To-Do, 20-01-08

1. Church (noon at St. Raph's)
   
2. COBS
   
3. Visit mom
   
4. Clean room
   
5. Finish packing
   
6. Trade car for van
   
7. Pack van
   
8. Double-check paperwork !!!!!
   
9. Airport
   
10. Freak out (this item could really go anywhere on this list)
    

I'm tired and more tired and yeah. This is going to be kind of rough. I love you all, and I'll post again when I can.

To-Do, 19-01-08

1. Credit Union re: banking options, line of credit I love my credit union.
   
2. CAA for another round of traveller's cheques
   
3. Visit mom
   
4. COBS for delicious baked goods - will do after church
   
5. Set up webcam
   
6. Reduce cell plan to cheapest possible option
   
7. Still more packing panic
   
8. Clean room - oops.
   
9. Freak Out
   
10. Ceilidh time!
    

To-Do, Friday 18-01-08

1. Dig out cell phone receipt
   
2. Call optometrist re: exam fee
   
3. Doctor's office to pick up medical records and X-ray results
   
4. Waterloo! Yay! (Don't forget MS Studies book)
   
5. CAA for traveller's cheques
   
6. Take cell phone receipt to FIDO and exchange phone
   
7. Photocopy papers
   
8. Future Shop to take advantage of extended warranty package on mic
   
9. Visit mom
   
10. double-check packing
    

Time's getting short...

Hey look! A productive day!

To Do, Thursday 17-01-08

I've got a lot to do tomorrow, so once again, I'm posting a to-do list. It's my blog, and I'll post as many as I want to. Nyah!

1. See mum off to the hospital (0615hrs, please say a prayer for her surgery!) It went well!
   
2. Haircut
   
3. Salon
   
4. Grocery store to buy berries for flying
   
5. Call PC Financial re: account forwarding They say they can't do that and I need to be a resident of Canada to maintain the account. I smell something fishy.
   
6. Visit credit union re: the same
   
7. FIDO to put my phone on hold and cancel the voicemail while I'm at it
   
8. Call OSAP re: Confirmation of Enrolment form They dragged their bleeping feet mailing me the form, so I call to get them to forward it to England and they can't because they mailed it today.
   
9. Chiropodist (1330hrs, don't forget the shoes) Bastard. The orthodics guy screwed them up again and I have to send them back, which means I won't have them when I travel. At least he's going to have to pay the postage, not me. Sucker.
   
10. CAA to buy traveller's cheques (Curse you, Canadian markets! Couldn't you have tanked next week?)
    
11. Photocopy paperwork
    
12. Optometrist (1545hrs, wear contacts and bring specs) ZOMG AWESOME DOCTOR!
    
13. Lenscrafters I can SEEEEEE!
    
14. Visit mum She's doing good, what a relief!
    

Busy day. Will be tired at the end of it. Tea and pyjamas.

I'm at the startin' line of the rest of my life...

The song I mentioned the other day was in my head all day today. Particularly the chorus, which runs:
I'm at the startin' line of the rest of my life
As ready as I'll ever be
I've got the hunger and the stars in my eyes
The prize is mine to see

It occurred to me this evening that this is probably the last time I'll live in the house I grew up in. It's been almost 22 years, and it's always been here, been home, even when I lived away at school. But now I'm moving far away, for a long time, and my parents might not even live here by the time I get back. I'm just a visitor now. This is... painful. It's a hard thought. The rest of my life, indeed.

Aside from that, today was quite lovely. I got my bike boxed up and shoved a few more items into my carry-on and my suitcase. I figure I'm going for broke on the baggage weight limit anyway, so I might as well make sure I have what I need. Moving is not cheap.

Went out for a round or two at the local pool hall/bowling alley with my dad. We played a game of snooker (I really, really sucked) and a game of pool (I didn't suck so badly). Apparently I have a pretty good hold on the cue, just need practice. And aim. Dad taught me how to sink a ball when it's lying flush on the rail. We spent time together and both of us really enjoyed it. I smiled the rest of the evening.

The rest of the week is really busy. Tomorrow I do tons of little errands and make some phone calls. Check in at Oaklands, pick up a paycheque, and see if some of my friends on staff are there. Call my sister. Wednesday sees more errands, and tea and talk with Laura. Thursday I'm going to get a hair trim, orthodics, eyeglasses prescription, and new eyeglasses. Friday going to the city where I did my undergrad to spend time with a friend (possibly two). Saturday will be full of last-minute packing, cleaning, vacuuming, and the Rabbie Burns ceilidh (complete with haggis)! Sunday: church, lunch, flying.

After that, I'll be incommunicado unless I hit a wireless hotspot or am remarkably lucky setting up the residence internet service.

Ready as I've ever been!

To-Do

Call credit card company and notify them that I'm moving.
Call banks, ask them to forward my mail.
Buy £500.
Optometrist, then Lenscrafters.
Chiropodist for orthodics.
Buy snacks for flight - berries.
Go to ceilidh!
Give stuff away.

Good Service

My visa arrived today.

Tomorrow is a busy day, but I have company!

Bike fixed up for flight.
Wind-proof gloves.
Pick out glasses.
Packing clothes and books.
Room cleaning.
Used bookstore to get rid of the box of used books.
Laundry. Lotsa laundry.

As V(countdown)->C...

Dentist? Check! (no cavities!)
Chiropodist? Check!
Packing begun? Check!
Cleaning begun? Check!

Jan 7th - Movie with [just me].
Jan 8th - Fabric shopping with mom. Dinner with Laura. Cleaning.
Jan 17th - Orthotics fitting.

I've started piling stuff into a suitcase. Heaven help me.

Time Dialation

Time is speeding up. I'm estimating roughly two weeks before I fly, now. I've got so very much to do, and so many people to spend time with, and it feels like I have no time at all.

6th Jan - Hang out with big sister Steph.
7th Jan - Clean room. Chiropodist. Movie with brother?
8th Jan - Nothing yet. Clean room. [Visa arrives at British High Commission]
9th Jan - Doctor appointment. Optometrist. Dinner with Melissa?
10-11th Jan - Waterloo.
12-13th Jan - Rest. Clean Room. Begin packing.
14th/15th Jan - [Visa approved? Sent by courier?] Clean room. Organise books. Packing.
16th/17th Jan - Receive visa. Book flight. PACK. Panic.

The last time I post from work!

Last shift! Woo! I'm so very ready for a break.

It feels very fitting to be ending now, with the new year. I spent New Year's Eve at Daybreak, and it was a wonderful way to celebrate the passage of time. Despite all the unfamiliar faces, it still felt like home. The Taizé service was much too short, and had me in tears by the end, wishing that I was still a member of the community.

I've discovered in the years since I left that many people in disability services have never heard of l'Arche, and that is a darn big crying shame. Although perhaps it is to my advantage, as someone else might have been inspired to investigate my research area before now. It was telling, to me, that when I explained my ideas, people there actually listened. There was none of the usual "They were persecuted as witches right? They thought they were demon-possessed! Didn't they kill them at birth?" reaction that I have gotten over and over at Oaklands. It was quite remarkable, and very refreshing! Because of the mindset l'Arche encourages, people there didn't immediately assume folks with mental impairments were always treated and regarded poorly. I do wish more people were aware of l'Arche, and its wonderful mission.

The service felt time-out-of-time. Kairos. I can't explain it, but if you ever find yourself in Toronto on a Friday night, and are looking for a more meaningful experience than the bars downtown, I highly recommend visiting.

Moving on to a more mundane topic, I have begun making lists in earnest. Lists for things I need to do to be able to leave. Things I need to pack. Paperwork I need to copy and account for. People I want to visit again before I go. Things I need to arrange for arriving and ensuring residence. Medical appointments I need to book before leaving. Things I need to do once I am housed, in order to settle. Dominoes and more dominoes. I think this morning I will make my medical calls (dentist, optometrist (Jan 09), chiropodist, family doctor [medical records copy, immunisations and prescriptions], TB x-ray). Huzzah* for being insured again! Then, after I have slept, I will get some photocopying done (all school paperwork/letters, all ID and money-related cards, degrees, visa forms). I think that's enough for one day!

Later this week, I will be in Toronto for visa stuffs (you have to get fingerprinted) and visiting. Go me!



* Did you know that Firefox's spellcheck rejects "hurray," but not "huzzah"?

Setting up the next domino chain

Time to start thinking visa. Here's my to-do list.

• Go to the CAA and get a passport photo taken. Remember to not look like doofus, as in past two occasions.
  
• Fill out VAF1 form.
  
• Write cheque for fee.
  
• Make copies of degrees. Make copies of funding proof.
  
• Write "a letter stating [my] intentions on completion of [my] course".
  

I will do the paperwork tomorrow night at work, and get my photocopies and photo done shortly thereafter. Hurry, hurry, OSAP and York paperwork!

"To Dos" - Done!

• call OSAP re: Canada Study Grant for Females Pursuing Doctoral Studies (807-343-7260)
  
• email York about expense breakdown estimate form
  
• post expense breakdown form
  
• set up line of credit
  
• pick up SSHRC references
  
• brush up and finalise SSHRC plan of study, including bibliography

I called OSAP today about the grant, but the office was closed for Remembrance Day. Still, I called, and that in itself is motivating. I'll call back tomorrow morning.

I emailed York again about the OSAP expense form, just to remind them that it's coming, and to pleaseplease send it back quickly.

The line of credit is all set, complete with parental (guarantor) paperwork. Now I just need a letter saying I have it.

I am getting the last piece of SSHRC paperwork tomorrow from Excellent David, and I will post it express in the afternoon. He emailed me some suggestions for my plan of study, which I will integrate in tonight for my final draft. I met Scary David today to pick up my reference, and he made a point of telling me that he thought my plan of study was excellent. He said I sounded competent and my plan is specific and well-thought-out. Which for me is pretty frickin' amazing, given how intimidated I am by the man. So I'm happy, and even if I don't win (always likely), I know that at least I gave it a very good try.

Oh, and he also gave me the details for my first publication credit (submitted under his auspices), so I can include that for SSHRC. I'm also including the lecture next week. Yay!

Keeping Up With the To Do List

• call OSAP re: Canada Study Grant for Females Pursuing Doctoral Studies (807-343-7260)
  
• email York about expense breakdown estimate form
  
• post expense breakdown form
  
• set up line of credit
  
• mail offer of admittance back to York
  
• pick up SSHRC references
  
• brush up and finalise SSHRC plan of study, including bibliography
  

This list (except the references) should be all crossed off by the end of the day. Then, it's waiting. When I get the paperwork back from OSAP, I will post all the financial info to York, and wait for the final offer of admittance, whereupon* I can apply for housing and a visa.

* Any piece of writing is improved by the inclusion of the word "whereupon."