Halloween

Relatively quiet Halloween. William dressed up for his day at the university and brought back carmel apples. We were reading Allan's new graphic novel, which is great any day but particularly fun on Halloween. Margaret had an extra eye. I didn't dress up. We had around 50 kids. 

William in Fifth Parallel art gallery

Images above from the closing reception of the Fifth Parallel gallery curated exhibition "BOO!" about macabre art. William's drawing "Grandma's Surprise" was selected for exhibition. Busy night as William headed to a Tampopo screening and meal with the Philosophy Department right after it. Margaret and I popped into Slate for Michael Hosaluk's "Wood Woodn't" show.

50 Different Cameras

Today I painted my 50th DIFFERENT camera. My supply of different cameras is running a bit low so I'll be looking to borrow from people if I am to reach 100 by this time next year. Today I selected my Canon AE-1, which was my go-to camera for 35mm stills for the about 25 years, beginning in high school. It has my Tamron macro focus lens mounted for this painting. 

Carving pumpkins

After Talkies tonight (Jayden Pfeifer was great talking about "Spooky Buddies", his co-host kept a seat warm), we literally dug into the pumpkins. Jack-o-lanterns are ready.
Allan brought over his graphic novel, hot off the presses. Amazing looking book. 

Saturday mixed bag of events

Many errands today. I bought Margaret a new laptop but only later did I realized that I'd made an error about my choice and perhaps should exchange it. We shopped for Halloween costumes. I painted a web cam, my 49th different camera. Margaret took part in an "exquisite corpse" artist trading card event. In the evening, we watched "The Hunger" on TCM, first time I've watched it since the 80s. 

Debbie Wozniak-Bonk

This was a great warm day, probably the last of the year, so we got the back yard cleaned up and many of the leaves raked to the side of the house as ground cover over the un-sodded gumbo there. Tarped the chairs under the gazebo and put the table into the garage and put the winter windows in (even thoug they still needed repairing). I was achy but we went to Debbie Wozniak-Bonk's opening at the Assiniboia Art Gallery. Nice work and had a chance to talk to her about her work and deviated into the subject of signatures for a while.

Zombie Paul

Moderately long wait at hospital for doctor appointment. Sat in a small alcove that I think might have been a phone booth at one point. Helped me relax.

Paul over for supper. Goofed around a bit.

laser science

Went to lecture on microscopic laser surgery held by the Faculty of Science by Dr. R. J. Dwayne Miller of the University of Toronto and The Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter. This was pretty interesting. It will allow tools to pass between cells and make cuts and do things like destroy cancer cells without scars. The scar issue isn't about marks and vanity, it is about being able to re-enter prior surgery sites or spaces that have not yet healed and conduct more surgery when before there would have been limitations.

He also pointed out that his experiments with testing water memory showed that it holds memory for less time than most other things, returning to pre-memory state at the speed of sound. However, this has not stopped the homeopathy people from citing his paper over 500 times in some attempt to use his research which disproves their claims (again) as proof of their claims.

Painted.

More Bolex painting

Lori is still away. I don't feel brave enough to go off script on the Bolex paintings yet, but perhaps next week.  Ward complimented my approach to the craft. 

Election day

William voted for the first time this year. Results were a minority liberal government with only conservatives in Saskatchewan, so what can we say about that? William raked leaves to create a scarecrow.

One last birthday event

Gertrud and Fred came over for a drink and to celebrate Margaret's birthday. They also brought William a couple of things, having been away during his birthday in August.

We didn't have cake as everyone was saving their appatites for mom's church's fowl supper. Nice conversations with Sean, Quinn, and Mason. 

Convocation

Fall convocation all fits into one day. I didn't see Jingyi but did see the MA journalism students that I worked with earlier this year: Karishma and Chinenye, who completed their one  year programs. 

I painted my "go to" super-8 camera, a Canon that has a limited but useful macro lens and can shoot single frames and fold to fit in a pocket.

 Opening for work by Wilf Perreault at the Nouveau Gallery was crowded and a large portion of the paintings seem to be sold. After the gallery we had supper with Paul and I gave Margaret the bee painting she picked out a couple weeks ago at Art Now.

Kyath at RPL

Independents screening this evening with Kyath Battie's films, focusing primarily on "night time". Slow and beautiful work. 

Margaret's Birthday

Strange birthday all around today. I went painting, leaving Margaret in bed with coffee and pie and a book. She thus forgot her dentist appointment (at the time, she must have thought having her teeth cleaned on her birthday was a good idea). She sent William off to class and went to a rescheduled afternoon appointment, but shortly after I got home, so did William as he thought class was cancelled (it was moved, but he didn't read his email closely enough). He started working on his Halloween costume, which attracted the cats. He and I then worked on a secret video about making muffins. Margaret and I shopped for a new laptop in the evening (got some leads but no purchase yet). Book store after William finished his evening class, then home for drinks. Many confused events, spilled drinks, wrong colours, and broken glass, but also ice cream, conversations with friends, and relaxing moments.

Early birthday pie

We began Margaret's birthday a day early with pie and candles and some storytelling games with Allan.
Earlier in the day, William and I were lunching at Hendersons and noticed that the Fifth Parallel student gallery exhibition in the Riddell Centre on campus had been installed and it includes his drawing "Grandma's Surprise". The show is called "Boo!" and the theme is the macabre.

Thanksgiving #2

The big second Thanksgiving that Richard and Gerda host at the seniors centre was very nice, although quieter this year owing to a number of the regular children being missing due to flues. George was out on the farm as expected, even though it was snowing as we headed out.
William engaged Fred in lengthy conversation about IQ tests.

 Earlier in the day we lunched with Erik, visiting from Calgary (solo this trip).