Friday, December 31, 2021

Thursday, December 30, 2021

Snake River and Phantom Carriage


 Our only real holiday plan this year was that we got tickets for live music, performed by local musicians "Snake River" with the early 20s silent film "The Phantom Carriage" from Sweden. I really wasn't sure what to expect, but I'm always game for this type of thing. It was loud and rockus but I found it deeply meditative and satisfying. I bought one of their records (on vinyl) which they all signed. 

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Painting again

 

Feeling very out of practice but did a painting of this Polaroid JoyCam that Marc LaFoy sent me. I might have to re-do it as it is rather clumsy. The cold and the crowded kitchen are both distractions. 

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Nightmare Alley

Cheap Tuesday tickets drew us back out into the cold for another movie tonight.  Loved the new Del Toro film Nightmare Alley. Just what I hoped it would be. 

Monday, December 27, 2021

Cold


 Very cold this week. We thought it would be a good idea to stay home, but instead we went to see the new Spiderman movie (which was lots of fun). Full price in 3D is a pretty penny, but it's a little gift to ourselves. 

Sunday, December 26, 2021

Boxing day visiting

Before going to Lori's yesterday, we took home covid tests (all good). Today we asked Mike and Paul over, getting them to do tests first as well. This new Omicron varient of covid spreads really easily and it causing much distress everywhere. We played some Bang!,  some Boss Monster (gift from Geremy), and as they were leaving, we played through the whole deck of Snake Oil.
Earlier in the day, we caught up with Gertrud and Fred and George and exchanged a few gifts. 

 

Saturday, December 25, 2021

Christmas day

We slept in, opened stuff, had snacks, then went to Lori's for supper. Dad was in good spirits, even though he was there well past when he usually gets grumpy (9:15!). We didn't stay late.











 

Friday, December 24, 2021

Christmas eve



 Christmas even was predictably busy. We ran around delivering gifts to people, most notably Margaret's family because they were going to have Simon's family over for the evening and the crowd was getting too big. It ends up that Simon's kids are sick so that was off, but I already had my turnkey in the oven. Geremy, Ellen, and Rory came over for an exchange of the front step. Quinn came a short time later with a game for William; Tapestry, that we played until late into the night (making numerous mistakes but eventually figuring it out). 

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Pies


 Margaret made three pies with granny smith apples. We ate one, the other two are gifts. 

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Of Monsters and Men concert



 Margaret bought me an online concert with "Of Monsters and Men" for this evening. I really loved it. I think this band is one of my favorites and I was glued to the whole event. Best gift. 

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

new doctor


 One of my specialists moved away and I met with a new doctor this afternoon. It was  long wait in his office and a short meeting/conversation but he sent me away to get some bloodwork. Told me it could wait until the new year since labs were busy. Decided to go to Southland after the doctor and noticed a lack of lineup at the lab so I went in, they took blood, and I was out of there in minutes. 

Monday, December 20, 2021

Winter soltice


 My students from Iran celebrate "Yalda" on the shortest night of the year (which I found out later was tomorrow) and they do so by gathering with friends and eating fruit such as watermelon and pomegranate. It was just the three of us at home, but I did get watermelon. 

Sunday, December 19, 2021

perogies


 Spent much of the day with mom making perogies. Counting the broken ones (which we fried and ate), the total was about 20 dozen. I can pinch a dozen in 8 minutes. 

Saturday, December 18, 2021

Drawing gifts and letter


 William has finished his term so is now relaxing and also drawing some gifts for friends and drawing portions of our holiday letter. Good to see him drawing for pure pleasure again. 

Friday, December 17, 2021

Shooting Department videos


 Went to work and shot a partially written, partially improvised 2 minute video about me and my teaching and research for the Film unit review video. Got to do it without a mask. Probably worked out okay. Mike Rollo was directing and Ian and Morgan were there too. 

Thursday, December 16, 2021

Filmpool screening


 Filmpool had a member's screening at the RPL. Lots of filmmakers there (probably half the crowd). There were a couple intriguing works but overall I wasn't as engaged as I usually am at these events. They did screen the workshop film I was involved in this summer: "Truth". 

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Haircut

William and I both got our haircuts today. I wanted to look sane for my video I need to shoot this week and for next semester. 
 

Monday, December 13, 2021

Christmas letter


 We've been sending out our Christmas letter over the past week or so. Margaret drew most of it and William added a portion. I printed them on linen paper which has allowed for some watercolour to be added. Some get more than others. As the letter writing progressed, Margaret got increasingly interested in adding larger amounts of colour. The ones I did early in the writing session had minimal colour and possibly none at all. 

Sunday, December 12, 2021

Tree up


 William and I went out and found a tree yesterday before John Porter's talk. It is only about 7 feet high and was wrapped. We got it in the daylight while the weather was still reasonable (as opposed to every other year when we shop at night in extreme cold) but didn't have a truck. We brought a tarp, rolled it in the tarp in the parking lot of Lowes, slid it into the trunk of my car, and brought it home and in without mishap. We have one large cardboard box of ornaments and no lights. Lori gave us a bunch of lights and I discovered that the box contained cleaned ornaments without their packages so there were a lot more than I originally feared. Put pretty much all of them up here. 

Saturday, December 11, 2021

John Porter online talk


 Really amusing talk from John Porter, stationed at the Cinecycle in Toronto and talking about a number of aspects of his career as part of the Echo Part Film Centre anniversary festivities that are monthly this year. John's personality and calm demeaner flooded through as he presented his ideas with complete conviction but at the same time was awkward around the streaming platform that fortunately was being monitored and controlled by others in the room. No real time for conversation but lovely nonetheless. 

Friday, December 10, 2021

Catching up on blog


 December has been more busy than ever before. It is actually December 27 as I write this, trying to catch up on past posts. I had Sylvie on my lap a few weeks ago. She is having winter anxiety and taken to meowing at empty rooms and sitting on laps more often. This has increased throughout the month. 

Thursday, December 9, 2021

Lots of art talks


 Went to the university for three meetings (one online) and then picked up lights from Lori (generously replacing ours that were lost in the fire) and then went to Slate opening (saw Jeff Nachtigall and Heather Cline). Then hope for a Neutral Ground talk which crossed over with a MacKenzie Art Gallery talk. 

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Getting back to normal and painting again


 Busy day grading. I felt that I got enough done that I deserved a camera painting break. This once came from Barb Mader. She always comments on seeing bananas behind the paintings so I made sure to move them close. 

Monday, December 6, 2021

Fit for a throne


 William finished his painting class with a crit today. I also finished my last class of the term. We hung his self portrait (wearing crown of bones) over the throne in our bathroom. Looks great there but we will eventually need to lacquer it as the oil paint is pervasive. 

Sunday, December 5, 2021

Saint Nicholas Day


Empied our shoes. Someone left candy and books. Newest Coupland and Folgio. William then went to finish his painting (crit tomorrow). 
 

Saturday, December 4, 2021

Painting sale at Balkwill


 Went to the Regina Brushwork Art Guild show and sale at the Balkwill today. As expected, there was a big range of work. As each individual only hands a small number (one? perhaps two?), the eclecticism is overwhelming. I was taken by a large flower painting (by Erin Zimmerman) the went appropriately too far. This is only a part of it (it was in a hallway so I could not back up far enough to get a full shot). 

Friday, December 3, 2021

Dean of MAP

 At a zoom announcement this morning, we were informed the Rae Staseson was stepping down as the Dean of MAP. No reason was given and no discussion was opened up. 

Thursday, December 2, 2021

Phone anniversary

 Phones (mine and William's) are officially paid off now. I switched to some even cheaper plans (although I think they are better for us than our old plans). 

This evening we went down 13th Avenue where all the shops were staying open late as per their annual tradition.