Author: greatwallstudios

Today we celebrate the birth of our eldest child. Would a warm-ish, sunny, cheerful day have been preferred? Yes. But given the time of year I’ll settle for not raining/snowing just yet. That may come later today, but right now, right this second no precipitation of any sort.

I remember how cold and snowy it was the year they were born. We had to spend more than 48 hours in the hospital before we could be allowed to leave. Others on the floor were having a rough go of it, so we got pushed back a few times. It was ok though. Nervous new parents liked having the safety net of the nursing staff around for the first two nights. They showed us proper baby bathing technique, and shared various (differing) points of view on just about everything baby related. Which was at once helpful, and weird. Depended on the nurse on shift.

Then by the time we had the second child a lot of protocols were different, and the views once again singular to the nurse on duty. No two were exactly in agreement. Which I felt was odd, but I’m no medical professional. We’re all so different I suppose it’s fairly easy to all see very different things and come to your own conclusions apart from everyone else, and what they have encountered. Human – aren’t we unique? Troublingly so, I’d imagine.

Almost a decade in with the oldest. Have come a long long way. Tried a tonne of extra curriculars, and right now Taekwondo seems to be top of the pops! Along with non competitive gymnastics, snowboarding, and swimming to round it all off. Wakeboarding was a huge hit this summer once we got over the fear of deep water starts, but then we got to see some wake carving, and a face plant or two. Two enthusiastic thumbs up! Tubing behind the boat was an even bigger draw for both our kids this year.

Today is Tuesday. I am waiting on a new project that had been held up by a foreign tourism board bureaucracy. Hope to see it today or tomorrow. Then I have been reminded we actually have two more coming before the end of the year, one of which I had totally forgotten about. And one large item for Feb/March. So still the potential to be busy right up until the new year! Different from the last five years that all just about shut down in early November, excepting one or two very little things that came in from smaller clients in need of one off items.

I have more laundry to attend to. Domestic Duties Tuesday is a thing this week, because I was busy yesterday. At least I have the option to move that kind of responsibility around. Rather than be forced to pile it on to an already jam packed day. I for one don’t miss being single, and working 60 plus hours a week, commuting for 20 more hours, and still needing to cook, clean, buy groceries and do my laundry, shower, shave, go to appointments, and have some kind of a life outside of work. It’s all so exhausting. I feel for those of you doing just that, but in this economy too! Yikes.

Three parties, one of which we hosted, a parade in the bitter blustery cold night, and a whole lot of driving & traveling between events. I am exhausted. On the plus side our birthday party festivities went off without any major issues beyond the pizza not being delivered to us. I ran out to get it myself. Apparently the building we were in is so new that it doesn’t show up on the delivery maps yet. Not a huge problem, and in less than twenty minutes I had it all back in gear with no interruptions to the party. Kids are happy and healthy. Roughly about half turned up with masks, N95’s or otherwise, so I’ll consider that a win. Also no coughs, colds or fevers on anyone present. We’ll see if it holds out.

Glad I worked do hard to get my latest report of for review on Friday late afternoon. I could not, at this moment, even conceive of having to put in any hours on a report with the rush & bustle of this last weekend. Glad I planned ahead, and worked as efficiently as I could. It helps that I do much of the leg work up front, to make my life easier when in the thick of it all. A pat on the back for past, present & future me. Nicely done.

I’m a few hours away from finishing up my water slide decals, of which I had about 160 to apply. I’m down to my last 30 to 40. I’ll be glad to see that project finished and off my table. I build the thing two Christmas’s ago, and then it took me about a year to get to the panel lining. And just shy of another full year to start on the decals. I’ve put in an hour or two every day for the last week. So just a couple more will see it finalized. I will clear coat it to make sure nothing runs off if the glue has been weakened with age. Could have done. I’m not sure just how long I can leave water slide decals unused before the glue off gases enough to become inert. Either way, the finish line is within sight. Then it’s back to miniature painting for a brief spell, and by then it’ll nearly be winter break and the kids home 24/7 for two weeks.

This month is starting to roll along fairly quickly too. Then in January, amid the freezing cold temperatures and snow, time will stand still. And as the temperatures drop even lower in February time may actually begin to move backwards prolonging the icy, grey cold misery of winter.

While I have a moment, I’m going to sweep and vacuum the floors. Stay well. Ciao Bella!

Things like wood working projects, of which I have a page of everything I completed, somewhere? If I can dig it up it lists all the things I made in 2022. I will also cover the twelve books I read this year. And lastly a post regarding the sculpting and painting I did this year as well. And perhaps on day 365, a look back at all the things I’ve written about for my one year write every single day challenge. I’m about ten or so days away from completing it. I aim to do it, so let us all pray that no calamity befalls us on our path to the finish line. Finish line? Not so sure I’ll be able to stop. Not that it’s the streak keeping me going so much as the outlet to chat in to the void, rather than be home alone all day. Will I attempt to write a book three of my series of interconnected short stories in 2023’s down time? I’m not sure. I look to be setting the pieces in place, but you never can tell with me. I might take a fancy to cross country skiing, or resin kit building, and will fill up my time in a totally different manner. More home DIY projects, perhaps? I do need to trim out the basement bathroom. The kids need more book shelves, and hooks for necklaces and such. Depends on the temperature. Icy cold hand tools don’t have much of a draw between late December and April 1st. Best to lean on another skill set between those dates. Keep your fingers toasty, if you can.

So stay tuned for the year in review posts. And possibly the return of my illustrated Children’s book, which got put on hold after a great deal of forward movement last winter. I can feel a short story or two percolating in my brain, so I imagine one or two of those will make an appearance in the early new year too. To those few dedicated readers out there, thanks for coming back every so often, and reading some of my daily nonsense. It means a lot.

Ciao Bella!

Oops, went a bit too hard the last two days to complete the first pass on my latest report before Friday at 5:00pm. Good news is I’ll have 48 hours to rest before I see any edits or revisions. So with some ice & applied heat I’ll be fine, and can start the next one early next week. This should, most likely, just about close out 2022 for large scale projects. I know of one coming in late February, and there was talk of another project, but I don’t know the specifics of it, or if it was for early 2023, or very late 2022. Given that we’ve managed to get three of the four I knew of out the door before December really got under way, I’m ok to add one more, if it’s coming my way. It’ll be great to know I can pay off Christmas gifts on the credit card in one fell swoop, and forget about the months spending.

Which reminds me, I need to send the year end invoices to make sure they get processed in 2022. Close out all of this years projects. Get prepared for newer 2023 items after the Christmas break.

I have a few of my own projects lined up for my down time in the new year. Clearing off my desk, so to speak. I have a big resin project in my closet that I bought before we even had a second child that is begging me to work on it, now that I have more experience with both my airbrush, and epoxy putty work. A big 18 inch tall mech that I need to build, sand, prep from the internal structure out to the armour, paint job & water slide decals. Could end up being a few weeks worth of work if I can stick with it and give it the dedication it needs. I’m excited. I have a few much smaller items to get to first, but the big one is there, ready & waiting.

Wish I knew why I was awake before 7:00am on a Saturday morning. Especially one so glum and dark. Lots to do this weekend. Well, lots but less than I thought since I got through more than fifty pages in two days for my report. Lots of social engagements, party, tea party, santa claus parade today. And our own child’s birthday party tomorrow which we are hosting elsewhere for a change. Have to set up, and lug drinks, snacks, party favours & balloons around. Then pick up fresh cup cakes on the way, and order pizzas too. It never ends. Also – where did all those years go!?! Not my little baby any more. Can’t fit lying along my forearm for bath time in the sink. Long gone are those days. Happy face: we can do lots more fun stuff together. Sad face: my bowling ball baby isn’t my little baby anymore.

Ciao Bella!

Making headway on my project which is always a huge plus. Few things feel as defeating as spending eight hours on a project and it seems like you are standing still, and not getting anywhere. But yesterday’s barn burner of a day has set me up for a great second day. Should make days three and four that much easier to bear, given how much I have going on this weekend. Parties, parades, tea party and more. Keep your heads on straight, and hope for the best. Have a great Friday To all who observe. Ciao Bella.

I can’t disclose who or what entities I’m working with, but by golly gee, if you want a document that’ll knock people’s socks off, invest in photographers that know exactly what they are doing. The difference is astounding. The quality of composition, colour, focus, and depth of field really does pay massive dividends. Don’t skimp on that shit. You will regret having done so.

Also I’m super-duper busy for the next few days knocking out this latest report. So only short bursts from me today, tomorrow, and likely all through the weekend too. We’ll revisit on Monday. Take care out there. Invest in great photography! Do it. You really should, if you can.

Hard to believe that the whole 30 days of November have now come and mostly gone. Where did it all go? I know I did two reports, and a bunch of painting, and such, but it hardly feels like enough to warrant the disappearance of a whole month! I guess gearing up for Christmas and the Holiday Season really does create a kind of time bending, time warp zone, where everything else falls away. Very strange.

But now that we are starring down the barrel of December, that means birthdays, birthday parties, school trips, Taekwondo testing for new belts, dance recitals, school concert(s), and the actual festive holidays themselves, and the start of 2 full weeks of holiday winter break.

That also means I need to send out the last of my invoices for 2022. And figure out how to remain sane during my lull/down time. I know of atleast one or two mid winter projects, which is great news. Nice to know I’ll only have five or six slow weeks, and not nine to eleven of them. After Christmas, shopping will come to a complete stand still. Not for groceries, obviously, but no other “things” will need to be bought for a while. This may be off topic, but I did not notice any really good deals for Black Friday or Cyber Monday, or the newest Giving Tuesday (blargh!). I guess if you follow the pricing for stuff long enough, and then check over the sales the stuff isn’t even on sale. If it was $299.00 three weeks ago, but on Black Friday you as a company write NOW $299.00 was $399.99! I guess I think you’re totally full of shit. I want to pay a price that makes me feel like I’ve just bought it stolen. Or robbed you blind. What a crock. So of course, numbers will be down, they’ll blame the recession, and not corporate greed – as the company is at fault for not actually putting anything worthwhile on sale to encourage purchases. You can’t gouge us, and then complain that the shopping numbers are down too. Dick heads. Honestly.

The day is so dark I keep thinking it’s Friday, but we’re only on Wednesday morning. Hopefully today my wife will feel better. She spent nearly thirty (30) hours in bed, or asleep on the bathroom floor feeling ill yesterday, and late Monday night. Windows cracked open, fans going, Hepa filter on blast, meds that can be kept down in her system, and masked when in the room with us/just passing through. My youngest has her cough and runny nose back, after a very brief eight days without her post nasal drip cough. So another 8-11 weeks of coughing instore for her, and via round about way, us. I caught her the other day not wearing her mask in class, so of course she has come home a mere week later with a new bug. Fuck me. If more than 50% of this family are sick on Sunday I will have to cancel the birthday party. I’m sure that’ll go over like a lead balloon full of cyanide. Joy’s of parenting.

What are we to take from this ever present constant? The knowledge that to actually achieve our goals leaves us feeling empty, and hollow, bereft of direction, and losing our cause. Are we then to acknowledge that it is the pursuit of, and not the attainment of said goal that really fills us up with purpose, drive, and the get up & go to move through our days? Probably why all those wise folks said a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Right there, that’s as good as it gets. To set the course and follow it. Not to cross the finish line, and look back. Though, to finalize a project can take a load off your shoulders, certainly, but the real fact of the matter is, doing the thing, living the doing, is better than being done. That just leaves you adrift, well, until you find a new goal and set off on that path too. The treasures were the friends you made along the way. That sort of glib, pat phrase, really does have a kernel of truth to it. If you are hyper focused, you probably fought, or clashed with others on your path, instead of building relationships with people with similar interests and talents. Bummer dude. Self reliance kept many people at arms length. But that’s a whole other kettle of fish.

Busted out the iron today, for the first time in at least a year. Gotta melt some crafts under parchment paper to get them to stay in one piece. Not for laundry purposes. I’m not that duty bound, thankfully. We’re not exactly a three piece suit & tie family here. No dry cleaning runs being made around these parts. No sir. Wash, dry & fold only. The occasional pre-soak, or re-wash for a pesky grass stain. Perhaps even some pre-treatment prior to going for a plunge, but we don’t iron.

I did stop out for gas, glad to see it below $1.40/Litre, but I’d be shitting kittens if it goes even lower. Always a plus for us working stiffs, am I right. I’d like to go back to the $65 tank filling days if at all possible. Stopped off for snacks and beverages for the birthday party for my eldest this coming Sunday. Indoors this year. Masked if at all possible. I mean, I know we will wear masks, and a few others will do so too, but eh!?! Only so much I can hint & ask people to do, without it being mandated. Also we have someone to lead the gang of kids through games, so it’s not up go me keep them all entertained this year. That should be great fun. Happy about that. I might actually have a chance to enjoy myself? Hm. Maybe?

I completed a 50 page report in just under 48 hours, so that was pretty good. Gave me a full day and a half to rest up before I get the edits & final fixes back. Prepping for the next one as we speak. Although I think it’ll come in closer to Friday, if not next Monday. No rush. I’m in a good spot, now that 2 of the possible four/five (I’ve lost track) are out the door before December has even started. I am now comfortable knowing I won’t get all items in over the same ten day span, so I am relieved, and more than happy to chug along as the items come in now.

All bar one present has been wrapped now. My wife’s items finally arrived via the post. And I do hope my youngest’s gift arrives before too much longer. The notice said between Dec 8th – 29th. Which is a long stretch. I hope it comes earlier rather than later. In-laws are up next, my folks, and a few remaining nieces and nephews.

Speaking of which, I should go order that stuff now, so it has a chance to arrive before Christmas. Take care out there.

In a round about way, sort of? No- it won’t dispense the tape, or put a finger down to hold your paper in place, like a true friend would. Nor will it cut the wrapping paper in to appropriate sized rectangles. No, what it will do, is keep you at home, mere feet from your private restroom, and give you the time, inbetween bouts, to wrap your presents, whilst you listen to festive music. That’s about as helpful as it will ever get. On the plus side, nearly all our family gifts are now wrapped. On the downside, no concert, or family time at the Christmas Night Market in town last evening. Although, from what I hear I managed to avoid the kids having epic over stimulated melt downs out in public, so… we all had a bit of a shit time of it. Ha. With sweet moments mixed in.

Gauging just how many gifts I have for the whole family is a toss up until I actually set it all out in front of me after wrapping. Which reminds me I have stuff to send out still to family in the province. And I need to order stuff for my folks across the country. And I still have to go to the LCBO for the inlaws. So, while the immediate family is close to done. I do have two items coming via mail still left to show up, that will also need to be wrapped. But I’m not as close to done as I first thought. I did get my youngest niece and nephew done, wrapped, and delivered. So that’s a win. The excess birthdays this time of year means I thought I had more gifts for Christmas, but those go out the door for other kids, leaving a void. No matter. It will all come together eventually.

On the plus side I am way ahead of schedule for gift wrapping presents. I’m kind of proud about that. I usually hate wrapping gifts. But, because I was trapped at home, and needed to remain close to the facilities, i had nothing else i could do but wrap gifts. I could have read a book i suppose, but the gifts were the more pressing matter. Glad i got through it all in the 2.5 hours of time i had alone. If it doesn’t feel like you are giving up your time doing something else, it was not too awful to wrap presents all in one go. Loud festive music helped to keep me motivated. Well that, and frequent breaks to attend to ‘other’ things meant I didn’t wind up hunched over the bed for overly long stretches of time.

I won’t be putting anything under the tree for quite some time. I know these kids too well. The temptation of having to see gifts under the tree for 30 days before they can open them will drive them up the wall. So stashed in my room they shall stay until Christmas Eve. I know all of their sneaky tactics. The eye balling, the box press, the pick up n’ shake, the oops I tore open a corner, the trip and tear a whole panel. I’ve seen them all. I see the wheels turning. So it’s best for all involved if they remain out of sight for the time being. The tree looks good as is, so no need to further clutter up the room with temptations! We are down to the final thirty days before the big guy shows up. So Santa Claus is going to help parent for a spell. Santa, as we all know, makes credible threats, and provides stern warnings to children to behave as best they can, given the circumstances.

They are pretty good kids generally, they squabble a bit, but how many kids don’t? Seems pretty natural for them to do so. I could do with less of it, however, when they play nicely it can last for several hours, so that’s really lovely to see. I just need to keep in mind just how excited they are for Christmas under the surface. The addition of lights, and music, extra baking, movies, toy commercials, radio commercials, family visits, and events can really over stimulate kids that are so young. I try to remember that when things start to boil over, or either melt down in a fit of emotions, and visual over stimulation! It really is only one of two holidays that has such a massive build up. Between Halloween and Christmas no other yearly event sees so much pregame coverage. I’m not surprised that the kids all go mental this time of year. I’d be more surprised, if not worried about them if they didn’t, given the level of fuss nearly everyone puts into the Holiday Season.

Take care out there. I personally foresee a new refrigerator purchase in our near future, so there is always that to look forward to. I want to say that the fridge is atleast twelve years old now, or there abouts. So not great, but also not awful, as far as appliance longevity is concerned. Maybe a repairman could fix the moisture issue in the freezer section? I gotta look in to it further. Ciao Bella!