That old, familiar feeling...

Doing laps in a pool filled with molasses.

The translation is "complete" in that I've done everything except Appendix 4. It turns out both my contacts are taking the long weekend off, so it is likely that the first they hear of my inability to complete the work will be tomorrow. It's hard to gauge their reaction, but it's not really necessary for me to do so, as there is nothing I can do to influence it.

Of the rest of my to-do list for the day, there's not been much activity. The big thing I want to get out of the way is the invoicing for all the work I did this past week. I figure I can pay my AmEx before I leave the country, and I can only call a few of my clients to discuss overdue invoices starting tomorrow (since today was pretty much a universal holiday... even the store was closed).

* * *I am recalling a CD that Natalie introduced me to, of music having a Gaelic provenance (methinks). I can only remember what I guess are the title of the album and the group that sang the songs. One is "Flogging Molly" and the other is "Drunken Lullaby." I am also thinking that the world is devolving to a sad state when an ordinary citizen cannot tell the difference between the name of a group and the title of its album. (Then again, some may not consider me ordinary, and may not be meaning that consideration as a compliment, necessarily. Ah, well...)

Too much stuff to do to hang out thinking of what to say next. My mind is scheming for ways to get hold of Huntur pictures to take with me to Russia for my sister-in-law, and I'm thinking that if I can get the invoices and travel expenses done, I'll be able to pack stuff for the trip with a clear conscience.

Cheers...

Okay, citizens...

So here I am, on the eve of departure.

Translations are done. I need to review and send one and invoice both it and two small jobs done last week. With any luck, I shall do that tomorrow morning.

It turns out most of the other stuff on my list was either "check on this" (yeah, well, okay... I did and everything seems to be fine... for now), or something that I can only finish tomorrow morning. No biggie.

The next hurdle is getting my passport and visa. There are two ways to do this. One way involves Federal Express or some other courier; the other one... doesn't. Actually, it involves meeting someone at the Dulles airport during my 3-hour layover there tomorrow, and come to think of it, the trick is not meeting them, but coordinating that meeting (picking nits, I guess).

This'd be a good time to go to sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long travel day.

Cheers...