Mooky and Imax

 I met for coffee with Berny this morning. During that meeting, I discovered the Mooky hasn't left town yet but is leaving this afternoon. We attended the 6 minute trailer (on Imax film) for the forthcoming film by Christopher Nolan "Tenet". No intro or context but it was free and big and loud. After that we ran our card to Mooky and helped her run an errand and dropped her at the airport. Have a happy vacation with your family!

Painting

Whenever the table is clear of card writing or baking or games, I have been trying to do some paintings. Geremy lent me four of his cameras and I've borrowed a couple from Gerda. I don't want to keep other people's stuff too long. I figure if I return things on time, it creates good will to borrow more.

New Star Wars

 As part of our Christmas gift to the girls (and as a way to ensure that we do at least one social activity with them during their week in Regina) I booked Star Wars Rise of Skywalker tickets last week for us to all attend at 11 am today. We got perfect seats then had coffee afterwards. The rest of their day was naturally filled with activities George planned but the three of us went home and watched episodes 1 and 2. 

Thesis defense

Over the past couple of weeks I've been preparing notes and thoughts and questions as my first time in the role of being an external examiner on a master's thesis! I was asked my Science to be the external for a master's paper on a computer animation/graphics project by Tina Sturgeon. She did very well, having worked on this project for quite some time and knowing the material well. I was very thrilled and honoured to be a part of this process. 

Turntable fixed ..... no!

I picked up my turntable from Audio Warehouse. Kevin had discovered that a micro-sensor had become dirty and stopped it from turning on and he had it working for the past few days. However, when I got it home and connected it back up, it didn't work. I called  him to see if he'd locked something that I'd overlooked but he was baffled. I took it back and everything appeared in order, it just doesn't turn (which is an important attribute for a turntable). 

Baking

I'm not used to my new phone yet so I've not been clicking as many process pictures as I'd usually. I've been trying to bake a bit every day. Did some ginger snaps as well as peanut butter cookies. In total, I peak around 10 different cookies - when I hit that point, there are enough tins and it just gets confusing after that. 

Allan last supper of year

Allan is off visiting friends out of town later in the week so this is our last supper before January. Wanted to go to "Talkies" but supper ran late so we skipped it and played some vampire card game instead. Nice evening full of cookies and card drawing.

Margaret Bessai suggesting what sort of magic might be in that old silk hat...

Leesa's final day

I had some work at the office to take care of (more on that later) and was able to see Leesa one last time. She gave me this painting which I'll hang in the stairway. Leesa has vacated all he spaces and is getting in the car to leave Regina one last time today. Miss her. 

Digging pipes at Dave's

Our next door neighbour Dave is needing his pipes to the street dug out. Long term this is good, although no one needs this hassle and expense. In the spring I think we should re-do the flower bed that we share between properties as it has been full of weeks. I guess he'll finally get that new front step too...

Cat Cafe party

Carly Steele invited us to a fundraiser at the Cat Cafe this evening. The cats were quite amazing. I had a conversation with Brian Gladwell and didn't stay late.

Wrapping presents while William parties

William went to the party hosted by the visual arts students. Feels a bit strange not socializing with him in a context such as this, but it's inevitable. Kevin McKenzie was there but didn't stay long. It was a party for the kids (William wasn't partaking in the tequila shots, but he did get his xmas play list played and he built some sort of modernist gingerbread house). I wrapped presents for him and listened to records. That's a party to me.

AGR with Todd Gronsdahl

Opening exhibition of really funny satirical sculptures by Todd Gronsdahl about Saskatchewan maritime history with replicas and artifacts. I had to cut out early for a Filmpool meeting.

Painting at home

Over past two days I painted the two cameras I borrowed from Gerda. One is a fairly small (not the smallest) spy camera. The other is a box camera. My geometry is a bit off at times, but the photos make them look more off kilter than in real life. 

Department lunch

Department went to Crave for lunch today. I was a few minutes late, having thought we were going to Skye again but realizing it as I parked (the name on the sign doesn't jive with the image in my head of what the email said...). Nice meal. Talked mostly with Philippe and students Gabby and Calic.

First final exam

William's first final exam is now history. No, actually it was "art history". He studied for hours every day, creating flash cards for all the rote memory aspects of it. He thinks he did all right on it. The weather was cold so when Allen came over, we opted for an evening in with games. 

Going away party for Leesa

Leesa Streifler has been teaching painting at the UofR since I was an undergrad in the 80s. I didn't know here then and didn't really know her well until I started here in 1999 but after that we became good friends. She was the first, and one of the few, to reach out and invite me to her studio to talk art and possibly work together. I posed for some photos with her just prior to my surgery in 2001 and she was extremely supportive of my art, my health, and my family. When she adopted Daniel and he was only three weeks younger than William, we began socializing even more, talking like parents talk, not just like friends or like colleagues (parents reach into something deeper, perhaps due to the need to fill time as the kids do kid stuff). She's moving to Winnipeg so I'll likely see her now and then, but her presence at the university  and as part of that place being a home to me will be missed.

Trimmed the tree

Didn't need actual trimming this year as it was only 7 feet high, we decorated the tree with our favorite ornaments (which is about half of our total ornaments). It's a very thirsty tree, drinking well over a litre of water every day.

Borrowing cameras

After supper at mom's last night, I went to Geremy's for an hour and borrowed a few cameras to paint (more on those next week). I then went to Gerda's regular Monday morning coffee nook and borrowed a couple cameras from her. Her house is always full of surprises.

William in Junction/Woods art show

William has a 12 inch square drawing of Santa (with one eye) in the Every Nook and Cranny Volume 2 art show at the Woods Gallery within the Junction Creative Studio on McIntyre St. There was a good crowd of people flowing through with dozens of artists, young and old, represented and for sale. My family all came out. Matt had a piece in as well. I also ran into Erik Norbraten whom I've not seen in decades.

Maureen visits

Maureen and Rick came to Regina for a few days. Lori hosted them, as well as putting on supper on Saturday night. I made nanaimo bars earlier in the day.

Gertrud's new cat

Gertrud is fostering a really big orange cat. She really likes to have a cat in the house but says she doesn't want to own a new one outright. This one is nice. Perhaps fostering is the thing for her. Also big surprise on second floor of her house...

bought tree

Nice to see George. First time since summer. He and Simon picked us up for tree shopping. The big ones were all gone but there were plenty of medium sized ones like this. 

End of classes

William survived his first term on university (at least the class part). He submitted his two end of term essays and has final exams spread over the next two weeks. He's proud of the work he did on his art research paper, utilizing quite a number of sources including a heavy stack of books.

Linen suit ordered

At long last, I've ordered the suit that William requested as his combined graduating high school and surviving surgery award. He was measured down at Venice Tailors for a three piece, off white linen suit. It won't be done until sometime in January but we saw an example of another linen suit he just made and it's pretty great. 

Light Up the Village

The stores along 13th Avenue were all open late for their annual Light Up the Village event. It's always nice but also shockingly crowded at times. Our tour began with the opening of the group exhibition at Slate.

Gifts from Chine and Russia

Christina brought very thoughtful keepsakes for me from her recent trip to Russia and China. Amazing and sweet (and I'm not talking about the chocolate). 

new phone

Bought a Samsung phone today, and one for William. My plan won't change at all, so I just end up with a new phone. William doesn't want to use his. I don't know how to convince him to even turn it on.