I was at my local bookstore, Chapters/Indigo Books, the other night and had just lugged a stack up to the checkout counter. Some ten books, they were all research materials for an upcoming project. The cashier rang up the sale and, as I swiped my credit card, I asked how much I was saving on…
May 21, 2013: Childhood memories! Pools, piano, and parents!
For most youngsters, weekends are a time to sleep in, relax, and have fun. Growing up, for my sister and I, it was anything but. My parents signed us up for so many extracurricular activities - judo, yoga, bomb disposal - that they'd drop us off early Saturday morning and we wouldn't see them again…
May 20, 2013: The Supermovie of the Week Club reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews X-Men: First Class!
Watching X-Men: First Class like dating smart, beautiful she-monster who be fantastik company - until she drink too much, start rambling, talk about her ex, linger over espresso, and leave you wishing date could have ended sometime after dessert and before she vomit in your cabriolet. Disappointing because movie start off VERY strong but, sadly,…
May 19, 2013: If I were on Survivor…
Several weeks ago, Akemi and I were watching Survivor. In the episode, the contestants were treated to surprise visits from their loved ones. They had been separated for quite some time (over a month!) and, not surprisingly, the reunions were incredibly emotional. One girl hugged her father like a long lost love. Another woman broke…
May 18, 2013: So you’ve won $600 million! Now what?
Yes, you've just won $600 million! Now what? Well, if you're like 70% of other instant millionaires, you'll demonstrate unsound judgement, make poor investment decisions, fritter your money away and, eventually find yourself destitute, friendless, and alone (What could happen to you: tales of big lottery winners - U.S. News). Don't believe me? Check out…
May 17, 2013: Pending Projects and Memorable Meals!
Pictured above, research materials for an upcoming project. Well, provided everything goes as planned. But - honestly - when does it ever? Fortunately, it's a subject that interests me so I will eventually read them...hopefully sooner than later. Well, another week has come and gone and still no word on the pilots. My agent…
May 16, 2013: Jennifer Finnigan drops by! You sure you want me to read that?
Well, look who it is! It's my good buddy and former co-worker: uber-talented/super-successful actress Jennifer Finnigan. She's in town shooting a movie (with my other pal, Cas) and dropped by the other night to say hi, eat some rotisserie chicken and, of course, check out the Dark Matter comic book (soon to be television?) series.…
May 15, 2013: Worst. Pitches. Ever!
Over the course of my 11+ years on the Stargate franchise, I heard my fair share of freelance pitches - some of them good, most of them fine but not quite what we were looking for, and a few of them truly horrible. In the first case, kudos to those writers who were able to…
May 14, 2013: Actor Cas Anvar Answers Your Questions!
I sit here in Joe's guest room savoring the memory of the numerous gourmet meals I have been treated too here ( still astounded Joe's learned to cook!) and enjoying the gorgeous home that Joe has opened up to me ... am flooded with nostalgia for our high school days so I'm glad to answer…
May 13, 2013: The Supermovie of the Week Club reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews Thor!
Dis movie slower den Snuffleupagus backing up. It take longer to get going den Grover de morning after Furries Night at Ye Olde Sesame Street Pub. Movie begin in 965 AD when Odin, King of Asgard, defeat army of Frost Giants and save de nine realms (Earth, Middle Earth, Lower Earth, Ringworld, Narnia, Neverland, Westeros,…
May 12, 2013: Dinner and drinks with Lisa!
Last night, Akemi and I played host to my old Stargate pal, Lisa. Wow, it feels like just yesterday I was strolling down the hall of the Production Offices to chat with the gals from accounting (and put off writing that script). Our evening in pictures... We were expecting five for dinner - Akemi, Lisa,…
May 11, 2013: Dinner disaster averted! News of note!
Thanks for the vegetarian recipe tips but, as it turns out, the presumed vegetarian coming over for dinner tonight is actually a pescetarian, meaning she also eats fish (as opposed to a Pescadorian who lives on one of the 64 islands in the Formosa Strait). This also means I have only one vegetarian friend -…
May 10, 2013: Ask Altaïr! Fight Apophis! Vegetarian Alert!
This is it! The last day to get your questions in for Assassin Creed's Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad (aka Cas Anvar)! Learn the secrets of the Levantine Brotherhood of Assassins. Ask him now! Hey, on the heels of yesterday's Kickstarter entry, I received an email from space lawyer and author Virgilu Pop who has asked me to put the…
May 9, 2013: Kickstarter round-up! Recipe round-up!
Paul and I have been in a holding pattern for months now, waiting to hear word on not one, not two, not three, but FOUR different projects - three pilots and a feature. What's interesting is that, in all four cases, the scripts are with someone(s) who likes them and has expressed interest in seeing…
May 8, 2013: Dog rescue? Ask Altaïr! And a mailbag!
I was out walking my pug, Bubba, this afternoon and we were about three blocks from home when I heard the telltale jingle-jangle of a dog collar approaching from behind. I glanced back, across the street, at a little white dog scampering up the sidewalk headed in our direction and then, from the corner of…