Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 493
July 26, 2012
July 26, 2012: Support Akemi! Leave a comment!
Sometime last year, Akemi and I started the process that would hopefully see her gain permanent resident status here in Canada. It’s been a looooong and winding road and it seems that, every time I think we’re “almost there!”, we encounter a speed bump or, more appropriately, somebody who waves us down to inform us “Oh, you’ve still got a ways to go.” So it was back in Tokyo when I received notice that my sponsorship of Akemi had been approved (Hurrah!) only to learn that this was only a preliminary step in the process (Boo!). And so it was when we were directed to forward Akemi’s fingerprints to the embassy in Asia for a police check, what I thought would be the final step in the long journey. But no. Today, we received an email from our immigration lawyer informing us that the embassy has requested more documentary evidence of our relationship: proof of travel together, joint accounts, letters from friends and family regarding our ongoing relationship, and maybe a couple of blog entries.
Letters from friends and family regarding our ongoing relationship? Blog entries? How about all in one?!
I mean, who better to provide written declarations on my relationship with Akemi than the people who are privy to its details – our outings with the dogs, our trips to Tokyo, our dinners together, the amusing/curious/awkward adventures we’ve shared. I’m talking about YOU GUYS!
Take a moment to leave an Akemi-related comment. When did you first read about her here on this blog? What was your favorite Akemi-related blog entry? Why do we make such a great couple?
A little overview of our relationship:
I was with my ex for about 11+ years before splitting up with her in February of 2009. At that point, it was just me and the dogs. Now, I can’t speak for the dogs and I certainly don’t know if they preferred one living situation over the other, but I will say that they seemed pretty happy to finally be allowed to sleep on the bed. And so, we settled into a routine. Every morning, we would wake up and head downstairs where I would take them out, feed them, workout and shower, then drop them off at the doggy daycare on my way to work. After work, I would pick the dogs up, bring them home, feed them, feed myself, do a blog entry, then cap the night off with a second work-out and a little reading. I’m a guy who grows quickly accustomed to routine and while, on the surface, it may have seemed like a solitary existence, I was quite content.
Ten months later, it was time for my annual culinary journey to Tokyo. It’s a trip I’d made in the past (and many times since) that inevitably involve me checking out a host of fabulous restaurants with the friends I happen to make over the course of my travels. One of these dining companions was Akemi who I met through our mutual friends, Moro-san and Keiko, at the Pierre Marcolini Cafe where she worked. I asked her out for dinner, she (warily) accepted, and we ended up going out on our first date (November 30, 2009: Tokyo Travel Day $6 – Ginza La Tour, Michel Troisgros).
In my remaining days in Tokyo, we got together a few more times, for a stroll through Shibuya (December 1, 2009: Tokyo Travel Day #7 – Gordon Ramsay, Mo Shibuya Stroll, Ishikawa (and I mean it this time!), more memorable meals (December 4, 2009: Tokyo Travel Day #10 – Quintessence, Monnalisa Marunouchi, I hit the wall – and I’ve still got 11 restaurants to go!), culminating in a bittersweet goodbye yakinku (December 9, 2009, Part II: Final Feasts and Fond Farewells). I was a sad to leave her but suggested to Akemi that she consider visiting Canada some day.
Fast-forward two months and Vancouver was celebrating the Olympics. I also had cause for celebration because Akemi had decided to come visit for a week or so. This time, it was my turn to play host (February 16, 2010: Playing Host). Akemi met the dogs (February 17, 2010: Dog time! Dim sum! And your Olympic update!), made herself comfortable in the kitchen (February 20, 2010: Gusto di Quattro! We get cookin’!), enjoyed the sights (February 22, 2010: Out and about! Ganache Patisserie! Bistrot Bistro! Narrowing down our next book of the month club pick! And an Olympic update!), and checked out some of my favorite haunts (February 23, 2010: Akemi calls the shots! Tojo’s! We do lunch!) before heading back home (February 25, 2010: Goodbye, Akemi!) and then on to six weeks in Perth to learn English.
But she wasn’t gone for long. After those six weeks of Aussie language school had concluded, she hopped on a plane, returned to Vancouver, and we’ve been together ever since. We’ve enjoyed the Vancouver nightlife (June 27, 2010: Night Market Report!), attended foodly events (October 28, 2010: Refuel’s Annual Whole Hog Dinner!), celebrated her first Christmas in Canada with my family (December 26, 2010: Christmas snaps! Another mailbag!).
In 2011, when I got a job in Toronto, she moved with me. We settled in and, in no time, we were having dinners with old friends (June 21, 2011: Chat and Chow with Alaina Huffman!) and enjoying the local eats (August 21, 2011: Daredevil Eats at the CNE! The Return of the Weird Food Purchase of the Day!) while she continued to learn suspect English from me (April 5, 2011: Joe’s School of Language!) and worried about her visa situation (July 5, 2011: Sad Rabbit).
Eventually, we bid Toronto a fond farewell (September 26, 2011: The Final Goodbye Dinner!) and moved back to Vancouver where we became reacquainted with the city (October 28, 2011: The Great Vancouver Food Truck Tour #3!), entertained friends from out of town (November 22, 2011: Either a power line’s down or someone’s coming to kill you! A leisurely day with the Europeans!) and did a little cross-cultural learning (October 29, 2011: Things not Japanese! Or maybe they are!).
Akemi got her first taste of Canadian winter (December 24, 2011: C-c-c-c-c-cold! Home cookin’! Maximus chills! Dark Matter tidings! And my Snow Monkeys on the verge of a championship!) when we went to Montreal to spend the Christmas holidays with my family – and, of course, check out some of the best my old hometown has to offer (December 28, 2011: Welcome to east coast winter! Garde Manger!).
We kicked off 2012 by going back to Tokyo where I met her family (February 3, 2012: Tokyo Day #7! Braving the cold! Kaiseki! Football Avenue! And it’s all business! Sort of!), then settled back in to life in Vancouver with Akemi showing off her cooking prowess (March 17, 2012: Kitchen triumphs! Out and about! How to treat a migraine?! And a mini mailbag!). In April we celebrated her birthday by having her favorite chef come to the house and cook us a very special dinner (April 27, 2012: Akemi’s Birthday Dinner!).
Most recently, we enjoyed a wonderful time in San Diego for Comic Con (July 13, 2012: Comic Con!) and followed that up with a few days in Vegas (July 16, 2012: From Comic Con to Vegas!).
And those 2+ years were just the beginning!
So help a couple out. Leave a comment!
July 25, 2012
July 25, 2012: Things that really piss me off!
In no particular order:
1. Receiving alarming news during dinner from someone who then leaves the office, ruining my meal and leaving me to stew all night over the particulars.
2. Presumably progressive laws that treat women like they’re in the 1950′s.
3. Competitive reality shows that offer previously eliminated contestants the opportunity to return to the competition.
4. Creative executives who insist on imagining the “worst possible” execution of any given idea.
5. Creative executives who only only want more of the same.
6. Most creative executives.
7. Really thin crust pizza that approximates the textures and flavor of eating ketchup on a saltine.
8. Drivers who race up the parking lane to cut in front.
9. Drivers who don’t honor merge etiquette.
10. Clueless drivers who don’t realize an inoperative traffic light is equivalent to a stop sign.
11. “What have you done for me lately?” attitudes.
12. Delusional individuals.
13. People who order their steaks medium.
14. People who pretend to really “dig” jazz.
15. People so desperate they’ll laugh at absolutely anything to endear themselves to painfully lame comedians.
16. People who invite you to dinner and then keep you waiting.
17. Waiting staff who show off their incredible mind skills by not writing down your order – and inevitably screwing up your order.
18. Individuals who try to take advantage of you assuming you’ll think it too much trouble to oppose them.
19. Those same individuals who seems surprised or upset when you oppose them.
20. Pathetic excuses for human beings who claim to LOVE dogs, and then end up giving theirs away.
21. Losers who consider themselves smart and fiercely independent who consult psychics, attend endless self-help seminars, and get suckered into pyramid scams selling everything from super juice to vitamin packs.
22. People who don’t take responsibility for their sorry, sorry lives.
23. Really great books with really shitty endings.
24. Sears Home Services who you hire to install new window blinds, forget to install two of them, and then don’t call you back for two days and counting after you leave a message at their call center.
25. People who die too young.
26. People who don’t die soon enough.
27. Vitamin water.
28. Salesmen eager to sign you up to a “new contract” who seem genuinely puzzled when you request more information on the penalty incurred for breaking said contract.
29. The Vancouver real estate market.
30. Characters in film/television/books/comic books who constantly refer to each other by name.
31. The officiating in the NBA.
32. The NBA in general.
33. Biting the inside of my cheek.
34. Cell phone plan providers.
35. Junk.
36. Liars.
37. Hypocrites.
38. Deceivers.
39. Lazy parasites.
40. Suicidal nutjobs who decide to bring innocent people with them.
41. Any competitive reality show episode that DOESN’T end with someone being eliminated.
42. People who who insist they can’t taste the chlorine in tap water.
43. Parents who let their kids run wild.
44. Kids who run wild.
45. People who don’t clean up after their dogs.
46. Bouncing a two and a half pound metal bar off my face.
47. Not being able to sleep.
48. Thieves
49. Ungrateful ingrates.
50. Home or office pools that reward second place finishes.
51. Or worse! Third place finishes!
52. Clutter.
53. When someone promises to get back to you but never does.
54. And then contacts you later asking for a favor.
55. When the sexy chef is eliminated from that cooking competition.
56. Flat just-opened Perrier.
57. People on flights who take any seats, assuming that the people actually assigned to said seats won’t kick up a fuss.
58. Fair weather friends.
59. Cheap Q-tips that go all bendy and shit.
60. Filtered bottled water.
61. Banging my elbow.
62. Stubbing my toe.
63. Not being able to find something I just saw the other day.
64. My home theater system.
65. Individuals who claim they love original ideas, but really just want more of the same.
66. Individuals who can’t be bothered to fix bad writing.
67. DVR screw-ups.
68. Uncomfortable hotel beds and/or pillows.
69. Crappy customer service.
70. Crappy customers.
71. People who smile way too much.
72. People you barely know revealing way too much about themselves.
73. People who act A LOT more important than they really are.
74. People who charge into traffic in a panicked life-or-death rush to catch a bus.
75. Almost every superhero movie made prior to 1999.
76. Nickel-and-dimers who fancy themselves high rollers.
77. Paying for wifi at upscale hotels.
78. Waiting.
79. Adding pickled rhubarb to anything.
80. Bookstore staff recommendations.
81. Forgetting poopie bags when I take the dogs out.
82. Driving around looking for parking.
83. Resident Only parking.
84. Dog-killing Belfast City Council.
85. Vancouver’s narrow parking spots.
86. Those seemingly endless battle arcs in Gintama.
87. Accounting.
88. Taxes.
89. Wire coat hangers.
90. This douchebag: Owner of dog found in Kitsilano dumpster arrested on unrelated charge
91. Moving.
92. Blu-ray.
93. Worsening vision.
94. Undercooked brussel sprouts.
95. Remakes.
96. Dropping my cell phone.
97. Trying to deal with any sort of computer issue.
98. Being served a moscow mule NOT in a copper mug.
99. The bullshit many of my friends are going through.
100. The Real Housewives of Vancouver
Just off the top of my head. Feel free to add to the list.
Tagged: Things that really piss me off
July 24, 2012
July 24, 2012: Dessert and a sandwich and dessert. And more desserts. And Alexander and Sarah!
Cookies for everyone! Compliments of Akemi.
Seriously. How can anyone say no to freshly baked cookies, even if it means having them for breakfast? In retrospect, they were the perfect food for what lay ahead, full of the carbohydrate and sugar energy I would need to get me through a grueling day of eating.
Akemi and I met up with our foodie friend, Simon, aka JYS, for a little culinary excursion, Vancouver-style. The plan was to check out the new pasta place in Gastown, but it was closed, so we opted for my favorite sandwich place in town: Meat & Bread. And, as usual, whenever I go, I always get…
The Porchetta
One of the many great things about this sandwich (beside the juicy pork, salsa verde, and fresh bun) are the bits of crisp crackling. I know, I know. I’m sure the daily sandwiches are equally fantastic – but I go with what I know.
The Day’s Special – beef. Don’t recall the specifics but it looked delicious.
Simon throws caution to the wind and goes for it.
We strolled over to Vancouver’s best dessert shop, Cadeaux Bakery, for lunch – only to discovery it was closed as well. So we hopped into my cover and motored on over to Cordova Street for a sweet one-two (three, four) punch.
We started at Giovanne Cafe (better known as G) for three terrific desserts:
The Chocolate Zeppolle. It’s about the size of a softball. My favorite.
The cream in this one is very subtle but its buttery finish contrasts nicely with the sweet, fine sugar exterior.
The Hedgehog – Simon’s favorite. Peanut butter, chocolate, and hazelnuts.
And, since we were right next door, we decided to check out the best gelato place in Vancouver: Bella Gelateria.
He’s gonna eat that.
I don’t mind admitting that, by this point, I was stuffed. So instead of going with a particulate-heavy selection, I decided to go with a light palate-cleanser…
A little palate cleanser: vanilla gelato.
Well, I had planned to launch into that rant today but an early morning skype session with my old friends, Alexander and Sarah, temporarily defused much of the simmering anger. I’m sure it’ll only be a matter of time before it comes to a boil though so don’t mope, the rant has been postponed, not cancelled. Anyway, it was great to catch up with Ruemy and Sarah. She, sweet and upbeat; he, bitter and blase. They’re the romantic equivalent of the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. Akemi and I were hoping to go down to Berlin for the wedding and maybe do a little Madrid and Paris (actually, a lot of Madrid and a little Paris) but it seems unlikely we’ll be able to swing it. Still, I’m hopeful we can make it work later this year. And, hopefully, Alex and Sarah will be able to reschedule their wedding accordingly.
A reminder to cast your ballot (and leave a comment for a chance to win a signed script) in our Greatest Season-Ending Cliffhanger in Stargate History poll. Vote!
Tagged: Bella Gelateria, Meat & Bread, SG-1, SGA, SGU, Stargate, Vancouver dining, Vancouver Restaurants
July 23, 2012
July 23, 2012: The Supermovie of the Week Club reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews Steel!
Making fun of dis movie be like taunting Grover’s cuzin Edwin, de one who eat candles and walks into walls. Too easy. And where de fun in dat? Well, okay, still some fun – but well below average.
Monster have to admit, aktor Shaquille O’Neil be perfekt choice to play role of Steel. Who better to play lamest superhero in comic book history den one of de worst “aktors” in movie history?
In Steel, Shaq play part of genius weapon designer John Henry Irons. Dis bear repeating. SHAQ play part of a GENIUS. He design weapons for army. Anyway, movie begin wit one of his weapons test gone awry. Ceiling collapse, kill gabby senator and injure Shaq’s friend, Sparky, de girl wit de dog’s name. All de fault of Evil Judd Nelson who try to act tough and get in Shaq’s face – tho dis very hard to do when guy you’re trying to stare down be two feet taller den you.
Shaq John Henry quits army and heads back home. Judd goes too. To Bust a Move! While Judd gets job wit arms dealer, Shaq visit his sassy grandma.
On ride-along wit his cop sister, Shaq stumble on bank robbery by gang using bazooka lasers. Hey! He recognize dose weapons!
Shaq report dis to his commanding officer – who not all dat interested, mirroring general attittod of audience watching dis sad piece of film making. So, Shaq say “F him” and put together his own cliche team: wheelchair-bound Sparky, kid, and old man (who, at one point in movie, aktually use de line: “I’m getting too old for dis!”). A-Teamesque building montage ensue. Dey forge supersuit of steel (dat look suspishushly like hard plastic). Armed wit giant hammer (Not for hitting bad guys. It just a magnet of course!) Shaq John Henry Irons is Ironma Steel!
Uh, how much does dis ting weigh?
Gang chasing down other gang. Bulletproof Steel show up (luckily, nobody smart enough to shoot him in de face) and give bad guys de old one two: 1) Stop car wit his sonic weapon and cause occupants to fly thru windshield. 2) Deliver cheesy line: ” “You should always buckle up.” He den use electromagnetic lock to take everyone’s weapons. Cops arrive. Steel escapes by jumping between buildings.
Jumping between buildings? Exacktly how much dat suit weigh?!
He lower himself down side of building and and end up in garbage container. When Sparky contakt to ask him how he doing, he respond: “Just a little trashed”. Ho ho ho. Not only he be a genius; he be a comedy genius!
Bad guys triangoolate signal back to his home base. Evil Judd Nelson frame Steel for bank heist. He arrested! But Sparky a computer tech expert (Naturally. She a movie/television charakter in a wheelchair, duh!) and get him released.
Steel crash weapons auktion. But evil Judd Nelson has Sparky hostage! Steel tell Judd NOT to use his hammer. Whatever he do, don’t do it! Don’t do it! Don’t flip de red switch!
If monster was Evil Judd Nelson, me would say “Okay” and shoot Steel in de face instead. But monster not Evil Judd Nelson. Me just movie reviewer wit average intelligence, not movie villain wit below average smarts. Of course Evil Judd flip de red switch. And electromagnetic lock cause hammer to fly back to Steel. Ha-ha! Who saw DAT coming?!
Everyone except Evil Judd Nelson.
Sparky have her wheelchair outfitted with machineguns. She shoot up warehouse, den use rocket jets on wheelchair to get away in sequence dat is both surprising and weird and really stoopid.
Movie end wit big shootout and Evil Judd Nelson getting killed by lazer dat deflect off Steel’s, uh, steel outfit.
Counting Blue Chips, Kazaam, and now Steel, Shaq hitting 0.00% from de field.
Verdikt: Monster want to use Steel’s hammer to beat on whoever greenlit dis movie.
Rating: 1 chocolate chippee cookies.
July 16, 2012: The Supermovie of the Week Club reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews Steel!
Making fun of dis movie be like taunting Grover’s cuzin Edwin, de one who eat candles and walks into walls. Too easy. And where de fun in dat? Well, okay, still some fun – but well below average.
Monster have to admit, aktor Shaquille O’Neil be perfekt choice to play role of Steel. Who better to play lamest superhero in comic book history den one of de worst “aktors” in movie history?
In Steel, Shaq play part of genius weapon designer John Henry Irons. Dis bear repeating. SHAQ play part of a GENIUS. He design weapons for army. Anyway, movie begin wit one of his weapons test gone awry. Ceiling collapse, kill gabby senator and injure Shaq’s friend, Sparky, de girl wit de dog’s name. All de fault of Evil Judd Nelson who try to act tough and get in Shaq’s face – tho dis very hard to do when guy you’re trying to stare down be two feet taller den you.
Shaq John Henry quits army and heads back home. Judd goes too. To Bust a Move! While Judd gets job wit arms dealer, Shaq visit his sassy grandma.
On ride-along wit his cop sister, Shaq stumble on bank robbery by gang using bazooka lasers. Hey! He recognize dose weapons!
Shaq report dis to his commanding officer – who not all dat interested, mirroring general attittod of audience watching dis sad piece of film making. So, Shaq say “F him” and put together his own cliche team: wheelchair-bound Sparky, kid, and old man (who, at one point in movie, aktually use de line: “I’m getting too old for dis!”). A-Teamesque building montage ensue. Dey forge supersuit of steel (dat look suspishushly like hard plastic). Armed wit giant hammer (Not for hitting bad guys. It just a magnet of course!) Shaq John Henry Irons is Ironma Steel!
Uh, how much does dis ting weigh?
Gang chasing down other gang. Bulletproof Steel show up (luckily, nobody smart enough to shoot him in de face) and give bad guys de old one two: 1) Stop car wit his sonic weapon and cause occupants to fly thru windshield. 2) Deliver cheesy line: ” “You should always buckle up.” He den use electromagnetic lock to take everyone’s weapons. Cops arrive. Steel escapes by jumping between buildings.
Jumping between buildings? Exacktly how much dat suit weigh?!
He lower himself down side of building and and end up in garbage container. When Sparky contakt to ask him how he doing, he respond: “Just a little trashed”. Ho ho ho. Not only he be a genius; he be a comedy genius!
Bad guys triangoolate signal back to his home base. Evil Judd Nelson frame Steel for bank heist. He arrested! But Sparky a computer tech expert (Naturally. She a movie/television charakter in a wheelchair, duh!) and get him released.
Steel crash weapons auktion. But evil Judd Nelson has Sparky hostage! Steel tell Judd NOT to use his hammer. Whatever he do, don’t do it! Don’t do it! Don’t flip de red switch!
If monster was Evil Judd Nelson, me would say “Okay” and shoot Steel in de face instead. But monster not Evil Judd Nelson. Me just movie reviewer wit average intelligence, not movie villain wit below average smarts. Of course Evil Judd flip de red switch. And electromagnetic lock cause hammer to fly back to Steel. Ha-ha! Who saw DAT coming?!
Everyone except Evil Judd Nelson.
Sparky have her wheelchair outfitted with machineguns. She shoot up warehouse, den use rocket jets on wheelchair to get away in sequence dat is both surprising and weird and really stoopid.
Movie end wit big shootout and Evil Judd Nelson getting killed by lazer dat deflect off Steel’s, uh, steel outfit.
Counting Blue Chips, Kazaam, and now Steel, Shaq hitting 0.00% from de field.
Verdikt: Monster want to use Steel’s hammer to beat on whoever greenlit dis movie.
Rating: 1 chocolate chippee cookies.
July 22, 2012
July 22, 2012: Vote for The Greatest Season-ending Cliffhanger in Stargate History! The Evolution of Akemi at Starbucks! Back to the Kits Street Fest for Dinner!
A reminder to cast your vote for The Greatest Season-ending Cliffhanger in Stargate History for a chance to win a signed script and a nifty Stargate security badge -
Yes, winners will get their choice of security badge.
Head on over here, pick a cliffhanger, then leave a comment for a chance to win:
To whoever asked – yes, I’ll be continuing my trip down Atlantis memory lane, starting sometime in August to coincide with Gateworld’s Stargate: Atlantis season 3 rewatch. Speaking of Gateworld, head on over here (Atlantis Season Two Awards: Vote Now!) to vote for your favorites in the category of season 2′s: Best Episode, Best Sheppard Moment, Best McKay Moment, Best Weir Moment, Best Ronon Moment, Best Teyla Moment, Best Beckett Moment, Best Alien Race, Best Individual Individual Villain, Coolest Ancient Technology, Coolest Alien Technology, and Best Guest Star.
For some reason, Akemi’s name baffles most English speakers who seem incapable of pronouncing it correctly, often offering a variety of erroneous renditions: Acme, Kimmy, Akenny, Ankimo, etc. Nowhere is this more frustrating than at Starbucks where the person at the counter not only mispronounces her name, but writes it down incorrectly as well. But I’m pleased to report the Starbucks has gotten better. Witness the evolution of the Akemi cappuccino…
A game effort and full marks for the smiley face. Sort of like A-Carl or A-Joe, it’s like she is one of numerous Kimmy’s in existence.
Aw, come on. You’re not even trying. Atmi? Really?
Ooooh. So close!
Finally! Success! It helps to be served by the Japanese counter person at the San Diego Airport Starbucks. The heart is greatly appreciated as well.
Lawren comes by today to discuss this season’s Fantasy Football League (my Snow Monkeys are defending champions, as if you didn’t know: December 27, 2011: Snow Monkeys are World Champions! Finally getting around to unwrapping those gifts!
And, tonight, I head out to dinner with my writing partner so that we can spin some new series ideas. We’re heading down to L.A. the first week of August to pitch (is that NEXT week?!) and it would be nice to have something to talk about beside the weather.
Tomorrow, this blog resumes its originally scheduled programming when our Supermovie of the Week Club resumes with Cookie Monster’s review of Steel.
Tagged: cliffhangers, film & television, Gateworld, sci fi, sci fi television, science fiction, Science Fiction Television, SF, SF television, SG-1, SGA, SGU, Stargate, Stargate cliffhangers, Stargate contest, Stargate swag, Stargate Universe, Stargate: Atlantis, Stargate: SG-1
July 21, 2012
July 21, 2012: What was the greatest season-ending cliffhanger in Stargate history?
“I am melty sleepy” – Akemiism. Translation: I’m REALLY sleepy.
It was nice today, so we ended up checking out the local farmer’s market with Jelly. On the way home, we happened to come across a street festival so we parked, hopped out, and too that in as well.
Seriously. It looks like they’re actually cooking the chili out part of a tank.
The lady pictured took a HUGE crepe.
What Vancouver street festival would be complete without the ubiquitous octopus ball stand?
The maple-bacon ice cream sandwich from Fable.
I know. She looks ridiculous. But given her hip problems, this is the only way she gets out to take in some of the sights the more mobile Bubba and Lulu get to check out.
On an unrelated note – ooooh, I feel a rant coming in. Best to let it simmer for a couple of days and then really let loose, maybe Tuesday or Wednesday.
So, like the title of this entry says: What was the greatest season-ending cliffhanger in Stargate history?
Within the Serpent’s Grasp: After being forced to kill Klorel/Skaara, SG-1 looks on helplessly as death gliders are launched toward Earth.
Out of Mind: The team is captured by Hathor who intends to implant one of them with a symbiote.
Nemesis: The replicator-infested Asgard ship is destroyed, but one replicator has survived – and has reached Earth.
Exodus: The team finds itself stranded, four million light years from home – with Apophis.
Camelot: The Ori kick ass, one of the Earth ships is destroyed, Carter is left floating in space while Vala, pregnant with the Orici, looks on helplessly.
The Siege II: Atlantis is about to fall to the wraith while Sheppard makes a suicide run against a enemy hive ship.
Allies: The wraith are headed to Earth – with Ronon and McKay in tow!
First Strike: Elizabeth and Ronon are injured, Atlantis is stranded in the middle of nowhere, and the zpm has only enough energy to power the city for twenty-four hours…
The Last Man: In an effort to locate a pregnant Teyla, kidnapped by Michael, Sheppard unwittingly leads a rescue team into a trap. As the base collapses in on our heroes…
Incursion II: Scott and Greer are trapped outside the ship, Kiva, Telford and a pregnant T.J. are shot, the Lucian Alliance prepares to execute Young and the rest of the military personnel.
Gauntlet: The rest of the crew goes into stasis for what could be three to three hundred years, leaving a solitary Eli to figure out a means to save his own life.
Head on over and vote:
Polls close at midnight next Saturday (July 28th). Leave a comment here or on the poll site for a chance to win signed scripts and one of these nifty Stargate security badges I picked up at Comic Con…just for you guys!
Tagged: Fable, Fable ice cream sandwich, farmers market, farmers markets, ice cream sandwich, Kitsilano street festival, science fiction, scifi television, SF television, SG-1, SGA, SGU, Stargate, Stargate Universe, Stargate: Atlantis, Stargate: SG-1, street festival, street food, Vancouver
July 20, 2012: What was the greatest season-ending cliffhanger in Stargate history?
“I am melty sleepy” – Akemiism. Translation: I’m REALLY sleepy.
It was nice today, so we ended up checking out the local farmer’s market with Jelly. On the way home, we happened to come across a street festival so we parked, hopped out, and too that in as well.
Seriously. It looks like they’re actually cooking the chili out part of a tank.
The lady pictured took a HUGE crepe.
What Vancouver street festival would be complete without the ubiquitous octopus ball stand?
The maple-bacon ice cream sandwich from Fable.
I know. She looks ridiculous. But given her hip problems, this is the only way she gets out to take in some of the sights the more mobile Bubba and Lulu get to check out.
On an unrelated note – ooooh, I feel a rant coming in. Best to let it simmer for a couple of days and then really let loose, maybe Tuesday or Wednesday.
So, like the title of this entry says: What was the greatest season-ending cliffhanger in Stargate history?
Within the Serpent’s Grasp: After being forced to kill Klorel/Skaara, SG-1 looks on helplessly as death gliders are launched toward Earth.
Out of Mind: The team is captured by Hathor who intends to implant one of them with a symbiote.
Nemesis: The replicator-infested Asgard ship is destroyed, but one replicator has survived – and has reached Earth.
Exodus: The team finds itself stranded, four million light years from home – with Apophis.
Camelot: The Ori kick ass, one of the Earth ships is destroyed, Carter is left floating in space while Vala, pregnant with the Orici, looks on helplessly.
The Siege II: Atlantis is about to fall to the wraith while Sheppard makes a suicide run against a enemy hive ship.
Allies: The wraith are headed to Earth – with Ronon and McKay in tow!
First Strike: Keller and Ronon are injured, Atlantis is stranded in the middle of nowhere, and the zpm has only enough energy to power the city for twenty-four hours…
The Last Man: In an effort to locate a pregnant Teyla, kidnapped by Michael, Sheppard unwittingly leads a rescue team into a trap. As the base collapses in on our heroes…
Incursion II: Scott and Greer are trapped outside the ship, Kiva, Telford and a pregnant T.J. are shot, the Lucian Alliance prepares to execute Young and the rest of the military personnel.
Gauntlet: The rest of the crew goes into stasis for what could be three to three hundred years, leaving a solitary Eli to figure out a means to save his own life.
Head on over and vote:
Polls close at midnight next Saturday (July 28th). Leave a comment here or on the poll site for a chance to win signed scripts and one of these nifty Stargate security badges I picked up at Comic Con…just for you guys!
Tagged: Fable, Fable ice cream sandwich, farmers market, farmers markets, ice cream sandwich, Kitsilano street festival, science fiction, scifi television, SF television, SG-1, SGA, SGU, Stargate, Stargate Universe, Stargate: Atlantis, Stargate: SG-1, street festival, street food, Vancouver
July 20, 2012
July 20, 2012: Doggly Matters!
I had a terrible 2011 in Toronto. For many reasons. One of the biggest was the cancer diagnosis for my pug, Maximus, and the subsequent attempts to treat the illness. Once a week, Akemi and I would wake up at 7:00 a.m., bundle Max in the back of the car, and take the 90 minute drive to the Guelph Small Animal Clinic where my brave boy underwent radiation treatment and took his anti-cancer vaccines. It was exhausting: the driving, the waiting, the daily medications, and the overall worrying, not just for him but for the other three dogs as well – Jelly, Bubba, and Lulu – who could surely sense something was up.
I remember stepping up to the clinic’s cashier one afternoon, disheartened and weary, reaching into my wallet for my credit card, and finding the above photograph. Akemi had somehow slipped it in the previous night. It’s a picture of my two eldest pugs, Maximus on the left and Jelly on the right. Jelly had gone through a very rough time of her own the previous year when the effects of her hip dysplasia finally caught up with her. Unable to stand, no longer capable of supporting herself on her rear legs, Jelly was in very bad shape. But I refused to give up on her. She had spinal surgery to correct a bulging disc, and then a series of stem cell transplants (via the folks at Vet Stem). She battled back and finally regained use of her hindquarters. Wobbly and weak, but mobile nevertheless. I was hoping Maximus could pull off a miracle of his own but, alas, it wasn’t to be. My boy passed away in late January of this year and, as a tribute to him, he will forever grace the banner of this blog, overseeing these daily entries from up high.
As for that photo, it’s stayed in my wallet ever since. Even when I travel and I empty my wallet of only the barest necessities, it remains.
Akemi has been incredibly patient and loving with the dogs, lending her unwavering support through the toughest of times. Back in Toronto, while I went to work, and Bubba and Lulu spent their days at doggy daycare, Akemi would take of the older dogs back at the apartment, feeding them, taking them out, more often than not carrying them when they were too tired to walk. Back in Vancouver now, she dotes on them. Pretty amazing for someone who had never considered themselves a dog person – although, in all fairness, at one point, neither did I.
Akemi rewards Jelly for a job well done.
Jelly gets a solo walk that, due to the dysplasia, tends to last a half a block. We go back home, harness the other dogs and, while I walk them, Akemi pushes Jelly along in her stroller so she can enjoy the afternoon as well.
Occasionally, Bubba will take a break as well.
Some dog-related links:
The Boycott Belfast facebook page is up and running, looking to hold Belfast City Council for their killing of Lennox the pitbull: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boycott-Belfast-until-it-frees-Lennox-and-addresses-its-BSL-failings/103153756437113
Closer to home, a German Shepherd found injured, lying in a Vancouver dumpster has died of his injuries. Authorities are looking to question the dog’s owner who, so far, has not made himself available to police: Former owner of German shepherd found in dumpster comes forward
And another campaign to win the release of a dog who has been locked up for 15 months pending its day in court: http://www.facebook.com/ShadowVsRdco. Outpouring of support for Shadow the dogwww.globaltvbc.comOutpouring of support for Shadow the dog
Here’s one with a happy ending! Police Respond to Vicious Dog in Baltimore City
And another one: Stolen Basset Hounds Recovered After Five Years
Finally, shocking news out of Colorado this morning. Very, very sad.
Tagged: Dog news, french bulldog, french bulldogs, pug, pugs
July 19, 2012
July 19, 2012: The Comic Con/Vegas Post-Game Show!
No sooner do I return home than I am preparing for my next trip – this one to L.A. in a couple of weeks. Tomorrow, Paul and I get on the phone with our agent to discuss the specifics: when we’re going, how long we’re staying, who we’ll be meeting while in town and, most importantly, what we’ll be pitching.
Our comic book series, Dark Matter, of course tops the list of what we want to go out with. Then there’s Project A.F. that we’re working on in collaboration with Robert Cooper and Ivon Bartok (reason enough to schedule our trip to coincide with Rob’s upcoming visit). And finally, there are about a half dozen series ideas we’ll get into tomorrow. In the meantime, the horror script and one of our pilots should be going out as well.
So we’ve got things on the go and out there but it never hurts to have more material in the pipeline which is why I’m giving serious thought to writing another feature. Like the horror script, it’s an idea I’ve been kicking around for years but have never had the opportunity to sit down and write. Aside from fleshing out some ideas for the L.A. pitch trip, the trip itself, and the two series pilots we’re working on, my summer is shockingly free so August would be the time to get it done. I won’t know if there’ll be anymore Dark Matter in comic book form until after the trade paperback release in October, but I am drawn to the idea of doing another comic book series.
Looking back over our recent trip, I have to admit I had a better time than expected at Comic Con. Loved the energy of the place and the fantastic array of fans who took the time to create some truly remarkable costumes for the event. My hosts at Dark Horse (Kari Yadro and co.) were wonderful and it was truly great to finally meet editor Lou Anders and artist John Picacio – and catch up with the lovely Marjorie M. Liu. Lou is telling me Dragon Con is THE place to be in September. If I’m not in Berlin for my friends’ wedding, I might consider it.
As for Vegas – hey, it’s always a good time, and made even better by Akemi who loves the strip. She told me that, two and half years ago when she was living in Tokyo, she could never have imagined visiting Vegas or San Diego (where her parents spent their honeymoon, though probably not during Comic Con) – or even Canada for that matter. Just goes to show – you never know what surprises life has in store!
A final batch of pics from Comic Con…
Pictured above, my Comic Con goodies including: a couple of dvd’s from the archives of Spike & Mike Festival of animation (compliments of Mike), a copy of the Futureshocks anthology edited by Lou Anders with cover art by John Picacio (compliments of Lou Anders), a copy of Hexed vol. 1 and the missing issues in my Avengers and Thunderbolts collection (compliments of my wallet).
Yesterday, I started Project Thunderbolts which will see me read the entire series from issue #1 to the present. At five issues a night, I should be done in a little over a month. Anyone familiar with the series? Opinions?
Tagged: Comic Con, Las Vegas
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