Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 494

July 18, 2012: Vegas Day #3!

Yesterday, we were up early so that we could do a little more strolling and try our luck against the scorching heat.

Akemi Presents…The Artwork!

We headed over to Caesar’s for another lunch at Joe’s Stone Crab.  We were a little early and Akemi needed to use the facilities.  I consulted the handy mall map and their directions to the restrooms led me here:

I wasn’t sure which was the Men’s and which one was the Women’s. I ended up using the one on the right.

Whenever we go out to dinner, Akemi is so hungry that she polishes off the bread basket and then complains about the fact that she’s too full to eat dinner. This morning, she made me promise to turn away the bread basket at our next meal. So I did – much to her displeasure. I reminded her that she’d told me to turn it away – but she didn’t want to hear it.

The stone crab!

Then, it was off to the Bellagio for dessert at Jean-Philippe Patisserie…

The Snickers Bar (left) and the Red Velvet Cupcake (right).

Trio: Creme brûlée, Peanut Butter pop, Rose-Raspberry Macaron.

Akemi works off lunch and dessert with her Xtreme Twirling routine:

We capped off our day with a great dinner at Michael Mina in the Bellagio.  Some of the highlights:

The Hors D’Oeuvres. From left to right: Foie Gras PB&J, Cured Salmon, Crab BLT, and the Steak Tartare. Three out of four were terrific. The BLT was a bit of a letdown.

The Foie Gras Forbidden Rice.

The Root Beer Float with sassafras ice cream and warn chocolate pecan cookies.

Special mention should also be made of the heavenly succotash and exceptional service.

Spoke to my agent today.  Looks like Paul and I are L.A.-bound in a couple of weeks.  Apparently, we’ve got shows to pitch!

Tagged: Joe's Stone Crab, Las Vegas, Michael Mina, travel

July 17, 2012: Vegas Day #3!

Yesterday, we were up early so that we could do a little more strolling and try our luck against the scorching heat.

Akemi Presents…The Artwork!

We headed over to Caesar’s for another lunch at Joe’s Stone Crab.  We were a little early and Akemi needed to use the facilities.  I consulted the handy mall map and their directions to the restrooms led me here:

I wasn’t sure which was the Men’s and which one was the Women’s. I ended up using the one on the right.

Whenever we go out to dinner, Akemi is so hungry that she polishes off the bread basket and then complains about the fact that she’s too full to eat dinner. This morning, she made me promise to turn away the bread basket at our next meal. So I did – much to her displeasure. I reminded her that she’d told me to turn it away – but she didn’t want to hear it.

The stone crab!

Then, it was off to the Bellagio for dessert at Jean-Philippe Patisserie…

The Snickers Bar (left) and the Red Velvet Cupcake (right).

Trio: Creme brûlée, Peanut Butter pop, Rose-Raspberry Macaron.

Akemi works off lunch and dessert with her Xtreme Twirling routine:

We capped off our day with a great dinner at Michael Mina in the Bellagio.  Some of the highlights:

The Hors D’Oeuvres. From left to right: Foie Gras PB&J, Cured Salmon, Crab BLT, and the Steak Tartare. Three out of four were terrific. The BLT was a bit of a letdown.

The Foie Gras Forbidden Rice.

The Root Beer Float with sassafras ice cream and warn chocolate pecan cookies.

Special mention should also be made of the heavenly succotash and exceptional service.

Spoke to my agent today.  Looks like Paul and I are L.A.-bound in a couple of weeks.  Apparently, we’ve got shows to pitch!

Tagged: Joe's Stone Crab, Las Vegas, Michael Mina, travel

July 17, 2012: Vegas Day #2: Mesa Grill! Serendipity! Jaleo!

This is the first and probably the last time I’ll be staying at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas.  In addition to the trifling annoyances (in-room safe not working, housekeeping skipping our room today, being told I could leave my valuables at the front desk only to be told by the front desk that I had to leave them with the Bell Captain only to be told by the Bell Captain that they had to be in an enclosed piece of luggage (forcing me to lug my laptop around with me all afternoon) only to later be told by someone else at the front desk that I could leave my valuables at the front desk, etc.)  is the one big annoyance of being charged for in-room wifi.  It feels so nickel and dime, well beneath a hotel of its supposed stature.  Next thing you know, one of maids is going to stop by to ask if I’d like to pitch in for fellow employee Anita’s going away party. Akemi, on the other hand, likes the Cosmo just fine.  She finds the bed incredibly comfy (I have to agree) and loves the patio…

Akemi says: “Come on out!”. I say: “No way.”

I’m not a patio (or standing on anything more than three feet off the ground) guy, so “nice patio” lines up in neither column so far as I’m concerned.

Today was our big walking day.  Lots of walking punctuated by excessive bursts of eating…

Akemi checks out the steampunk telescope – to get an unreal view of the ceiling.

Yet another BIG SHOE.

Oh that perverted penguin.

Akemi induces vomiting.

For lunch, we headed over to a place I mean to try out every time I’m in town.  This trip, we finally got there: Bobby’s Flay’s Mesa Grill in Caesar’s Palace.

We started off with a great corn soup, packed with a spicy wallop as advertised.

For her main, Akemi ordered a shrimp dish that came with a cilantro sauce.  I requested the cilantro sauce on the side because she isn’t a fan.   When the dish arrived, I couldn’t help but notice the shrimp were swimming in the cilantro sauce.  I asked the (different) waiter who served us: “Is that cilantro?”.  And he replied: “No cilantro.”

Hmmm.  Sure looks like cilantro to me.

Akemi took a bite.  As it turned out, either the waiter serving us desperately needed to brush up on the menu or the parsley on the plate was doing a bang-up imitation of cilantro.  Akemi resigned herself to eating it but I wouldn’t allow it.  I called over our original waiter and pointed out the cilantro.  He tried to sidestep the issue by saying he had served the “chili oil on the side” as I’d requested.  Even if that were true and I had asked for “chill oil” on the side (which I didn’t), the fact that the chill oil was also served IN the sauce as evidenced by the photograph makes his point moot.  He then suggested Akemi try the dish and if she still minded the cilantro, he would exchange it.  No pressure.  We asked to exchange it.  So he presented us with the menu.  Again, I had to point out there had been some sort of miscommunication.  We didn’t want another dish.  We wanted THAT dish with the cilantro sauce on the side.  Our waiter informed us this was impossible.  Somehow, between the time I placed the initial order and fifteen minutes later, it had become impossible.  So Akemi settled for a chopped salad.

I had the chile relleno.

We ended up trekking all the way over to the Wynn Hotel in search of a fantastic dessert place I swear I remember visiting once – only to come up empty.  We trekked all the way back and, by the time we were within visual range of our hotel, we were hot and exhausted.  So I suggested a little pick-me-up in the form of a sundae at Serendipity.

Akemi says: “Yeah. Whatever. Waterfall.”

Serendipity.

Snack time!

She had the frozen hot chocolate.  I did the amaretto-almond hot chocolate.  AND the carrot cake sundae with vanilla and butter-pecan ice cream.

Properly recharged, we had plenty of energy for what lay ahead: Dinner at Jaleo…

Pan de cristal con tomate: Toasted rustic bread brushed with fresh tomatoes, topped with anchovy.

The golden fried quail eggs atop a bed of Spanish ratatouille.  Akemi’s favorite.

Grilled squid with roasted artichokes in a squid ink sauce.

For dessert – a surprisingly great flan!

Akemi loved dinner and we would have gone back for a return visit – if not for the fact that we’d already booked Michael Mina at the Bellagio.

One more night and I’m Vancouver-bound!

Tagged: Cosmopolitan Hotel, Jaleo, Las Vegas, Mesa Grill, Serendipity

July 16, 2012: From Comic Con to Vegas!

Apologies to those tuning in for Cookie Monster’s review of the movie Steel, part of our ongoing Supermovie of the Week Club discussions.  Unfortunately, he called in sick this week. It may have been the movie, but given the fact that I snapped him partying in the streets of San Diego during the Comic Con -

This kid was all laughs until he realized Cookie Monster had lifted his allowance.

I suspect the culprit was more likely the beer and tequila shooters.

We’re in Vegas!  After a fabulous flight on Southwest Airlines (Honestly.  It was on time, smooth, and the cabin crew were courteous and professional.  The best part was the pre-boarding policy that required passengers to line up according to their assigned boarding number.  Genius.) we checked into our hotel.

The Starbucks in the San Diego airport finally succeeds where all other Starbucks have failed – in correctly guessing the spelling of Akemi’s name!

It’s my first time staying at The Cosmopolitan and, I have to say, I’m not loving it so far.  After some minor frustrations with the in-room safe, Akemi and I headed over to Joe’s Stone Crab for – what else? – stone crab.  And three kinds of pie: banana cream, key lime, and dulce de leche.  All winners.

Akemi in: “Decisions, Decision.”

On our way back to the hotel, we happened to pass by a sandwich place called “The Earl of Sandwich” which, of course, led me to tell Akemi about the Earl’s creation of the handy culinary treat – how he and his friends used to be served meat during their marathon card-playing sessions and he, tired of greasy fingers, suggested the meat be served between two slices of bread and, voila, the sandwich was born.

“He must be so rich,”Akemi marvelled.

“Well, no,”I said.  ”He lived three hundred years ago.”

“So his family is rich.”

“No, they’re not rich either.”

“Oh,”she said.  ”Is it a rights thing?”

I had to admit that, in away, it kind of was.

For dinner, we went to Scarpetta.  The Toronto location was only blocks away from the condo I was living in last year and it was one of my go-to restaurants whenever someone visited from out of town (ie. Alaina Huffman, Mike Dopud, Michael Shank, Erika Kennair).  There are two items on the menu that never fail to impress: the spaghetti with tomato and basil, and the coconut panna cotta. And, after tonight’s meal, their streak continues.

Squid ink taglioni with Alaskan King Crab.

Buffalo mozzarella and truffle agnolotti.

The spaghetti! Note: this is a half portion. I had to split with Akemi.

Some notable Vegas sights:

The lobby of the Bellagio

Nope, not a size 7.

Akemi hangs out with her favorite celebrity chef.

Akemi and her good buddy Pikachu. They’re both Japanese!

I’ve noticed that, o far, Vegas has few drunken zombies than San Diego, but a lot more drunken women in bikinis staggering about.

Tagged: Las Vegas

July 15, 2012: Dark Matter at Comic Con!

I’m pleased to report that the Dark Matter signing was a rousing success.  I actually made it to the booth on time, people actually showed up, and nobody standing in line stepped up to my counter to order a milkshake and fries.  I met some great fans, chatted Stargate and Dark Matter, signed a few comic books, and gave away some swag.  The winners…

Tiffany and David – winners of the SG-1 100th episode commemorative picture frame and keychain.

Eagle-eyed viewers may recognize Tiffany and David from their visit to the set of SGU back in November of 2010: http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/november-2-2010-new-sgu-snow-monkeys-pull-off-incredible-comeback-stargate-set-pics/

Sharon – winner of a signed copy of Resurgence (including sarcastic commentary).  Finally!  At least one person in Stargate garb.  Including P-90!

Lucas – winner of a signed copy of Quest I (including sarcastic commentary).

Becky – winner of a signed copy of Resurgence (with sarcastic commentary) for her mom, Margo.

Eric, winner of the Atlantis box set.

Gary – winner of the Stargate match sticks (for his son, Thomas – a.k.a. Rodney McKay Jr.).

And some of the others who swung by to say hi -

Francisco

Bob

Chris – blog regular Lisarrr’s brother!

Kara

Matt and Jay

Jessie and Nathan – a couple of Dark Horse boys.

Robert

Apologies to those whose pics I failed to snap (or whose photos didn’t do them justice).  And thanks to everyone who came by.  Also, a big thanks to the following people -

My ace editor, Patrick Thorpe.

Dark Horse Comics’ awesome Publicity Coordinator, Aub Driver.

And the woman who worked incredibly hard to plan, coordinate, and execute not only my signing but all of the Dark Horse Comic Con happenings, the amazing Kari Yadro, Dark Horse Events and Community Manager.

After the signing, Akemi and I walked the floor one final time.

Some of my favorite sights of my last day at Comic Con:

Steampunk chic.

Fried shishito peppers at Nobu.

My peanut butter sundae at Ghirardelli’s.

Excelsior, true believer! It’s (almost) Stan Lee!

Akemi rushed over to have a picture taken with these…er…things. Anybody?

The Dynamic Duo.

The Dynamic Duo II. SPOOOOOOON!

He Man?

Not sure. But I’m willing to give the comic book a shot.

Lou Anders introduced me to the incredibly talented Dave Seeley.

You can check out his amazing work here: Dave Seeley.com . Image Junkie . The Art of Dave Seeley

Again, not sure what she’s selling – but I’m getting one.

Poison Ivy and Penguin take down Robin.

Space Invader Zim(?).

Akemi and her buddy Spongebob.

Again, not sure what she’s selling…etc.

Trigun’s Vash the Stampede.

Mike (left) and Gary of Spike and Mike’s infamous Festival of Animation.

The crowds have been crazy.

We ended up back at Nobu for dinner where we were seated next to the friendliest family.  We ended up striking up a conversation and chatting up through most of the meal.  Husband David is a former professional basketball player now in business with mom, Estela (who, upon hearing I liked tongue tacos vowed to make me the best lengua I’ve ever had!), and wife Sofia who owns her own fashion boutique in town.

Our new San Diego friends!

Whew!  I’m wiped.  Now onto Vegas for some R&R!

Tagged: Comic Books, Comic Con, Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Dark Matter, San Diego Comic Con, Stargate

July 14, 2012: Comic Con Day #2!

“I’ve never seen so much drunk zombies.”  - Akemi walking home after drinks at the Hilton last night.

Well, not really Comic Con Day #2.  Actually, the second half of Day #1 and part of Day #2 as the festivities are ongoing.  Today = my Dark Matter signing.

Where: The Dark Horse Booth (#2615)

When: 4:00 – 5:00

Why?: In addition to checking out my cool new black eye, I’ll be giving away signed copies of Dark Matter #1 AND Stargate swag including signed scripts!

“Back off, lady!”

Zombie family out for a stroll.

Zombie Queen in line-up outside some zombie party.  Braaaaiiiins!  And drinks!

Former Amazing Race contestants, Kint and Vixen (?), not really dressed up at all.

Chicken chillin’

Cookie Monster partying when he should be home watching Steel for our Supermovie of the Week Club!

Wonder Woman teams up with Los Luchadores!

Vader vs. Zombie Nurses! I’d watch this movie!

For dinner, Akemi and I met up with ace editor Lou Anders, extraordinary artist John Picacio, and uber-talented novelist, short story writer, and Astonishing X-Men scribe Marjorie M. Liu for dinner at a place called Seersucker.

John

Lou

John and Marjorie

Cowboy Caviar, a.k.a. Prairie Oysters, a.k.a. bull testicles. I mean, it was on the menu. How could I NOT order it? John and Marjorie were brave enough to try some with me. Lou and Akemi, not so much.

Afterwards, we headed over to the Hilton for drinks with Night Shade Books’ Jeremy Lassen and friends.  On the way, ran into Remi Aubuchon, formerly of Stargate now of Fallen Skies fame, who promised to come by the booth during my signing and offer some supportive heckling.

Lunch at Nobu today.  We’re going back tonight for the sea urchin tempura!

Now, back at the hotel packing up the Stargate swag.  Off to Ghirardelli’s for a peanut butter sundae (and waffle cup for Akemi), then back to the convention center to track down a Hydra and A.I.M. t-shirt, some Dexter-related merchandise for sis, and track down some missing back issues of The Avengers and Thunderbolts. Oh, and sign some copies of Dark Matter!

Tagged: Comic Con, Dark Matter, John Picacio, Lou Anders, Marjorie M. Liu, San Diego, San Diego Comic Con, science fiction, Stargate

July 13, 2012: Comic Con!

Whenever I travel, the excitement of the upcoming trip is always somewhat muted by the fact that I’ll be leaving my dogs behind.  I wouldn’t mind so much if it weren’t for the fact that the dogs KNOW we’re leaving and get downright depressed.  Bubba paces, Lulu tries to squeeze in as much play time as possible, while the usually languid Jelly is even more so.  She wouldn’t even eat her breakfast this morning until I sat down on the floor and hand fed her.

Anyway, I checked in with Christine, our dog-sitter, and I’m pleased to report they’re in excellent spirits.  A far cry from this morning.  Check ‘em out:

Jelly is so bummed she didn’t even bother wiping the pumpkin off her face for this picture.

Bubba’s “Uh, where do you think YOU’RE going?” look.

And Lulu’s “take me with you!” gaze.

Well, we’re in San Diego and I’m pleased to report we decided to go with an unhaunted hotel this time out (January 19, 2007).  This year, I’m a guest of Dark Horse Comics who kindly put us up at the Hard Rock Hotel, only steps away from the action.  We got in at noon, grabbed lunch (Mexican, natch.  We’re in San Diego!), then headed down to the convention center to walk the floor and check out the sights…

I finally meet editor extraordinaire Lou Anders (he of Masked, Fast Forward I and II, and countless PYR titles fame) and we spend the afternoon talking about SF, books, comics, t.v., and a Japanese children’s picture book about poop.

A little something from the new JJ Abrams series. Re…Re…Re-something?

Hey, look who we came across having lunch. It’s gang from Cowboy Bebop: Spike, Jet, and Faye.

Not sure. I think the guy on the right is Dr. Manhattan.

Birdcage Head Man.

The man faces of Deadmaus.

Deathstroke and friend.

I am DOOM! From the original Roger Corman FF movie.

Hey, check it out! Stargate security cards. Get into Stargate Command or Atlantis without having security on your case.

That’s green acrylic paint. And, yes, apparently, it’s perfectly safe.

They were hanging around the lobby of the hotel. Video game characters? Hip hop group?

Them’s some big guns.

I’m told he’s a squirrel.

Man down!

Boy, they were really pushing this movie. Wonder when it comes out?

My Dark Matter editor, Patrick Thorpe!

Some anime character, I suspect.

Ad for the upcoming Zach Gaffa..Gaffa…Ad for the upcoming movie from that guy from The Hangover.

The Rocketeer.

Rorschach

Sad Akemi at lunch because I wouldn’t let her eat anymore nachos. I should point out that she asked me to stop her from eating anymore.

Elysium

Thundercat?

Totoro looks like he’s been hitting the sauce.

The Toilet Paper Friends!

Batman villains!

More Batman villains!

Darth Vader and Boba Fett lounging about.

Wall art in progress.

Lots of dogs walking the streets. With their fire hydrants.

Who be dis wraithy lady?

X-Men

I did an advance scout on the Dark Horse Comics booth and met the lovely Kari Yadro who organized the festivities.  The gal moves so fast that, by the time I wanted to snap her pic for the blog, she was gone.  Will have to get her tomorrow. And maybe Claudia Black as well (SG-1′s Vala Mal Doran) who is apparently in town as well.

A little R&R and then we’re off to walk the neighborhood and grab some dinner.

Tomorrow = the Dark Matter signing!  If you’re in the neighborhood between 4:00 – 5:00 p.m., come find me at the Dark Horse booth (#2615)!

Tagged: Comic Con, Dark Matter, San Diego Comic Con

July 12, 2012: One day to Comic Con! Days of Stargate: Atlantis Past! Season 2!

Copies of my comic book series Dark Matter?  Check.  Giveaway items?  Check.  Girlfriend?  Check!  I’m ready for Comic Con.  If you happen to be in San Diego this weekend and also just happen to have tickets to Comic Con, swing on by the Dark Horse Comics booth (#2615) between 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.  I’ll be there signing copies of Dark Matter #1, giving away Stargate stuff, and dispensing unsolicited relationship advice!

Black Eye Day #3.  I’m thinking of donning an eye patch and working it into a cosplay outfit for Comic Con.    So, who should I go as?  I’m thinking either -

Ciel Phantomhive

Or Captain Harlock

Or Youkou Kuki

Or Toppy from Sands of Destruction

Yeah, I was leaning toward Toppy anyway.

The other day, a friend texted me the bad news that she had failed to land a job she’d really, REALLY wanted.  Ever the sympathetic one, I dashed off a quick response.  I’d meant to text back this:

But, instead, my rushed response to “I didn’t get the job!” was:

And then, seconds later, realizing my mistake I followed up with:

But, at that point, my was open to interpretation.  In retrospect, I should have gone with angry eyes:

.\/.

So, looking back over Atlantis’s second season, what have we learned? Well, we’ve learned that the retrovirus is highly unpredictable.  And we’ve learned that the wraith enjoy people food, just not as much as “people food”.  And we’ve also learned that Sheppard loves Teyla. Maybe.

Standout episodes for me: Siege III, Runner, Michael, and Allies with Michael taking home the prize for My Favorite Episode of Atlantis Season Two.

By the way, our stroll down SGA memory lane happens to coincide with that of the gang at Gateworld who are in the midst of a Stargate: Atlantis Season Two Rewatch.  They’re looking for nominations in the following categories:

Best Episode (Season Two)
Best Sheppard Moment
Best McKay Moment
Best Teyla Moment
Best Ronon Moment
Best Weir Moment
Best Beckett Moment
Best Team Moment
Best Alien Race
Best Individual Villain
Coolest Ancient Technology
Coolest Alien Technology
Best Guest Star (based on one specific Season Two episode)

Head on over here - http://forum.gateworld.net/threads/85268-Stargate-Rewatch-Atlantis-Season-Two-Nominations – to make your nominations, and put in a vote for what you considered to be the best episode of Atlantis’s second season.  I notice that, at present, The Long Goodbye has twice as many votes as Michael.  Far be it for me to criticize the wisdom of fandom but…WTF?!

I’ll be offering up readers a chance to vote on a new Stargate episode poll (and win some signed scripts) when I get back from Comic Con!  I was thinking…

What was the best season-ending cliffhanger in Stargate history?  Let’s hear your thoughts.

Finally, apologies to a couple of lucky winners still anxiously awaiting their signed scripts.  Marty G. has his hands full writing/producing his new show, but his signed scripts are on their way (to me, and should be on their way to you shortly!).

I’ll check in tomorrow with pics from Comic Con!

Tagged: Atlantis, Comic Books, Comic Con, Comics, Dark Matter, San Diego Comic Con, science fiction, scifi television, SF, SF television, SGA, Stargate, Stargate: Atlantis

July 11, 2012: Two Days to Comic Con! Days of Stargate: Atlantis Past! Allies!

Qu’est ce que c’est?  Why, it’s the Stargate: Atlantis ultimate box set.  It includes the entire series PLUS a bonus disc with all new extras.  I’ll be giving it away to some lucky, random individual who comes to visit me between 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. this Saturday at the Dark Horse Comics booth (#2615).  Whether you’re coming by for a free signed copy of the first issue of my comic book series, Dark Matter, swinging by to chat Stargate, or simply queued up assuming you’re in line for the concession stand, you’ll have a shot at winning this lovely prize and others (see past few issues, ed.).

Yep, that black eye is coming along nicely.  Overnight, it’s progressed for a fiery red to a deep, royal purple and is now heading into dark green-black territory.

Concluding our trip down Stargate: Atlantis memory lane…

ALLIES (220)

Stargate: Atlantis’s second season ends in fine fashion with The Hive, an episode that pays off numerous elements that have been building over the course of the year AND sets up one hell of a cliffhanger heading into season three.  That single hive ship headed toward Atlantis finally makes its arrival and – surprise, surprise! – it turns out that to be their old friend, Michael, paying a house call.  Before you can say “No!  Don’t trust them!”, Atlantis has entered into an uneasy alliance with their former enemy.  Well, you know what they say, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”, and on the surface that’s reason enough to set long-standing enmities aside in common purpose.  Of course, it turns out their purposes aren’t common after all but, by the point that realization is made, Sheppard has apparently been blown to smithereens, McKay and Ronon have been captured, and the wraith have the location of Earth – “a fresh, new feeding ground”!  It’s a hell of a season-ender, but getting there is most of the fun.

Great to see the character of Michael return to complicate matter for our heroes, even though he isn’t played by Connor Trinneer this time around.  Due to scheduling conflicts, Connor was unable to reprise the role.  As a result, actor Brent Stait (Andromeda’s Rev Bem and SG-1′s Major Louis Ferretti) stepped in – and did a great job.  But Michael isn’t the only wraith personality in this episode.  There’s the icy wraith Queen, played by Andee Frizzell, and the amusingly matter-of-fact wraith scientists played by James Lafazanos.  It’s always great to see Mitch Pileggi put in an appearance as Colonel Caldwell, and equally awesome to have the irritable Hermiod show up as well.  The Asgard’s exchanges with McKay are comedy gold.

Finally, to those who blame the Atlantis expedition for awakening the wraith, we finally receive confirmation that it wasn’t Sheppard’s murder of the Queen but the knowledge of Earth’s existence that lead to the grand awakening.  Michael informs us: ” Over two years ago, every hive ship in this galaxy emerged from hibernation prematurely. We thought a new rich feeding ground had been discovered.”

Thoughts?  Discuss!

A sad ending to the Lennox story.  Despite offers to move him out of Ireland, Belfast City Council went ahead and killed Lennox this morning: Belfast dog Lennox at centre of animal rights protests put to sleep …

Meanwhile, supporters who phoned Belfast City Council to voice support for Lennox were mocked by city employees: Belfast City Council mocks callers protesting Lennox’s death

Belfast City Councillor Pat McCarthy and co. probably believe we will forget about their heartless actions, but I suspect that most will have very long memories of their shameful actions: “boycott Belfast”

Tagged: Allies, Atlantis, Comic Books, Comic Con, Comics, Dark Horse, Dark Horse Comics, Dark Matter, Lennox, San Diego Comic Con, science fiction, Science Fiction Television, scifi television, SF, SF television, SGA, Stargate, Stargate: Atlantis, wraith

July 10, 2012: Ouch! 3 Days to Comic Con! Dogs enjoying the Summer! Days of Stargate: Atlantis Past! Inferno!

That Akemi has a mean right hook.

I hit play on the DVD and, as a fifth season episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia started up, I took a seat and tested the dumbbells.  It was my triceps day so I figured I’d start with flat bench extensions, move on to overhead extensions, then to close grip press, and finish up with kickbacks, interspersing my workout with some weighted dips.  I grabbed the dumbbells, fairly light to start, lay back flat, then extended my arms (not fully of course because I didn’t want to risk a hyperextension), turned my wrists slightly and started the downward progression.  At which point the two and half pound metal bar inside the dumbbell I was holding in my left hand slid out, dropped the two foot distance, and bounced off my face, first catching my upper cheek just below my orbital bone, then hitting my lower lip before thumping onto the carpeted floor beside me.

I was momentarily stunned. The impact was jarring.  My head thrummed, my eyesight blurred, and I could feel a burning sensation snake down from the point of impact to my lower jaw.  I sat up and my first thought was: “I’ve knocked out a tooth.  How the hell can I go to Comic Con with a missing tooth!”.  I checked the canine.  It seemed to have survived intact.  On t.v., Sweet Dee was still trying on wedding dresses, oblivious to my distress.  How typical of her.  I switched it off, then hurried into the bathroom to assess the damage.

A small cut where the bar had struck, some swelling, a little bleeding from my canine but otherwise, not bad.  An inch higher and it would have hit me square in the eye.  An inch lower and that canine, along with a couple of incisors, would have surely been splintered.  I’d gotten off lucky!

I went upstairs where Akemi took one look at me and ordered me to the hospital.  I applied a cold compress and assured her it wasn’t a big deal, that boxers get hit like this all the time and three Tylenols would do the trick.  But she wasn’t having any of it.  She made me promise I would go get it checked out.  Sigh.

I stopped by the clinic near my place and, following a thirty minute wait, saw a doctor who tested my vision, checked the cut, and informed me I would be fine – but would be sporting an impressive shiner for the next week or so.

So, if you spot me at Comic Con wearing shades indoors, understand it is not an affectation.

The cape on the other hand…

Oooh, check it out.  Stargate matches.  Just like the kind followers of the Ori used to set fire to offending books, towns and, occasionally, heretics.  Along with some signed scripts and the SG-1 100th episode commemorative photo frame and keychain, yet another Staragte-related item I’ll be giving them away at Comic Con this Saturday afternoon.  I’ll be there, of course, signing copies of my comic book series, Dark Matter, at the Dark Horse Booth (#2615) between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. after which I’ll change into my costume so that I can stroll the floor as…AQUAMAN!  The green tights keep cutting off the circulation to my groin so I’m bringing back-up leggings just in case.

The dogs are enjoying the summer sun, especially Lulu who has taken to sprawling out on the back patio to soak up the rays.  Looks to be a lazy summer for them…on the heles of a lazy spring.

Lulu stakes out her territory.

All smiles.

Yep, that tan is coming along reeeaaal nice.

Bubba hits the beach!

And cooling off:

Jelly – sitting pretty.

Batpug!

Let’s continue our trip down Stargate: Atlantis memory lane by helping me remember the following episode:

INFERNO (219)

A fine episode sandwiched between two great episodes.

Hmmm.  At a bit of a loss on this one.  I mean, it was solid stand-alone episode.  The only elements I recall from the production are the impressive visual effects (of the lava claiming the stargate) and Carl’s frustrating quest to find a name for the planet that everyone could agree on.

What did I miss?  Thoughts?

Tagged: Atlantis, Comic Books, Comics, Dark Horse, Dark Horse Comics, Dark Matter, Dogs, french bulldogs, Inferno, pugs, San Diego Comic Con, SGA, Stargate, Stargate: Atlantis