What a hell of a day. I spent most of the morning working on a new paper because the microanalyses weren't ready yet. I even had a chance to meet up with Emma after not seeing her for over two weeks so that was nice, I intended to go and have coffee with the girls, but then the fan got hit…
In between, grabbing the microanalyses, finding a hotel in Sydney, rescheduling my submission appointment, deciding on bus or plane, double-checking the binders, finding errors and replacing them, getting papers for my supervisor and a dozen other things, I think I got it all done. Exhausted I made my way to the SCA meeting to chill out, before returning to the lab to insert some corrections. I've got 4 copies for the libraries and examiners, 2 for my supervisor, one for myself and one for my parents. I just hope they can bind them quickly.
I'll be going to the binders as early as possible tomorrow morning to drop the copies off, and pick up the bound version after 2 pm. I hand them over at 4 pm, and then I catch the 6 pm bus to Sydney (staying at the fairly swish Carlton Crest Hotel) before rocking up at the US consulate doorstep at 8 am. If I'm lucky, they may be able to turn my visa around before I catch the 6 pm bus back to Canberra. On Monday, I have a whole swag of immunizations to get (sorry, no anthrax) and then Thursday dad will be over in Canberra and I might go home with him and clear some of my stuff out.
While getting my bus ticket I inquired about plane tickets, and for the 15th November I had the option of $1300 Canberra to LA with Qantas, or $1018 Canberra to LA with a lay-over in Osaka with Japan Air. I've never been to Japan, and I can't imagine why I would otherwise, so provided I get my visa, I think I'll possibly be seeing the inside of a genuine Japanese airport. ;)
As for how I feel after almost four and a half years of my life drawing to a close, I'm too tired to feel euphoric. Maybe it will be a bit happier come Saturday when I wake in my own bed and realize I don't have to stress out so much anymore. Or to be more specific, I can save my stress for other, newer things.