 2014: On tap for January!
Okay, following twelve glorious days of unbridled eating and a weekend of football-watching, it's time to buckle down and get back to work. I've got a big January ahead of me... 1. We've been told that a decision will be made by early February on a project Paul and I currently have in development. So,…
January 4, 2013: The Montreal Restaurant Countdown!
In addition to enjoying my mother's home cooking, I also managed to get out while I was in Montreal. In all, I visited nine restaurants over the course of my stay. No favorites like Au Pied de Cochon or Garde Manger this time, and still no luck getting a table at either Kitchenette or Joe…
January 3, 2014: Au Revoir Montreal!
Final day in Montreal. I am Vancouver-bound tonight! This morning I woke up to this... My mother used one orange and three tangerines for this single glass and it was delicious. I don't understand how some breakfast places can get away with calling their orange juice "freshly squeezed" when the taste is so damn different.…
January 2, 2014: The Change-up! Jazzycakes Cupcakes!
No sooner do I finally get used to writing "2013" in the blog title instead of "2o12" than I have to start writing "2014". 2014! It just feels like yesterday the world was supposed to end - back in 2012. Or at the end of 1999. I've got to stop selling off my worldly possessions…
January 1, 2014: Our annual marathon New Year’s bash! Parenting tips! Worst of 2013!
Yep, that's about how I felt this morning following last night's raucuous New Year's Eve celebration. Our guests were prompt, arriving by 7:30 p.m., as requested (or we were eating without 'em). We had dinner, dessert, did the dishes and were done just in time for…10:00 p.m.! We still had TWO HOURS to kill! Now…
December 31, 2013: Blog Year in Review!
Another year, another 365 days of blogging, bringing the grand totals to: 2 625 posts! 140 000+ comments! And 10 000 000+ all-time views! Among other interesting stats compliments of WordPress: On to our annual countdown of this blog's most prolific commenters. Who were they? Well, counting down the Top 5 of 2013: DP, congratulations…
December 29, 2013: Cookies and Canines! Soliciting your literary opinions! Your Top Reads of 2013!
Seriously. If I had to narrow down these holidays to a single theme, it would be Cookies & Canines. Okay, technically TWO themes but they do occasionally converge. Like earlier tonight when I came across mom's dog, Caramel, chewing on a molasses cookie that apparently fell off the kitchen table. Let's just say that dog…
December 29, 2013: Old Montreal!
There were three certainties I could look forward to n every one of my elementary school years: 1. Compulsory phys. ed. class, usually comprised of such sterling athletic pursuits as dodgeball, the parachute, and the trampoline - which yielded one sprained neck, four bruised fingers, a severely broken arm, but no greater appreciation for the…
December 28, 2013: Stargate Universe 1.5! The Japanese Girlfriend Edition!
Akemi and I finished watching the second half of Stargate: Universe's first season today. It's been interesting to see her develop a genuine passion for the series. "I love Stargate!"she declared this morning. "Please call me, geeku-chan!" Like any fan, Geeku-chan had her favorite characters, her favorite episodes. Robert Cooper's Time is still tops in…