8:20 pm – Wednesday 28th January 2004

If there was any fairness in the world, I'd be in a plane over the Pacific right about now.

Well, alas the Tuesday morning “interview” did not go as I had hoped. There was a problem with my DS-2019 form, a slight thing which had never been a problem before. Alas, the extra scrutiny caused by being refused entry at LA airport meant that they now used this as an excuse to temporarily deny me my visa renewal.

Fortunately I do say temporarily, because they gave me a “paperwork incomplete” form which means I can come back anytime I have the corrected DS-2019 form. The downside is that this needs to be sent from Montana, and there are serious questions as to whether it will get here before the consulate closes on Friday at 11:45 am.

I did put a deposit on a flight, but I pushed that back to Sunday after I was not able to get a visa on Tuesday. Hence, why I'd like to get my visa Friday, lest I have to change my airline ticket again. The frustration really is enough to make ones heart ache.

Yesterday to kill the pain I went to watch “Return of the King” which I though was Ok. I also sent a flurry of emails to Montana begging for new paperwork and for it to be delivered as quickly as possible. Alas although the paperwork was processed early, it didn't get to the courier service until 5 pm Montana time. If it doesn't get here before Friday noon, I will have to wait for the consulate to re-open on Monday.

Today I rechecked my email, and then I went to have a look at the Sydney Museum. That kept me interested for a few hours, and afterwards I went over to St Mary's Cathedral. I'd always wanted to see the crypts underneath the building, and this time (after paying the nominal fee), I was able to wander around to my hearts content. Afterwards I went down to Darling Harbour to look around there and wandered through the shops. I came home for a shower and a rest before allying forth to find dinner.

The boredom and stress is the worst thing. I went to a Chinese masseuse in one of the shopping centres for a back and neck massage this afternoon. When he started on my neck muscles, he may as well have been thumping on the side of a mountain.

Tomorrow I have a few things planned, but I don't know how long that will keep me busy for. If the paperwork gets here late, then I might go home and come back to Sydney for Monday. Naturally I'm praying it will get here in time. It's about 25C with sun here in Sydney, but I'd swap it for –15C and snow in Bozeman in an instant.

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