(no subject)

Dinner with Kate and company was bittersweet. We were all talking about what it will be like to be back home, and the culture shock. We also discussed how hard it will be not to say, "And in Mongolia" or "When I was in Mongolia", or "That reminds me, in Mongolia...."

We also started talking about food, as the variety of food in Mongolia is quite limited. We all had descriptions of various food we wanted to eat. The discussion ended with me saying, "I think I'm going to look in my parents' fridge and start to cry." (I'm excited for strawberries, mangoes, cheddar cheese, real coffee, Money's mushroom burgers, Japanese sushi, cranberry juice, and broccoli.)

After supper, we went to the UB palace to dance, which was fun. I saw the mechanical pig, and was somewhat disappointed. I didn't see it in action, as it was just sitting by the side of the stage. I think it's papier mache or something. I was hoping for something for mechanical.

Ingrid sent me a whole schwack load of edits, so I'll be hard at work on that tomorrow.

( things to look forward to in no particular order )

Revision

That's the name of the game today. We're in heavy edit mode. Since Ingrid was away, I was lacking in guidance and so she has to re-edit a lot of sections, since I'm not used to this sort of writing. I'm not used to reporting/analysis, as I'm more used to simply "analysis" or simply "reporting." Anyway, it's a learning experience and I'm trying not to take it personally.

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During this process, it occurred to me that my life could sometimes use a good editor. However, I wouldn't change a thing so far. When it comes to life, revisions aren't necessary.

And again, Moby's journal cracks me up.

http://www.moby.com/cms/viewdiary.asp?Diary_ID=1400&ViewType=Current

Pages across the Pacific....

The first complete draft has now been sent to Ingrid. She's editing it again, and then it will travel electronically to the Research Department in Ottawa.

The first draft is 71 pages. This doesn't include charts, maps or the stuff that will be listed in the appendix. The completed report will be around 85, I think.

We took Doki, her husband and her daughter out for Indian food. Doki and family are leaving to go to Bangalore so MJ (husband) and Doki can get their MBAs. It was a nice supper, and Ingrid took some photos of Doki and I.

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I just got an email from my old editor in Wainwright. I miss talking with him. The editor/reporter relationship is a bizarre and tight one, and we spent almost every day together for about 9 months. I might stop in Wainwright on the way to Edmonton, just for a few hours, if it doesn't cost anything extra.