Allow me to kick off today's entry with the announcement of our next Book of the Month Club Pick. This one sounds delightfully unique, has received a lot of good buzz, and is written by an author whose work (Four and Twenty Blackbirds) I've enjoyed in the past. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you our…
January 7, 2010: Marmoset Literacy Rates At An All-Time Low!
I've lost my reading mojo. I seem to have misplaced it somewhere over the Pacific Ocean while enroute to Japan. I used to go through 2-3 books a week. Now, I'm averaging about one every seven days. Sure, I've been busy, but that's no excuse. Like anything, I just need to find the time. And…
January 6, 2010: Valedictorian Chimpanzee Acquitted of Manslaughter!
Yeah, I'm bringing back the inspired entry titles. Let's see what it does for traffic. I've completed a first draft of my script. At this point, I'm not sure whether what I have is good or something I've re-read so many times I've convinced myself it's good. It's a little heavy at just a shade…
January 5, 2010: On the Mend! Lunch with Tomo! Restaurant DNA!
Thanks to your well-wishes and positive thoughts (and the makers of polysporin antiseptic gel) I'm on the mend and should be back to playing the piccolo in no time. In the meantime, I've busied myself with alternate pursuits like practicing my Japanese. And, really, what better way to practice my Japanese than by having lunch…
January 4, 2010: Ouch!
Hey, you know what hurts more than slicing your pinky open lengthwise on a serrated blade? Getting a tetanus shot. Seriously. I hadn't even noticed I'd cut myself until I felt the tug of the blades point planted firmly beneath the flesh of my upper knuckle. I carefully unhooked my finger from the metal point…
January 3, 2010: Travel Day Mailbag!
Another travel day, so sit back and enjoy the mailbag. Or, at the very least, read it anyway... DasNdanger writes: "And Brie – so what does this mean? She’s a keeper now?" Answer: Sadly, no. The little troublemaker will be moving to the east coast in about a month. Hope she writes! Major D. Davis…
January 2, 2010: The Montreal vs. Vancouver Debate Resurfaces! Lunch at La Coupole!
You know, it used to be a tough call. Whenever I came back to visit, people would invariably ask: Which do you like better, Montreal or Vancouver? Months into my west coast move, I would have answered an emphatic "Montreal!". But my love for my hometown has diminished over the 10+ years I've been away…
January 1, 2010: Decca 77! The mailbag!
In addition to spending time with the family, I've also spent much of this Montreal trip reuniting with old friends, dining at some fine local restaurants and, whenever possible reuniting with old friends at fine local restaurants. Such was the case the other day when I had dinner with an old high school friend, Lori,…
December 31, 2009: This script aint writing itself! And, oh yeah, Happy New Year!
Damn this script! It just doesn't seem to want to get done! Usually, by the time I hit the midway mark of the fourth act, I'm able to blaze through the final pages in one seating. And yet here I sit, stuck at the top of Act V, agonizing over the attack on the opening…
December 30, 2009: Running into a blog regular! La Montee! Brunch with my buddy and soon-to-be Mrs. Buddy!
So I was downtown with my sister and Lili the other night and we were wandering around the Concordia University area looking for a mailbox when we were approached by a young woman who stepped up and asked: "Is your name Joseph?" I was surprised. But nowhere near as suprised as she was when I…
December 29, 2009: Actor Peter Kelamis Answers Your Questions!
Today, it gives me great pleasure to turn this blog over to actor Peter Kelamis, Stargate: Universe's Dr. Adam Brody, for what I hope will be the first of many cast Q&A's. I remember Peter from way back when he first graced graced the Stargate franchise with his presence, guest-starring as the fleet-footed Dr. Langham…
December 28, 2009: I mean it this time!
Damn. Even though it WAS technically the 28th when I last posted, I nevertheless uploaded my last entry on what many would consider December 27th, thus ensuring I had not one but two entries for the day. Am I losing my mind? Probably. On the bright side, you, dear readers, get not one but two…
December 27, 2009 (part deux): Quality time with mom. And more eating.
While in Montreal, I do things I normally wouldn't do back in Vancouver. Things like drive a Chevy Cobalt along an icy highway, deliver home made pies to neighbors, and watch CBS movies starring Tom Selleck as a curmudgeony sheriff in unflattering blue pants. "He's gotten old,"marveled my mother as we took in the latter.…
December 27, 2009: A HK Movie Nite Reunion – of sorts.
Every time I come into town and go shopping with my sister, I wonder aloud: "I wonder if I'll run into someone I know?". My sis will inevitably answer: "No." because, for all the times I've asked, I've yet to run into a single familiar face. So, there we were yesterday at the local Adonis…
December 26, 2009: And the gifts just keep on coming!
This morning, my sister brought me the best present yet... Her name is Misha. S he's a one year old pug and, well, she isn't exactly mine to keep. Just a little someone my sister is boarding for the week that she decided to bring by. Younger, sprightlier and, uh, less weighty than my guys. …