March 12, 2011: That Toronto Check List!

Well, with a little less than a week to go before I move to Toronto, it's time to go over that Toronto checklist:

FIND SOMEWHERE TO LIVE:  Nope.  I've already bemoaned Toronto's not-so-production-friendly accommodations situation.  And, since that post, not much has changed.  Hope those production offices are comfy.  And pet friendly!

FIND A CAR TO DRIVE: Nope.  I've been so busy searching for furnished rentals online that I haven't even gotten around to looking into a car rental.

INFORM AIR CANADA WE'LL BE FLYING WITH TWO DOGS IN-CABIN NEXT WEEKEND: Nope.  I was able to do everything online EXCEPT register my dogs.  This, apparently, can only be accomplished by speaking directly to an Air Canada representative.  And good luck with that.  "The average wait time,"the recorded message informs me, "Is forty-five minutes."!  It's been that way for the past TWO WEEKS!

FIND A SUITABLE DOGGY DAYCARE FOR THE GANG: Nope.  I'm looking at two possible candidates, but won't decide on one until I've had a chance to check them out personally.

FIND SOMEONE TO ACCOMPANY ME WITH A SECOND DOG ON THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND'S FLIGHT: Nope.  I had plenty of offers for next weekend, so I'm hoping people will be in a flying mood two weekends from now.  Anyone interested in a return flight to Toronto, business class?

ESTABLISH THE TEAM: The writers' room starts spinning next Monday and, outside of Paul, Alex, myself and, (I assume) Rob, it's still uncertain who'll be in there with us.

TAKE DOWN THE CHRISTMAS TREE: Check!  Done.  Today.

I was up for most of last night angsting over the prospect of flying cross-country with the dogs.  I brought the soft-sided carriers out of storage and started getting the pooches used to the closed environment – tossing in a treat to get them inside, tossing in another treat to get them to duck their heads so I could zip the sherpa closed, then tossing them a final treat for being good sports.  Jelly, Maximus, and Lulu seemed fine for the two minutes or so they were inside, but Bubba went ABSOLUTELY NUTS, scratching and rolling, barking and crying.  I think he may be claustrophobic.  Is that possible?  I am so screwed.  We're looking at a scheduled 4 hour and twenty-five minute flight!  That's not including the times enroute to and from the airport as well as the inevitable departure delays.  I AM flying Air Canada after all.

Looks like I might have to invest in some children's gravol.

Allow me to unwind with some pics of my recent Vegas trip -

I thought she looked cute, but Akemi prefers oversized sun hats with big honkin' sunflowers on top.

Outside the Venetian hotel. In the next James Bond film, I want to see a high speed gondola chase through the hotel's canal.

We received this lovely parting gift at the conclusion of our dinner at Joel Robuchon.

The raspberry (?) pistachio cake it contained.

Which we made short work of the following morning.

I love Vegas. It's so subdued.

Ceiling of the annex between Bally's and the Bellagio.

Ceiling of the Bellagio.

Joe's Stone Crab! We went twice.

I'm not a fan of key lime pie, but I LOVE the version served up at Joe's Stone Crab. So much so that I have seriously considered ordering in the past. They deliver!

Restaurant in the shopping plaza adjoining the Aria. I'd be too nervous to eat here.

Akemi makes a quick call in the Cosmopolitan lobby.

The chocolate fountain outside the Jean Philippe Patisserie.

Some of the unbelievable selection. Check it out. Rose macarons! I haven't seen those outside of Tokyo!

Intense: dark chocolate mousse, chocolate cremeux, and chocolate glaze. Yes, thank you! Rich, dark chocolate through and through. None of these airy fairy gelee's or light creams so prevalent in other so-called patisseries.

Snickers Cake: almond dacquoise, peanut crisp, caramel, milk chocolate mousse. As awesome as the dark Intense was, this was even better. Sublime.

The view from inside the shop. Screw the Venetian. Next time, I'm staying here. IN the pasty shop!