Last minuting it, as usual (actually worse than usual if I am honest)

Less than 12 hours to go.  It has been a crazy last few days.  I was on conference Sunday to Tuesday with events on Sunday and Tuesday evening.  Then a full day work on Wednesday (today).  I head to the airport at 6:30am tomorrow morning. 

We had our final pre-departure meeting on Tuesday (between morning seminars and evening galas).  I got my Myers-Briggs assessment.  ISTP.  I have linked to Wikipedia if you want to assess my assessment.  I'm not so sure it is too accurate but here is a few gems from ISTP wiki that seem to hit the mark.

ISTPs may sometimes seem to act without regard for procedures, directions, protocol, or even their own safety.

ISTPs enjoy self-sufficiency

ISTPs are often capable of humorously insightful observations about the world around them

We also got some more info on our schedule. A few more gift giving situations.  Luzia gave us all some Camosun shirts and I bought a few more at the bookstore because they were on sale for $5. 

Nothing too surprising in the schedule until we got to 'give a 30 minute presentation'.  We each get to visit a high school classroom and give a presentation.  Ok, I can handle talking for 30 minutes.  Then we got to the next page visit a university class and 'give a 90 minute presentation'.  By ourselves!  Ok, that is too much.  and less than two days before we leave!  Jiminy Cricket!  

Well, lemons and lemonade and all that.  I brought my spiffy new camera to work today and wandered around and took pictures of the campus.  Then, I went to Lansdowne and did the same.  So, at least as I am telling them about Canada and Camosun, I will have some pictures to show them.  Here's a picture of me pretending to work.

I love my new camera.  I wanted a better camera because when I want to take a picture of a bird, said bird is usually in a tree and there are branches in the foreground.  And then stupid autofocus picks up the leaves and blurs the bird.  But not my new camera.  Check this out!  

 

End of the workday, finished up the last of my emails, threw on my out-of-office, washed my coffee cup and adiosed out of there.  I had a few errands to run before getting home to packing.  While taking my pictures, my battery was draining faster than I liked.  So, back to Lens and Shutter for a 2nd battery.  One does not want to visit the Great Wall of China and not have enough battery.  I also bought a new camera case.  Plus, my crappy old SD cards that I literally bought at Zellers (so you know they ain't fresh) are too slow for the lightning speed of the new camera. Who knew SD cards have speed.  Stop at London Drugs for that.  Whip into Superstore for kitty litter.  

Speaking of kitty.  She needs another vet visit while I am away so I had to organize that today too (nobody do the math on how much work I did today - I cleared my emails and phones so let's agree that I was 'efficient').   Paul is on the job.  Cat team: Dottie, Chris, Alisma and Paul.  This cat won't know what to do with all of the attention.  

Ok, time to pack.  But first, I cleaned up the house a bit.  And picked some rhubarb from Chris's yard and cut it up and put it in the freezer.  Amy and I are going to make rhubarb cider when I get back!  Priorities, people.  Charged my computer, phone, both batteries for my camera.  Added some podcasts to my IPod.  Picked a novel to take (Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood).

I finally started packing around 9:30.  I think I am done.  Maybe I am done.  I'll check if I am done in the morning.  Really, what is done but a state of mind.  

Remember, once I am in China I probably can't use this blog.  Here is the link to Blog #2

http://joannecumberland13a.altervista.org/