Last night, we celebrated the Atlantis season 4 cast dinner at one of my favorite Italian Don Francesco Ristorante Although I usually order from their special wild game menu (Hungarian pheasant, roast quail, venison, or the “House Duck for Two” that of course serves only one whenever I have it), I arranged for a unique…
February 27, 2007
“So, it’s books now,”remarked Brad, looking over the scifi library in my office, the titles, ranging from Adams’s The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy to Zelazny’s My Name is Legion, alphabetically arranged across three bookshelves. Yes, this year it’s books. Last year it was chocolate. The year before that, ice cream. All in all,…
February 26, 2007
My reasons for not wanting a dog were numerous: the expense, the unappealing prospect of having to housebreak the little furball, the loss of freedom that comes with being a pet-owner, the necessary commitment to everything from walks to vet visits On the other hand, Fondy’s argument for getting a dog was equally compelling: she…
February 25, 2007
Someone once said “Real men don’t eat quiche”. Well, yesterday, for lunch, not only did I eat quiche, but I had it with a cup of green tea. We were at Feenies, little sister restaurant to Lumiere one of Vancouver’s premiere upscale dining destinations. Feenies is a little more laid back, a little more casual…
February 24, 2007
I didn’t clean the house, I failed to buy a new pair of shoes, and I forgot to wear red. To top things off, I had neglected to get a much-needed haircut. My disregard of Chinese New Year traditions was so unintentionally comprehensive that I needed to make amends. In the end, I did so…
February 23, 2007
Last night was what Carl Binder referred to as “the perfect storm of television”. On tap: The Office, My Name Is Earl, 30 Rock, Survivor, Grey’s Anatomy, AND American Idol. The best line of the night came on My Name is Earl. Beau Bridges, as Earl’s father, gifts his son with his grandfather’s baby rattle…
February 22, 2007
Today is National Be Humble Day.Naturally, I will not be celebrating.You know, there are a lot of things that bother me in this world: war, injustice, man’s inhumanity to man. But I find that nothing quite provokes me more than the brain-bursting fury of a ringing, unattended cell phone. Let me be clear. The whole…
February 21, 2007
I have a lot of respect for British television. Whether you’re watching a comedy like The Office or Little Britain, a thriller like Spooks or Heist, or a procedural like Cracker or Wire in the Blood, the only thing you as a viewer can ever truly count on is the unexpected. Take Spooks for example…
February 20, 2007
Got a call from the lovely Maureen Ryan over at the Chicago Tribune today. The SciFi press release on season 4 went out and, naturally, she had a few questions. Unfortunately, I find myself in a bit of a bind. While news is already out regarding certain aspects of the show's fourth season, the back…
February 19, 2007
According to t.v. lore, Joanie Loves Chachi scored the highest ratings ever for an American show when it first premiered in Korea. The reason? It turns out, “chachi” is a Korean euphemism for the male appendage. Now I don’t know about you, but if I heard ABC was about to premiere a show called Joanie…
February 18, 2007
As we awaited the arrival of the first dish, the conversation turned to what our friend Jackie termed “icons” - personal heroes, those outstanding individuals worthy of emulation. She brought up Mozart and Lincoln as examples - Mozart for his brilliance; Lincoln for his unwavering character. My wife suggested Oprah, someone who persevered and succeeded…
February 17, 2007
Happy Chinese New Year! Fondy and I will be celebrating with our friend Jackie by going to our favorite Chinese restaurant - Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant. Unless, of course, they’ve already canceled our reservation. It’s very possible given that, a couple of hours ago, a woman phoned and immediately started talking to me in rapidfire…
February 16, 2007
I am a creature of habit. Every second day I wake up at exactly 6:30 a.m. and run the treadmill for thirty minutes. Every night, I read for an hour before going to sleep. I drive the same route to work each morning, always check my email the second I get home, and when I…
February 15, 2007
I almost run into him as I turn the corner and, as I’m about to initiate small talk, my mind draws a complete blank. What’s his name again? I scramble to come up with an appropriate cover, but he beats me to it with: “Hey, buddy.” Hey, buddy? Buddy? That’s just one step above Seinfeld’s…
February 14, 2007
Well, Happy Valentines Day. And, coincidentally, Happy Ferris Wheel Day. While I won’t be riding any Ferris wheels today (or any other day for that matter), I will be celebrating Valentines with dinner at one of Vancouver’s finest French restaurants: Le Crocodile. Fondy loves their skate wing with beurre noisette but, since the special Valentines…