Video Trek III: The Search For Dad - Part 9...

SitRep:

0.25 days remain.

Status: Complete

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I am so gorram tired right now.

Had to come into work for a half day. I really wish I could have knocked off the entire day, but my workload just wouldn't permit it.

That's ok. Shirking my responsibilities at work wouldn't necessarily be a good thing at this time of year when business is starting to pick up for the pre-Christmas rush. Still, when that alarm sounded reveille at zero-ohmygodit'searly this morning, I knew right there and then that I was going to be exhausted as hell and would crave the chance to sleep until noon.

It's been quite a busy week for me in trying to get Dad's video finished. I had underestimated how much edit time I would need, which had the result of pulling more hours per night than I had planned. So, to say that I'm currently surviving on Dr. Pepper is not far from the truth.

My brain is on automatic right now. I finished the video at 4:30 this morning, quickly reviewed it and hit the hay around 5. While my plan of getting to bed by at least midnight didn't come to pass, I am at least happy that I have a three day weekend coming up. Sleep can wait until then...

You know, apart from some bad narration (provided by a sleepy yours truly), I am extremely proud of the finished project. I created a shortened version of the video (minus the final section where people are giving my dad their personal greetings and farewells) to present, which runs all of thirty minutes. Precisely.

Alright, if you include credits, tack on another minute or so, but still it amuses me that I managed to hit 30 minutes of content right on the nose. It runs longer than the original 20 I had thought I would have, but it isn't the complete 50 minute deal that would result from tacking on the final section. Still, it is done and it is awesome.

I plan on creating another version for Dad's birthday next month, including the farewells and well wishes. When it hit 4:30, I just knew that there was no way in hell that I'd ever manage to get the longer version finished unless I skipped out on sleep altogether.

And you know something... I'm ok with that.

Just got off the phone with the lady in charge of the retirement dinner. I'm supposed to go on stage after Dad. He's elected to say a few words, call it his farewell address if you'd like.

After Dad's finished, the dean will introduce me in some way and then... *gulp* ...I'm on. I don't have a formal speech prepared since I tend to speak easier when I'm not encumbered by typed out talking points and so on.

It'll be easy and difficult at the same time. For one, I know the subject very well. Better now, in fact, since I've had a chance to delve into his workplace a bit and gain more of a broader perspective. That's the easy part.

The hard part will be the sad realization that once today has passed, I won't know what to do with myself. Heh.

Seriously though, that is a point I'd like to make about how it feels to work on something, pour your heart and soul into it, finish it and then... Now, what?

I've been eating, breathing and sleeping little more than this project for the entire summer. I've met tons of interesting people, learned way more than I ever thought was possible about Dad's career and have had a lot of fun slinking about playing investigative reporter. I live for video projects like this.

Still, like my dad, I soon will turn out the lights on a chapter of my life and seek out new adventures with the knowledge of a job well done. How neat is that?