Things I Kind of Wish Were Still Around: Volume Two

An event I still find myself referring to occurred in June 1996 while I and my eighth grade classmates returned from our "senior" class trip to Montreal, Quebec. The surrounding details remain vague -- I can't remember if the event happened before or after I was given a garlic flavored mint by my friend John in retaliation for dosing him with itching powder we'd acquired on the trip, or which of the five or so films we watched on the bus ride was airing (we'd probably already seen "Waterworld" and "Beaches" by that point, so it's might be "Powder" -- curious choices in hindsight for an audience of 14 year olds), but I'll remember the moment clear as day for as long as I live.

There I was, standing in line at the McDonald's, ready to order an Arch Deluxe meal with a medium diet coke. While hungry for the Arch Deluxe and the coke, I admit I wasn't terribly interested in the fries that came with the combo but thought I may as well get them, what with the savings accompanying the combo purchase. It was then that I overheard a classmate, Andrea Burns, mention that she was hungry, but only a little, perhaps enough for some fries. And so I leapt forward, offering that we pool our resources and get the Arch Deluxe combo, keeping the burger and soft drink for myself and passing along the fries to Andrea, while we both basked in the savings as this development.


In the years to follow, I've found myself recalling this event, pleased at how I took the initiative and used the combo as an opportunity to enjoy the savings and the unique taste of the Arch Deluxe. It's seeing it in the print and going over the details at length that I begin to wonder if the whole thing was really worth... I don't want to say 'bragging' about... but maybe bringing up as often as I have. I only reasonable excuse could be that I did so as a joke at first and my 'funny boasting' developed into sincere braggadocio. Still, whatever the case is, I've yet to have someone tell me the whole thing is dumb in all the years and all the times I've brought it up. And all things considered, I am pleased about the whole thing. About 400s words proud.

But anyway, what was my point? Oh yeah, the Arch Deluxe. I really liked that thing. I was pretty let down when they discontinued it. I mean, they kept the McDonald's pizzas around longer than the Arch Deluxe, and those made no sense. Pizza at a burger place? I guess the crust was pretty good.

I suppose since I'm a vegetarian it doesn't really matter that the Arch Deluxe isn't around anymore, but I really enjoyed it back in the day. Yeah. It was all right.

Hi there.

Sorry for the lack of posts recently. Things have been a little hectic. My grandmother is still in the hospital and I finally finished getting her things in order and out of her room, moving my stuff in afterwards. Had the carpets shampooed to get the trail around her bed cleared up. Moved my computer in and just got a wireless internet thing set up too. The set up is still a little shaky, but it's good for now.

I went to a seminar on depression last week. Didn't really find out anything new, but it was good hearing some of the symptoms read aloud and finding out that what I'm going through isn't unique to me, that's exclusive to me and all that. Been hanging out with the guys lately, having a good time. Sleeping well too. My hours were a little off for a while there, but they're pretty normal now.

Not much else to say besides the guys are all into Grand Theft Auto now. John and Edmond even bought 360s just so they could play the game. I watched Kerr and Sean playing an online multi-player match yesterday. They hopped in a car, Sean driving, and tried to get away from the police. A second later the car swerved out of control and into a tree. Turns out a cop shot Sean and he died at the wheel. It was pretty funny, you know, not being real and all. Equally funny was when Kerr dove out of a car and was immediately run over by Sean who was following him.

Can't think of much else to say. Things have been a little better lately though, after a good while of things being pretty awful. Hope it keeps up.

So, it was my birthday

I'd been feeling a little better over the past few days and looking forward to my birthday allowed the possibility of something great happening that would make me feel great. Didn't quite work out like I'd hoped -- got a few nice things, but mostly stuff I'd bought for myself. Went out for dinner with John, Edmond, and Kerr to Boston Pizza. Felt pretty crummy going in, but better afterwards. Still feeling down but better than I was. Birthday wasn't all that I was hoping it'd be, but I guess I've got to stop getting too excited about things since that usually results in me feeling down when it doesn't pan out. You think I'd know by now, but there you go.

Sorry for the depressing message. Here's a couple of pictures of cute animals to lighten things up.

What's up?

Not much to say. Haven't been up to much lately. Met with my therapist on Tuesday, went by the comic shop on Wednesday, went to London on Thursday, saw the psychiatrist at my doctor's office on Friday, and got a haircut today. Not a bad week, I suppose, but I've still been feeling pretty down lately. With Kerr in BC and my friends all seemingly working 16 hours a day, I've been feeling pretty lonely lately. Hope my mood picks up with the new anti-depressants I was prescribed, but in the meantime I'm about a 4 on a scale from 1 to 10.

Kerr's birthday is this Wednesday. I got a package off to him last week and it should be there in time for the big day. He's pretty low-key about all that, but I hope he likes the stuff. Got him one of those Transformers that looks like a real car, so that's pretty cool.

I did talk to John last night and he sent me this video he made the other day. He only spent ten or fifteen minutes on it and doesn't want it getting out there, but since no one visits my blog anyway, it's okay. If you do stumble upon my blog, hope you like it.

Jeepers. It's been more than a month. So, what have I been up to....

Well, I've been doing school stuff. I'm in a few classes that are pretty out there so I'm a little over my head with work. Scrubs is back on the air and it's still pretty good. I heard a rumor it's going to ABC or something, but that wasn't totally clear. JLU is coming back on the air soon. It's been airing in the UK and it's all I can do not to download it. Christmas was good. I got some nice stuff. Got the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume Three. It's the first set that's not totally marketed towards children so they put some of the politically incorrect wartime shorts on it. Kerr got an XBOX. He's been working a lot at the Airport Inn (conveniently located twenty minutes from the Hamilton airport), and he's been raking in the cash. Still hasn't paid back the money he owes me though.

I need to start working out soon. My pseudo-New Years Resolution was to drop twenty pounds by March. It's not a real N.Y.R -- since I think those are stupid -- but I need to get on that sooner than later. Johnny moved out to Edmonton to live with Nick. John got a job at Michael's the first day he was there. I told him not to start working there since he did that here and hated it, but less than two weeks later he applied at EB Games and he's there now. He's been out there for three weeks -- it's weird, it still hasn't totally sunk in yet. There's a lot of jobs in Edmonton though. More jobs than people. He got a bus transfer the first couple of days out there and it said "Driver's Wanted". Said there's a lot of pretty girls out there too. Might have to visit him one of these days.

That's about all I can think of for now. I'll check back soon.

Recent News

So, the family get-together was fun, if not terribly aggravating -- people get unusually tense in my family when it comes to organizing parties. I just hung out with Kerr and Johnny for the most part, but I did sit in when the choir was here, and to hear a few of messer. Levy's stories -- FYI: he and the director of "The Man" didn't get along.

There was a bit of a fuss when word got out that Justice League was coming out on DVD but it wasn't going to be widescreen. In the three or four days since that announcement, Warner Home Video rescinded and said that everything from season two on would be WS. I'm okay with that though -- season one wasn't real widescreen anyway.

My column wasn't in the latest Cut and Print, nor have I heard back from Jake about my mini-interview with Eugene. I suspect something's off with my email, but I'll keep trying to get through.

Anyway, I'll check back soon. Have a good day.

Terribly Sorry

Hi there.

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I haven't been up to much lately. Lost a little weight I suppose. Been doing some reading and a lot of time-consuming school work. Veronica Mars is gaining steam -- it's leading up to a great season. Alias and Arrested Development have been cancelled, unfortunately. Alias I can see; it's been in trouble for a while now and brining in new characters in familiar roles is a sign of desperation. DC's Infinite Crisis comics are great fun. I'm still reading some Marvel titles, but haven't been enjoying them that much lately.

Went to New York with Kerr and Johnny. We had a great time -- I saw Letterman with Kerr and was surprised by the fact that the show we saw was taped a week early. I wonder if that's how they always do the show. Johnny and I met Dr. Ruth and saw the Seinfeld diner. We did some walking and shopping around Times Square and had authentic New York pizza. All in all, we didn't do a whole lot in the four days we were there, but I had a great time nonetheless.

Eugene Levy is coming over to spend some time with my dad -- they're both old buddies from way back. A lot of other folks are coming over though so I don't think I'll be able to sell him on my fabulous screenplay ideas (he said self-mockingly but with a hint of seriousness).

I'll try to update more often, or at least when something fun and exciting happens.

Trinity Con

So, the TV preview was a bust. The main attraction was a pilot the guy from the market testing group claimed was a year or two years ago but was hopelessly cheesy and littered with bad acting, bad dialogue, bad editing, and that, quite frankly, looked at least a decade old. I attended the event with John and Sean, buddies from way back, and they believed the pilot, "Soulmates", to have been a soap opera (which would explain a lot), but I think it was just really, really, really bad primetime TV.

But on an entirely lighter and far more interesting note, I went to the Southfield, Michigan Trinity Con. It's mostly a gaming event for role-players and card game folks and all that, but the real attraction was that Dwayne McDuffie, prolific comic writer and story editor/writer on Justice League Unlimited, was there. I probably spent more time driving there and back than I did at the actual show, but it was worth it. I had a chance to chat with Mr. McDuffie and then attended a panel on JLU and the upcoming batch of episodes. I had an incredible time, and it was a real thrill to be able to talk to one of my favorite writers. He even remembered me from his message board and for the signed card he'd sent off from the San Diego Comic-con (another amazing thing I have to thank him for again).

Here's a couple of the interesting things I learned at the show, with all spoiler bits blotted out for you protection:

JLU's audience is 40 to 45 percent women, surprising because most action series are targeted toward boys while comedy-action series target girls. Shows like JLU are expected to pull in about a quarter female audience, so JLU is looked upon as a fluke.

Static Shock's Gameboy game is continually in flux. One week it's ready to ship, the next, it's being held up indefinitely. Additionally the next Static Shock DVD is unscheduled, despite the fact the first DVD outsold the first Teen Titans DVD volume released at the same time.

JLU producer James Tucker is hard at work prepping ***********. It'll be outside JLU continuity because *********** is on the team.

*********** will be appearing on JLU in a episode structured like the *********** that *********** used to appear in.

Bruce Timm is working on two original series right now.

Mr. McDuffie is working on a potential *********** series. Although other *********** characters will appear it won't be part of *********** continuity, and will have a more anime flavor.

Vague enough for you? Anyway, I had a great time. I found a few Suicide Squad and Hardware comics for sale from the only vendor selling comics at the show. I really, really enjoyed the Hardware issues and will keep an eye out for more in the future.

So, hopefully something equally interesting will happen in the next little while so I can tell all the people that frequent my blog about it. Until then...

Hi there.

So, Johnny, my "brother from another", got tickets to a TV pilot preview. I don't remember the details, but it had to do with his work at the Toronto Film Festival last month. I'll try to remember what happened so the imaginary visitors to my blog can get all the juicy details, but I'll probably have to sign a confidentiality agreement or something. I'd still like to write about it for my online feature writing course.

I'll get back to you on that later.

About the Other Day

Hi there.

Meanwhile, there isn't much to report on my front. I got together with John, Edmond, and Sean the other day. We went to "Time-Out" (possibly the worst name for a sports bar next to "3rd Quarter") and the guys drank while we played pool. I even played a round in between picking songs on the jukebox. The guys had a few beers at John's place before we arrived at T.O so by the time we left they were pretty loaded. We looked around John's basement a bit too -- I saw a bunch of his old toys from the 80s, he has a complete set of Superfriends that I'd love to take off his hands, but he's too stubborn to sell. I'd just take them, but he would actually notice they're gone.

Aside from that, I went to Sobey's. They still sell comics there so I got the latest issue of Peter David's Hulk, which is amazing. I'll definitely be getting the next issue. It's a real gem and recommended for anyone who comes across this blog (yeah, right).

Yesterday I went to the unveiling of the Ellen Fairclough stamp with my grandmother (yup, I'm super cool). There was a full buffet spread and the food was surprisingly good. And the dessert was incredible.

Let's try this again...

I watched a bit of today's Jerry Springer, "I'm really a woman", or some such nonsense. And I literally mean watched -- I was talking to John, a big Spinger fan in the day, so much so that his email is still jerryspri@popularemailservice.com (I can't figure out how to not have the fake email highlighted like that. Sorry). Today's show was basically two out of shape women fighting over for a man John recognized as a heroine addict (the cheekbones, he says, are giveaways). Do people still watch Springer, because if it weren't for the odd flip into mid-broadcast I'd just as well assume it was cancelled back in 1998. Is there still an audience for that rubbish, a sentiment espoused by my dad back when I used to watch the show for fun as a teen, but that I now find myself feeling, or are the viewers merely folks like myself, viewing the show as an exercise of curiosity? Not that I expect an answer or anything...

The weather was nice today. Almost BC-esque -- blue skies, a nice breeze. It's warm inside so I've been using Kleenex to wipe my forehead, only to have bits tear off and get stuck to my face. So here's a notice: If you see me, and I have something stuck to my face that shouldn't me there, please, let me know.

Right well, hopefully I'll offer up more scintillating commentary soon. Have a good day.