#269 - The Shining and the Tandur

I was up early today, at least for me.

The sleep aids had me out cold, but I must have taken them too late in the evening, because I didn’t wake up at five like I often do, feeling refreshed.

My alarm yanked me out of a very deep sleep, a state that my body would have preferred to remain in. I did feel good though. And that’s all that matters. I am probably getting too used to not going into the studio and waking up at nine instead of seven.

Going through my morning routine was slower that usual. I was in no rush to get to the studio. No need to be the early bird today.

Before going to bed last night, I realized that I’d not been able to find my wallet all day yesterday and I needed my Presto card to get on the train. I managed to find it sitting in plain sight, but in a spot, I would not usually put it. I always put things in the same place because otherwise I will end up in this situation with everything lost.

I grabbed my lunch from the fridge and later I would realize that I’d forgotten to take drink for myself.

The racoons were making an awful racket as I left the house. It sounded like they were dumping spoons onto the soffits. A very metallic sound. Maybe as if someone was dragging a chain link fence across a metal roof. I won’t be sad to have them gone from the property!

The drive to the station was easy and mostly forgettable.

I moseyed over to the train platform and caught an express around eight seventeen. The woman sitting across from me was very interested in the magnetic phone holders that are attached to my laptop. And then at the next station some many people boarded the train that it was standing room only and someone knocked the phone of the holder and on to the floor. The lady across from me was kind enough to pick it up for me.

I settled in to try and do some writing, but I only got a few hundred words written for some reason. I was surprised how little I got done, but then again, it wasn’t an all-stops train, it was the quicker express.

I’d thought to skip getting breakfast on the way to the studio because I’d brought fruit, cheese and a muffin with me. And I should be trying to save as much money as possible, but I ebded up stopping at Au Pain Dore to get a grilled vegetable sandwich.

No regrets.

I made a tea at work and enjoyed my breakfast at my desk while talking with a colleague about movies. He mentioned that he just watched ‘The Shining’ for the first time and was blown away by how good it looked. His partner went to the theater to see it the same day and had a completely different experience. He saw it with an audience that was familiar with the movie and instead of being shocked by the events of the film, they cheered, like when Jack breaks through the door with an ax.

It was like the movie had descended into a meme of itself. People were treating it like it was the Rocky Horror Show, complete with audience participation.

The boss arrived shortly afterwards and got right into the topic with us. And then, we settled into doing work. I spent a good amount of time giving one of my painter’s clear instructions for his section as he was having trouble figuring out what the colours were meant to be. Spending some extra time like this saves us more wasted time in the future.

I did some approvals and revisions. I had the boss sitting beside me all day, so I capitalized on getting answers from her while she was close and convenient. I felt a lot beter about the show after going through future episodes and looking at what was done and what we might need.

I stopped for lunch and ended up eating by myself as the other two didn’t eat at the lunchroom. Last night’s leftovers were delicious, and I think the flavors improved over night. It was a shorter lunch break than usual, but it felt longer because I was by myself. I played a game of chess while I was there to keep my streak up. I can’t remember if I won or lost.

Doesn’t really matter. Playing a game is the goal.

I returned to my desk to find my other two colleagues eating at their desks. I logged back in and got to work doing various things, including modding one of the paintings that was just handed in.

I worked until two, when I attended a meeting that included our client. My boss is taking a week off so I will have to step into her role while she is away, and I always find it best to be int the meetings a week or two early to learn the lay of the land. This means I have four more meetings to act as a fly on the wall this week and next.

I received the email response from my mentor and braced myself for the bad news. It was mixed bag really. I had a good story, but I had receded into logical story telling and not seeing the world through the eyes of the character.

Aa soon as I read those lines, I knew she was right. She went on to say that most writers do this, and it was expected. She went on to say the story was good, but it was a novel or a novella and what I had was essentially a sketch. She told me to leave it for now and come back to it when the mentorship was finished.

And then I got the dread baby assignment again, except this time in space.

It’s a tough assignment and I didn’t get it perfectly right the first time I did it. I plan to get into the assignment sooner rather than later this time. No more procrastination.

All in all, the response could have been a lot worse!

A group of Sheridan animation students arrived at three for a tour and some presentations with the 3D side of the studio. There seemed to be way more students this year than in past years, which considering the state of the industry is surprising. Not sure these kids will have any jobs to work at by the time they graduate.

I got back to work doing approvals until about four o’clock, when the boss asked me to do the rendering of the files so we could get them to the next department. I was needing something else to do so I jumped onto that and spent the next hour and a half rendering photoshop files into PNG sequences.

I packed up my things and exited the studio. Robyn was having dinner with a friend, so I thought I might eat at Union Station and have some Roywood’s Caribbean.

But as I was about to head out our head of design called my name and asked if I was heading to the station. Turns out we would be taking the same train tonight, so we walked together to the station. On the way we chatted about work and how it was improving as well as some of our experiences at other animation studios.

I learned that his wife owns a fancy cake shop not far from our house and I checked out her website of impressive cakes.

He got two stops before me, so I didn’t get any writing done on the way home or at lunch. As my train came into my station I started thinking about what I was going to do for dinner. I stopped at Sobey’s thinking I’d get another Porchetta sandwich only to realise it was Fortino’s that had them. I picked up some ingredients to make a dish out of the Dishoom cookbook and then headed further down the road to see what place tempted me.

There was a new place I had never tried called Tandur, which was an Indian restaurant. You should all know by know that I love Indian food.

I ordered a dish that was similar to Chicken Ruby, but a little more spicy hot. It was called Kadhai Chicken, and it was delicious. I had it with naan and rice.

I ordered an appetizer called Dahl Ke Sholay which had a cripy bread like shell filled with a cram cheese textured filling, but tasted savour and tangy. It was a nice surprise to my palate, and the mouth feel was on point.

Kiddo #2 called because he needed to pick something up at Staples which required the use of my car. But I had just sat down to eat, so Robyn and he were dropped of by his sister to grab my car, run to Staples and then return to pick me up.

While they were gone, I requested to-go containers as there was no way I could eat all that food in one sitting. It was a thoroughly enjoyable meal, and I will be going there again for sure.

They arrived to pick me up just as I exited the restaurant and we all headed home together.

It turned out the prints the kiddo had ordered at Staples were nowhere to be found.

So all that for nothing.

Back home I was ready to take it easy. Days when I have to go into the studio are long and draining.

Kiddo #1 was out picking up one of her oldest friends to hangout and have a sleepover.

There are full bodied laughs and giggles coming from her room. It’s nice to hear kiddo #1 laughing and having a good time.

Robyn and I retreated to our room and watched two episodes of ‘The Agency,’ before she called it quits. I had some writing to do despite the overwhelming desire to go to sleep.

I am looking forward to this weekend, because we have no plans. And it will be a short week with July 1^st happening on the Wednesday this year.

I am nt looking forward to going into the studio tomorrow, but at least I have some excellent leftovers to take with me for lunch.

I haven’t taken any of my sleep-aids tonight and I don’t think I’ll need them. It’s twelve twenty-two and I am ready to call it a night.

Until tomorrow.