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PDBRN #2. Nothin’ like some good food, great drinks, interesting flicks, a bit o’ cosplay with the real honest-to-god Wonder Woman, and a little Bob Ross to liven up those dreary Parisian nights …
 

I dared dream a dream. A dream only a madman could dream. Or perhaps any five year old. I dreamed a dream of four fabulous friends. Fighting crime. Eating greasy pizza. Watching so-bad-they’re-good movies. Running around town. I dared dream a dream … of dressing up and playing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

Now, you can’t play ninja turtles with just anybody. It’s got to be the right kind of people. The kind of people who will literally play in traffic on boulevard Saint-Laurent with you and hurt themselves late one weekend night, just ’cause you ask them to. So of course, my brother-from-another-mother, Joshua P. Budman, immediately came to mind. But who else? His partner in crime, the magnificent Monica, was an obvious candidate – but would she fit the bill? Answer: hells yeah! A woman whose favourite film of all time is Troll 2 is the kind of woman you marry, let alone the perfect one with whom to play ninja turtles. Just sayin’. So I had my Leo, Donatello, and Raph. But who would be our fourth, and arguably most important player??? Where would I find someone talented enough to pull off, “COWABUNGA, DUDE!”?

Enter the ebullient, enrapturing Emily. The moment I described my dream, I saw a familiar gleam in her eyes. And even before she enthusiastically jumped at the chance to join, I knew I had found my Michelangelo. The circle was complete. What followed was a memorable day and night I will not soon forget. And Miami Connection, which I will also not soon forget. Dragon Sound rules!

Thanks for a wonderful time guys. Can’t wait for the next adventure 🙂

So many years. So many changes. Yet, some things never really change at all. And you can pick up more or less from where you left off. It’s oddly comforting. Strangely satisfying. A last-minute late-night pizza and a wander around town. Just like the old days. The Châteauguay boys.

It’s a little-known fact that the fastest and cheapest means of transportation from Paris to Montreal is actually via the metro. Just hop on line 15, which passes through Gare Montparnasse, and a mere five hours and eleventy-ten minutes later you will arrive at the Square-Victoria station on the orange line – all for the price of a standard ticket!

Once in town, I immediately got down to business by trying to steal baby Catalina and baby Xavier. For some strange reason, however, they did not play along, and anyhow seemed to prefer my mother. Go figure.

Next on the agenda was a quick brunch with some of the ol’ gang at Chez Cora. It’s where all the cool kids go, you know. Never disappoints. I mean, « Crêpomelette »? That’s bloody magic right there.

Finally, I got to say hello to my good friend Tommy Wiseau at the Love is Blind Tour 10th Anniversary presentation of The Room, screened officially for the first time in Montreal at the Dollar Cinema. He got a little up close and personal, but that’s just Tommy. Ha, Ha, Ha.

Anyway, how is your sex life?

As a little reward for finally finishing the second of my three papers, I decided to hit an underground “Princes and Princesses” Party as the Disney Prince Aladdin. I tried to go for this.

It came out a little like this.

At least Titou makes a great Abu, and I’m pretty proud of the way my hand-sewn mini-fez turned out.

For the record, I am not gay. And Laura makes awesome dark-chocolate truffles.

A long, hot shower in the dark. Relationship of Command playing in the background. Yes. Very yes.

At 2:34am I finally came up with the penultimate (minor) result of the main paper I’ve been working on for approximately the past 2 years and 12 days. I might just get all this done. The paper’s probably not even that great, but I’m moderately pleased with myself, and as a result will take the rest of the night off for some much-needed sleep. Go me.

Almost thirteen years ago (wow, I am old), six near-brilliant young men sat down, thought hard, and came up with one of the stupidest ideas in the history of stupid ideas; and thus was born a nickname that stuck around for far, far too long.

Two years ago to the day, yours truly landed in Paris.

And now it truly is … The Year of the Horse.

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

To all my mates back in Oz and around the world, Happy Australia Day! I hope amongst all the celebrations or solemn moments, time is taken to reflect upon life the universe, and everything; in particular, the experiences of “the other”. If nothing else, give a moment of thought to Australian of the Year Adam Goodes, and his efforts to combat racism in Australian society and reconcile the shames of the past with a hopeful future.
 

Also, always remember: don’t feed the kangaroos.