Video Trek III: The Search For Dad - Part 7...

SitRep:

All interviews have been recorded, captured and logged into Premiere.
100% of required pictures have been scanned, edited and imported into Premiere.
Research at 100%
Script at 100%
Narration at 78.2% (Pretty much recording as I edit to save time by not recording material that I won't use after all).
Editing at 36.4%.

2.25 days remain.

Status: On track for delivery (But I'm getting a little nervous...)

----------------

First off, why the fuck do I do this to myself? Next time I'll just send a card, I swear to cripes... Heh.

Alright, so I'm kidding around with you. I'll admit that I'm worried about running out of gas between today and Friday afternoon due to the fact that I'm essentially working 19 hours a day between the day job and this latest labour of love.

I'm not complaining, though it may sound kind of like that based on those previous statements. Truth be told, I'm still having the time of my life. I think I'm more annoyed at the damned need for sleep and than anything else.

I sat in front of my impromptu editing bay last night editing away at the project and before I knew it, it was 3:20 AM. The odd thing was that 3:20 didn't bother me as much as the realization that if I didn't stop right there and made myself go to bed, I could have easily kept going until I had to leave for work this morning. I knew I needed some sleep last night lest I be completely useless today. I just didn't want to.

I'm racing a finite countdown now. 2.25 days until I either show up with the completed video to Dad's retirement party or I show up with egg on my face and some lame excuse about having to sleep.

It hasn't been a question of being timely along the journey. Having to work around others' schedules, I had to interview when it was convenient for everyone else. I wasn't about to be a dick and tell someone, "Sorry, but you must meet with me no later than two weeks before this thing is due otherwise I'm simply not going to have time to fit you in."

Doesn't work for something such as this project where the people I am meeting with are people that I now have great respect for and who have really added a lot of awesome to the process. The project is a lot richer with their input than without and for that, I am eternally grateful.

Let me tell you something that also makes me eternally grateful: the concept of best friends. Paul & Nola have been among my folks' best friends since around high school and not only were they pleased as punch and honoured to be interviewed, they actually were happy and more than willing to drive halfway across the San Fernando Valley (from Thousand Oaks, a 45 minute or so drive) to take a few quick pictures of the pharmacy where my dad first worked (since I lacked such pictures in the archives to work with). They had some errands to run in the Valley yesterday anyway but still, that was above and beyond.

Needless to say that the next time I'm back in the Old Country, I'm buying them a fruit basket.

And some tacos.

Maybe a tacofruit basket?

I've said it before and I shall certainly say it again. I really love the cut of their jib. Nicest pair of folks you'll ever meet!

But this gives you a small taste of the situation. Bits and pieces of information, pictures, videotapes, interviews and more trickled in over the course of the summer, right up to last night. There's more I could probably collect, but now I really do not have the time. Sadly.

I heard back from the coordinator of Dad's retirement dinner. She asked if I'd like to give a little speech at the end of the program to introduce the video and announce that it will be showing in an adjacent room for anyone who'd be interested in watching. Yep, now I have to think of something mildly intelligent to say. Hoo, boy, I'd better make sure to eat my Wheaties on Friday morning. You betcha fur, Fred.

I suppose that as long as I don't talk about why the "U.S. Americans can't find The Iraq and maps and education and uh, South Africa?!?" I'll be a-ok. Heh.

So, here we are with two days to go. I can see the end now and it is good. A ton of things to do. Must edit like I've never edited before, keep working the day job to make teh mad moneys (heh), fish out my suit jacket, hard shoes, dress shirt and a tie from the storage shed so that I don't show up looking like a damned fool, figure out what to talk about during my 'speech,' and somewhere amongst all that, sleep and/or eat.

It's going to be fun, kids! :)

BTW, before I close, let me wish my teacher pals the best of luck this first week of school! You deserve more than what you get and never, EVER, believe that you get more than what you deserve. I salute you for all your hard work and hope that you have a fun and exciting adventure this school year! ;)