Canada Day

 

First day of my retirement. Mom called first thing and wanted to go for coffee. Having no conflicts, we went to French Press (contrary to Margaret's concerns, it seemed like everyplace was open). This afternoon slipped back to the office and looked BEHIND things and found a couple pieces of garbage and removed them. Back home, I edited William's CJTR Sunday Funnies radio show for this week (a task I rarely talk about but have been doing every week for four years). Barbequed ribs. I tried to do some writing but felt a bit tired so didn't get much done. Margaret and William walked down to the Albert Street bridge to watch fireworks but I opted out, started to sort my stuff in the garage instead.I caught a bit of the show from the close bridge. Margaret phoned to say they ran into four of my students and invited them back to the house for a fire. Almost all the wood is damp so it was a struggle to get it going before they arrive, but did it. They hung out until 1:30 then I drove them home. I'd wanted to invite them over today but it was rainy and Dani was moving today, so I thought it was a bad idea. It's so great that it came together in an unplanned way anyway. 

Last day of work

My day started with a TWO HOUR visit to the dentist with my mom to wait for her in the waiting room where they had great art on the walls but played game shows on the tv. I really needed to get back to the office and didn't get there until noon. Dianne helped me sort stuff for a while, until she had to go and I had scheduled to borrow the faculty truck Lee helped me move my carts. I got the keys back to him by 4:45 and then worked with my brother in law Al who helped me box and bag a bunch more stuff. Exhausted and starving, I headed home at 7:00 and ate and returned with Margaret and William who got me over the finish line, emptying the office and studio entirely and getting all my stuff consolidated into the garage. We were home by 11:30 and I think I got drunk by mindnight on one glass of gin and fresca (it was a strong one). I am retired after 27 years as a professor (now emeritus) in the department of Film at the University of Regina. It was quite a ride. 
 

Some lasts

 Office still in progress. 
William developed his one take super 8 film (my last use of the Film Department darkroom).
Our little fish dies. The catfish will miss him. He pushed his body into his cave to take care of him. 

Small treasures

 I have countless things tucked away in my office. Many are surprises to me, having forgot when and why I put them there. This is one that I saved for posterity, knowing that it was not long for the world. 

New cameras atop need to downsize

More office cleaning today (it's Saturday, but an advantage is that I can park right outside the doors all day). . The mess is still gigantic, but is actually coming along. Drawers and shelves are emptying. Much of the stuff is gone. I bought some chemistry at Don's photo and was gifted a bunch of cameras to paint (all non-functioning). 

Mecha-Canister film shoot

Big shooting day in the studio, the last with this team of students. I was mostly Mecha-Canister, a giant robotic version of Canister the Robot, which has been built to protect the city from a series of invading monsters. No plot of dialog scenes, just effects scenes. Threw out a lot of stuff at the end of the day. Cast and crew were Dani Fink, Rebekah Illingworth, Nicte Recinos-Lane, Robert Stevenson, Aiden San Andres, and Katya Shyshenina along with Geremy Lague and William. Nicte brought a mouse costume. Katya played a couple roles. Geremy's daughter was stressed by the possibility of there being too many strangers on the crew so opted out. 

Photos here are mostly shot by Robert. 

Preparing to film

I had hospital tests this morning which left me a bit drained, so when my set up time at the studio will all my students was interrupted by a real fire alarm, I admit I was a bit glad to send everyone home. Half the time was spent emptying things out of my office anyway. I'm giving a lot of 16mm films to Rebekah and and lot of film chemistry things to her and Dani. 

Speaking of fire, thought we didn't see any at the university (fire truck did arrive), we lit our own. Allan came over and I bought his newly printed (and dedicated) second half of the Critters set.