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Feeling graphic...
Dec. 2nd, 2004 12:48 amAfter familiarizing myself with the planning documents for the day, I proceeded to update my post on the welcome back for Expedition 9 with a photo of the crew on the Teague Auditorium stage. I also inserted a photo taken at sunset south of Chicago to my post of November 12.
Speaking of sunsets, here's one I took a couple of days ago in Pearland:
I got my free time all twisted around today. I started out from Pearland to go to the Office Depot at Fairmont Parkway to see about perhaps getting a pocket-sized paper cutter to trim my visa photos, only to turn down I-45, figuring the Office Depot at Bay Area Boulevard was just as far away, but with fewer lights. Before getting to Bay Area, I decided to stop at the Sam's Club on El Dorado to pick up some food for Natalie and me. While there, I noted that 1-GB SD cards are now available there, at a price of around $70, which is the lowest I've seen anywhere.
Anyway, when I got to the Office Depot, I decided against buying a cutter (I have one in Pagosa) and had them trim the photos instead. While I was waiting, I noticed the signage for their UPS services and decided to send my visa application from there, until I found out they had no waybills for people who had their own accounts.
So, I ended up going to the FedEx/Kinko's on the other side of I-45 to send my visa application package, but by the time I was finished there, I was picking up the first surge of the afternoon rush hour, which dampened my mood as it slowed my progress.
Talking about that visa application, it turns out that the new application for the Russian Federation asks for information I've only found on employment applications before (present and two previous employers, all educational institutions attended, degrees received, memberships in professional, social and charitable organizations) as well as some that surprised me (military service, including rank, military occupation, and participation in combat, as well as father's and mother's full names). The application was not as thorough as one I filled out for Uncle Sam some time ago (in connection with getting cleared to work in the MCC), but I would not want to live on the difference. I'm not at all happy about providing all that information to a foreign government, especially one that employs a native language that has no word to express the concept of "privacy," but as this is the only path to getting an entry visa, I see no alternative.
Meanwhile, back a the MCC, yours truly waits paitently for the day's report on Russian Segment status:
And as it turns out, the report has just been given to me. I'm off to translate it!
Cheers...
Speaking of sunsets, here's one I took a couple of days ago in Pearland:
I got my free time all twisted around today. I started out from Pearland to go to the Office Depot at Fairmont Parkway to see about perhaps getting a pocket-sized paper cutter to trim my visa photos, only to turn down I-45, figuring the Office Depot at Bay Area Boulevard was just as far away, but with fewer lights. Before getting to Bay Area, I decided to stop at the Sam's Club on El Dorado to pick up some food for Natalie and me. While there, I noted that 1-GB SD cards are now available there, at a price of around $70, which is the lowest I've seen anywhere.
Anyway, when I got to the Office Depot, I decided against buying a cutter (I have one in Pagosa) and had them trim the photos instead. While I was waiting, I noticed the signage for their UPS services and decided to send my visa application from there, until I found out they had no waybills for people who had their own accounts.
So, I ended up going to the FedEx/Kinko's on the other side of I-45 to send my visa application package, but by the time I was finished there, I was picking up the first surge of the afternoon rush hour, which dampened my mood as it slowed my progress.
Talking about that visa application, it turns out that the new application for the Russian Federation asks for information I've only found on employment applications before (present and two previous employers, all educational institutions attended, degrees received, memberships in professional, social and charitable organizations) as well as some that surprised me (military service, including rank, military occupation, and participation in combat, as well as father's and mother's full names). The application was not as thorough as one I filled out for Uncle Sam some time ago (in connection with getting cleared to work in the MCC), but I would not want to live on the difference. I'm not at all happy about providing all that information to a foreign government, especially one that employs a native language that has no word to express the concept of "privacy," but as this is the only path to getting an entry visa, I see no alternative.
Meanwhile, back a the MCC, yours truly waits paitently for the day's report on Russian Segment status:
And as it turns out, the report has just been given to me. I'm off to translate it!
Cheers...
