http://www.deadline.com/2011/08/cinemaxs-transporter-showrunners-exit/ Well, hmmm. Didn't realize we'd be dropping an official press release this quickly. I just assumed, one month from now, I'd start posting pics of Akemi and me back in Vancouver enjoying dinner at Refuel and have you connect the dots. Guess this means I'm going to have to put that blog entry of…
August 29, 2011: “Never take a person’s dignity: it is worth everything to them, and nothing to you.” ~ Frank Barron
"Be nice to those you meet on the way up. They're the same folks you'll meet on the way down." ~Walter Winchell, 1932 Back when I was a young freelance writer, looking to break into the wonderful world of live-action television, I wrote a spec script for a young teen series. It was an unsolicited submission (one of…
August 28, 2011: Baby!
My pug Maximus isn't the only one struggling these days. Apparently, mom's cat, Baby, is very ill and, sadly, on his last legs. Sad. Back in the day, he and Jelly used to play together when they were both much spritelier. Jelly would bound down the hallway and scatter the cats like bowling pins while…
August 27, 2011: Wvrst! Geek Fest!
Last night, we checked out a place seemingly tailor-made for my buddy Carl: Wvrst. The name is unfortunate and the room's acoustics are terrible (Carl and I, sitting across from each other, had to shout to be heard), but the food is great. On the menu: sausages and beer. You choose between currywurst (sausage served…
August 26, 2011: Feeling logy!
Whew. For some reason, all sorts of exhausted. Could be work. Could be the lack of working out. Could be the Maximus situation. Could be the scramble to deal with Akemi's visa situation. Could just be the end of the week. Or, it could be I'm still feeling the repercussions of last weekend's weird food…
August 25, 2011: Maximus’s Radioactive Road Trip III! In my mailbox! Baby!
"It's cold out. I think I will wear my window-breaker." Akemi, August 23 2011. Early this morning, we were back at the University of Guelph Small Animal Hospital for Maximus's 3rd (of 5) radiation treatments and anti-cancer vaccine. Needless to say, my boy was less than enthusiastic... There have been some notable changes in Maximus…
August 24, 2011: Yet another Carl Binder belated birthday dinner! And another Weird Food Purchase of the Day video installment! And one more bento box masterpiece!
Last night, we went out for yet another Carl Binder belated birthday dinner. I mean, seriously. How long is he going to keep milking this? I think his birthday was back in March! Anyway, we all gathered at Babur Restaurant that Carl happily declared his "favorite restaurant in Canada"!, apparently beating out the likes of…
August 23, 2011: Lou and Hugo together at last! Doggy R&R! The Weird Food Purchase of the Day: Deep-Fried Jos Louis!!
Congrats to my buddy, editor Lou Anders, for picking up his very first Hugo Award! Prometheus Books put out the following press release: "Anders received the trophy for “Best Editor–Long Form” at a ceremony on Aug. 20 at the Peppermill Hotel and Casino in Reno, Nevada. Jay Lake and Ken Scholes presided as masters of ceremony,…
August 22, 2011: If the karoshi doesn’t kill me, the deep-fried fudge might!
"Have a good day. Don't karoshi!" - Akemi, Every morning before I leave for work. From wiki: "Karōshi (過労死?), which can be translated literally from Japanese as "death from overwork", is occupational sudden death. Although this category has a significant count, Japan is one of the few countries that reports it in the statistics as a separate category.…
August 21, 2011: Daredevil Eats at the CNE! The Return of the Weird Food Purchase of the Day!
Today, we hit the CNE (Canadian National Exhibit). My goal: to eat as much crap as possible. And, I'm pleased to report, this mission was a huge success... We arrived a little before 1:00 p.m. and ignored the solitary concessions, games, and rides, heading straight for the giant food court. I was on a mission...…
August 20, 2011: I’ve got this song stuck in my head…either that or it’s an earworm!
On the nutritional benefits of fish: "The tail is good for you can run fast. The head is good for your brain. The eyes are good for you eyes. Your eyes are getting bad so you should eat eyes." - Akemi, August 20 2011. I had a song stuck in my head all day today.…
August 19, 2011: Shit My Japanese Girlfriend Says!
"Truffles taste like old man's pillow." - Akemi, August 19 2011. I'm thinking of starting a twitter account called "Shit My Japanese Girlfriend Says". Seriously. Akemi is a seemingly endless reservoir of curious comments and comical expressions that I feel must be noted in some semi-official capacity. And so - provided I remember - I'm…
August 18, 2011: Maximus’s Radioactive Roadtrip II! Carl’s Belated Birthday Dinner!
Early this morning, we were back at the University of Guelph for Maximus's 2nd (of 5) radiation treatments. Like the last time, it involved sedating Max and then targeting the tumor on the inside of his right cheek with an intense burst of radiation aimed at reducing the mass. Every second week, he also receives…
August 17, 2011: Laisse les bon temps rouler!
Busy, busy, busy prepping the next shooting block (episodes #103, Sharks, and #106, Payback) for The Transporter's first season. Have been hopping between meetings and my laptop, trying to get everything in order in advance of our August 31st start of production date. "But wait!"none of you are no doubt thinking. "Weren't you supposed to…
August 16, 2011: Missing my routine!
I'm a creature of habit. There's nothing I enjoy more than the comfort and familiarity of routine. Back when I was in Vancouver, working on the well-oiled machine that was the Stargate franchise, I lived a fairly structured existence. Here in Toronto, it's somewhat different. Working on this first year production of Transporter, my…