Celebration!

Two major factors conspired to effect a most pleasant resolution of my situation here in El Paso. First, the group sort of spontaneously decided to place a huge to-go order from the restaurant to which we had been planning to go, a place called the State Line Restaurant, which gets its name from the fact that it sits on the border between Texas and New Mexico.

From the report of the fellow who went to pick up the order, the restaurant itself is one of those "family" style rib places that prides itself on its ribs (they provide an 800 number in case you want to place an order to be delivered by courier) and is fairly short on atmosphere and long on casualness. Thus, ordering to-go instead of visiting the place turned out to be the right choice.

The other factor was my being able to complete four of the remaining six pages of my outside assignment this morning, before going to work. As there were to be about two hours between our having returned from work and the start of our dinner get-together, I was able to complete the remaining two pages of the assignment in time for dinner. I now figure that if I get up at 6 am (which I could consider as "sleeping in," given my schedule of the past few days), I should have plenty of time to review my work and send it in.

Oh, of course, there is the invoice to consider, too.

My digestive system is still giving me fits, but at least that discomfort is not accompanied by exhaustion, the way I felt yesterday and the day before. I made a point of napping during lunch today, although not in the charter bus that's been hired for the Russian delegation (too cold there, with too much air moving around and seats that are basically immobile). I'm sure that helped a lot.

If I get to bed soon, I might actually come close to getting a full night's sleep (if my body cooperates).

Cheers...