Particular thanks go out to those who filled my mailbox with letters and gifts while I was busy coping with this miserable son-of-a-bitch of a summer. I couldn't believe some of the things that were sent my way, and I don't have enough words to thank those who sent all of this stuff to me. Examples include (but are not even remotely limited to) the following baker's dozen items:
1.) Several entries on The Milk Carton (always hugely appreciated), 2.) a DVD of an amazingly entertaining Canadian cop buddy movie called "Bon Cop, Bad Cop (this was sent to me from someone who doesn't like my taste in movies, and I was absolutely amazed at how much fun this particular movie was), 3.) a copy of a novel called "De Niro's Game" about which Gabrielle wrote a highly positive review in the Globe and Mail, 4.) about 20-25 newspaper clippings (from 10-12 separate readers) from Canadian newspapers that featured Gabrielle (to include her appearances at the 2007 Juno awards, articles about awards she won like at the Leos this June, for example), a charity event that she was part of for a Corner Gas crewmember who was tragically paralyzed, and so on, 5.) (from four separate readers) "Corner G and the Rub" travel mugs, 6.) a DVD movie about the 1917 Halifax explosion from a resident of Halifax, 7.) the first season of "Due South" on DVD, 8.) the first and second seasons of "Trailer Park Boys" on DVD, 9.) the first season of Robson Arms on DVD, 10.) the first season of an amazingly good show called "Traders" on DVD, 11.) a Montreal Canadiens watch from a benevolent albeit misguided soul who wants me to bail on the Islanders and support the Habs (not going to happen, but I have to admit it's a hell of a nice watch), 12.) and three separate invitations from residents of three separate Canadian NHL cities which read like this: "if the Islanders and you am ever in my neck of the woods at the same time, dinner, drinks and tickets to the game are on me. Bring your better half, too." It doesn't get much better than that, but�
� 13.) I also got an absolutely beautiful CFL sweatshirt from one reader who said "Since you won't tell me what your favorite team is, I'm deciding it for you." She didn't get the team right, but she did a great job with the size. I'm wearing the shirt as I write this. I have several New York Giants and Islanders sweatshirts, and none are nearly as good quality as this CFL one. The person who sent this to me sent me a smaller one for my better half, too. To say that she was shocked by this would be a major understatement, and the writer's team conversion tactic did actually work on her (she didn't have a favorite CFL team before this, but she sure does now). Yet another sports rivalry in our house has been born�
�and there's even quite a bit more on top of all of that. Many, many thanks to all of you. I really don't have the words. I can't tell you how many times I opened my mailbox and walked away speechless over the past few months.
If Gabrielle ever takes a look at this site, I hope she learns from all of this that her fans are a pretty good bunch. Personally, I can't thank this site's readers enough. Of all the people who have sent me items like I've outlined above, there are very few who have ever received anything from me, and yet they sent me these things anyway - for no reason other than they knew things sucked for us this summer and they wanted to try to help alleviate it all. How, exactly, does it get better than that? Never in a million years would I have imagined that running such an amateurishly-constructed fan site could be this rewarding.
It's not exactly a secret that I'm miles and miles behind on my plans for the site - I'm two seasons behind on bloopers, and I've got a lot of Milk Carton items to catch up on. I'm hoping to return to my routine of updating the site once a month or so, but no promises - at least until the smoke of this past summer clears. If the next few months are anything like what I've dealt with recently, the next update might not be until well into 2008. Rest assured, however, that I haven't quit on the site. As long as Gabrielle keeps getting work and I can still type, the site will keep moving forward.
At any rate, this update finishes off my fourth-season Corner Gas reviews (Outside Joke, One Piano Four Hands, Kids Stuff, Mother's Day, Census Sensibility, The Good Old Table Hockey Game, Lacey Borrows, Potato Bowl, Seeing Things, Happy Campers, Gopher It), along with several additions to the FAQ page (the list has been extended from 68 to 104).
There are actually many more FAQ items that could have been included (and eventually they will be), but for now I'm limiting the additions because of a superb suggestion from a site reader. When I have the time to get this done, I will be splitting the FAQ section into two parts: questions involving Gabrielle and questions from those who ask me things having nothing to do with her work (Giants, Jets, Islanders, Rangers, Mets, Yankees, New York, D.C, sports as a whole, what's up with my better half, my taste in movies and TV shows, etc.). This will allow those who are interested only in Gabrielle-related questions to be able to read them without having to wade through the other stuff as the FAQ list grows longer.
For now, the FAQ questions in this update range from several slams at my expense, to my Super Bowl predictions, to my opinion of the Sopranos finale, to my whereabouts on 9/11, to multiple questions about King of New York and Slow Pitch, not to mention a lengthy question about my better half's taste in TV and movies from someone whose girlfriend doesn't share his opinions (classic question on his part, actually), some serious gloating from B.C. residents about getting the 2010 Olympics, and lots more in between. Some particularly weird and rude questions are in the list, so if you have enjoyed some of the previous questions you should get a real kick out of some of the new ones. If you've read the previous entries, just start at #69 and keep going.
Lastly, I updated the Comedic MVP list (the list of each episode's funniest actor according to yours truly) to extend through the season 4 finale. I have had two people write in and say they couldn't open it; if you experience similar difficulities drop me a line at [email protected] and I'll e-mail a copy of the list to you.
Future plans include bloopers for the third and fourth seasons, as well as a fairly long series of upcoming Milk Carton reviews. I still have lots of missing Milk Carton items, though, so if you find items on the list any please let me know. I'll make it worth your while.
At any rate, I apologize again for the absurd amount of time since the last update and can only hope can understand that it was unavoidable. I hope all is well with all of you. Many thanks again to all who wrote and sent me such classy Canadian swag during my unfortunate and unplanned hiatus.
Cheers - Grad 86